The Best Car Insurance Companies in the UK

According to recent research, the best car insurance companies in the UK include:

• Admiral

• Aviva Plus

• AXA

• Age Co

• Churchill

• Direct Line

• More Than

• Saga

• Sainsbury’s Bank

There are, however, many factors that determine which insurer is right for you and your situation, as we’ll discuss in this article.

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Finding the best car insurance for you

Car insurance comparison sites

Worst car insurance companies

Tips for getting the best cover

Getting car insurance or changing providers is a big decision to make, and it’s a decision that could end up saving you hundreds of pounds per year for the same cover, if you choose the right provider.

But, whether you’re a learner or an experienced driver, it can be difficult to determine the best car insurance companies in the UK without any guidance, which is where we can help!

When you start looking for the best car insurance provider, ask yourself:

• Is this a fair price?

• Am I getting enough cover to suit my personal requirements?

• Could I get cheaper cover elsewhere?

• Have I checked comparison sites and other providers directly?

Here’s Compare UK Quotes’ guide to the worst and best rated car insurance providers in the UK, including examples and a list of the most popular UK insurers.

Finding the best car insurance company for you

When looking for the best car insurance providers, people generally look for value-for-money more than anything, and they’re absolutely right to do so.

Choosing the wrong provider could leave you paying well over-the-odds for your car insurance policy, which is why it’s important to shop around and find the most suitable insurer for your situation and your budget.

The best rated car insurance companies in the UK will be communicative, professional and well-reviewed by consumers. Their policies will be flexible to suit your specific needs, and you’ll receive a genuine quote at an affordable and competitive price.

Value-for-money is an important factor in determining which provider you should choose, but don’t mistake it for merely how cheap the cover is.

You can get cheap  car insurance anywhere, but it might include lots of exclusions and circumstances which are not covered within the terms, meaning that it could end up being worth nothing at all when the time comes and you need to claim.

The cheapest car insurance will often only provide the bare minimum level of cover, so you need to find a balance between affordable premiums and an adequate level of cover. The best car insurance companies in the UK will offer a policy that covers you for all relevant eventualities, but at an affordable price.

By all means, shop around with a price in mind, but be sure to check that the policy’s terms meet your needs rather than just going off the cost of the premiums.

For example, does your car insurance policy cover your commute, or is it a social-only policy? Will you be entitled to a courtesy car when you need one?

The best car insurance providers in the UK will give you this information upfront, but you should always check, and don’t just assume that all the basics are covered – they might not be.

In order to be rated among the top car insurance companies, an insurer must be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA); if they are not, then alarm bells should be ringing.

A list of car insurance companies UK

Many feel that the safest option when taking out car insurance is to stick to the trusted, established companies with a big name in the industry.

Although they may be right, it’s also important to check some of the less mainstream car insurance companies, as you might find a more affordable deal for your personal situation.

You may find that the biggest car insurance companies in the UK have more restrictions in place. For example, they could be unwilling to cover those who have had previous convictions or perhaps they only offer annual policies, in which case you will need to look elsewhere for a specialist provider.

The best rated car insurance companies in the UK include, but are not limited to, the following providers:

• Admiral Car Insurance
• NFU Mutual
• Zurich
• Co-op Insurance Services
• Direct Line Car Insurance
• LV= Car Insurance
• AvivaPlus Car Insurance
• Churchill Car Insurance
• More Than Car Insurance

You are likely to see many of these common car insurers on TV adverts, but bear in mind that you may need to dig a little deeper for specialist car insurance providers depending on your individual needs and requirements.

Take a look at our car insurance resources here to find out about the different types of car insurance available to you.

How many car insurance companies are there in the UK?

The best car insurance comparison sites in the UK will search around 120 providers for quotes, but a full list of authorised UK car insurers is available from the Bank of England if you need to check whether a provider is genuine or not.

If you have any doubts about the authenticity of a car insurance company, it’s best that you avoid committing to a policy with them.

We also recommend checking the Trustpilot rating of any car insurance companies that you’re considering getting a quote from, to get an insight into the experiences of real-life customers.

The best car insurance comparison websites

A good way to view a variety of the most affordable and best car insurance quotes alongside each other is by using comparison websites.

These allow you to compare and contrast policies offered by hundreds of UK insurers side-by-side, in order to choose the cover best suited to you.

Confused.com is one of the best car insurance comparison websites in the UK, as they both search thousands of quotes from the best providers in the country to help you compare a wide range of policies in relation to their cost and terms.

Making full use of the best car insurance comparison websites available in the UK will undoubtedly better your chances of getting a more affordable policy, regardless of your personal situation or any factors that you think might negatively impact your premiums (such as any previous driving convictions). 

