Funeral plans reviewed

In this article

What's included in a prepaid funeral plan? Prepaid funeral plans compared Basic prepaid funeral plans

Standard prepaid funeral plans Comprehensive prepaid funeral plans

What's included in a prepaid funeral plan?

None of the prepaid funeral plans provide headstones, memorials or burial plots, though some will make a provision for these and other customisations at an extra cost.

Age UK, Dignity, The Co-operative Funeralcare and Perfect Choice have a network of funeral directors to choose from, while the remaining providers let you choose an independent funeral director that will accept the plan.

All providers in this table offer:

a hearse;
care of the body;
guidance on registration and certification of death;
arrangement and supervision of the funeral by the funeral director;
and confidential advice.

It should be noted that the quality of coffin will range from a simple one with a basic plan, to a more expensive coffin with a comprehensive plan.

Prepaid funeral plans compared

The tables below only include funeral plan providers that are members of the Funeral Planning Authority and not every provider in the market (bespoke plans are also excluded).

They will show you the following costs:

Full upfront costs - what you will pay if you opt for a single payment.
Cremation costs - the amount the provider pays towards cremation. A guaranteed payment means the provider will pay the entire sum.
Burial costs - the amount the provider pays towards burial. A guaranteed payment means the provider will pay the entire sum.
Cancellation fee - the amount you will have to pay if you decide you no longer want the policy.
Removal of the body - the distance that the funeral plan will cover when the deceased is transferred to a resting place.
Following limousines - whether the provider includes following limousines as part of the funeral procession.
Viewing the body - whether the provider includes and arranges a viewing of the body as part of the funeral.
Funeral procession - whether the provider includes a funeral procession as part of the plan.

All information in the tables is accurate to March 2019.

Basic prepaid funeral plans

The lower cost funeral plans offered by funeral plan providers will commonly offer restrictions on the services provided and which costs will be covered.

This may include lower contributions to cremation or burial costs and less choice for the date or time of the funeral.

Limousines won't be provided for the funeral procession and there are limitations on when you can arrange a viewing of your loved one in the chapel of rest.

Plan	Full upfront cost	Cremation costs	Burial costs	Cancellation fee	Removal of body	Following limousines	Viewing the body
Age UK The Basic Plan More info A restricted choice of date and time for the funeral will be available. For more detail visit funeralplan.ageuk.org.uk Burial costs: Contribution increases with RPI Viewing the body: Weekdays during business hours agreed by appointment Funeral procession: Yes - from home / funeral home directly to crematorium or burial site	£2,770	Guaranteed	£1,220	£0	50 miles	No	Yes
Age UK The Ivy Plan More info Burial costs: Contribution increases with RPI Viewing the body: Weekdays during business hours agreed by appointment Funeral procession: Yes - from home / funeral home directly to crematorium or burial site	£3,170	Guaranteed	£1,220	£0	50 miles	No	Yes
Avalon Balmoral plan More info Cremation costs: Contribution increases annually on 1st July in line with increases in CPI Burial costs: Contribution increases annually on 1st July in line with increases in CPI Removal of body: UK mainland and Northern Ireland Funeral procession: Yes - from home/funeral home directly to the local crematorium or cemetery	£3,645	£1,000	£1,000	£395	No mileage restriction	No	No
Dignity The Limited Plan More info Burial costs: Contribution increases with RPI Funeral procession: Yes - from Funeral Director's to crematorium or burial site Viewing the body: Weekdays, during business hours by agreed appointment A restricted choice of date and time for the funeral will be available. For more detail visit www.dignityfunerals.co.uk	£2,795	Guaranteed	£1,220	£249	50 miles	No	Yes
Dignity The Amber Plan More info Burial costs: Contribution increases with RPI Funeral procession: Yes - from Funeral Director's to crematorium or burial site Viewing the body: Weekdays, during business hours by agreed appointment	£3,195	Guaranteed	£1,220	£249	50 miles	No	Yes
Golden Charter Value plan More info A restricted choice of date and time for the funeral will be available. For more detail visit funeralplan.ageuk.org.uk Viewing the body: Use of chapel of rest or service rooms for family viewing at any pre-arranged time. Costs may apply if out-of-hours viewing is required	£2,895	£800	£800	£249	25 miles	No	Yes
Golden Leaves Bronze Plan More info Viewing the body: During business hours by agreed appointment Funeral procession: Yes - from Funeral Director's to crematorium or burial site	£2,394	None	None	£479	25 miles	No	Yes
Memoria eTraditional More info Memoria Plans are administered by Ecclesiastical Planning Services, a member of the FPA and are available in England, Scotland and Wales Available from funeralplanmarket.com The time of the funeral service is mutually agreed between funeral director and family Cremation costs: Cremation fees, minister/celebrant fees & doctors’ fees all included and guaranteed Burial costs: Cremation only plan Funeral procession: Yes - route agreed with family to crematorium Viewing the body: Anytime by agreed appointment	£3,295	Guaranteed	n/a	£615	No mileage restriction	No	Yes
The Co-operative Funeralcare Simple More info A restricted choice of date and time for the funeral will be available Burial costs: Does not include the purchase of a grave Viewing the body: During business hours Funeral procession: Yes - Directly to crematorium or place of burial from funeral home only	£3,295	Guaranteed	Guaranteed	£250	50 miles	No	Yes
The Co-operative Funeralcare Bronze More info Burial costs: Does not include the purchase of a grave Viewing the body: During business hours Funeral procession: Yes - Client flexibility to choose route from home/funeral home/church to crematorium/church and graveyard/cemetery	£3,595	Guaranteed	Guaranteed	£250	50 miles	No	Yes

