Seopa operates the FCA-regulated comparison platform behind Quotezone and CompareNI, as well as hundreds of enterprise partner front ends. Over 9 million quotes run across the platform annually for 4 million UK customers. The price indices published across these consumer brands are drawn directly from this live quote and transaction activity.
Journalists, industry analysts, and commercial partners quoting figures from the group should reference this methodology page for the data foundation behind each figure.
What the indices measure
Each index reports prices quoted to real customers completing an active comparison journey, rather than premiums transacted at the point of sale. A quoted price represents the premium an insurer offered to a specific customer based on their distinct risk profile at a precise moment in time. It reflects the exact pricing options presented to the consumer during their decision-making process.
This distinction is critical when comparing Seopa data against metrics built on written business or industry-wide premium returns, which measure different operational touchpoints. Samples are drawn at random directly from live platform quote activity, avoiding survey reliance, panel questionnaires, or modelled estimates.
The indices
Quotezone Car Insurance Price Index
- Coverage: United Kingdom, segmented across 12 regions and 5 age bands, reported monthly and quarterly.
- Sample: Random sample of 100,000+ UK car insurance policies quoted.
- Current Edition: Q2 2026 (drawn from policies quoted between March 2025 and June 2026, published July 2026).
- Current Headline: UK average of £619, up 6.8% compared to Q1 2026.
- Update Cycle: Quarterly (next edition: October 2026).
- Governance: Written by Katie Gawley, Insurance Content Writer; reviewed by Greg Wilson, Founder.
CompareNI Car Insurance Price Index
- Coverage: Northern Ireland, segmented by council area and age band, reported monthly and quarterly.
- Sample: Random sample of 100,000+ car insurance policies quoted.
- Current Edition: Q1 2026 (drawn from policies quoted between January and March 2026).
- Current Headline: Northern Ireland average of £624.60, running 7.8% above the UK national average for the same quarter. The Belfast City Council area recorded an average of £870.69.
- Update Cycle: Quarterly (Internal Note: Publication cadence, next edition date, author, and reviewer to be confirmed prior to publication).
CompareNI Home Insurance Price Index
- Coverage: Northern Ireland by council area, featuring a benchmark comparison against 12 UK regions.
- Sample: 100,000 home insurance policies quoted, based on a standardized three-bedroom property risk profile.
- Current Edition: Q3 2023 to Q3 2024.
- Current Headline: Northern Ireland average of £487.89 compared to £185.88 in England (61.9% higher).
- Update Cycle: Periodic refresh (Internal Note: Next edition publication date to be confirmed prior to page go-live).
Why two indices report a Northern Ireland car figure
The two metrics address distinct analytical questions and should be cited accordingly:
- Quotezone Index: Reports Northern Ireland as one of 12 UK regional metrics, providing the appropriate benchmark for comparing Northern Ireland against national trends.
- CompareNI Index: Reports on Northern Ireland in isolation, providing granular council-area breakdowns evaluated against a provider panel tailored specifically for the local market.
Both indices publish on independent release schedules. Quoted figures should always cite the specific quarter referenced. Where publication quarters differ, data points are not directly comparable.
Methodological limitations
- Quoted vs. Transacted: Quoted prices reflect live market options, not final transactions. A customer may choose a policy other than the lowest quote shown or opt not to purchase.
- Distribution vs. Averages: National averages do not capture localized risk variance. Regional and demographic cuts account for wide risk spreads (for example, a 19-year-old Belfast driver sits far outside national summary figures).
- Sample Composition: Data reflects active digital comparison users. While representative of broad consumer shopping habits, it does not constitute a full census of all UK insurance policies written.
- Revision Policy: Published index editions are not revised retrospectively. Any methodological updates are explicitly documented in the edition that introduces them.
How to cite
When referencing Seopa price indices, please use the following citation formats:
- UK Car Index:
Quotezone Car Insurance Price Index, Q2 2026. Based on a random sample of 100,000+ UK car insurance policies quoted between March 2025 and June 2026. - Northern Ireland Car Index:
CompareNI Car Insurance Price Index, Q1 2026. Based on a random sample of 100,000+ car insurance policies quoted between January and March 2026. - Northern Ireland Home Index:
CompareNI Home Insurance Price Index. Based on 100,000 home insurance policies quoted between Q3 2023 and Q3 2024 for an average three-bedroom property.
Note: Always cite the specific quarter alongside any quoted statistic. For unpublished cuts or custom regional breakdowns, contact the Seopa press office.
The enterprise behind the data
Seopa Ltd was founded in Belfast in 2003 by Greg Wilson and has operated UK insurance comparison platforms since 2005. Quotezone launched in 2005, followed by CompareNI in 2009. The platform spans over 60 insurance, utilities, and financial products across six categories, drawing on direct relationships with more than 300 insurance providers.
Seopa Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 313860; Companies House NI046322). The company is registered with the ICO as a data controller under UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 (Z8733752), holds ISO 27001 certification for information security, is Ofgem-accredited for energy comparison, and has achieved Deloitte Best Managed Companies Platinum status for three consecutive years.
Media and research enquiries
For commentary on published figures, custom segment cuts, or advance sight of forthcoming index releases, contact the Seopa press office. Custom data requests are typically processed within five business days