If you’ve ever chuckled at a cartoon meerkat while searching for car insurance, you’re not alone. Compare the Market has spent nearly two decades embedding itself in British households through one of the most recognisable advertising mascots in UK insurance. Behind the jokes lies a practical tool that pulls quotes from over 100 car insurance providers, and a rewards programme that’s kept loyal customers returning year after year.
Founded: 2006 ·
Parent Company: BGL Group ·
Trustpilot Reviews: 128,319 (5 stars) ·
Primary Services: Insurance, household bills, finances ·
Key Campaigns: Meerkat rewards
Quick snapshot
- Car insurance (Compare the Market ratings and reviews)
- Van insurance (Compare the Market ratings and reviews)
- Health insurance (Compare the Market ratings and reviews)
- Home and travel cover (Compare the Market ratings and reviews)
- Meerkat Meals with 2-for-1 cinema tickets (Compare the Market on Google Play)
- Cashback on qualifying purchases (Compare the Market on Google Play)
- Free year with qualifying insurance (Compare the Market on Google Play)
- Tailored quotes across 5+ insurance types (Compare the Market on Google Play)
- AutoSergei™ renewal scanning (Compare the Market on Google Play)
- Account management (Compare the Market on Google Play)
- 5-star Trustpilot rating (Compare the Market ratings and reviews)
- 128,319 verified reviews (Compare the Market ratings and reviews)
- UK-focused service (Compare the Market ratings and reviews)
Five services compared across rewards, app integration, and renewal tools: car insurance pulls ahead on features.
| Feature | Car Insurance | Van Insurance | Health Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider panel | 100+ insurers | Multiple commercial insurers | UK PMI providers |
| Rewards eligible | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AutoSergei renewal alerts | Yes | No | No |
| Auto renewals management | Yes | Limited | No |
| App access | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The comparison table shows how car insurance leads in renewal tools, while van and health cover share rewards eligibility across the platform.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 |
| Owner | BGL Group |
| Primary market | United Kingdom |
| Insurance types | Car, van, health, home, travel, pet, life |
| Platform access | Website, mobile app (iOS, Android) |
| Rewards programme | Meerkat Meals, cinema tickets, cashback |
| App features | AutoSergei™ renewal scanning, tailored quotes, account management |
| Trustpilot rating | 5 stars from 128,319 reviews |
Compare the Market car insurance
How to get quotes
- Enter your vehicle registration and personal details
- Specify your coverage preferences and excess
- Compare quotes side-by-side from multiple providers
- Review policy details before purchasing directly
- Activate AutoSergei to monitor renewals
- Claim Meerkat rewards with qualifying purchases
Coverage options
The car insurance panel includes comprehensive, third-party fire and theft, and standard third-party policies from over 100 providers. AutoSergei™ scans for tailored deals before your policy renewal date, flagging cheaper alternatives based on your driving profile.
Customer experiences
Customer testimonials published on the Compare the Market official car insurance reviews page highlight concrete savings. One reviewer notes that the process helped them avoid auto-renewal at inflated prices.
Compare the Market van insurance
Quote process
- Select van type and usage (business or personal)
- Enter driver details, convictions, and no-claims history
- Choose required coverage level and add-ons
- Compare commercial vehicle quotes side-by-side
- Review policy documents before binding
- Access account through the mobile app
Provider comparisons
Commercial van policies differ from personal car cover in key ways. The hire-and-reward classification — required if you charge others to transport goods — pushes premiums higher than standard business use. Add-ons such as protected no-claims bonus, legal expenses cover, and roadside assistance all appear as optional line items in the comparison view.
Commercial van cover separates into standard business use and hire-and-reward — the latter, required for delivery drivers, commands a higher premium. Misclassifying your van use is one of the most common reasons a commercial policy gets voided at claim time.
Policy types
Standard options include third-party only, third-party fire and theft, and fully comprehensive. The comparison tool displays each policy’s excess, add-on options, and any restricted usage terms alongside the premium.
Compare the Market health insurance
Available plans
The UK private medical insurance panel covers basic hospital-only plans, standard policies with outpatient consulting, and comprehensive packages that include mental health support and full cancer care. Coverage tiers are displayed side-by-side with policy summaries and excess options.
Comparison factors
The comparison table presents hospital networks, outpatient limits, mental health cover, and cancer treatment terms alongside monthly or annual premiums. Basic plans limit you to a defined hospital network; comprehensive policies typically open that to a wider range of UK facilities.
For health insurance, the hospital network matters more than the product brochure suggests. A basic plan covering three hospitals within 20 miles of your postcode is more practical than a comprehensive policy covering 50 hospitals none of which are nearby.
Private health options
Compare the Market presents UK PMI quotes with clear distinctions between self-pay options, NHS GP referrals supported by diagnostics, and full private patient pathways. Mental health cover — historically a weak point in basic PMI — is flagged separately in the comparison view so buyers can weigh it against price.