Standard prepaid funeral plans

Standard funeral plans will generally provide a limousine for the funeral procession or a higher contribution to the cost of the burial and cremation costs, along with the cover provided by a basic plan.

Plan	Full upfront cost	Cremation costs	Burial costs	Cancellation fee	Removal of body	Following limousines	Viewing the body
Age UK The Holly Plan More info Burial costs: Contribution increases with RPI Viewing the body: Weekdays at any time by agreed appointment Funeral procession: Yes - from home / funeral home to service location, then onto a crematorium or burial site	£3,525	Guaranteed	£1,220	£0	50 miles	1	Yes
Avalon Highgrove plan More info Cremation costs: Contribution increases annually on 1st July in line with increases in CPI Burial costs: Contribution increases annually on 1st July in line with increases in CPI Removal of body: UK mainland and Northern Ireland Viewing the body: During business hours by agreed appointment Funeral procession: Yes - from home/funeral home directly to the local crematorium or cemetery	£3,995	£1,000	£1,000	£395	No mileage restriction	1	Yes
Dignity The Pearl Plan More info Burial costs: Contribution increases with RPI Viewing the body: Weekdays, any times by agreed appointment Funeral procession: Yes - To a service location, then onto the crematorium or burial site	£3,550	Guaranteed	£1,220	£249	50 miles	1	Yes
Golden Charter Standard Plan More info Funeral procession: Yes - from Funeral Director's to crematorium or burial site Viewing the body: Use of chapel of rest or service rooms for family viewing at any pre-arranged time. Costs may apply if out-of-hours viewing is required	£3,495	£1,100	£1,100	£249	25 miles	No	Yes
Golden Charter Select Plan More info Viewing the body: Use of chapel of rest or service rooms for family viewing at any pre-arranged time. Costs may apply if out-of-hours viewing is required Funeral procession: Yes - from Funeral Director's to crematorium or burial site	£3,850	£1,100	£1,100	£249	25 miles	1	Yes
Golden Leaves Silver Plan More info Cremation costs: Contribution increases with RPI Burial costs: Contribution increases with RPI Burial costs: This amount will be in line with the national average cost of cremation fees. Viewing the body: During business hours by agreed appointment Funeral procession: Yes - from Funeral Director's to crematorium or burial site	£3,364	Guaranteed	See More info	£673	25 miles	No	Yes
Memoria eTraditional Plus More info Memoria Plans are administered by Ecclesiastical Planning Services, a member of the FPA and are available in England, Scotland and Wales Available from funeralplanmarket.com The time of the funeral service is mutually agreed between funeral director and family Cremation costs: Cremation fees, minister/celebrant fees & doctors’ fees all included and guaranteed Burial costs: Cremation only plan Funeral procession: Yes - route agreed with family to crematorium Viewing the body: Anytime by agreed appointment	£3,495	Guaranteed	n/a	£615	No mileage restriction	1	Yes
The Co-operative Funeralcare Silver More info Burial costs: Does not include the purchase of a grave Viewing the body: Subject to pre-arranged appointment Funeral procession: Yes - Client flexibility to choose route from home/funeral home/church to crematorium/churchyard/graveyard/cemetery	£3,950	Guaranteed	Guaranteed	£250	50 miles	1	Yes

