Best for
Cheaper rates
Keep that motor pristine with the UK’s best car insurance companies
Prices are going through the roof, but some policies give you way more. We trawled through the small print to discover these beauties.
The best car insurance gives you the right cover at the right price and is there in your hour of need. As well as surveying hundreds of customers, we’ve given comprehensive policies a policy score for the level of cover they provide. And we’ve picked out policies that excel in specific categories like multi-car or for young drivers. Once you have your shortlist, you can save hundreds if you compare quotes to make sure you’re getting the best value.
Best for
Multi-car
Best for
Temporary insurance
Best for
Convicted drivers
Summary: Best car insurance companies in the UK 2024, by category
- LV=: Best for cheaper rates
- Admiral: Best for customer service
- Admiral: Best for multi-car
- Saga: Best for over-50s
- Tempcover: Best for temporary insurance
- Hastings Direct: Best for young drivers
- Swinton: Best for convicted drivers
- Churchill: Best for black box cover
Best car insurance for cheaper rates
The cheapest policy for one driver might not be cheapest for another, because insurers price risk in different ways (risk is calculated using your driving history and personal details). But some providers tend to offer good rates.
How to get the cheapest car insurance
LV= Comprehensive
★★★★★
Finder score
We chose LV= car insurance as our top pick because, after running quotes for a range of different age groups, we found that LV= tended to offer competitive insurance quotes across the board. Other features that could make LV= a good option if you're looking for cheaper-rate car insurance include discounts for insuring multiple vehicles (up to 20% off per extra vehicle), an uninsured driver promise so you won't lose your valuable no-claims discount or have to pay an excess, and a good choice of cover levels to suit different needs and budgets. LV= offers a range of car insurance policies for standard, classic and electric cars.
Need to know: There's an admin fee for changing the vehicle or a named driver on your policy.
Need to know: There's an admin fee for changing the vehicle or a named driver on your policy.
| Personal possessions cover | £300 |
|---|---|
| Accident cover | Up to £10,000. |
| Driving in Europe | EU Cover at same level as in UK (180 days) |
Best multi-car insurance and best for customer service
Many households in the UK own more than one car. The good news is many insurance companies offer a discount for insuring multiple cars with them. Some even let you throw a motorcycle or van into the mix.
Finder Award Admiral MultiCar
Admiral was a winner in the Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards 2024. We chose Admiral car insurance as our top pick for multi-car because you can make substantial savings by insuring more than one car with Admiral rather than buying its insurance for each car separately. Admiral's multi-car policy allows you to have just one renewal date, aligning each time a new car is brought onto the policy. Each car has its own no-claims bonus, and you can have different levels of cover for different cars on the same policy. If a claim is made on one car, the no-claims bonuses of other cars won't be affected. Every car gets a full year of no-claims bonus added, provided it's been on the policy for at least 3 months. Cars don't need to be registered to the same address, provided they belong to immediate family members.
Need to know: Claims helplines aren't open 24/7.
Need to know: Claims helplines aren't open 24/7.
| Accident cover | Up to £5000. |
|---|---|
| Driving in Europe | Third party only, up to 90 days. |
Best car insurance for over-50s
All providers offer insurance to older drivers – and non-specialists can offer great rates – but over-50s car insurance policies offer tailored extras, and age limits tend to be more flexible.
Saga Plus comprehensive
★★★★★
Finder score
We chose Saga car insurance as our top pick because of its specialist cover, which is tailored to over-50s with no upper age limit. Features that older drivers might appreciate include discounts for insuring additional cars registered to the same address, an uninsured driver promise (so your no-claims discount won't be affected if you're hit by an uninsured driver) and unlimited cover for driving in Europe with Saga Select and Saga Plus policies (Saga Standard policies include up to 90 days of cover). If you opt for a Saga Plus policy, you can choose to fix your premium for 3 years (assuming nothing about your policy changes, and subject to T&Cs).
Need to know: Cancelling a policy can incur an admin fee of up to £50.
Need to know: Cancelling a policy can incur an admin fee of up to £50.
| Personal possessions cover | £1,000 |
|---|---|
| Accident cover | Up to £5000. |
| Driving in Europe | Unlimited worldwide cover. |
Best temporary car insurance
If you’re travelling a short distance or only plan on using a car for a short time, it doesn’t make sense to get long-term cover.
With temporary car insurance, if you have to make a claim, the no-claims discount of the car’s named driver won’t be affected.
Compare the best temporary car insurance companies
Tempcover
★★★★★
Finder score
We chose Tempcover car insurance as our top pick because of its very flexible insurance, which offers instant cover for anything from 1 hour to 28 days. Any annual no-claims discount you've built up on an annual policy is protected, so making a claim on a temporary Tempcover policy won't affect it. You can also customise the policy to meet your precise needs by adding features such as temporary breakdown cover, gadget cover and excess reimbursement cover. Tempcover offers temporary car insurance for learner drivers, students and others with a full UK driver's licence (up to age 78) and has a super-quick quotation process, taking just 90 seconds according to Tempcover.
