United Kingdom (UK) Insurance Aggregators 2022
Summary
This report explores ever-changing consumer purchasing behaviors through price comparison sites. It identifies the most influential factors for customers when selecting a policy through this channel. The report discusses the brand strategies and marketing approaches of the four leading sites. Key factors that will influence the market over the coming years are also highlighted.
Motor and home insurance remain the most frequently purchased products on PCWs. In 2021, purchasing activity for these two products increased by 4.2 percentage points (pp) and 3.8pp respectively to reach 35.2% and 28.6%. But PCWs face a challenge in maintaining these high purchase frequencies as new Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) pricing rules have limited providers’ ability to aggressively compete on price to win new business. Falling premium prices across many of the lines discussed in this report led to a reduced proportion of consumers using PCWs to conduct pre-purchase research in 2021. However, when consumers did use PCWs to conduct research, they were more likely to make a purchase through a site compared to 2020.
Scope
- PCWs are the third-largest distribution channel for non-life insurance, with 29.2% of respondents from GlobalData’s 2021 UK Insurance Consumer Survey indicating they purchased a policy through this channel.
- PCWs rely heavily on returning customers, which is one of the reasons why sites offer so many products. 62.2% of respondents indicated they chose their respective site because they had used it before.
- The disparity between quotes for home and motor policies has greatly diminished in 2022, as the new FCA dual pricing rules are affecting providers’ ability to undercut themselves and rivals to win new business.
- Discover consumer purchasing trends through price comparison websites (PCWs) in 2021
- Determine the market shares of the four leading PCWs in various general and life insurance lines
- See the early effects of new insurance market regulations on PCWs
- Ascertain pricing differences between PCWs across a variety of life and non-life products
- Adapt your distribution strategy to ensure that it meets customer purchasing needs and behaviors
- Executive Summary
- Market overview
- Key findings
- Critical success factors
- The Aggregator Market
- Aggregators are more frequently used to purchase non-life insurance products
- Table Figure 1: PCWs are more commonly used for non-life insurance than life insurance
- Offering many products is key to winning return business
- Table Figure 2: Returning customers are key for PCWs
- PCWs were used less frequently for research across all four non-life products in 2021
- Table Figure 3: PCWs were used less frequently for research into non-life products in 2021
- Falling prices contributed to increased conversion rates for some products
- Table Figure 4: Conversion rates increased for six out of the seven products in 2021
- PCWs maintain a good level of churn and competition
- Table Figure 5: Over 30% of all motor insurance customers switched provider in 2021
- Table Figure 6: Over half of customer switches in the home and motor lines came through PCWs in 2021
- FCA pricing rules and soaring energy bills will impact PCWs’ growth in 2022
- Aggregators are more frequently used to purchase non-life insurance products
- Aggregators by Line of Business
- Non-life insurance products on PCWs
- Table Figure 7: Flow and LV= offer the cheapest motor insurance quotes across all four PCWs
- Table Figure 8: The average motor quotes have increased but are less variable between PCWs
- Table Figure 9: Home insurance policies provide varying levels of cover for similar prices
- Table Figure 10: Home insurance quotes have become similar across the four sites
- Table Figure 11: Differences in travel insurance cover are not mirrored in prices
- Table Figure 12: PCWs are effectively highlighting the provision of COVID-19 cover
- Table Figure 13: Quotes for pet insurance are the most variable of non-life products
- Life insurance products on PCWs
- Table Figure 14: Quotes for income protection vary by price, premium, claims duration, and application process
- Table Figure 15: Term assurance quotes are comparatively similar across all six sites researched
- Table Figure 16: Zurich offers the cheapest quote on all three sites – at three different prices
- Table Figure 17: There is very little difference between GoCompare and Choozi
- Non-life insurance products on PCWs
- Competitor Profiles and Market Shares
- Compare the Market was by far the most used PCW for nonlife products in 2021
- Table Figure 18: Compare the Market is the most frequently used PCW for non-life products
- There is a more equitable spread of business for PCWs in the life insurance segment
- Table Figure 19: Consumers’ choice of PCW is more evenly split for life insurance products
- Competitor profiles
- Compare the Market was by far the most used PCW for nonlife products in 2021
- Marketing
- GoCompare was the leading advertising spender in 2021
- Table Figure 20: GoCompare spent the most on advertising in 2021
- TV advertising accounts for most of PCWs’ overall spend
- Table Figure 21: TV accounts for over three quarters of total advertising spend for three PCWs
- Table Breakdown of total advertising spend by the four leading PCWs (GBP000s), 2021
- GoCompare was the leading advertising spender in 2021
- Appendix
- Abbreviations and acronyms
- Definitions
- Methodology
- Secondary sources
- Further reading
- About GlobalData
- Contact Us
Research Assistance
Learn how to effectively navigate the market research process to help guide your organization on the journey to success.
Download eBook