Car insurers to offer rival online quotes

Britain’s first Website featuring competing quotes for motor insurance is unveiled this weekend, offering motorists the chance to compare quotes across a panel of major insurers online.

Screentrade (available on www.screentrade.com), operated by Shaw Insurance Brokers, is expected to extend its services to include home and contents cover early next year.

Consumers using the site will be able to compare quotes and obtain same-day cover from a panel of up to eight insurers, including Norwich Union, Royal & Sun Alliance and ITT London & Edinburgh.

The launch of the broking site by Shaw, a subsidiary of IT services giant Misys, comes three months after the launch of Britain’s first online motor insurance site by Eagle Star (MW August 21).

Misys expects to match or beat the quotes offered by most Net or phone-based direct sales insurance operations. Consumers are also being encouraged to avoid the time-consuming task of obtaining a range of quotes over the phone, or from direct-selling Websites.