Common questions

Here you can find answers to common questions asked about the uSwitch.com car insurance comparison service.

Do you have a question about:
The insurers we search through
The car you want to insure
Your policy
The uSwitch comparison service

Will car insurers ask me more questions?

Our comparison service aims to be as accurate as possible, which is why we ask you comprehensive questions. This means we can work with many insurers, and cater for all kinds of driver.

But, some insurers may wish to ask you a couple of their own questions in certain circumstances. For example, if you have made a personal injury claim they might want to know how much it was for. Your chosen car insurer will also ask you to confirm that all the details you have entered on the uSwitch.com site are correct.

Will all car insurers return a quote to me?

At uSwitch.com we search a huge variety of car insurers to try and ensure all kinds of driver are covered. For example, some of the companies we search specialise in quotes for young drivers. But we don’t cover every single insurer on the market.

Of the insurance companies we do search, it is possible that some won’t return a quote for you. This could be for the following reasons:

• you are not suitable for the kind of policy they offer
• their database was inaccessible when we contacted them
• the provider does not support our service

As well as valid quotes, these insurers will also appear in your results table. This way you have a clear idea of what insurance policies are on offer.

Are all your car insurers just online companies?

All the insurers we work with have websites, as it means we can pass your information on as quickly as possible. But they aren’t necessarily purely online companies.

What types of vehicle do you cover?

The car insurance providers we currently search through cover almost all kinds of car. If you have an imported car, you may find it reduces the number of results you get.

Unfortunately we don’t cover motorbikes, vans or commercial vehicles at the moment.

My car has modifications – can I still use uSwitch.com’s car insurance comparison service?

We ask about your car’s modifications during the calculator process. If your car has been modified from the manufacturers standard after leaving the factory then we are currently unable to give you a quote.

I haven’t bought my car yet – can I still get an insurance quote?

You can, though it helps to have the registration number, if you’re looking to buy a specific car. If not, you can still enter the details of the car you’re interested in, section by section. But you do need to have all the details available – ‘Peugeot 106 1.1 litre’ is not enough.

Often it’s a very good idea to know how much the insurance is going to cost before you buy a car – especially if you’re looking to buy a sports car or an import.

Can I insure a provisional driver?

You can add up to two named drivers with uSwitch.com. Certain companies may not allow you to have a provisional driver on your policy, depending on their own criteria for insurance quotes. Other insurance companies may allow provisional drivers on policies, but will charge high premiums. Using the uSwitch.com calculator saves you calling different car insurers to find the best quote for you.

I have a motoring conviction; can I still get an insurance quote for my car?

As we search a huge variety of insurers, we can cater for all kinds of situations. You should be aware that if you have a conviction this might reduce the number of insurers who are able to give you a quote (the same applies for people with multiple claims, new drivers etc.). But, using our comparison service you should be able to find a quote to suit you.

Can I really save money switching my car insurance provider?

You really can. A recent survey by Swinton insurers showed you can save on average £115 by switching car insurance provider. But they also found out that you need to compare at least seven car insurers to make that saving. With the uSwitch.com car insurance comparison service you can do exactly that. For minimum work, you get a big return – and it’s free and impartial.

How does your car insurance calculator work?

You enter information about yourself, your car and other drivers (check below to see ‘What information will I need for my quote?’). Then we use your details to obtain quotes from the many car insurers we work with.

We then return a comparison table to you, showing the insurers who have provided you with a quote. All you have to do then is choose the right quote for you. Finally, we transfer your details to the provider of your choice – so you don’t have to enter them again.

Your new insurer may wish to ask you a couple more questions to refine your quote, but after confirming your details you’ll be set to switch your car insurance.

Will using uSwitch’s car insurance calculator cost me anything?

Not at all, that’s the great part. uSwitch.com provides a free and impartial service. There’s no obligation for you to sign up to a new insurer, and we aren’t biased towards any specific insurance companies.

The insurance providers we work with pay us a small fee if you take up their quote. But, whether or not you do so is entirely up to you. We believe it’s up to you to decide what’s right for you, not us or the insurance companies.

check below to see ‘What information will I need for my quote?’

To complete your insurance quote you will need the following documents and information to hand:

• your car registration number – or the details of its make and model. These will help us identify your exact car
• details of modifications that have been made to your car
• your driving licence
• details of your previous accidents, claims and convictions
• details of all additional drivers, including their no claims bonus, when they started driving, and their driving history (e.g. convictions, personal injury claims)
• the date you want the policy to start
• estimated annual mileage
• previous policy cost