Car Insurance Comparison Websites - A One Stop Shop

Working your way through the car insurance minefield can be a daunting prospect. Even in these days of the internet and the availability of a plethora of comparison websites, making sure that you get exactly what you want can still be challenging and you need to consider many factors, not just price.

Long gone are the days when you had to do all the work of ringing around insurance companies or getting an insurance broker to do the work on your behalf. Now, it is as easy as sitting down in front of your home computer, entering your personal details and letting the web quote engines do the work.

Or so it would seem; however, it's not quite that simple. Car insurance comparison websites cannot access all the insurers that would be willing to cover your vehicle, as some insurance companies prevent comparison sites from trawling their quotation engines. Therefore, any potential deal they may be able to offer is not notified to you - the potential car insurance buyer - in their summary results.

So, if you are going to use a comparison website to find your next car insurance policy, ensure that it is a reputable award-winning one - such as a site that has been independently rewarded by a neutral financial institution. If you see such awards on a comparison website then you know that it has genuine quality when it comes to finding you the best deal.

Once you have found such a website make sure that when you compare car insurance quotes you are not focusing simply on the premium quoted but the entire policy package; compare the level of cover offered including such items as the voluntary and mandatory excess levels in addition to other benefits offered.

When you compare car insurance quotes you may find that they can vary widely and in some cases it is because the benefits of cover are so different. If one quoted premium is far lower than the others then it may be because the level of cover is not as comprehensive as others. So, for example, make sure that it's not just third party, fire and theft cover, which can be an affordable alternative but does not cover your own vehicle if you are involved in an accident for which you are culpable.

Finally, make sure that when you request a car insurance quote - whether by a comparison website or directly to an insurer - that you fully disclose all the information requested. You must give details of previous claims and motoring convictions as they will affect the premium you pay. If you do not disclose all the information requested, your cover may be invalid.

Paul McIndoe writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.