New guidance for insurance shoppers
Consumers buying insurance cover online will be able to take advantage of protection offered by new guidance.
A number of insurance comparison websites and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) have come together to develop the guide
People will be able to identify the best policy for them when they are buying general insurance, such as home and motor cover thanks to the document.
Under the guidelines, comparison websites, insurers and brokers selling cover online must enable people to review the key features of their policy before they commit to buying it.
The level of any voluntary or compulsory excess must also be prominently displayed and clearly explained, while it should also be made clear what level of cover is provided as standard, and what policy features are being sold as add-ons.
If companies cannot offer a quote to consumers, they should direct them to an alternative provider, such as a specialist insurer.
More than two-thirds of people now buy their motor insurance online, but consumer groups have expressed concerns about the way some policies are sold.
Nick Starling, the ABI's director of general insurance and health, said: "These guidelines will help ensure that customers get the best possible deal when buying general insurance products online, and we urge all online insurance providers to adopt them without delay."