Marks & Spencer has come up with a creative way of enticing new car insurance customers: it's offering a year's worth of free car washes for all new customers.
Until the end of February, anyone taking out a new M&S motor insurance policy through Moneysupermarket.com will receive a voucher book for 12 free washes at any ARC IMO location, a deal worth £84 a year.
The deal was announced in the same week as Kwik-Fit offered a special 24 hour "sale" during which every insurance policy came with a free MOT.
Such offers reflect the way price comparison sites and market competition have made it increasingly difficult for even the cheaper providers to rely on low prices attracting new customers. Where two firms offer prices in the same region, such bonuses can lure in a customer.
However, it's not always the best option to take advantage of such bonuses. From a purely financial standpoint there's no point taking up the M&S deal if you can get similar cover for at least £84 less with another insurer. The deal is even less of a bonus if you currently get your car washed for less than £7 a time, or have it washed less than once a month.
It's also important to remember that service and the way claims are handled is arguably the most valuable distinction between insurers which charge similar premiums.
You can get a car insurance quote including the M&S deal until the 28th February at Moneysupermarket.com.
