motor insurers getting a deal

Direct writers have stolen a march on motor brokers in recent months.


 

In June 2017, direct writers provided 45% of the top five cheapest quotes to new customers. They steadily became more competitive — in October direct insurers offered half the top spots. They haven’t looked back since then. In April this year, that figure was 55%. Motor insurance is a volume game. A ten-point shift is astronomical for the brokers who are losing out.


motor - proportion five cheapest quotes-1

A couple of factors have enabled and driven this change. 


Firstly, digital distribution has become ubiquitous and the technology that enabled informed pricing has made it easier for risk carriers to sell to customers directly.

Secondly, dwindling investment returns and pressures from government-driven changes such as the reduction in the Ogden rate and increases in insurance premium tax have given direct writers an incentive to compete with their trading partners.

With little money to be made from underwriting, attention turned to the more profitable elements that can accompany a motor policy, such as instalment income and add-ons.

Not only are brokers now facing increased competition from direct writers, they also have fewer underwriters to potentially work with.

In July 2015, we saw 101 brands in the market and 35 insurers or MGAs on their panels. By March this year that had reduced to 92 brands and 29 insurers.

 

Getting the best from panels


That leaves many brokers working with the same underwriters, using the same information provided by the customer, and via the same distribution channels.

For brokers who use the same underwriter for the same risk, we would still expect some variation in the final price quoted to customer. Some brokers might discount more heavily to win business and make up the difference in other ways such as instalment income or add ons, or over time. Others might rely on a stronger brand and add a small margin.

The insurer sets a price and the retailer decides their margin. That’s how it works. In practice, that might look like a £400 risk offered at £360 from one broker and £440 from another.

But our panel optimiser tool shows the differences are often far greater. We have seen the same driver offered insurance at double the price by one broker compared to another, with the same insurer underwriting the risk via a PCW.

That amount of discrepancy can only mean an insurer is offering better rates to one broker over another and should prompt a conversation about why that is happening.

  


Optimise your competitive position in a fast-moving market

Market View gives you a uniquely comprehensive understanding of market pricing behaviour within the general insurance industry. Using brand visible data, it contains actionable insight which will enable you to make informed decisions around pricing strategy at both a brand and underlying insurer level, based on your current competitive position across the whole market including aggregators.

 

Learn more


 

 

Post a comment . . .

Submit a comment

You may also like

Car Insurance Costs Accelerate But Not For Under 25's
Car Insurance Costs Accelerate But Not For Under 25's
3 March, 2016

Car insurance costs are accelerating with average best buy deals rising 4.6% between August 2014 and August 2015, new Re...

Older Drivers Catching Up With Boy Racers In Telematics Market
Older Drivers Catching Up With Boy Racers In Telematics Market
14 July, 2018

It goes without saying that, to date, younger drivers have benefitted most from the introduction and adoption of telemat...

Telematics policies fall in lockdown
Telematics policies fall in lockdown
15 October, 2020

A perfect storm of cancelled driving tests, the challenges of black box installation during lockdown and a push by pay-a...