Top 10 Car Insurance Companies in UK
Curious about which auto insurers dominate the UK market! Traffic cameras provide the solutions. While over a hundred car insurance companies sell motor insurance in the United Kingdom, the ten largest auto insurers account for approximately 85 percent of the market. If you’re considering purchasing from one of the top ten car insurance companies, check out the list below to see who makes the cut and to learn what makes each company unique.
List of the Top 10 Biggest UK Car Insurance Companies
Rank | Motor Insurance Company | Motor Insurance Gross Premiums Written (£million) | Estimated UK Market Share |
1 | Admiral Group (including Admiral, Bell, Diamond, elephant.co.uk, Gladiator) | £2,237 | 14.0% |
2 | Direct Line Group (including Direct Line, Churchill and Darwin) | £1,730 | 10.8% |
3 | Aviva (Aviva, Quotemehappy, One Call) | £1,677 | 10.5% |
4 | Hastings | £1,112 | 7.0% |
5 | AXA | £969 | 6.1% |
6 | LV= | £932 | 5.8% |
7 | esure (Sheila’s Wheels, esure) | £679 | 4.2% |
8 | RSA | £661 | 4.1% |
9 | Ageas | £654 | 4.1% |
10 | NFU Mutual | £626 | 3.9% |
Top 10 | £11.3 billion | 70.48% | |
Total UK Motor Insurance Premiums Written | Approx. £16 billion |
The top ten largest car insurance providers in the United Kingdom:
Many of the most affordable vehicle insurance providers in the UK are well-known brands with mascots or catchy jingles that you may have heard in TV commercials. However, each business client’s premiums, services, and experiences differ. Before choosing which company is ideal for you, you should be aware of the following:
Admiral Group:
Consider this if you want car insurance from the most well-known company in the UK and are okay with having a lower customer rating score. The Admiral Group, which writes policies under the brand’s Admiral, Bell, Diamond, Elephant.co.uk, and Gladiator, is the largest auto insurance provider in the UK, accounting for 14% of the automobile insurance market. Admiral is technically the commercial name for EUI Limited.
Admiral’s motor business grew at a reasonable rate. Their gross written premiums went up by 5%, which helped them become the most popular auto insurance company in the UK. Admiral’s growth was second-best last year, trailing NFU’s 6% increase in gross written premiums. Admiral had covered 4.97 million automobiles.
Admiral came out with a few new car-related products, including Admiral Essential, a cheaper policy with fewer features sold through comparison sites, and carriage of goods for hire and reward. It gives customers who work as delivery drivers or couriers the proper coverage. Admiral also made the Admiral virtual assistant (AVA) for auto insurance, which lets customers help themselves by answering questions or making changes.
Quick Takeaway: Admiral is a great car insurance company for people who want to buy a policy online quickly and, in most cases, for a low price. One of their brands can be among their most affordable offerings. Their brands can be found on most price comparison websites, including our partner, Quote Zone.
A rating from Fitch, 3.1 out of 5 stars from Trustpilot customers, and Best Motor Insurance Provider at the Personal Finance Awards for 2020/21
Direct Line Group:
It is something to think about if you want a reasonably robust set of features that come standard. With its Churchill, Darwin, and Privilege motor insurance brands, the Direct Line Group is a strong player in the PCW market, in addition to selling Direct Line auto insurance directly to customers. Only about a third of their premiums are sold through the PCW channel. However, almost two-thirds of their sales are made now to clients under the Direct Line name. With the launch of the Darwin brand in 2019, the group got more attention on sites that compare prices. Then, they sold 135,000 Darwin policies, and the brand is rated among the top 10 on Trustpilot.
Direct Line has recently put much effort into digitizing its claims process to make it faster and easier for customers. Gross written premiums went down by 1.7%, and the number of active auto insurance policies went down by 2.2% to 4.0 million.UK Insurance Group clients who buy new or used cars from Volkswagen, SEAT, Audi, or KODA dealers get “5-day driveaway” coverage and annual insurance costs from Direct Line. Although Direct Line also sells home insurance, vehicle insurance represents over 50% of their total written premiums and is their primary business.
Summary: Direct Line has earned a reputation as an insurance provider not included on price comparison websites, but if you’re trying to save more on your premium, Churchill, Darwin, or Privilege brands may provide even lower prices there.
