Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

General questions

Why do you ask for my Mother's maiden name?

Some of the sites we visit to get your quotes require this information for security purposes. If you are not happy to provide this information, it is acceptable for you to use any surname you wish, providing you remember the name you used as you may be asked to confirm it at a later stage.

You've asked me to create a password but won't accept what I've entered.

Ensure that the password you are entering has a minimum of 6 characters (letters, numbers or a mixture of both) with no spaces, and a maximum of 20 characters. The stronger your password, the lower the risk of someone guessing it and trying to use that information to access your personal details. We recommend that you avoid using common words and names or your PIN numbers.

Please note: If you click the 'get my quotes' button at the end of the quote form and you haven't ticked to accept our Terms and Conditions, you will also need to re-enter your password again before you can proceed.

How do I change my password?

You can change your password in a secure area of Gocompare.com. To do this:

Click the ‘Sign in' button (located in the top right corner of the site)
Enter your details to sign in (using your existing password)
Select ‘Change my password’
Enter your new password and confirm
Click 'Save'

I've forgotten my password. What should I do?

If you have forgotten your password you can request a reminder. To do this:

Click the ‘Sign in' button (located in the top right corner of the site)
Click on the 'forgotten your password?' link that appears underneath the password input
You will be taken to a new screen where you will be asked for your first name, surname, email address and date of birth
Enter your details then click the 'next' button
Your password reminder will be emailed to you
You can sign into your account directly from the email

How do I unsubscribe from your mailing list?

We'd like to stay in touch with you so we can remind you when your next renewal is due and, from time to time, let you know about new services from Gocompare.com. If you don't want to be contacted by us, you can unsubscribe and we'll remove your details from our contact list. When you unsubscribe online you will be asked to enter your email address, password and date of birth and we will then confirm that you have successfully unsubscribed. Please note: It may take up to five working days for your request to be fully processed.

Alternatively you can email us at unsubscribe@gocompare.com or write to us at the address below and request your details be removed.

    Data Protection Officer
    Gocompare.com Limited
    Unit 6
    Imperial Courtyard
    Newport, Gwent, NP10 8UL
    United Kingdom

How do I change my email address?

You can change your email address in a secure area of gocompare.com. To do this:

Click the 'Sign in' button (located in the top right corner of the site)
Enter your details to sign in (using your old email address)
Select 'Update my details'
Enter your new email address
Click 'Save'

How do I get another quote?

If you've already used gocompare.com to compare quotes for car, home, motorbike, van or pet insurance, you can sign in to your Gocompare account to get a new quote. When you sign in you'll be taken straight to your quote history page, where you can click the 'new quote' button for the insurance you are interested in. We've saved all your details securely so you don't have to enter them again when you get another quote.

How do I compare my quotes?

On the results page you can compare up to four quotes/policies side by side. Simply tick the box to the left of the insurer logos for the quotes/policies you wish to compare, and as you do so a box will appear containing a detailed breakdown of each one. You can remove a policy from the comparison by clicking the ‘remove’ button above the insurer’s details. To buy a policy, simply click on the ‘buy’ button and follow the on screen prompts.

How do I retrieve my saved quotes?

You'll need to sign in to your Gocompare account using either the 'Sign in' or 'Retrieve quotes' buttons. After entering your email address, date of birth and password to sign in, you'll be taken straight to your quote history page, where you can access your saved car, home, motorbike, van or pet insurance quotes.

How do I buy my insurance?

Once you've received your quotes you can buy your insurance by clicking the 'buy' button that appears on the results screen. After you've checked the policy details, click the 'Check details and buy' button and you will then be transferred to the insurance provider's website to complete your purchase.

Check all of your details are correct and follow the insurer's instructions on how to buy your insurance
You will need a credit or debit card to buy your policy, and if you want to pay by monthly instalments, you'll need your bank details to hand
Once you have completed your purchase, your chosen insurance company will send you your insurance documents

Some of our insurance partners also offer a telephone service so you can buy offline; don't forget to take a note of your quote reference number which appears on the 'more info' page as you will need this when you call.

Where are my policy documents?

Your documents should be sent to you by post directly from the insurance company you choose. These are normally dispatched the next working day but can take up to seven days to arrive. If you have still not received your documentation within seven days, please contact the insurance company directly and they will be able to assist you further.

Do non-motoring convictions need to be disclosed?

Convictions considered to be spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 do not need to be disclosed. If you are unsure, you can use UNLOCK’s Criminal Record Disclosure Calculator^† tocalculate whether your convictions are spent.

Who can I contact if I have an unspent conviction and cannot obtain a quote?

UNLOCK (The National Association of Reformed Offenders) provide access to a list of insurers who offer insurance if you have an unspent conviction. Their website also provides independent information and advice on how convictions can affect insurance. You can access the information by visiting their website www.unlock.org.uk^†.

Car insurance questions

Can you offer an 'any driver' policy?

