Drivers should be wary of price comparison sites

Purchasing directly from a provider is the most common motor insurance channel, accounting for 39.3 per cent of all purchases, with a price comparison website (PCW) being the second most popular (31.3 per cent), according to GlobalData, a data and analytics company.

Young drivers in the UK face much higher car insurance premiums due to their inexperience and riskier behaviour. PCWs are therefore much more popular among young drivers as they endeavour to get the best deal possible – but things are not as straightforward as they seem.

Yasha Kuruvilla, insurance analyst at GlobalData, said: "Looking at purchasing channel preferences among age groups, the PCW is the most popular channel among younger drivers.

"PCWs are more popular among drivers under 45 years of age, while older drivers prefer to purchase directly from a provider...younger drivers face much higher premiums compared to older drivers, which is likely to be the main factor driving them towards PCWs."

However, GlobalData research has revealed that the prices on various PCWs are extremely varied. For example, a policy from a leading motor insurer in the UK was quoted as £248.64 per year. Using an identical profile on a different PCW, the policy quoted from the same provider stood at £614.88.

Kuruvilla added: "This highlights that consumers may not necessarily receive the best price when shopping on PCWs. Drivers should therefore invest additional time when shopping for motor insurance to ensure they receive the best deal. This is especially important for young drivers, as any penny saved on their high premiums will be appreciated."