M&S Financial Services offers a variety of financial and insurance products, but Car Insurance is something that almost everyone needs - at least if you own a car. Unfortunately there are so many companies offering Car Insurance today that, after a while, one policy may begin to look much like the next.

Thinking that most Car Insurance policies are much the same is usually a bad idea. At worst it can be a very expensive mistake - this is when you find out that your Car Insurance policy doesn't actually cover you for what you thought it did, or it takes your Car Insurance company months and months to argue over whether to pay you or not. Fortunately M&S Financial Services Car Insurance is not like that at all, and when you compare M&S Car Insurance to the competition then it stacks up quite nicely.

For example, here are just some of the options which come as standard with Marks and Spenser 5 Star Premier cover Car Insurance (correct at May 2009), which are quite often not included with comparable Car Insurance plans from companies such as Direct Line, Sainsburys, or Tesco:

• Personal UK and European Breakdown Cover automatically included
• Comprehensive cover for trips abroad in the European Union - up to 90 days per trip
• Courtesy car during approved repairs automatically included
• Cover for Motor Legal Protection automatically included

So, it is clear that, besides being good value, M&S Car Insurance also provides much more extensive cover than some of the top competitors. Additionally, you don't even need to be behind the wheel to benefit from M&S Financial Services UK and European Breakdown Cover, since it covers you as a passenger too.

Not so long ago, only banks and traditional insurance companies offered financial or insurance products, yet today it may often seem as if even the local corner shop is offering financial products. That's not quite true, of course, but many more companies do offer financial products than used to be the case, and it can sometimes be difficult to decide who is offering the best deal.

And, while Mark's & Spencer once offered mostly fashion products, with the only hint of a credit card being when you paid for your shopping at the checkout, today you'll find as good a deal on M&S credit cards as you will with the latest range of M&S fashion.

In fact, these days Marks and Spenser, through its M&S Financial Services website, offer a range of financial products which would not look out of place in many banks, including M&S Car Insurance, M&S Buildings Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, savings products, M&S Credit Cards, M&S Loans, and much more besides.

M&S Financial Services Insurance: There are, quite literally, hundreds of companies in the UK from whom you can purchase insurance. Whether you're looking for the best deal on Car Insurance, buildings and contents insurance, or even wedding insurance, it doesn't take long to find a company that will sell you a policy.

However, not all insurance companies, and certainly not all insurance policies, are the same. What may be standard on one insurance policy may be an optional extra on another, for instance; Car Insurance and Buildings Insurance are especially like this.

For example, most home and contents insurance policies either ask you to provide the total cost of rebuilding your home plus the total value of your home contents, or they will set an upper limit. This may seem fine at the time, but, in the event of a claim on your Buildings Insurance policy, the values act as maximum limits, and so you may, in effect, be under-insured and not receive the full value of your insurance claim.

Fortunately, M&S Financial Services Insurance does not have these insurance limits, excepting liability and cash cover, and therefore you can not be under-insured.

Lace-Up Canvas Trainers, at Mark's & Spencer
Round toe 6 eyelets Lace-up Flat sole

Secano Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2008 - Case of 12, at Marks and Spencer
Style: Dry Grape variety: Sauvignon Blanc Country of origin: Chile Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 12 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 13.5% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 10.1 Alcohol units per 125ml: 1.7 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Kaituna Hills Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2006 - Case of 6, at Marks&Spencer
Style: Full bodied Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot Country of origin: New Zealand Closure: Natural cork Bottle: 6 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 13% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 9.8 Alcohol units per 125ml: 1.6 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Autograph Spot Print Brazilian Knickers, at M&S
Glamorous and sexy, these figure-hugging Brazilian briefs are made from soft fabric trimmed with fine lace. The shapely Brazilian style looks very modern and gives a flattering fit. Beautiful exclusive lingerie

Per Una Cotton Rich Tonal Stripe Bootleg Trousers with Belt, at Marks and Spencer
A smart pair of boot leg trousers in stretch cotton featuring a tonal stripe design and belt

Winnie The Pooh Family Organiser Calendar, at Marks&Spencer
Contains: 1 pen and memo pad Approx. size: 330 x 430mm Disney. Based on the "Winnie the Pooh" works by A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard. www.disney.com

Elton Sunglasses, at Mark's & Spencer
These elegantly understated sunglasses will never go out of style. A fabulously versatile summer essential

Blue Harbour Luxury Pure Cotton Bold Stripe Shirt, at Marks n Spencer
Soft, comfortable and very stylish, this luxury shirt is made with fantastic attention to detail

Large Tear Drop Gemstone Photo Frame, at Marks & Spensers
Round shape Multifaceted faux gemstones Tear-drop gem design, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Bodysuit & Bib Set, at M & S
Cute and practical, this bodysuit and bib set is great value. Envelope neckline makes quick changes easy and the soft cotton fabric will keep the baby feeling comfy and happy

