Churchill extends presence on price comparison websites

Churchill, Privilege and Sainsbury’s Bank motor  insurance products join comparethemarket.com

From today, motor insurance products from Churchill, Privilege and strategic partner brand, Sainsbury’s Bank, will be available on comparethemarket.com, one of the leading price comparison websites.

The agreement serves to reinforce Direct Line Group’s multi-channel distribution strategy for some of the leading brands in its portfolio.  Churchill and Privilege products are now quoted on the top four UK price comparison websites (PCWs), which make up the majority of the PCW market for private motor insurance.

Price comparison websites are an integral part of Direct Line Group’s distribution strategy.  By tailoring the channel mix for each product, Direct Line Group can target its brands across distinct customer segments, ensuring customers are able to buy the products and brands through the channel they prefer and enabling the Group to reach its target customer segments.  As part of this strategy, insurance products from Direct Line will continue to be sold direct to customers and are unavailable through price comparison websites or other intermediaries.

Over half (56 per cent) of private motor insurance customers start their journey on a price comparison website1.  comparethemarket.com is currently one of the leading comparison websites2 with a reputation for providing customers with an easy and quick way of viewing and comparing insurance policy quotations from multiple providers.  It therefore represents a strong platform for customers to access motor insurance products from Churchill and Privilege brands, as well as Sainsbury’s Bank, in addition to the existing direct routes.

Commenting on the launch, Paul Geddes, Chief Executive Officer, Direct Line Group, said: "Direct Line Group provides customers with a range of brands, channels, products and services that best address their needs or choices.  I’m delighted that this agreement extends our multi-channel distribution strategy, making some of our products more widely accessible.  This partnership supports our retail general insurance strategy and gives even more customers more choice in how they can access some of the leading retail brands in our portfolio."

Paul Galligan, Managing Director at comparethemarket.com said, "Above all, this is more great news for our customers.  People today are faced with what can be a bewildering choice of literally hundreds of products.   Our aim is to make it easier to save money on great products.   Adding leading Direct Line Group brands such as Churchill and Privilege further strengthens our offering and means that our customers can receive great prices from an even wider range of insurers, all in one easy to use comparison service.  We are delighted to have them on board."

Churchill, Privilege and Sainsbury’s Bank motor insurance products are available on comparethemarket.com from 11 July 2012.

-ENDS-

For further information, please contact:

Jennifer Thomas
Direct Line Group Media Relations
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8285 8865
Mob: 07901 518 965
Email: jennifer.n.thomas@rbs.co.uk

Notes to Editor

1Datamonitor UK Insurance Aggregators 2011
2Datamonitor UK Insurance Aggregators 2011