Need to know: You have to pay up front for your policy.
Need to know: You have to pay up front for your policy.
| Cover length | 1 hour - 28 days |
|---|---|
| Min age | 18 |
| EU Cover |
Best car insurance for young drivers
It can be tough being a new driver, especially when you see how much you may have to pay for insurance. Drivers under the age of 25 typically need to pay more than £1,300 a year for car insurance.
While most providers will cover a young or inexperienced driver, a few offer deals that won’t break the bank, and some may even offer discounted premiums.
Marmalade insurance deserves a mention here. The company has scored well in Finder’s customer satisfaction surveys. Marmalade’s black box policy is not the most comprehensive, but it is a strong option, especially if you value good customer service.
Hastings Direct Standard
★★★★★
Finder score
We chose Hastings Direct car insurance as our top pick because it offers a range of reasonably priced policies for drivers aged 17-25, incorporating telematics (black box) and multi-car options. Its 5-star Defaqto-rated black box telematics policy, YouDrive, includes a courtesy car, an uninsured driver promise and personal belongings cover as standard. There's a 24/7 claims line if you're involved in an accident or another type of incident.
Need to know: The Hastings Direct website isn't easy to navigate.
Need to know: The Hastings Direct website isn't easy to navigate.
| Personal possessions cover | £300 |
|---|---|
| Accident cover | Up to £5000. |
| Driving in Europe | EU Cover third party only (90 days) |
Best car insurance company for convicted drivers
If you have a driving conviction, such as speeding or drunk driving, getting car insurance can be a struggle. This disclosure calculator, run by Unlock and Home Protect can help you gauge whether a past conviction is now “spent”.
Swinton Comprehensive
★★★★★
Finder score
We chose Swinton car insurance as our top pick for convicted drivers in part because it has a dedicated section on its website for convicted drivers, which indicates that it is willing and able to cater to those with speeding or other motoring offences. As a broker whose policies are underwritten by several insurers, there's a good chance Swinton can offer cover for you, whatever your circumstances. Choose from 3 levels of comprehensive cover, all of which include a courtesy car and personal belongings cover (up to £200). Swinton's claims helpline is open 24/7, which could come in handy if you have a prang outside of normal working hours.
Need to know: There's no option to have third-party cover only.
Need to know: There's no option to have third-party cover only.
| Personal possessions cover | £200 |
|---|---|
| Accident cover | Up to market value |
| Driving in Europe | EU Cover third party only (90 days) |
Best black box insurance
Black box cover is when a telematics device is installed in your car to track your driving. If you drive well, your premiums reduce. Consistently breaking the rules and restrictions of the policy will end up costing you in higher premiums.
Compare the best black box insurance companies
Churchill Comprehensive
★★★★★
Finder score
We chose Churchill car insurance as our top pick because its black box policy includes a range of features that may appeal to those looking to manage the cost of car insurance through careful driving. Churchill's telematics cover, called DriveSure, is available for younger drivers (aged 17-25) who may not have had a chance to build up a no-claims bonus and prove their driving credentials. You're guaranteed a discount on your first year for using the black box technology, provided you've passed your test. Premiums won't go up mid-term during your first year. Your driving is monitored using the DriveSure smartphone app, and you can view your driving score on the app at any time. Your score is determined by factors such as your speed, how smoothly you drive, when and where you drive and any use of your mobile phone while driving.
Need to know: No 24/7 claims line (but an emergency helpline is available).
Need to know: No 24/7 claims line (but an emergency helpline is available).
| Personal possessions cover | £250 |
|---|---|
| Accident cover | Up to £5000. |
| Driving in Europe | EU Cover third party only (90 days) |
Top 10 car insurance companies in 2024, by comprehensive policy score
| Rank | Company | Policy score | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NFU Mutual | 83.2% | Compare with Confused |
| 2 | Aviva | 82.51% | Compare with Confused |
| 3 | Saga | 82.3% | Compare with Confused |
| 4 | M&S Bank | 81.47% | Compare with Confused |
| 5 | Direct Line | 80.84% | Compare with Confused |
| 6 | Sheilas' Wheels | 79.9% | Compare with Confused |
| 7 | Age Co | 79.57% | Compare with Confused |
| 8 | RIAS | 79.24% | Compare with Confused |
| 9 | AXA | 77.97% | Compare with Confused |
| 10 | Hastings Direct | 77.02% | Compare with Confused |
For all results, including customer satisfaction ratings, skip to our full table.
How did we rate car insurance companies?
