LV vs Esure vs Tesco Car Insurance

browniej

Trying to decide on car insurance do I go with cheapest or not?

Tesco is cheapest at £190, Esure at £202 and LV at £225.

Any comments?

InsideInsurance

Look at Defaqto and Which? for a review of product and customer service quality?

Make sure however that you are comparing apples and apples. Many insurers have different products via different distribution channels etc

Parking_Trouble

All three are 5* on Defaqto

Read each policy document and look for any pitfalls in the T&C's

Do they both offer the exactly the same services.

Check out their fees for changes to the policy.

browniej

Thanks both.

Half of the issue with comparing them is that they each offer different standard terms, some of which you can't take off even though I may not need them. However the 3 quotes are mostly covering the same except for Loss of Keys cover which for LV is standard and the other two is optional. Other difference is Personal Belongings Limit which is £100 for Esure and LV but £200 for Tesco.

As to Which their scores and positions are;

LV = 4th with 76%
Esure = 16th with 66%
Tesco = 22nd with 61%

Also looked at Saga (£193) which has Keys cover as standard and Personal belongings at £1000. Which score is 7th with 71%.

Which obviously has some Recommended Providers but quotes with them are all very much more expensive - usually around £235 - £250.

Policy adjustment fees range from £15 with LV to £26 with Esure - looked at this as I may well change my car this year.

Saga looks like it might be the best all rounder but looking at some reviews showed it not good but AutoExpress had it as the top provider for 2014.

Not an easy decision sometimes - so go for cheapest or what?

InsideInsurance

To be honest, price the policies with the cover you want and compare prices. Its fairly irrelevant to consider coverages that are compulsory but you dont want. You wouldnt after all pay more to chose an insurer that doesnt give childseat cover just because you dont have a child so dont want to pay less for an insurer that includes it as compulsory cover.


If you are looking to change the car mid term then this adds an additional curve ball as the insurers that are cheapest for this car are not automatically going to be the company that is cheapest for your next car. You may be able to get a ball park figure by doing a quote for what you intend to get but if you arent sure then thats difficult. You also have to be careful with anyone who's a broker that the insurer doesnt change between the two quotes as you are bound to the insurer as much as you are the broker when you make the mid term adjustment. From distant memory Esure and Tesco do both occasionally broker business rather than placing it with their underwriting entity, not aware of LV= doing this.

ss53

Which ever you go for, buying via Quidco will give cashback

LV= has £20 cashback

Tesco has £30 cashback

Esure has £35 cashback

Parking_Trouble

I have been with LV= for a few years now and I have been impressed with them.

The customer service has been excellent. I have made changes mid-policy which were dealt with efficiently and without the stupid costs that other insurers sting you with.

LV= also give discounts for other products if you are an existing customer. By taking out a cheaper policy first (same day) I could apply the discount to the more expensive one.

LV= are also a mutual not a PLC, so if you prefer a more ethical business strategy you might want to take that into account. I think it sets them apart from others in the way they deal with their customers (members).

Whilst cost is a key factor I will never, ever go with cheapest again after a dreadful experience with a certain nautical themed company.