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Best and worst car insurance

The best car insurance isn't always the cheapest. Our expert analysis rates the best and worst car insurance policies - and tells you which car insurance companies give the best customer service.

Joe Sharp
Last updated: Jul 2018
In this article
How do I find the best car insurance? Best and worst car insurance companies How we calculate the score

How do I find the best car insurance?

Car insurance can be expensive - but you don't want to sacrifice great cover just to get the cheapest price. 

Which? is here to help. Not only do we rate dozens of elements of a car insurance policy, we also ask thousands of real customers how they rate each insurer in our analysis to help you find top-quality cover with a great customer experience. 

Our video explains how to find a great car insurance policy in three easy steps.

Best and worst car insurance companies

This review reveals which insurers came out best for cover and customer service, and which scored the worst.

To be a Which? Recommended Provider, an insurer must:

  • Be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
  • Be available to the general public
  • Have received responses from 30 or more customers in our survey
  • Have received an average or above policy score (see table for current average score) and a customer score of 70% or above.

For more information about individual policies read our car insurance reviews or click on the links in the table.

Members can log in to see the results of our analysis. If you’re not already a member, you can sign up to a two-month trial for Which? Money for just £1 to access this review and enjoy the benefits of a Which? membership.

Best and worst car insurance
Provider Min-Max age Dealing with queries Clarity of Policy Transparency of charges Value for money Customer score Policy score Total
Subscriber only content 17-80 - 81% 87% 84%
Subscriber only content 17-No limit - - 74% 83% 78%
Subscriber only content 17-99 - 72% 78% 75%
Subscriber only content 17-No limit 68% 80% 74%
Subscriber only content 50-No limit 66% 78% 72%
Subscriber only content 16-96 67% 73% 70%
Subscriber only content 17-99 64% 75% 69%
Subscriber only content  21-90 65% 70% 68%
Subscriber only content 17-75 65% 69% 67%
Subscriber only content 17-84 61% 71% 66%
Subscriber only content 16-96 61% 72% 66%
Subscriber only content 25-No limit - - 57% 76% 66%
Subscriber only content 18-No limit - - - - 62% 68% 65%
Subscriber only content  17-115 - - - - 61% 69%c 65%
Subscriber only content Underwriter dependent - 65% 62% 64%
Subscriber only content 21-75 - 64% 64% 64%
Subscriber only content 21-99 60% 69% 64%
Subscriber only content 17-99 56% 72% 64%
Subscriber only content 18-No limit 56% 71% 64%
Subscriber only content 17-90 56% 72% 64%
Subscriber only content 21-90 56% 71% 63%
Subscriber only content 16-96 - - - - 57% 70% 63%
Subscriber only content 18-No limit - - - 56% 70% 63%
Subscriber only content 25-85 - - 59% 66% 63%
Subscriber only content 17-90 - 53% 72% 63%
Subscriber only content 16-96 54% 70% 62%
Subscriber only content 17-99 - 56% 65% 61%
Subscriber only content 17-90 - - - - 50% 72% 61%
Subscriber only content Underwriter dependent - 52% 67% 60%
Subscriber only content 17-99 - - - 60% 59% 59%
Subscriber only content 17-99 - - 56% 57% 56%
Average - - - - - 61% 71% 66%
More info
Table notes: Customer score data based on a survey of 6,074 policyholders in November 2017. Policy scores are based on the provider's standard policy. All policies are available to the general public. Customer score is calculated using a combination of overall satisfaction and how likelihood to recommend the provider to a friend. '-' represents where we have insufficient sample size (less than 30) to generate a star rating. Insurers must have a minimum sample size of 30 for inclusion in the table.

 

 

How we calculate the score

Customer scores

The customer score is based on a survey of 6,074 general public respondents and are worked out using a combination of overall satisfaction and likelihood of recommending the provider to a friend. If two or more brands show the same overall score, they are ranked to the next decimal place. Providers must receive a minimum sample size of 30 to be included.

Policy scores 

The policy score is our assessment of the quality of standard cover comparing 53 elements of a car insurance policy. Policy analysis includes rating personal belongings limit, renewal fees and interest charged on payment by installments. Providers must receive a minimum sample size of 30 respondents to be included.

We carry this analysis out every six months. The next update is in July 2018.

Total score

Total score is made up of 50% of the customer score, and 50% of the car insurance policy score.

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