The findings, published on 2 November, show that more shopping did not translate into a higher switching rate, which remained broadly in line with 2025. The 22% concerns policyholders; it is not a conversion rate for people requesting quotes.
The analysis draws on shopping transactions and vehicle information passing through LexisNexis Risk Solutions, offering a view of activity across the motor insurance market.
Premiums began to edge higher
LexisNexis links the rise in shopping to a period when premiums began increasing again. The Association of British Insurers puts the average premium actually paid in Q2 2026 at £566, a 1% quarterly increase, and motor claims payments at a record £3.2 billion for the quarter. [2] That average is a market measure, not a forecast of an individual renewal price.
There were regional differences in switching too: 23% among Manchester policyholders, against 21% in London. LexisNexis says the gap is narrowing. [1]
For drivers with a recent claim, renewal raises a separate question. Our guide explains how a non-fault accident can affect your premium, even where you are making a car insurance claim that was not your fault.
Hybrids and EVs reshape new-car registrations
Hybrids made up 46% of new private car registrations during H1 2026, with fully electric vehicles accounting for 24%. Their combined share was 70%. These figures describe newly registered private cars, not the entire fleet already on UK roads. [1]
The release assigns the remaining 30% to its internal combustion engine (ICE) category. Registrations in that category fell by 9% compared with H1 2025 and by 30% against H1 2022. Those are falls in registrations, not percentage-point changes in market share.
What the changing mix means after a crash
A repairer needs to assess the particular vehicle and damage. The Health and Safety Executive says working safely on electric and hybrid vehicles requires additional skills and training, with specialist equipment needed for some tasks. [3] That helps explain why choosing a suitably equipped repairer matters.
Modern cars also carry cameras, sensors and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). The ABI says such technology can improve safety while making repairs and replacements more expensive. [2] A repair plan may involve different parts and technology checks depending on the model. Waiting for parts or a suitably equipped workshop can add time; it does not follow that every hybrid or EV repair will be slow.
For a car repair after an accident, ask what is holding up the work and when the next update is due. Our guides cover vehicle repairs after an accident and why some car insurance claims take longer. For the stages from reporting to settlement, see how the car insurance claims process works.
Whether the shopping surge leads to more switching remains an open question. Meanwhile, the changing new-car mix makes the details of each vehicle relevant when assessing repairs.
Sources
1. LexisNexis Risk Solutions reported an average of 403,000 consumers looking for motor cover each day in the first half of 2026, roughly 31,000 more than a year earlier. - https://risk.lexisnexis.co.uk/about-us/press-room/press-release/20261102-demand-meter-uk-h1
2. The Association of British Insurers puts the average premium actually paid in Q2 2026 at £566, a 1% quarterly increase, and motor claims payments at a record £3.2 billion for the quarter. - https://www.abi.org.uk/media-hub/news-post/record-32-billion-paid-out-to-support-motor-insurance-customers-in-q2-2026
3. The Health and Safety Executive says working safely on electric and hybrid vehicles requires additional skills and training, with specialist equipment needed for some tasks. - https://www.hse.gov.uk/mvr/topics/electric-hybrid.htm
