MOTORISTS may have paid over the odds for car insurance that doesn't cover their needs, a consumer group has warned.

Which? found "inconsistencies and a lack of real choice" when it comes to the policies listed on four major comparison websites – Compare The Market, Confused, GoCompare, and MoneySuperMarket.

It said this could leave consumers at risk of buying policies that simply don't meet their needs.

When it comes to price, for example, a Motor Quote Direct policy on GoCompare was £71 more expensive in a scenario featuring a London based driver, than the cheapest offer on Compare The Market (via broker Autonet) for what appeared to be the same policy.

Meanwhile, apparently identical Aviva policies appeared several times offered by different brokers but with clear differences in price.

In another scenario, the top 30 results were being sold by as few as 12 providers.

How to save on car insurance

CAUGHT driving without insurance will see you slapped with a huge fine – but it doesn’t come cheap either. Here are some tips you can follow to get you the best ideal on your insurance:

• Buy 21 days in advance – Purchasing a policy three weeks in advance can cut your bill in half. Taking out a policy too late and insurers will deem you a higher risk and will whack up your premium.
• Never accept a renewal quote – Your policy could double overnight if you're not careful. Make sure you set a reminder for when it's up and shop around for a better deal.
• Check more than one comparison site – These sites offer different deals so it's best to look at more than one site at the 21 day mark to see what they can offer.
• Check Aviva and Direct Line separately – Two of the biggest insurers aren't on comparison sites, so you'll need to check them too to see if they can offer you a better deal.
• Don't wait for a renewal – If you find a better deal elsewhere, you can cancel your existing policy and get a refund for the rest of the year. There will be a fee though – usually £50 – so take that into consideration when you look at how much you can save.

But it's not just overpaying for policies that Which? is concerned about.

Its research also found discrepancies in the policy documents listed by comparison websites when compared to those found on the insurer's website.

Which? said that for six in 10 policies, at least one detail published on the price comparison site was different to that posted in policy documents.

Examples include claims on a comparison website that a courtesy car is guaranteed should your car require repair, whereas the policy document made no such guarantee.

Incorrect information about cover for loss and theft of keys were also some of the discrepancies.

And unreliable levels of cover for personal accident – in one case GoCompare described cover up to £5,000 for disability, but the limit in the policy document was only £2,500.

Harry Rose, Which? Money editor said: "We were staggered to see such a high amount of errors across the policies listed on price comparison sites.

"Millions of consumers visit these websites, hoping to find all the information they need to make an informed decision in one place – yet our findings cast real doubt on their ability to do so."

Read more on car insurance

But there is some respite for motorists.

Recent research reveals that car insurance prices have fallen up to £403 in the last year.

Here's how to find out what insurance policy is right for you and your car.

We also reveal Britain’s best car insurance companies and the best day to day your cover.

Plus, as petrol prices soar, we tell you how to find the cheapest deals at the pumps.

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