Sensible Brits would shun 'unnecessary' insurance but keep crucial cover

Published:
27/07/2009
Topic:
Press Release,Insurance,Car,Home

Brits have revealed their sensible side when it comes to cutting back on insurance to save money, according to moneysupermarket.com, and would only cancel what could be considered as "unnecessary" policies.

  • Brits are resisting the temptation to cancel important insurance policies to save cash says moneysupermarket.com
  • Over two thirds of Brits (68 per cent) scour the market when it comes to renewing their motor insurance

Research* from the UK's leading price comparison site reveals most Brits looking to curb their spending by cutting back on insurance products would not cancel essential policies such as motor and home insurance - only 4 per cent would cancel either policy. Instead, they are more likely to shun mobile phone or home appliances insurance, with 31 and 26 per cent of respondents respectively stating they would cancel these to save money over the next 12 months.

The research also found a quarter of the Brits who have it (19 per cent) would consider cancelling their Loan Payment Protection Insurance (LPPI) and 6% would cancel Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance (MPPI). 5 per cent would cancel life insurance and 10% would cancel private medical insurance. One in eight (12 per cent) would also consider cancelling their annual travel insurance policy if it meant saving money.

Steve Sweeney, insurance expert at moneysupermarekt.com said: "It is great to see that Brits have wised up to the perils of cancelling important insurance policies. Despite the fact it is illegal to drive a car uninsured, cancelling motor and home insurance will prove a costly false economy. However foregoing standalone cover for mobile phones and home appliances is a great place to start, especially as they can be covered through your home contents insurance from as little as £106 per year with AXA1.

"For Brits considering cancelling LPPI, MPPI or life insurance it is crucial to assess your current situation and work out what cover you need, especially in the current climate; you don't know what might stop you from working, which could, prevent you from being able to afford costly monthly bills. Similarly, annual travel cover is very often only marginally more expensive than single trip cover, and for jet-setting Brits, buying a single policy every time they travel could mean they end up paying more. Annual worldwide policies for a couple start from as little as £38 per year with Insurewithease compared to £23 for a single trip2, a relatively inexpensive safeguard for stress free travels."

The research also found money saving Brits' quest to rein in spending goes even further, with over two thirds of savvy motorists (68 per cent) scouring the market to find the best deal when it comes to renewing their motor insurance - 35 per cent would shop around and swap to the best deal available, while 33 per cent would shop around and approach their provider to see if they could match the best price they found. However, over a fifth (22 per cent) are exposed as missing out when it comes to saving a bundle by not shopping around at renewal time - 13 per cent say they automatically accept the renewal quote from their existing motor insurance provider because they don't think they can save money by shopping around, while almost one in ten (nine per cent) reveal apathy is rife stating they just can't be bothered to shop around.

Steve Sweeney continued: "In times like these there is no doubt every penny counts and it is encouraging to see Brits are making every effort to see where savings can be made. Shopping around when it comes to renewing your motor insurance policy is crucial; it is quick and easy to do and could save you hundreds of pounds."

- Ends -

Notes to Editors:
*Opinium Research carried out an online poll of 2,009 British adults from Tuesday 21st to Friday
24th April 2009. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria.

1Home contents insurance including possessions away from home:

Provider

Premium With Personal Possessions

Excess

Mobile Phone covered under Personal Possessions

AXA

£106.86

£100

Yes

Budget

£108.98

£100

Yes

igo4value

£118.58

£100

Yes

directchoice

£121.47

£100

Yes

Bradford & Bingley

£126.88

£100

Yes

Based on a male aged 30. Annual cost to cover a semi-detached house with £35,000 contents and a personal possessions value of £1,000 (M20)            

Sourced by www.moneysupermarket.com 21.07.2009

Home contents insurance including accidental damage cover:

Provider

Premium With Personal Possessions

Excess

Budget

£113.94

£100

The AA

£119.73

£100

Bradford & Bingley

£126.20

£100

Bank of Scotland

£130.99

£100

Legal & General

£137.47

£100

Based on a male aged 30. Annual cost to cover a semi-detached house with £35,000 contents and Accidental Damage cover (M20) 

Sourced by www.moneysupermarket.com 21.07.2009

2Travel insurance - worldwide annual cover:

Provider

Premium

Medical Expenses Cover*

Personal Liability Cover*

Cancellation Cover*

Baggage Cover*

Insurewithease
Bronze Annual Multi-Trip

£38.53

£5,000,000

£2,000,000

£3,000

£1,500

OUL Direct
OUL Direct Annual Multi-Trip

£38.54

£5,000,000

£2,000,000

£3,000

£1,500

TopDog
Emerald Annual Multi-Trip (31 Days Per Trip)

£38.88

£10,000,000

£2,000,000

£750

£1,000

Preferential Travel
Classic Annual Multi-Trip (31 Days Per Trip)

£39.43

£2,000,000

£2,000,000

£1,000

£1,000

CBG London Ltd
Cover-All Annual Multi-Trip

£39.57

£5,000,000

£2,000,000

£3,000

£3,000

*Benefit may be subject to excess

Based on a couple aged 30

Sourced by www.moneysupermarket.com 21.07.2009

Travel insurance - worldwide single trip cover:

Provider

Premium

Medical Expenses Cover*

Personal Liability Cover*

Cancellation Cover*

Baggage Cover*

TopDog
Emerald Single Trip

£22.80

£10,000,000

£2,000,000

£750

£1,000

Insurewithease
Bronze Single Trip

£22.87

£5,000,000

£2,000,000

£3,000

£1,500

OUL Direct
OUL Direct Single Trip

£22.88

£5,000,000

£2,000,000

£3,000

£1,500

Holiday Extras
Holiday Extras Supersaver

£26.38

£5,000,000

£2,000,000

£3,000

£1,500

Primary Insurance
Primary Essentials Inc Baggage

£29.00

£5,000,000

£2,000,000

£1,000

£750

*Benefit may be subject to excess

Based on a couple aged 30 - two weeks to USA

Sourced by www.moneysupermarket.com 21.07.2009

Download This Press Release

Download as RTF

Related Links

Related Resouces

Media contacts

Nicola Parry - PR Officer (Financial Services)
078723 79549
01244 370318
nicola.parry@moneysupermarket.com

 

Emma Morris - PR Manager (Travel & Shopping)
Travelsupermarket.com
Moneysupermarket Shopping

07775 941689
01244 220671
emma.morris@moneysupermarket.com

 

Ian Williams
Director of Communications

07515 329671
01244 665793
ian.williams@moneysupermarket.com

 

Clare Francis
Site Editor

07595 067818
01244 220650
clare.francis@moneysupermarket.com