There are many other factors that can help you get cheaper car cover, including: 

• Tweaking your job title
• Avoiding car modifications
• Using gadgets to increase security (dash cams)
• Increasing your car insurance excess
• Getting Black Box insurance

Why are some policies not on comparison sites?

Unfortunately, not all car insurance providers are on comparison sites, for a variety of reasons, which is why you might need to do some extra digging and contact some insurers directly for a quote.

It’s certainly worth doing, as the providers not on comparison websites may offer the best car insurance deals.

Check out Bobatoo’s useful guide to find out more about the best car insurance companies NOT on comparison websites.

The providers that are not on comparison websites choose to do so in order to keep costs down as they aren’t paying the comparison sites commission, which means they can use the savings to offer cheaper policies, and avoid being undercut by cheaper quotes.

It’s certainly worth getting quotes directly from some insurers that aren’t on comparison websites, as well as those that are, in order to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.

The worst car insurance companies in the UK

The worst car insurance companies in the UK will have poor customer service, offer policies with many exclusions, and will be poorly rated on consumer review websites such as Trustpilot.

Although we advise those looking for insurance quotes to stick with the most well-known providers in order to avoid any fraudulent companies or scams, it’s important not to assume that you’ll be getting the best deal purely because you’re taking cover out with a popular provider.

Check with consumer review websites like Trust Pilot and, most importantly, take your time when making your decision.

Not only should you ensure that you are getting a fair price, but it’s imperative that you purchase a policy that provides the right level of cover for your situation.  

As previously mentioned, all legitimate car insurance companies in the UK will be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can usually see if a company is FCA authorised and regulated at the bottom off their website, or you can search the Financial Services Register yourself, to be certain.  

How to get a car insurance quote in the UK?

If you’re looking to get a car insurance quote, there are a few details you’ll need to provide to the insurer.

That includes your car’s registration number or its make, model and age.

As well as this, for a more accurate quote from the best car insurance providers, you’ll need to provide details about your annual mileage, the purpose of use (business or leisure), your address and where the car would be kept over-night (in a garage, on a busy road, in a secured drive and so on).

It’s important that you remain truthful when applying for cover, because even the best policies from the best car insurance companies will count for nothing if it ends up being void/invalidated, and you will not receive a pay-out due to an inaccurate application.

Tips for getting the best car insurance cover

Those looking for car insurance in the UK will undoubtedly need some help if they’re going to find the best policy suited to them.

Here are some of our quick tips for getting the best, but also the most affordable, car insurance policy:

• Shop around and gather as many quotes as you can
• Use comparison websites and check those that only deal with customers directly
• Increase your voluntary excess if you can afford to
• Fit alarms or immobilisers to your car for added safety and premium discounts
• Try to haggle and bargain your way to a cheaper motor insurance deal
• Pay annually, not monthly, to avoid high interest rates
• Check that your car isn’t super expensive to insure before buying it
• Park your car in the garage overnight
• Install a black-box for cheaper car insurance premiums

The cost of running a car is expensive as it is, so it’s important that you find the best car insurance company and the most affordable (but comprehensive) policies that they offer.

Temporary Car Insurance

Under some circumstances, you might even find that temporary car insurance is the most ideal policy for your situation. 

For example, if you're a student home from university for the summer and want to borrow your parents car, temporary cover could be far more affordable than amending an existing policy! 

Many of the best car insurance providers in the UK will offer their own temporary car insurance for most drivers, but you should also consider getting quotes from short-term insurance companies that specialise in temp cover. 

Which car insurance company is the best in the UK?

Here at Compare UK Quotes, we do the research into the best providers of car insurance in the UK so that you have all the information you need in one place.

The best car insurer for your personal situation depends on a variety of factors, including the type of cover you need, your age, the type of car you drive, and whether you have any previous driving convictions.

Your best bet, when it comes to getting the best car insurance, is to use comparison sites such as Confused.com, as you receive a list of UK insurers and relevant quotes within a matter of minutes.

Here at Compare UK Quotes, we do the research into the best providers of car insurance in the UK so that you have all the information you need in one place. Keep up to date with our social media pages for all our latest money-saving and insurance guides!

Learn more about the different types of car insurance:

Third Party Only Cover

Third Party, Fire and Theft Car Insurance

Fully Comprehensive Car Insurance

The Main Types of Car Insurance in the UK

Remember, we can provide you with a list of the best car insurance companies in the UK in terms of their reputation and reliability, but it ultimately comes down to a matter of what suits your individual circumstances and where you can get the cheapest and best deal possible.