Very few insurance companies now offer 'any driver' policies. However, you can input details on our website for the main driver/proposer and up to four named drivers.

What is the best car for a young driver?

There is no definitive 'best' first car, as every insurance company has their own set of rules when working out how much to charge for car insurance. However, we can give you a few tips to help you get a better car insurance deal.

Get a car with a small engine, for example a 1.1 litre rather than a 1.6 litre, which is normally in a lower insurance group rating. You’ll also tend to pay less road tax for a small engine car.
Stick to a basic or mid range specification car as these usually have a lower insurance group rating and avoid any performance models e.g. GTI, SXI, Sport.
Avoid any modifications (upgrades to enhance styling, audio or performance), as not only are modified vehicles more attractive to car thieves, they tend to be more expensive to fix and can increase your level of risk and your premium.
Add a second driver (named driver) to the policy, over the age of 25 with a clean licence. Parents are usually a good idea and with women being cheaper to insure than men, mums are usually best!
Get a Pass Plus certificate. Lots of insurance companies offer discounts to new driver who participate in the scheme.
Increase your voluntary excess. Choosing a higher voluntary excess when you take out your policy will reduce the price of your insurance policy.

Do you do multi-car policies?

There are insurance companies who provide multi-car or two car policies but we don't have anyone on our panel at the moment who offers this cover via our website.

I don't know the cost of my claim, what should I enter?

We understand that you may not know these details. Therefore, we recommend you contact your insurer (at the time of the claim) and ask them for the exact costs involved. This figure needs to be as accurate as possible.

Why do you ask about non-motoring convictions?

It's standard for most insurance companies to ask the question about non-motoring convictions. It gives an indication of the moral hazard/risk of the insured. For example, if a driver had been found guilty of dishonesty, fraud or theft then the insurance company is less likely to accept them as a policyholder because of this or will charge more for a policy.

We don't ask for the specific details of the non-motoring conviction as there are too many to choose from and they are constantly changing, instead we just ask if you have a non-motoring conviction.

Please note: Spent convictions don't need to be disclosed under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Can I apply my No Claims Bonus (NCB) to a second car?

No. The NCB applies to a single car; it can be transferred to an alternative car but it can’t be applied to an additional car or other vehicle. A number of insurers will give discounts or allow you to mirror your NCB on a second car but you would need to check with the individual insurers as to whether they offer such incentives.

I want to compare car insurance quotes for a double cab pick-up (e.g. Nissan Navara) but my vehicle isn't listed.

Double cab pick-ups are classed on our system as light commercial vehicles due to their dual purpose (business and social use). Because they are light commercial vehicles you will need to use our van insurance comparison, rather than car insurance comparison. We know that not everyone uses these vehicles for business purposes, so we hope that by comparing quotes you can still find the right policy for your needs.

Home insurance questions

I don't know the value of my household contents, how do I get this?

If you are unsure of your contents value, it may be a good idea to go to each room and note the approximate value of items and then add them all together to get to a total figure for your household. Don't forget to include carpets, curtains/blinds and items that may be in cupboards or drawers.

How do I calculate the re-build cost of my property?

Please use the following link to help with the rebuild costs:

http://abi.bcis.co.uk^†

You could also take a look at your most recent home Insurance schedule or the surveyor's report you would have received if you have recently purchased the property.

I don't know what locks I have

To help you identify your locks, we provide pictures of the most common lock types at the point where we ask you to confirm what types of locks are fitted.

My property is unoccupied can I still get a quote?

We are not able to offer a quotes comparison service for unoccupied properties, but you can obtain a quote from Towergate Connect, our preferred provider for unoccupied property insurance. To find out more and to get started, visit our unoccupied property insurance page.

Why do you ask about tree damage?

We include this question as some of the insurance companies we visit require information about tree damage so they can provide you with a quote.

The insurance companies who don't ask about trees say in their terms and conditions that they do not cover properties with trees in the near vicinity.

Motorbike insurance questions

I'm under 16 can I get a quote?

We are sorry but we can't give you a quote until you are actually 16 years of age.

We have approached the insurance companies on our panel to ask if they would provide prices to under 16s, but they would prefer us not to accept these quotes on our website. On your 16th birthday you will be able to get a quote.

Can I apply my No Claims Bonus (NCB) to a second motorbike?

No. The NCB applies to a single motorbike; it can be transferred to an alternative motorbike but it can’t be applied to an additional motorbike or other vehicle. A number of insurers will give discounts or allow you to mirror your NCB on a second motorbike but you would need to check with the individual insurers as to whether they offer such incentives.

Van insurance questions

Can I apply my No Claims Bonus (NCB) to a second van?

No. The NCB applies to a single van; it can be transferred to an alternative van but it can’t be applied to an additional van or other vehicle. A number of insurers will give discounts or allow you to mirror your NCB on a second van but you would need to check with the individual insurers as to whether they offer such incentives.