Pure Cotton Satin Rose Cream Duvet Cover, at Marks & Spensers
Rouched three dimensional floral panel Slim pleat trim Comes in single (3ft), double (4ft 6'), kingsize (5ft) and super-kingsize (6ft) 100% cotton sateen 300 thread count, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

2 Cotton Rich °Climate Control Short Sleeve Vests, at Marks&Spencer
Climate control keeps you cool when you're hot and warms you up when you're cold so you're always at your optimum temperature. Exclusive to M&S, Climate control clothing is comfortable and breathable - ideal for sportswear. The Outlast technology behind this innovative fabric was originally developed for astronauts and is recognised by NASA as Certified Space Technology

Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Monster Top, at Marks & Spencer
Fun and fashionable this long sleeve top in soft cotton is outstanding value!

Leather Slip-on Tramline Shoes, at Mark & Spencers
Tramline design Square toe Stitch detail Slip-on Block heel

Portfolio Marrakesh Chunky Bead & Stone Bracelet, at Marks and Spencer
Stretch bracelet Chunky beads Oval stone and jewel design

100 Cotton Balls, at Marks and Spencer
Pack of 100

Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Beaded Kaftan, at Mark & Spensers
Fresh and feminine, this stylish kaftan features pretty bead embellisment. The ultimate in poolside glamour

Footglove™ Leather Dolly Shoes, at Mark's & Spencer
Round toe Single strap with buckle fastening Mid heel Heel height: 64mm Footglove™ soles are comfortable, highly flexible and lightweight Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes

Autograph Platform Peep Toe Shoes, at Marks and Spencer
Peep Toe Platform style High heel Slip on Available in sizes 3-8, including half sizes

Long Length Seam Skirt with Belt, at Marks and Spencer
Smart and modern, this flared skirt is a stylish, versatile choice. A look that works dressed up or down

Autograph Essentials Wool Rich Deep Waistband Skirt, at Marks and Spencers
Luxurious and timeless, this smartly tailored pencil skirt is part of our exclusive Autograph Essentials range

Charlotte Large 2 Seater Sofa AU09 Newness, at Marks & Spencers
Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

The Healthy Diet Calorie Counter Book, at Marks and Spenser
Full of information and advice for the health-conscious slimmer, this book takes a fresh look at 'calorie counting'. Easy to use tables convey the nutritional value of over 600 foods, while a 'Quality Calorie' points system tells you whether the calories in a particular food are good or 'empty'

Autograph Leather Centre Seam Slip-On Shoes, at Mark's & Spencer
Square toe Center seam feature Slip-on Low block heel Comes in sizes 6-12, including half sizes

Abstract Print Tie Waist Mesh Skirt, at Marks and Spencer
Pretty and feminine, this skirt makes a fashionable, flattering choice. A smart modern look

Large Hurricane Lamp, at Marks and Spencer
Hurricane design Clear glass Comes with candle and sand Thick base, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Ruffle Neck Ribbed Vest Top, at MarksandSpencer
For casual elegance, you can't beat this ruffle neck vest top. A great value cotton essential

Handcrafted Love Lane Mummy's Day Card, at Marks & Spencer
Cover text: Happy Mummy's Day, You're so lovely, I'm glad you're my mummy, And not a crocodile Inside message: Have a lovely day! Approx size: 150 x 150mm

Big & Tall Flat Front Pindot Trousers with Wool, at Marks and Spencer
Smart and stylish, these trousers are made from a hardwearing wool blend with stretch. An ideal choice for work or everyday wear. Perfectly proportioned for big and tall men

Autograph Essentials Long Sleeve Panelled Shirt, at Marks and Spencers
Feminine and elegant, this sophisticated shirt is beautifully designed and cut for a flattering shape and features a contemporary panelled design

There are lots of ways to save money using M&S Financial Services. Not least of these is Marks n Spencer Standard Car Insurance. With M&S Financial Services you can keep the cost of your Car Insurance down by choosing Standard cover, over Premier Cover. UK Vehicle can then be added to your policy as optional extras, if you wanted to.

If you're thinking of adding both Breakdown Cover and Motor Legal Protection, then it would cost less to upgrade to Premier Car Insurance cover from M&S Financial Services, which also has other features.

Nonetheless, many features are standard to both the Premier and the Standard Car Insurance policies on offer from Marks & Spencer, and these include: Courtesy car (subject to availability); Loss, theft, damage and destruction of vehicle; Loss or damage to personal property in vehicle; Personal accident cover up to £10,000; Windscreen cover (£75 excess); a 24 hour claims service, and many other options as standard on each policy. In short, with Car Insurance from M&S Money Direct, you get more, and you pay less.