Trustpilot customer rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars and Moody’s rating of A13. Also check Here Are Top Reviews Of AA Travel Insurance
Aviva:
Consider this if you want a business with a solid reputation for customer service and a clean driving record. Aviva’s direct auto insurance company is small. However, they’re trying to develop price comparison websites (PCWs) by focusing on multi-cover policies. At the 2020 British Insurance Awards, Aviva won the General Insurer of the Year award (but this honor went to Covea in 2021).
Out of the top 10 firms, Aviva has one of the highest customer satisfaction scores on Trustpilot. Aviva has added new coverage for electric vehicles, such as roadside breakdowns, electrical surges, and EV accessories, to their auto insurance. It also offers a full range of financial services, and its car insurance business is well-known. Aviva is a top provider of general insurance and savings and retirement products.
Quick Conclusion: Depending on where you reside, quote me happy might offer you coverage at one of the lowest costs. However, you can get a worse deal from Aviva than anywhere else if you’ve had an accident within the last five years.
- A 4.6 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot
- S&P rates the company as AA-, Moody’s as Aa3, and AM Best:
- Fitch: AA–4.
Hastings Direct:
Consider this if you want high-quality, low-cost auto insurance from a well-known, trusted company. Hastings Direct is a renowned car insurance company with more than 3.1 million active policies. They provide both direct and online price comparison sales (PCWs). However, in 2018, 73% of Hastings’s premiums written to new auto insurance clients were sold through the PCW market. However, numbers for the current year have yet to be available. And PCWs are the only way to buy Hastings Essential car insurance, the cheapest they sell. Additional features include your drive (a black box plan) and Multi Car Covers.
Hastings Direct’s customer portal and app (4.6 stars in Apple’s App Store) make online shopping and account management more manageable. We also appreciate that Hastings Direct prides itself on offering clear-cut insurance. Its policy documents are more straightforward than those of its competitors.
If you have more money and want more features, consider their Direct and Premier policies, which are more expensive but have lower excesses and better coverage. Hastings was bought by Sampo, which also runs auto insurance companies in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the Baltic countries, among other places. Hastings may be less interested in high-risk drivers because the customer mix has evolved toward lower-risk ones.
Quick Take: Hastings Direct is an excellent choice if you’re looking for high-quality, low-cost auto insurance. Additionally, they have solid client feedback on Trustpilot and Fairer Finance.
- A 4.4 out of 5-star customer rating on Trustpilot
AXA-Car Insurance company:
Consider this if you want a big, global business with a good selection of features. According to our calculations, AXA is the UK’s fifth-largest auto insurance provider. AXA is a large multinational company that sells insurance under its brand and backs policies for other companies. It wrote more than 96.8 billion euros in premiums last year (pay-per-mile cover). So, you bought car insurance from a company that doesn’t report its policies. In that case, you might discover that AXA is ultimately covering you.
Quick Conclusion: However customers can expect from the company the typical discounts and coverage that come with dealing with a primary international insurance provider.
- A 4.3 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot
- Ratings from S&P are AA-, and Moody’s is Aa3.
- AA–6 on the Fitch scale
LV= Best Car Insurance Providers
If you don’t need the cheapest option but still want a provider with positive user reviews and robust features, consider LV=. Another well-known auto insurer is Liverpool Victoria, which goes by the name LV=. LV= insurance is accessible directly, via comparison websites, or through brokers. Recent growth for the LV= brand has been helped by high renewal rates from current customers and new sales after the launch of their multi-car service. Because making customers happy is a company goal, they have a lot of great reviews from customers on Trustpilot.
Quick Summary: LV= is in the middle of the pack in terms of cost. However, we consider LV one of the best auto insurance providers due to excellent client feedback and features. They came first in our analysis of the top affordable vehicle insurance providers. If you’re looking for the best deal, there may be better options than LV=.
- Customer rating on Trustpilot: 4.7 out of 5 stars LV
- S&P rates Allianz as “AA.”
- Allianz’s Moody rating is A3.
esure Group:
Think about this if you want premium features and accident repairs taken care of by their network. Leading personal auto and home insurer, the esure Group, offers coverage under the Sheilas’ Wheels and esure brands. Over 700 specialists are employed by esure in its UK-based claim centers to manage claims. Additionally, they are in charge of a network of motor repairers who handle more than 90% of their accidental damage claims.
esure’s policies, which are cheaper than some of the top 10’s budget options, include a courtesy car, windscreen coverage, and personal injury coverage. Also, their Trustpilot rating went from 3.7 stars to 4.3 stars in the last year, which is a big jump.
