Web 'emerges as rival to offline car insurance'

13th May 2008

The traditional, offline method of purchasing automobile cover may have a rival in the form of the internet.

According to new comScore figures, a three per cent rise in the number of car insurance policies purchased on the web has taken place over the past year.

This trend has been accompanied by a corresponding three per cent fall in the amount of deals sold by traditional agents, the analyst suggested.

Data from the third week of March 2008 found that 15 per cent of sales are accounted for by the web, while 53 per cent represent offline deals.

"While it still remains the primary method, these latest findings show us that the landscape is beginning to change, with more and more consumers turning from traditional, offline channels to the internet," commented Kevin Litt, vice-president of the company.

In January, the analyst revealed that General Motors was the heaviest online advertiser in the automobile sector during the month.