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 Mark & Spensers, through its M&S Finance website, offer a range of financial products which would not look out of place in many banks, including M&S Motor Insurance, M&S Property Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, savings products, M&S Credit Cards, M&S Loans, and much more besides.

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

Thinking that most Motor 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 Motor Insurance policy doesn't actually cover you for what you thought it did, or it takes your Motor Insurance company months and months to argue over whether to pay you or not. Fortunately M&S Finance Motor Insurance is not like that at all, and when you compare M&S Motor 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 & Spencers 5 Star Premier cover Motor Insurance (correct at May 2009), which are quite often not included with comparable Motor Insurance plans from companies such as Direct Line, Sainsburys, or Tesco's:

• 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 Motor 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 Finance UK and European Breakdown Cover, since it covers you as a passenger too.

M&S Finance 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 Motor 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; Motor Insurance and Property 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 Property 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 Finance Insurance does not have these insurance limits, excepting liability and cash cover, and therefore you can not be under-insured.

Quartz Faux Metallic Wall Clock, at Marks and Spencers
Round face Standard numerals Faux metallic finish H28 x D28 x W2.2cm Weight: 0.5kg, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Diamond Pointelle Long Sleeve Top, at Marks & Spencers
Give yourself an extra warm layer this winter with this pretty long sleeve under top. Perfect for day to day wear, the easy care fabric makes it a no fuss option

Blue Harbour Stormwear™ + Jeans, at Marks & Spencers
Innovative and stylish, these smart jeans are treated with new Stormwear™ +, which combines our unique Stormwear™ finish with a stain repellent technology that'll keep dry and comfortable all day long

Limited Collection Pure Cotton Broderie Dress, at M & S
Part of Limited Collection's London Crowd trend. A quintessentially English look featuring quirky prints in monochrome with bright pops of colour. Kitsch styling and playful designs give this trend a fun London feel

2 Lichfield Vertical Slat-Back Chairs, at Marks & Spensers
H102 x W46 x D60cm Seat: H50cm Leather seat pad Sold as a pair Made from White Oak solids and veneers Finished with 3 coats of durable, clear lacquer of mid sheen Chair frames made from solid European hardwood All joints are glued and pressed together in the factory, giving more inherent strength than flat pack fittings Free eco-friendly delivery to your home. Our crews will unpack, assemble and position the item Why use veneers? Unlike solid timber, veneer does not twist/warp/split to the same degree. Only the finest logs are used in veneer production. It is environmentally sound and traditional - much of the finest cabinetry in the world is veneered. Care & Cleaning - Wipe with a soft clean cloth and use a mild furniture cleaner or polish occasionally. Be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions, and be aware that polishes can add sheen. SAVE ON SETS Save at least 25% when you buy this table as part of a set. Click here to view the Lichfield Collection Set. This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Cross Dye Cushion, at Mark & Spensers
Square shape Stitch detail Interlined Size: 45cm x 45cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Earth Spa Indulgent Body Cream, at Marks & Spensers
Soothes Nourishes 300ml Ingredients: Aqua, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Polyacrylamide, Bassia Latifolia, Cetearyl Glucoside, Shorea Stenoptera Butter, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Mel, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Benzyl Alcohol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylparaben, Laureth-7, Polydecene, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Disodium

Elephant Party Time Invitations, at M+S
Cover text: Party time come and have fun! Inside message: Dear........, You are invited to a party, On............, Time..........., Place........., Hope you can come, RSVP............... 10 cards, 1 design This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future Approx size: 120 x 120mm

Per Una Floral Print Pleat Skirt, at Marks & Spencer
A stylish mid-calf length skirt in stretch cotton featuring a floral print and pleat design

Mirrored Sink Unit, at Marks & Spencer
H80 x W59 x D42cm Sink and tap sold separately Free eco-friendly delivery to your home. Our crews will unpack, assemble and position the item Care & Cleaning - Wipe with a soft, clean cloth This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Panasonic HDC-SD200 HD Camcorder, at Marks & Spencer
Pixels: 9.15 megapixels Zoom: 12x optical zoom / 30x-700x digital zoom Screen: 2.7'' Wide LCD Dimensions: H6.8 x W6.8 x D13.2cm Weight: 335g (without batteries and card) Recording Format: JPEG Motion Image: 6.21 megapixels (2.07 megapixels x 3)[16:9] Still Image: 7.95 megapixels (2.65 megapixels x 3 ) [3:2] / 7.53 megapixels (2.51 megapixels x 3) [16:9] / 6.96 megapixels (2.32 megapixels x 3 ) [4:3] Image Stabilizer: Advanced O.I.S. [Optical Image Stabilizer] Audio Recording System: Dolby Digital (5.1ch) Microphone: 5.1ch Surround, Zoom and Focus Microphone Battery: min. 1250 mAh / Lithium-Ion

Water Sign Bracelet, at Mark's & Spencer
Stretch style Beaded design Water sign charm

Skintex® Anti-Cellulite Thigh Slimmer Spray, at Marks & Spencer
50ml Light control For use on tummy, hips and thighs

Blue Harbour Pure Cotton Short Sleeve Stripe Shirt, at Marks and Spencer
Relaxed and casual, this pure cotton shirt has been pre-washed to make it extra soft and comfortable

