The verdict in three sentences
An insurer that wants to sell motor cover online does not need an upgraded brochure site but a transactional platform: quote engines, purchase, payment and a customer portal. The 2026 budget sits between GBP 140,000 and 350,000 (about USD 180,000 to 450,000), versus GBP 45,000 to 70,000 for a simple corporate website, with a 4 to 7 month timeline. Success depends less on design than on FCA compliance and integration with the policy administration system, without which every policy sold online has to be rekeyed by staff.
Brochure site or purchase platform
A brochure site presents the company, its products and its regional offices, and collects callback requests. A transactional platform lets customers get a price, pay and receive their documents without speaking to anyone, which changes the nature of the project.
| Feature | Brochure site | Transactional platform |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 budget | GBP 45,000 to 70,000 | GBP 140,000 to 350,000 |
| Timeline | 6 to 8 weeks | 4 to 7 months |
| Quote engines | Quote request form | Motor, home, travel, health with instant price |
| Purchase and payment | No | Card, Apple Pay, monthly Direct Debit |
| Customer portal | No | Policies, certificates, renewals, claims notification |
| Policy admin integration | No | API or file exchange (Guidewire, SSP, Duck Creek) |
| Annual maintenance | GBP 7,000 to 12,000 | GBP 30,000 to 60,000 |
Accessibility to WCAG 2.1 AA is expected by the FCA Consumer Duty focus on vulnerable customers, and should be built in from the start.
Detailed budget for an insurance platform
| Line item | Scope | 2026 budget |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery, journeys and compliance | Workshops with underwriting, legal and distribution | GBP 14,000 to 29,000 |
| UX/UI design | Mobile-first journeys, accessibility, vulnerable customer flags | GBP 21,000 to 47,000 |
| Corporate website | Products, offices, news, careers, reports | GBP 29,000 to 58,000 |
| Quote engines | Motor, home, travel | GBP 17,500 to 52,000 |
| Online purchase and payment | Document upload, e-signature, card, Direct Debit | GBP 23,500 to 58,000 |
| Customer portal | Policies, certificates, renewals, claims with photos | GBP 21,000 to 58,000 |
| Policy admin integration | Policy creation, certificate issuance, billing | GBP 14,000 to 48,000 |
| Total | GBP 140,000 to 350,000 |
The low end covers motor only with daily file exchange, the high end four products with real-time integration to the policy admin system.
FCA rules, data and security
The FCA Insurance Conduct of Business Sourcebook (ICOBS), the Consumer Duty and the pricing practices rules frame customer information, fair value and renewal pricing. The site must be signed off by compliance before launch, and the customer journey evidenced for fair outcomes.
| Requirement | What the website must do | Indicative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-contract information | IPID, policy wording, total premium including Insurance Premium Tax shown before payment | Included in the journey |
| Pricing practices | Renewal price no higher than equivalent new business price, logic held in rating engine | Included in quote engines |
| Motor certificate | Issued from the policy admin system, Motor Insurance Database update | GBP 9,000 to 23,000 |
| UK GDPR | Consent, purposes, retention periods, records of processing | GBP 6,000 to 14,000 |
| Security | TLS, multi-factor authentication on the portal, web application firewall, annual penetration test | GBP 17,000 to 35,000 per year |
| Hosting | Daily backups, recovery plan, encrypted sensitive data | GBP 14,000 to 35,000 per year |
| Payments | PCI DSS via hosted fields, automatic reconciliation, instant receipt | 1 to 2% per card transaction |
Mini case study
James, marketing director of a UK general and life insurer headquartered in London (30 regional offices), approves a GBP 240,000 project: motor and home, card and Direct Debit payments, customer portal and policy admin integration, with GBP 45,000 a year for maintenance and hosting.
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Year one target: 4,000 motor policies bought online at an average premium of GBP 600, i.e. GBP 2.4 million of gross written premium. Without an intermediary, the insurer saves about 12% commission, i.e. GBP 288,000, plus around GBP 15 of handling cost per policy, i.e. GBP 60,000. Total: GBP 348,000 a year, against GBP 285,000 invested in year one. The project pays back in about 10 months, and automated renewals then improve retention.
FAQ
Can motor insurance be sold fully online?
Yes, provided the journey meets FCA rules on customer information and fair value, and certificates are issued by the policy admin system with a Motor Insurance Database update. Most insurers start with motor, a simple compulsory product, before opening home and travel.
Which payment methods should we integrate?
Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay for annual payment, and Direct Debit for monthly instalments, which a large share of UK motor customers choose. Allow 1 to 2% per card transaction and GBP 12,000 to 23,000 of integration.
Do we need comparison sites as well?
Usually yes for motor, at GBP 40 to 80 per sale. A strong direct website reduces dependence on them and captures renewals without paying the fee again.
How long until online purchase goes live?
Allow 4 to 7 months, including 6 to 10 weeks for policy admin integration and compliance sign-off. A phased launch, motor first, cuts the timeline to 4 months.
Should the website be multilingual?
English is enough for the core journey, but key documents in plain English and an accessible design count more under the Consumer Duty. Accessibility work adds 5 to 10% to the design budget.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your priority products, your policy admin system and your payment methods, and we will price the platform between GBP 140,000 and 350,000 with a 4 to 7 month schedule. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