Finder insurance expert Danny Butler shares our research
To come up with the league table, our team looked at 29 different elements of a car insurance policy from 35 providers across the industry. Those at the top have the most comprehensive cover, in our view.
We looked at the range of ages they cover, cover limits, whether essential benefits are included as standard, the payment options, the ease of claim and whether you can manage your policy online. For essential benefits, such as courtesy car, old-for-new car replacement and key cover, if they weren’t included as standard, we judged them on how much extra you had to pay to add these benefits to your policy.
With other benefits, such as driving in the EU and continuing your journey if your car’s out of action, insurers lost points if they impose restrictions on cover, like the number of days and distance from home.
Some elements got extra weighting based on how important they are to drivers. In a couple of cases, 2 insurers received the exact same score, and so they share the same spot on our list. We also feature the results of our satisfaction survey of 1,654 customers so you can hear what companies are like from the people who matter most.
We picked out policies we think are outstanding in certain categories, such as great rates or multi-car. Choose which benefits are important to you. Insurance is highly personal and rates change often, so these picks are just a steer.
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to car insurance. Your priority might be finding a multi-car policy if you have more than one car to insure. If you’re a young driver, a telematics policy – which could cut your costs – could be your goal or if you’re on a tight budget, the cost will be crucial. Whatever your policy needs are, always take the time to read the small print and check you fully understand what is (and isn’t) included with car insurance before you buy.”
How to find the best car insurance company for you
Car insurance premiums are highly personalised – a tweak to your job role or the amount of excess you’re happy to pay can make a big difference to your premiums. We explain more in our guide on how premiums are calculated. The key is to get the right cover level, plus good service at the cheapest price. This is why we survey customers. All our best picks are at least 3-star rated for service.
- Compare policies. Different insurers can offer the same level of cover for very different prices. Shop around and compare car insurance quotes with as many providers as you can to make sure you’re getting the best deal for you. Comprehensive cover can sometimes work out cheaper than third-party, so compare all options.
- If your quotes are too high, consider a higher excess. An excess is the amount you would contribute to any claim before your insurer will pay out. If you voluntarily increase your excess, your insurance company sees you as less likely to make a claim, which will help to bring down the cost of your premium (but always make sure you can actually afford to pay it should you have an accident).
- Consider different options, such as pay-as-you-go cover. Some providers, like By Miles, offer pay-as-you-go cover. This is good for people who don’t drive very often and don’t want to pay for annual cover.
- Review your provider’s quote every year. When renewal time rolls around, it’s crucial to shop around a few weeks before your policy starts. Consider switching as you’re likely to save – some people save hundreds of pounds. If you want to stick with your insurer, try haggling, as that’s common and usually effective.
Car insurance customer satisfaction league table 2024
| Rank | Provider | Overall satisfaction | Customers who’d recommend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Admiral | ★★★★★ | 93% |
| 2 | NFU Mutual | ★★★★★ | 89% |
| 3 | Aviva | ★★★★★ | 84% |
| 4 | The AA | ★★★★★ | 80% |
| 5 | LV= | ★★★★★ | 84% |
| 6 | Saga | ★★★★★ | 76% |
| 7 | Direct line | ★★★★★ | 78% |
| 8 | Hastings Direct | ★★★★★ | 78% |
| 9 | Diamond | ★★★★★ | 83% |
| 10 | Churchill | ★★★★★ | 79% |
| 11 | Swinton | ★★★★★ | 63% |
Bottom line
The algorithms that insurers use to calculate their premiums are a dark art and are all different, so it will always pay to get a range of quotes from different providers each year. Then consider the extra benefits a policy might offer you, and check our ratings to see what customers think of any brand you haven’t tried but are considering.
Frequently asked questions
Customer satisfaction scores
In December 2023, we ran a customer satisfaction survey on insurance providers. We had 750 responses about car insurance providers.
The survey asked respondents how satisfied they were with their current insurance company (on a scale from 1 to 5 and also whether they would recommend the brand to a friend or not). We turned the results into star ratings and shortlisted the top-performing brands for our awards. If there was a draw, we used the recommendation score (that is, the percentage of customers who said they would recommend the brand to a friend) as a tie-breaker.
Full details of our star ratings for this sector are on the insurance ratings methodology page.
Car insurance scores
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Finder scores, in blue, are based on our expert analysis. We also show reviews from users, where we've received more than 10, with a score in yellow. We gather more reviews from customers every year in Finder's customer satisfaction survey.
To find out more, read our full methodology.
The offers compared on this page are chosen from a range of products we can track; we don't cover every product on the market...yet. Unless we've indicated otherwise, products are shown in no particular order or ranking. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations), aren't product ratings, although we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it; this is subject to our terms of use. When making a big financial decision, it's wise to consider getting independent financial advice, and always consider your own financial circumstances when comparing products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
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