Limited Collection Spot Print Pencil Skirt, at Marks and Spencer
Part of Limited Collection's London Crowd trend. A quintessentially English look featuring quirky prints in monochrome with bright pops of colour. Kitsch styling and playful designs give this trend a fun London feel

Children's Party Platter, at Marks and Spenser
Contains 16 quarters plus veg batons Serves 4-6 4 different sandwich fillings Ready to eat Made in a factory that uses sesame ingredients As featured on page 8 of the Food to Order brochure Order by 5pm to collect in 2 days Available for collection in the majority of our UK mainland stores

Easy Vegetarian Baking, at Marks & Spencer
Perfect too cook up after a hard day at work, these easy bake vegetarian recipes are not only simple and quick, but they're fresh, delicious and healthy. There are meals for on-the-move, chill-out sessions and snacks for you to enjoy

Pure Cotton Short Sleeve Bib Top, at MarksandSpencer
Smart and stylish, this short sleeve top is made from cool comfortable cotton and features a bib detail

Classic Collection 3/4 Sleeve Poly Print Blouse, at Marks and Spencer
Smart and stylish, this poly print blouse will give your look an instant lift. It looks lovely worn with plain skirts or trousers in coordinating colours from the Classic collection

°Climate Control Matress Protector, at Marks & Spensers
Keeps you in a comfort zone all night long Absorbs body heat, releasing when you need it Made using outlast technology, originally developed for NASA, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Classic Collection Straight Leg Pull On Trousers, at Marks and Spencer
Stylish and versatile, these straight leg trousers are smartly finished with a stitched crease and decorative fob. Dress them up or down with smart or casual tops in coordinating colours. Discreet elastication gives a perfect, comfortable fit.

Brown Floral Mini Cards Multipack, at Marks and Spencer
Cover Text: blank Inside message: blank for your own message Pack contains: 8 cards, 4 designs Approx size: 80 x 94mm

24 Vegetarian Filo Selection, at Marks & Spencer
Contains 24 pieces Serves 6 Ready to cook Suitable for freezing Suitable for vegetarians 490g As featured on page 14 in the food to order brochure Order by 5pm to collect in 5 days Available for collection in the majority of our UK mainland stores

5 Luxury Pure Cotton Check Handkerchiefs, at Marks and Spenser
Luxuriously soft handkerchiefs in pure cotton

Big & Tall Twin Pleat 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

Floral Favourites, at Mark's & Spencer
A charming gift bag full of soft pink gerberas, cream roses, pretty chrysanthemums and phlox Available for delivery from 1st April to 30th September 2009

Sony Bravia RHT-G800 Home Cinema Surround Sound System, at Marks and Spencer
S-Force PRO Front Surround Technology: 5.1 channel virtual surround sound from just two front speakers and a subwoofe Controls: Touch sensor Vibration-cancelling subwoofer: For superb bass without disturbing the neighbours Connection: Inputs to connect DVD player, set-top box and games system BRAVIA Theatre Sync: Synchronises your Sony theatre system so it can be operated by the press of a single button Connectors: 2 x HDMI In, 1 x HDMI Out, 3 x Opt Digital In, 1 x Coax Digital In, 1 x Composite In Audio/Video Weight: 59kg Dimensions: W111.4 x H49.5 x D40 cm For televisions up to 52'' DVD player and TV not included M&S is a member of the WEEE Distributor Take Back Scheme. Recycling your electronic waste has never been easier! Click here for more information This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Portfolio Molten Marble Necklace, at Marks and Spencer
Mixed bead design Long length Necklace length: 90cm

Andante Square Side Plate, at Marks and Spenser
Ideal for everyday use, durable Square edge design Diam 20.5cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Sonoma Dark 2-Drawer Sideboard, at Marks and Spencer
H88 x W123 x D50cm 2 drawers 1 adjustable shelf Made from solid oak and oak veneer Features natural wood characteristics - knots, figuring, colour variation and end-grain detail Finished with a rich dark stain, followed by 2 coats of durable, clear lacquer of low sheen Drawer boxes and fronts made from solid hardwood. Drawer bottoms made from White Oak veneer Legs made from solid hardwood Door frames made from solid wood. Door panels made from White Oak veneer Handles made from solid wood Side panels and back panels made from White Oak veneer Top panels made from White Oak veneer with a solid Oak edging for strength All joints are glued and pressed together in the factory, giving more inherent strength than flat pack fittings Free eco-friendly delivery to your home. Our crews will unpack, assemble and position the item Why use veneers? Unlike solid timber, veneer does not twist/warp/split to the same degree. Only the finest logs are used in veneer production. It is environmentally sound and traditional - much of the finest cabinetry in the world is veneered. Care & Cleaning - Wipe with a soft clean cloth and use a mild furniture cleaner or polish occasionally. Be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions, and be aware that polishes can add sheen. This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more SAVE ON SETS Save at least 25% when you buy this sideboard as part of a set. Click here to view the Dark Sonoma Collection Set. , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

There are lots of ways to save money using M&S Finance. Not least of these is Marks & Spencers Standard Motor Insurance. With M&S Finance you can keep the cost of your Motor 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 Motor Insurance cover from M&S Finance, which also has other features.

Nonetheless, many features are standard to both the Premier and the Standard Motor Insurance policies on offer from Mark & Spencers, 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 Motor Insurance from M&S Financial Services, you get more, and you pay less.