Comparison sites

Car Insurance Comparison Sites: How They Work and How to Use Them

A comparison site lets you fill in your details once and see car insurance quotes from several insurers. It's a fast way to get a feel for the market, but it isn't the whole market, and the first price you see isn't always the one you'll pay.

How a car insurance comparison site works

  1. You enter your details once: car, driver, address and the cover you want.
  2. The site sends them to its partner insurers and shows you their indicative quotes.
  3. You choose which insurers you'd like to hear from.
  4. The insurer contacts you, confirms your details and the final price, and you buy from the insurer directly.

Your policy is always with the insurer, never with the comparison site. The site is paid by insurers, which is why it's free for you.

Pros and cons

Good for

Seeing several prices quickly, spotting when your renewal premium is out of line, and finding insurers you may not have heard of.

Watch out for

Missing insurers, quotes that change after checks, cheap prices that hide a high excess, and follow-up calls from every insurer you select.

What to check on any comparison site

  • Is it an authorised FSP? A legitimate comparison service shows its FSP number. Hippo, for example, is FSP 16357.
  • Who owns it? Some comparison sites belong to groups that also own insurers. Hippo is part of Telesure Investment Holdings and says most of its partners aren't TIH brands.
  • How does it earn money? Usually a fee from insurers per lead or sale. That's normal, but it's worth knowing.
  • Which insurers are missing? Get direct quotes from any major insurer that isn't listed.
  • Are you comparing like-for-like? Check the cover type, insured value and excess on each result.

Comparison site vs broker vs doing it yourself

Comparison siteBrokerDirect quotes yourself
SpeedFastestSlower, one conversationSlowest: one form per insurer
AdviceNoneYesNone
Claims helpNoYesNo
Cost to youFreeMay charge a feeFree
Coverage of marketPartners onlyInsurers the broker works withWhoever you ask

Our suggestion: use a comparison site to see the market, add one or two direct quotes from big insurers that weren't listed, then compare all of them like-for-like using our quote checklist.

Insurers to quote directly

Comparison site (not an insurer)

Hippo Car Insurance

Several car insurance quotes from one form.

How you buy: Online comparison, then you buy from the insurer

Read the guide →
Direct insurer

OUTsurance Car Insurance

OUTbonus: cash back after three claim-free years.

How you buy: Direct: online or by phone

Read the guide →
Direct insurer

Discovery Car Insurance

Vitality Drive rewards for good driving, including fuel cash back.

How you buy: Direct: online or in the Discovery Insure app

Read the guide →
Insurer (broker and direct)

Santam Car Insurance

Santam CashBack after three claim-free years.

How you buy: Through an intermediary (broker), or a direct online quote

Read the guide →
Direct insurer (Santam group)

MiWay Car Insurance

Three cover levels and an excess you can adjust.

How you buy: Direct: online, app or phone

Read the guide →
Direct insurer (Telesure group)

Budget Car Insurance

An annual payment holiday and a cash back bonus after two claim-free years.

How you buy: Direct: online quote or call-back

Read the guide →

Comparison site questions

Are car insurance comparison sites free?+

Usually, yes, for you. Comparison sites earn money from insurers, typically a fee when you ask for a quote or buy a policy. Hippo, for example, says it's free for customers and charges brands a fee when customers ask for more information.

Do comparison sites show every insurer?+

No. Each site only shows the insurers that have agreed to take part, and some large insurers don't list on comparison sites at all. Always check the big names you're interested in separately.

Is a comparison site quote the final price?+

Treat it as a starting point. The insurer confirms the final premium and excess once it has checked your details, so the price can change before you accept.

Will I get lots of phone calls?+

Often, yes. Insurers you choose to hear from will contact you. Only select the insurers you're genuinely interested in, and say how you prefer to be contacted.

Is a comparison site the same as a broker?+

No. A comparison site shows you prices; a broker advises you, arranges the policy and can help at claim time. Some people use a comparison site to see the market, then a broker for advice.

Tracker Prices SA is an independent information site. We are not an insurer or a licensed financial services provider, and nothing here is financial advice. Insurer details are summarised from each insurer's own published information, last checked September 2026. Cover, benefits and prices change, so always confirm them in your quote and policy wording. For a complaint about an insurer you can contact the free National Financial Ombud Scheme.

Want quotes to compare?

Tell us about your car once and we'll arrange for quotes to be sent to you, so you can compare premiums and excesses side by side.