Car Insurance Comparison APIs

[NinjaStory]

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Hi

I'm in the process of writing a business plan for a car insurance comparison site (yes, I'm aware of the competition but I have cunning plan). The one, fundamental point that's got me stuck is how to handle the quote retrieval process.

Do any of car insurers offer any feeds or API's as part of their affiliate programs?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Ta

[andylink]

I doubt insurers offer an API and as I understand it the insurers have direct relationships with the comparison sites, known in the industry as insurance aggregators providing direct access to their backend quote system, meaning the insurer chooses to work with a select number of aggregators.

FYI
Many insurance companies are pulling out from aggregators, norwich union direct for a very recent example and Direct Line are happy to inform you at every chance that you wont find them on any either.

I forget the actual figure but research shows that a very small percentage of aggregator users actually go ahead and purchase the policy there and then, prefering to find the top 2 or 3 cheapest insurers via the aggregator and then contact the insurer direct via the call centre or via the insurers own website (less than 10% from memory)

Not trying to put you off and like I said I don't know about API's but like you already said, it is a very competitive market dominated by a handful of companies with massive marketing budgets and customer reach.

[jhulott]

Most Online insurers will use XML so you will need to have deals in place with the insurers first and get access to their XML feed. You can get a good number form Budget Insurance as they run and own CompareTheMarket.com

Good luck with it. Hoe you have a gazillion quid for advertising!

Jason