Comparison sites, direct insurers and brokers
Comparison sites are quick for standard home, car, travel and simple business cover, but don’t list every insurer, and the default settings may not match your needs. Direct insurers that sell only through their own websites can be competitive, so check them separately. Brokers earn their keep on complex or high-value risks, where they can negotiate wordings and help with claims. See our insurers and comparison sites directory.
Key facts and the IPID
In the UK and EU, general insurance products come with a short standardised summary called the Insurance Product Information Document (IPID), introduced by the EU Insurance Distribution Directive and kept in UK rules. It sets out what is and isn’t insured, restrictions, where you’re covered and your obligations. Read it before you buy, then the full policy wording for anything important.
Like-for-like means
- The same sums insured and liability limits.
- The same voluntary and compulsory excess (deductible).
- The same optional extras, such as accidental damage or legal expenses.
- The same cover basis: new-for-old vs indemnity, claims-made vs occurrence.
- The same payment method: monthly payments often include interest.
Beyond price: claims and service
Look at how claims are handled: 24-hour helplines, approved repairers, whether you can choose your own contractor, and how complaints are resolved. In the UK, the Financial Ombudsman Service publishes complaints data about firms, and in the US the NAIC publishes complaint information by company. These help you spot outliers without relying on anonymous reviews.
Honesty and renewal
Answer every question accurately and keep a copy of what you told the insurer. Review cover each year, and especially after big changes such as an extension, new staff or a new vehicle. In the UK, renewal prices for home and motor can’t exceed the equivalent new-customer price through the same channel, but shopping around still often finds a better fit.
Last updated: 15 October 2026
