Where to obtain the best car
insurance estimates online
The answer to this question
has much to do with your own needs and wishes. We will therefore
examine different groups, which although distinct, in certain
circumstances do have some overlap.
While the majority of people use price comparison sites, they are
better reserved for those individuals that are more expensive to insure
and where a higher degree of pragmatism is justified in terms of
essential policy features. Thus, for these people a 'no frills' type of
policy, that is otherwise generally better avoided, may have some
merit, albeit simply on a practical, cost-saving basis.
People in this group would include, young drivers, new drivers, those
without a no claims discount, those with driving convictions and those
needing to insure a high car insurance group car that have to do it on
a budget.
However, for 'mainstream' motorists, because price comparison sites
function best for those seeking budget quotes and they make it hard or
impossible to assess and compare policies on the basis of their policy
features, then they are not, contrary to popular belief, the best first
choice option for the majority.
People seem to have forgotten what they were probably well aware of in
the days before price comparison sites - that if you go to a large,
well-known insurance company, their standard cover is usually
excellent. In addition, when buying online direct from the insurer, you
get all the policy information easily. If you check out two or three of
the leading UK car insurance providers - something it's easy to do via
any good 'portal' type site that lists several insurers in one place,
usually with up-to-date policy summaries, it's easy to compare cover
and to determine which best meets your needs.
Of course, if you buy car
insurance direct via a listings site like this one, you
can't be
sure that you're getting a great deal in terms of the price you pay.
That, after all, is why people favour price comparison sites. However,
it needs to be remembered that price comparison sites compare all the
numerous (and very different) policies on their panel and, because they
are not comparing like cover, present a wide range of prices. Were they
just to compare prices from the standard policies of the largest car
insurance companies, the spread of prices would be very limited. So
much so, in fact, that the need to consider price above actual policy
features would be eliminated.
The solution is clear: go direct and let normal market forces look
after the price while you select on the basis of the right cover for
your needs.
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