Upsides
- Founded in 2006 — established UK brand with 128,000+ Trustpilot reviews
- Car insurance panel spans 100+ providers with AutoSergei renewal monitoring
- Rewards programme (Meerkat Meals, cinema tickets, cashback) unlocks tangible value with qualifying purchases
- App covers car, van, health, home, travel, pet, and life insurance
- Van and health insurance comparison fills a gap many competitors leave empty
Downsides
- App Store reviewers reportedly flag usability issues that cause some users to abandon the app
- No confirmed presence in Australia despite brand recognition
- AutoSergei renewal alerts limited to car insurance — not yet extended to van or health cover
- Rewards require active qualifying purchases; passive account holders do not unlock perks
Meerkat Compare the Market
Meerkat Meals rewards
- 2-for-1 cinema tickets via Meerkat Movies
- Meerkat Meals — £1.50 toward restaurant bookings
- 10% cashback with the Compare the Market credit card
Cinema rewards
Meerkat Movies is available to customers who purchase a qualifying insurance product through Compare the Market. The reward unlocks 2-for-1 cinema tickets on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at participating UK cinemas. Terms require an active qualifying policy — passive account holders without a purchased product reportedly do not access the offer.
Campaign history
The Aleksandr Orlov meerkat mascot has run since approximately 2011, becoming one of the most recognised characters in UK insurance advertising. The contrast between the absurdist comedy of the campaign and the practical savings the platform delivers has been a deliberate brand strategy.
“[The meerkat character] brings personality to what could be a very dry transaction — saving £400 on car insurance is a lot more appealing when there’s a cartoon giving you permission to laugh about it.”
— Marketing analysis from Wikipedia article on Compare the Market
Compare the Market app
App features
- Tailored quotes across car, home, travel, pet, and life insurance
- AutoSergei™ renewal scanning for car insurance before expiry
- Account management and policy documents
- Meerkat rewards activation with qualifying purchases
Download and setup
The Compare the Market app is available on iOS via the Apple App Store and on Android via Google Play. After downloading, users enter their postcode and coverage requirements to generate tailored quotes across multiple insurance types from a single dashboard.
Login process
Account login connects your policy documents, reward status, and renewal alerts in one place. The AutoSergei dashboard shows renewal dates and flags alternative deals when the current policy is approaching expiry.
“[Comparing through the app] saved us £414 on renewal after three years of auto-renewal at higher prices.”
— Trustpilot reviewer (Compare the Market reviews page)
Some Apple App Store reviewers describe the app interface as difficult to navigate, with at least one reviewer reportedly giving up after encountering repeated usability issues. Developer responses to negative reviews indicate an active feedback loop, but the pattern suggests the app experience does not match the brand’s desktop performance for all users.
Customer feedback is mixed: the official car insurance reviews page carries strong five-star ratings from customers who appreciate the savings and reward access, while the Apple App Store shows a sharper segment of frustrated users who reportedly found the interface difficult to navigate. Both positive and negative reviewers receive responses from the Compare the Market developer team on the App Store, indicating active review monitoring.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Compare the Market free to use?
Yes. Comparing quotes on Compare the Market is free for all users. The service earns commission from insurance providers when a customer purchases a policy through the platform — this is standard practice for comparison sites and does not affect the quote price shown to you.
How does Compare the Market make money?
Compare the Market earns revenue through affiliate commissions paid by insurance providers when a customer buys a policy after arriving through the platform. This model allows the service to remain free for users while being compensated for the traffic and leads generated.
What is the difference between Compare the Market and GoCompare?
Both are UK price comparison websites covering insurance and household bills. Compare the Market is owned by BGL Group and is notable for its meerkat mascot and rewards programme. GoCompare is owned by Future plc and focuses on a broader product range including telecoms and energy. The key difference for insurance buyers is the provider panel size and the rewards programme — Compare the Market’s meerkat incentives are unique to its platform.
Is Compare the Market safe for quotes?
Yes. Compare the Market is a legitimate UK financial services platform. It does not sell your data to insurers without consent, and the quote process uses standard secure data handling. The platform has a 5-star Trustpilot rating from 128,319 reviews — a volume that provides meaningful cross-check credibility.
Who owns Compare the Market?
Compare the Market is owned by BGL Group, a UK-based financial services and insurance distribution company headquartered in Peterborough. BGL Group also operates other comparison brands and has operated in the UK insurance market since the 1990s.
Does Compare the Market offer home insurance?
Yes. Home insurance is one of the core product categories available through the Compare the Market platform alongside car, van, health, travel, pet, and life insurance. The comparison view displays buildings and contents cover options from multiple providers with excess and coverage details.
How long do Compare the Market quotes take?
Most users receive a full comparison view within a few minutes of entering their details. The AutoSergei renewal scan, which runs against your existing policy information, adds a few seconds to the process but delivers a personalised alert rather than a generic renewal reminder.
Thomas Grant leads fact-checking, source verification and corrections at Australian Insight.