Insurance

Did you know that there are 5 insurance policies on average for every person: car, health, home, life and mortgage insurance? With this being the case, insurance is impossible to ignore; it’s part of our everyday lives! Selectra is committed to helping you compare the offers of loads of different insurance providers.

Where can you buy insurance?

The insurance market in the UK is becoming increasingly competitive with new players emerging every year. Today, the age-old big insurance companies (LV Insurance, AXA, Aviva etc) are not the only ones offering insurance policies. New, smaller companies are heightening the competition, forcing the established insurers to adapt their policies to stay competitive. This means that you have several choices when it comes to buying insurance.

• The big names: these are companies that have been operating in the UK insurance market for many years: everyone knows their name.
• Online insurance: these companies do not have physical points of sale. As they sell all their policies online it means they can offer very attractive rates.
• Insurance Brokers: these can be companies or individuals. They specialise in helping customers find an insurance policy with favourable rates and/or better guarantees that suit their personal needs.
• Bancassurers: these are organisations that offer banking products as well as insurance products.

What is insurance for?

An insurance policy provides you with financial assistance when you experience damage or loss that is covered in your contract. For example, car insurance might let you claim compensation if your car is vandalised while parked outside your home, and unpaid rent guarantee included in landlord insurance could ensure you are compensated if your tenant stops paying rent.

In exchange for a monthly or annual fee, your insurance company agrees to indemnify you or cover your expenses in the first place.

In order to be covered by insurance, the damage to the insured object (e.g. your house or car) must be unintentional, unexpected and provided for in the conditions of your insurance contract.

In some cases, such as for car insurance, insurance is mandatory. In other cases, it is not compulsory but allows you to be reimbursed for things like your health costs (with health insurance) or damage to your home (with home insurance). In any case, insurance is always highly recommended!

How can you find cheaper insurance?

With new players constantly joining the UK insurance market, finding cheaper insurance is a breeze. Here are some top tips on how to find an insurance policy at a good price without sacrificing quality:

• Look for insurance online: insurance providers who only offer insurance online have lower operating costs, which means they can offer very attractive rates.
• Take advantage of promotional offers: in order to attract new customers, companies regularly offer discounts for taking out their policies.
• Compare offers: comparing the guarantees and price of insurers continues to be the best way to get a cheaper policy. To make the search process even easier, try using an online insurance comparison tool.

Compare home insurance

Home insurance is essential! Whether you are a homeowner, landlord or a tenant; whether you want to insure a house, an apartment, a holiday home or even a mobile home; whether your home is furnished or empty, having home insurance is a really good idea. If you are looking to secure a mortgage, you will probably find that home insurance is a required condition.

The most suitable home insurance for you will depend on who you are (homeowner, tenant etc), and what you want to insure (house, holiday home etc.). To find the best home insurance, it is a good idea to compare the offers of different insurance companies. To help in your comparison, consult our various home insurance guides so you know what to look out for in a policy.

Compare car insurance

Car insurance is mandatory: it is illegal to drive a vehicle on a road or in any public place in the UK without it. If you do so, you could face a fine of £300 and have 6 points deducted from your driving license.

There are several types of car insurance:

• Third party car insurance: this is the minimum form of insurance required by law. It covers you if you cause injuries to others and damage to their vehicles (it does not cover damage caused to your car).
• Third party fire and theft: this is the same as basic third party car insurance but with the addition of cover for your car if it is damaged, stolen or destroyed in a fire.
• Comprehensive: this is the highest level of cover available in the UK. As well as the cover included in third party and third party fire and theft insurance, it also covers medical expenses, accidental damage and damage to or theft of the contents kept in your vehicle.

There are also more tailored types of car insurance available that are targeted to meet specific needs. For example, Telematics insurance is a type of car insurance that bases the price of your premium on how you drive, ultimately: the better you drive, the less you pay. This can be a good way for Young drivers to get a cheaper premium.

To find the most suitable policy for you and your vehicle, compare the offers of different insurance companies, ask for quotes online and check out our numerous guides on car insurance.

Compare travel insurance

If you are planning a holiday - whether it is in the UK or abroad - travel insurance offers security against anything going wrong: cancelled flights, lost luggage, medical emergency etc.

There are two main types of travel insurance:

• Single trip travel insurance: this covers you for one holiday (the maximum length varies depending on the provider).
• Annual multi-trip travel insurance: this covers you for multiple holidays during the year e.g. a two week summer holiday on the Spanish coast, a week at Christmas in the French Alps and a city break to Rome at Easter (for the lucky ones!).

There are also policies designed for more specific holidays. For example, winter sports insurance if you are heading to the ski slopes, or cruise insurance if you are going on a cruise. To find a suitable policy for you and your holiday, compare offers from different insurers online and use our helpful travel insurance articles for a bit of guidance.

Insurance rates and premiums

Insurance companies set their own insurance rates, which means that for a policy with exactly the same guarantees, prices can vary greatly from one provider to the next. This is why it is essential to compare offers!

There are some criteria that directly affect the amount of your insurance premium:

• Government taxes: all general insurance policies are subject to tax, known as Insurance Premium Tax (IPT). There are two rates for this tax: a standard rate and a higher rate (applied to travel insurance, mechanical or electrical appliances insurance and some motor insurance). The rates vary from year to year and are reflected in the price of insurance premiums.
• The profile of the insured: the age of the person looking to take out insurance will always affect the price of their premium. For example, a young driver (between 18 and 24) will pay more for car insurance than a senior citizen, but a senior citizen will pay more for travel insurance. Other factors, such as a person’s employment situation or address can also influence the price.
• The increase in risk: insurance providers assess risk whilst calculating your insurance premium. For example, if you have had a lot of road accidents, you will be considered a higher risk and this will push up the price of your car insurance. If you live in an area that is prone to flooding, it will increase the price of your home insurance. If you have pre-existing medical conditions, your travel insurance will be more expensive.

Criteria specific to each type of insurance will also come into play when determining your premium, e.g. the size of a car’s engine for car insurance, the value of your home for house insurance and where you are travelling to for travel insurance.