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15 Feb 2024

Axa car insurance review

Name: Axa car insurance review
Item: Axa Car Insurance Policy
Rating: 57
Author: Maha Gadir

Read Which?'s expert review of Axa car insurance. Find out how we rate its policies against 27 other providers

Maha GadirMarket analyst

In this article

What does Axa car insurance offer?

Axa is one of the largest insurers in the UK, offering a range of car, home and travel insurance policies. It also owns the Swiftcover brand and is underwritten by Axa Insurance UK plc.

Axa offers two car insurance policies – Axa Car and Axa Plus.

Please note that the information in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. Please refer to the particular terms and conditions of an insurer before committing to any financial products.

Find out more: how to find cheap car insurance.

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Does Axa offer the best car insurance?

Here's how Axa scored in our latest survey:

70% customer score means it's joint-2nd out of 27 insurers we had customer scores for
57% policy score on its standard policy – 24th out of 28 standard policies we reviewed
69% claims score, placing it joint-4th among the 25 insurers we had claims scores for.

See how this compares with the best car insurance.

We review a lot of policies - and our 'Best Buy' badge recognises the individual products that stood out as being the most comprehensive in our analysis. It doesn't reflect customer service. However, we won't give a provider a Best Buy badge where there's evidence - either from our surveys or from Financial Conduct Authority data - of poor service or a poorer-than-average record of paying claims.

Policies named as Best Buys must have a minimum policy score of 65%

Additionally, we look at how consistently good the cover is in policies. To make the cut, a policy needs to have scored at least three out of five points in two thirds of the areas we've rated.

Find out more: how we rate policies.

Lastly, all Best Buy policies must provide - either as standard or as an option - the following levels of cover as a minimum:

'Comprehensive' cover (meaning it covers third party claims, fire, theft and accidental damage to your car), a temporary courtesy car if yours is under repair or if it has been stolen or written off, a repairs guarantee period of at least 3 years, cover for damage to your windows or windscreen, legal expenses cover, liability cover of £20m or more and personal accident cover.

We analyse and rate 78 key elements of car insurance policies to come up with the overall policy score.

Initially, we score all of the product elements out of five, reflecting how competitive each provider is in this area compared with other insurers. We assess how important different policy elements are to drivers when choosing and using a car insurance, and weight different areas of cover accordingly to enhance/reduce their impact in the overall product score.

How good are Axa's car insurance policies?

With an underwhelming 57%, Axa's standard policy fared below average (64%) in our analysis.

We liked that it's one of the few policies to provide a lifetime guarantee on repairs it arranges. We were also impressed that it guarantees the availability of a courtesy car during repairs, although this is an optional add-on.

However, it underperformed in numerous other areas of our analysis. These included no courtesy car cover if your vehicle is written off and a lack of cover for damaged, lost or stolen keys. Unlike with some policies, your no-claims discount will be dented if you claim because your car is vandalised.

Mobile phones covered under personal possessions

Out of the 61 policies we examined, around half counted your mobile phone as a covered personal possession, including Axa's standard policy.

The cover – with a maximum benefit limit of £150 per claim – also contributes towards the cost of laptops and tablets damaged in or stolen from your car.

Axa Plus is a Best Buy

Axa's pricier alternative policy, Axa Plus, did much better in our analysis and is a Best Buy. It ranked sixth out of 61 policies we compared, with a score of 74%. Axa Plus has higher cover limits and lower excesses in various areas compared with Axa's standard policy.

Its perks include a courtesy car if your car is damaged or stolen, misfuelling cover, and cover for overnight accommodation and travel expenses (up to £300) if you're stranded following an accident.

Axa: key cover areas rated

Select a table:

Axa Plus


Fire excess	£100
Theft excess	£100
Accidental damage excess	£100
Windscreen replacement excess	£25
Is the policy holder's NCD affected if car is hit while parked	Yes
Windscreen damage - limit per claim	Unlimited / £100
Window damage - limit per claim	Unlimited / £100

Tables last updated February 2024. Next update January 2025. We recommend checking policies before buying.

How did customers rate Axa's car insurance policy?

We asked Axa customers who have recently made a claim how they felt about their car insurance.

Axa's car insurance scored an impressive customer score of 70%, placing it joint-second out of the 27 car insurers we received sufficient responses for in our customer survey.

Customers were also asked to rate their most recent claim and weren't as impressed, scoring 69% – joint-fourth out of 25 companies we compared.

Here's how customers rated Axa in various areas of service:

Select a table:

Customer satisfaction


Application process	-
Clarity of policy
Dealing with queries
Ease of managing your policy online
Fair treatment of longstanding customers	-
Dealing with complaints
Value for money

Tables last updated February 2024. Next update January 2025. A dash '-' indicates insufficient sample size (less than 30) to generate a star rating.

How can you save money on Axa car insurance?

Axa's car insurance policies are available on the following price comparison websites:

Compare the market
Go Compare
Confused.com
MoneySuperMarket
Mustard
Uswitch

Axa policies cost the same to buy whichever channel you purchase them through (online, by phone or through a comparison website).

Axa provides a discount if you purchase both home and car insurance. It also takes dash cam ownership into account when you're buying your cover, which means owning one could lower the price.

Above information is correct as of December 2023.

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Axa: How can you claim?

To make a claim with Axa car insurance, call 0330 024 1305 or go through its website.

You'll be asked for your personal details and policy number. If applicable, you'll also need a police reference number and details of any witnesses and the third party involved in the claim.

Find out more: is it worth claiming on your car insurance?

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Axa car insurance review