Sorting out insurance doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Picking cover that’s both simple and ethical can leave you better protected and help your conscience too. Here you’ll find clear steps to help choose insurance that fits what you need, makes sense for your budget, and lines up with your values.
Small items like mobile phones and laptops may even be included with insurance, on credit card legislation. And many times, landlords cover things like building insurance. Always read the terms!
Some insurance is a legal necessity: buildings insurance, car insurance etc.
Pet insurance is a good idea, due to the huge cost of vet fees (most people don’t qualify for free or discounted vet care). If your old pet (or one with previous medical conditions) cannot get pet insurance, then save up in a rainy day account, in case of emergencies or illness.
Know What Cover You Legally Need
Start with the facts. In the UK, car insurance is a must if you drive. If you own a property with a mortgage, buildings insurance is usually required.
Employers’ liability insurance is necessary if you run a business and employ staff. Stick to these basics first to avoid breaking the law.
Skip Unnecessary Insurance
You don’t need a policy for everything. Think about what cover makes sense for your situation. Mobile phone, gadget, and extended warranty insurance often duplicate what you already get elsewhere. Assess your risks and only buy what matters.
Compare “Simple” Cover First
Look for policies that are easy to understand. Seek products with plain English documents and no hidden surprises. Comparison sites often let you filter out extras, making it quicker to match the core cover to your needs. Ignore flashy add-ons if they don’t suit your circumstances.
Choose Ethical Providers
Some insurers invest in fossil fuels or companies that clash with fair working practices. Ethical insurers publish policies on environmental impact and social responsibility. Look at independent rankings, such as those from Ethical Consumer, to see how providers score on these issues.
how to Keep Premiums Low
Use higher excesses to drop your monthly price if you can afford to pay the first chunk in a claim yourself. Avoid monthly payments where possible because they work like loans and add interest. Check for discounts, bundle cover (like car and home), and always search for no-claims bonuses.
Check Policy Terms for Claiming Ease
A nightmare claims process can make insurance useless. Read real customer reviews to spot insurers that pay out smoothly. Look for short turnarounds, 24/7 support, and clear claims steps. Steer clear if people complain about delays or unfair claim rejections.
Watch Out for Cancelled Direct Debits
A missed payment from a cancelled direct debit can leave you without cover even if you’ve paid before. Regularly look over your bank statements. Set up alerts if your bank or insurer offers them so you don’t lose protection without realising.
Understand Health Insurance Options
Most people in the UK use the NHS. If you want private health insurance for speedier treatment or more choice, make sure you’re not doubling up on what you already get. Read policies carefully. Some companies focus on ethical treatment of staff and support for mental health.
Buildings and Contents Insurance
Homeowners need buildings insurance if they’ve got a mortgage. Renters only need contents insurance. Ensure your buildings policy covers the right rebuild cost, not the market value. Review your contents cover limit each year to keep pace with new purchases.
Get Clarity with Car Insurance
Third party is the legal minimum but comprehensive can work out cheaper. Watch for extras you don’t need, like breakdown or legal cover, if they’re already included elsewhere. Stick with insurers with strong payout records and good customer service.
Don’t Ignore Pet Insurance Details
Vet bills add up fast. Skip annual policies that drop cover as your pet ages. Lifetime policies often cost a bit more but keep your pet covered long-term. Pick insurers with clear exclusions and review independent claims satisfaction scores.
Holiday Insurance that Covers the Basics
Travel insurance should handle medical emergencies, lost luggage, and cancellations. Avoid doubling up on cover from your bank, credit card, or airline. Double-check small print, especially for pre-existing conditions, adventure sports, or travel to “risky” countries.
Check Cover for Churches and Non-profits
If you help run a charity, church, or local group, standard business cover isn’t usually enough. Seek out insurers who know this sector, offer support for volunteers, and understand safeguarding needs. Ethical options often offer more support for community impact.
How to Keep Insurance Premiums Low
- Obviously the less you claim, the lower your premiums. Keeping yourself (and pets) healthy with good food and exercise, is likely to result in lower vet bills too. As well as obviously better quality of life, which is more important.
- Simplifying your life so you don’t need to pay huge premiums for a house full of expensive knick-knacks will likely be more relaxing and better for your mental health, cut out unnecessary insurance, and helps you live a less consumerist-lifestyle.
- To reduce car insurance, you could go car-free or use a car-sharing club (that pays insurance for you). If not, keep your car in good condition, drive safely and if you can, park it in a driveway or garage. Buy a good safe car (not a boy-racer, which will also be more expensive to insure!)
Where you buy your insurance (like where you shop) makes a huge difference to the ethics of modern consumerism. The insurance industry is huge.
We do need some insurance legally (buildings insurance is needed, but often covered for flat owners and rental tenants). But man other types are not needed.
And you don’t need to buy ‘extra cover’ for items from Argos. It would be far more helpful to sell items that we could repair ourselves. If you can’t repair it, you don’t own it.
General Ethical Insurance
Naturesave offers a good range of most other insurance including for business, with profits helping their own Naturesave Trust.
Evergreen Insurance is an ethical provider that donates to eco and animal charities of your choice. It offers Zixty car insurance (below) and other policies.
Arma Karma is a monthly insurance premium to cover many things at once including accidental damage, vehicle protection, theft and loss.
Just select up to 5 items out of 14 categories from phones to glasses to guitars, sort of like a pick-n-mix insurance, then get discounts on other items that you add.
Your personal details do not determine price, you just give the legal details (name, address, date of birth) to sign up.
And 25% of your premiums goes to one of their nominated charities (help rainforests, street children, youth mental health or homeless people). Cover starts from less than a fiver, sign up in 2 minutes.
Simple Pet Insurance
Waggel offers a simpler pet insurance (if pets don’t qualify due to age, breed or previous conditions, save money in a rainy day fund instead). Note some pet insurance companies also allow claims on pet detectives, for lost pets.
In the US, Healthy Paws has good reviews and simple policies, and uses profits to help animal shelters. Also read where to find free & low-cost vet care.
Health Insurance
The big companies usually do all they can to avoid paying, though they can work out okay for some events. If you do pay for private health insurance, consider the smaller and more ethical companies.
The Hospital Saturday Fund is a registered charity that started out to help people, before the NHS. You obviously have to pay premiums for a while before receiving benefits. But you can then get a bit of money back on dental, optician and holistic services, plus hospital stays.
Car Insurance
Environmental Transport Association offers a good range of policies, which also cover bicycle insurance and breakdown. Zixty offers short-term carbon-offset car insurance. Read how to be a (slightly) greener driver.
Churches & Nonprofits
Ecclesastical Insurance offers non-profit insurance for churches and charities. Running for over 130 years, it donates over 30% of profits to good causes (over £200 million donates in the last 10 years).
Travel Insurance
One Tree Travel was the first to offer a specialist policy for travellers with pre-existing medical conditions, and also plants at least one tree per policy.
This award-winning Cambridgeshire company contributes to reforestation and biodiversity for each policy sold.