Comprehensive prepaid funeral plans

The high-end funeral plans will offer two limousines and more flexibility in when you can arrange a viewing of your loved one.

They also offer the ability to make additional contributions towards Special Requests during the lifetime of the plan, and complimentary thank you cards at the service.

Plan	Full upfront cost	Cremation costs	Burial costs	Cancellation fee	Removal of body	Following limousines	Viewing the body
Age UK The Rowan Plan More info Burial costs: Contribution increases with RPI Viewing the body: Any time by agreed appointment Funeral procession: Yes - from home / funeral home to service location, then onto a crematorium or burial site	£3,770	Guaranteed	£1,220	£0	50 miles	2	Yes
Avalon Windsor Way plan More info Cremation costs: Contribution increases annually on 1st July in line with increases in CPI Burial costs: Contribution increases annually on 1st July in line with increases in CPI Removal of body: UK mainland and Northern Ireland Viewing the body: During business hours by agreed appointment Funeral procession: Yes - from home/funeral home directly to the local crematorium or cemetery	£4,245	£1,000	£1,000	£395	No mileage restriction	2	Yes
Dignity The Diamond Plan More info Burial costs: Contribution increases with RPI Viewing the body: Any time, 24/7, by agreed appointment Funeral procession: Yes - To a service location, then onto the crematorium or burial site	£3,795	Guaranteed	£1,220	£249	50 miles	2	Yes
Golden Charter Premier Plan More info Viewing the body: Use of chapel of rest or service rooms for family viewing at any pre-arranged time. Costs may apply if out-of-hours viewing is required Funeral procession: Yes - from Funeral Director's to crematorium or burial site	£4,099	£1,100	£1,100	£249	25 miles	2	Yes
Golden Leaves Gold Plan More info Cremation costs: Contribution increases with RPI Burial costs: Contribution increases with RPI Burial costs: This amount will be in line with the national average cost of cremation fees. Viewing the body: During business hours by agreed appointment Funeral procession: Yes - from Funeral Director's to crematorium or burial site	£3,719	Guaranteed	See More info	£744	25 miles	1	Yes
Golden Leaves Platinum Plan More info Cremation costs: Contribution increases with RPI Burial costs: Contribution increases with RPI Burial costs: This amount will be in line with the national average cost of cremation fees. Viewing the body: During business hours by agreed appointment Funeral procession: Yes - from Funeral Director's to crematorium or burial site	£3,969	Guaranteed	See More info	£794	25 miles	2	Yes
Memoria eTraditional Extra More info Memoria Plans are administered by Ecclesiastical Planning Services, a member of the FPA and are available in England, Scotland and Wales Available from funeralplanmarket.com The time of the funeral service is mutually agreed between funeral director and family Cremation costs: Cremation fees, minister/celebrant fees & doctors’ fees all included and guaranteed Burial costs: Cremation only plan Funeral procession: Yes - route agreed with family to crematorium Viewing the body: Anytime by agreed appointment	£3,745	Guaranteed	n/a	£895	No mileage restriction	2	Yes
The Co-operative Funeralcare Gold More info Burial costs: Does not include the purchase of a grave Viewing the body: Any time by agreed appointment Funeral procession: Yes - Client flexibility to choose route from home/funeral home/church to crematorium/churchyard/graveyard/cemetery	£4,199	Guaranteed	Guaranteed	£250	50 miles	2	Yes