- A 4.3 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot
- S&P’s rating is N/A.
- N/A for Moody’s rating
RSA:
Consider this if you want a business with high ratings specializing in home insurance. Royal & Sun Alliance offers car insurance under the More Than name. They sold more than £600 million worth of auto insurance plans, placing them eighth on the list of the biggest auto insurance providers. In contrast, they sell even more house insurance policies. Another business that ensures procedures for numerous other brands and its own is RSA. For instance, RSA provides insurance coverage for companies like Ingenie and Clydesdale Bank.
Quick Conclusion: One of the biggest general insurance providers in the UK, RSA, may be a good option for your insurance requirements, especially if you want coverage for a variety of life insurance needs from a single provider (e.g., car, home, pet).
- 0 stars out of 5. Additional to Trustpilot’s customer rating
- A for AM’s Best
- A2 is Moody’s rating.
- On the Fitch scale, it is rated AA-.
Ageas-One of the UK’s Most Popular Car Insurance Companies:
Consider this if you’re ready to pay a little extra and want an insurance business with a solid financial standing and positive customer experience ratings. Another well-known auto insurer that you’ll notice listed on comparison websites is Ageas. Since they are incorporating AI into the claims process, motor policy approval requests have dropped from 2-3 hours to 2-3 minutes. They are now available 24/7, improving client satisfaction. Ageas covers 3.9 million personal motor clients in the UK, which may be why it has one of the highest Trustpilot ratings in the group.
Brokers, affinity partners, and direct distribution, including PCWs, are all options for purchasing insurance. Ageas and Tesco once collaborated to ensure the latter’s Motor Legal Protection insurance. It has created new panel relationships with Sainsbury’s Bank, Co-Op Insurance, Marmalade, and GoShorty. It also manages policies for Age Co. (previously Age UK).
Summary: Ageas is one of the UK’s most popular auto insurance companies, and most customers are happy with them. However, their rates are less competitive than those of other companies, which makes it more expensive for people who want a low premium.
- A 4.3 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot
- A+ S&P rating
- AA-B grade from Fitch
A Mutual NFU:
Consider this if you want a nationwide policyholder-owned mutual organization with more than 300 locations and excellent customer reviews. NFU Mutual, which serves drivers in rural areas of the nation, is quite different from the other companies on the list of the biggest UK car insurance providers. It doesn’t offer online quotes and is owned by policyholders rather than shareholders. It has more than 300 offices nationwide, a network of more than 650 agents, and a UK-based call center to handle quotes, inquiries, and claims.
Ombudsman for Low-Income Families Service complaint rates attests to NFU Mutual’s reputation for excellent customer service. The Trust pilot rating for NFU Mutual has just risen, and their impressive 4.7-star rating is not surprising. Some car companies, like Audi, Fiat, Ford, and more, give NFU members discounts when they buy new cars.
Quick Takeaway: NFU Mutual is an excellent choice for buying auto insurance over the phone. But you’ll need to search elsewhere to make an online purchase.
- A 4.7 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot
- S&P’s rating is N/A.
- N/A for Moody’s rating
- Fitch’s rating is N/A.
FAQs
- How much does auto insurance cost?
Your particular situation will determine the cost of your auto insurance. For instance, your address, age, the car you’re insuring, and any traffic infractions you may have had in the past. Check your potential costs by getting a quick auto insurance estimate. Also check Review of Holidaysafe Travel Insurance
- Are quotes for vehicle insurance less expensive in advance?
Our data indicate that drivers will receive the most affordable auto insurance quotations three weeks before the start date. Insurers may believe customers who get insurance in advance present a more negligible risk than those who wait until the last minute to do so.
- Can I receive an insurance quotation for a car without owning one?
Yes, you may get a car insurance quote before registering or purchasing a car. To get the most accurate quote, you’ll need the make, model, spec, and value information. Given that the cost of auto insurance is among the highest expenses associated with car ownership, we advise you to obtain a quote for any vehicle you’re considering purchasing. When you’re ready to purchase the policy after receiving your selection, all you have to do is accept it online or over the phone.
- Do members of Traffic Cameras receive a discount on their auto insurance?
Members of traffic cameras who purchase traffic cameras car insurance do not receive a defined discount. However, our network of insurers may take into account your membership status.