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

When you're shopping at Marks & Spencers online store for your summer outfit, or looking for furniture to give your home a makeover, then spend a moment to also consider products from M&S Money Direct. Offering everything from savings accounts and credit cards, to Buildings & Contents Insurance and Car Insurance, there's a lot more going on at Marks and Spenser than you might imagine.

In particular, if you're thinking of travelling soon, then consider Travel Insurance from M&S Money Direct. With images of volcano ash still fresh in many traveller's minds, it's good to remember there were many travellers who ended up wishing they had spent just a few pounds extra to obtain travel insurance for their trip. Of course, unfortunately, after the event is too late!

In fact, had you purchased travel insurance from M&S Money Direct, you would have been in good hands; within just a short time of the volcanic ash disruptions, visitors to the M&S Money Direct website would have seen a message stating that although claims relating to volcanic eruptions are not normally covered by travel insurance, that on this particular occasion, they would "allow claims from UK customers affected by the volcanic ash that has recently grounded flights."

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 Marks & Spenser 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 Spencer, through its M&S Money Direct 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 & Contents Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, savings products, M&S Credit Cards, M&S Loans, and much more besides.

Machine Washable Twin Pleat Trousers with Wool, at Marks & Spensers
These trousers are a wardrobe staple. They are tailored from a wool blend fabric with elastane lycra for durability, good crease recovery and comfort in wear. What's more, you can machine wash and tumble-dry them - the ultimate convenience

Autograph Art Deco Dressing Table Jewellery Box, at Marks and Spencers
Modern and stylish, this jewellery box will keep your jewellery organised and add a lovely finishing touch to your dressing table

Per Una Iris Scoop Neck Nightdress, at Marks & Spencers
Modern and feminine, this pretty nightdress is made from soft cotton so you can relax in comfort and style. Part of Per Una's sleepwear collection

Charlotte 2-Seater Sofa, at Marks and Spencers
H94 x W158 x D96cm Seat H50cm, arm H63cm, top back rail H77cm (all dimensions are approximate) Seat cushions filled with shape-retaining foam - superior quality foam with a high density for added comfort and support Other cushions filled with polyester fibre. Gives a soft sit with a lived-in look, which will soften and relax even further with use. Fibre is sewn into channels within the interior to prevent settlement in one area of the cushion Fabric options feature reversible cushions Frame made from solid hardwood. All main joints are glued and screwed to give the frame strength Frames are rigorously tested with 95kg weight equivalent and exceed standards set for heavy domestic use Feet are castors All of our fabrics are treated with Stain-Defence™ - a stain resistant finish - at no extra cost. Fabrics are tested for resistance to wear and fading Detailed care instructions are included Free eco-friendly home delivery. Our crews will unpack, assemble and position the item This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more Free swatch service: Order up to 6 free swatch samples of any fabric to help you choose your upholstery by calling 0845 603 1 603 Please note: Images displayed here act as a guide and may not be representative of the finished item. Fabrics are overlayed onto model images, so actual seams and pattern match may differ from what is shown. Leather furniture, in particular, has more seams that fabric upholstery due to the nature of the material, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Classic Collection Stripe Trousers, at Mark's & Spencer
Smart and stylish, these straight leg trousers are designed for a flattering, comfortable fit and a polished look. They make the perfect match for fashionable jackets, blouses and knitwear

Autograph Pure Linen Suit Trousers, at Marks & Spencer
Perfect for smart occasions, these classic linen suit trousers make a fashionable and practical choice

Single Breasted 2 Button Jacket, at Marks & Spencers
Chic and stylish, this single breasted jacket makes a great choice for work or smart occasions. It's machine washable for added convenience

5 Pure Cotton Bikini Briefs, at Marks & Spencers
Practical and fashionable, this 5 pack of cotton briefs makes a great way to stock up on essential style

Footglove™ Smart Lace Up Trainers, at M+S
Round toe Lace up Stitch detail Flat Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes Footglove™ soles are comfortable, highly flexible and lightweight

Limited Collection Plain Underwired T-Shirt Bra, at Marks & Spensers
Fun and fabulous, this t-shirt bra is part of our Limited Collection lingerie. It's perfectly smooth so you won't get any visible lumps and bumps under your clothes. For a funky look, mix and match with coordinating lingerie from Limited. Casual, contemporary fashion

Pure Cotton V-Neck Pyajama Top, at M & S
Pretty and feminine, this v-neck pyajama top is made from soft breathable cotton for a comfortable night's sleep

Polka Dot Princess Birthday Card, at Marks and Spencer
Cover text: Birthday princess Inside message: Hope you have a lovely day Approx size: 174 x 126mm

3/4 Sleeve Scoop Neck Tunic, at Marks and Spencer
Pretty and feminine, this scoop neck tunic features a pintuck shoulder detail

Autograph Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Twill Stripe Shirt, at MarksandSpencer
This luxurious shirt is part of our exclusive Autograph collection. Its fine quality and careful attention to detail makes it a superior and stylish modern classic

My First Fire Engine, at Marks and Spencer
Pull-along cord Light and sound features Batteries included Suitable for ages 0-3yrs H21cm This product conforms to EN71 and the Toy Safety Directive 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, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Stripe Sleepsuit & Bib, at Marks & Spensers
Cute and snuggly, this sleepsuit features 'upsy daisy' slogan and motif. The soft cotton fabric is perfect for comfy sleep.

Autograph Illusions Wrinkle Filler, at Marks & Spensers
Fills, smoothes and visibly reduces the appearance of fine lines and enlarged pores This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Bereche Brut Reserve Champagne - Case of 6, at Marks & Spencers
Style: Grape variety: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier Country of origin: France Closure: Natural cork Bottle: 6 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 12% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 9 Alcohol units per 125ml: 1.5 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Black & Decker® DV9605TN Cyclonic Action Dustbuster® Vac, at Marks and Spencer
9.6V for powerful and effective pick-up Wet and dry Dustbowl Capacity - 700 ml Runtime - 13 minuttes Cordless for use anywhere Built-in crevice tool for greater accessibility and extra convenience Cyclonic Action spins dirt away from the filter maintaining optimum suction power New filter cleaning system to allow better dirt management Double action filtration allows the product to perform better and last longer Accessories are stored on board, always at hand for your cleaning jobs Multi-surface charging base, so it can be wall mounted or kept on the worktop Extra large bowl requires less emptying Window bowl so you know when to empty the Dustbuster Ergonomic design

Large Tie Hanger, at Marks and Spencer
Keep your ties smartly stored with this large tie hanger. An essential part of any gentleman's wardrobe

Autograph Integrated Light Tweezers, at Marks and Spencer
Use regularly to help shape and tidy eyebrows Always remove hairs from below or between the eyebrows by pulling in the direction of the hair growth Integrated light Includes case Batteries included

Autograph Diagonal Stripe Tie, at Marks & Spenser
Part of Kids' Autograph, a luxurious collection of beautifully designed clothing in high quality fabrics with superior finishing details. Kids' Autograph gives a stylish well-dressed look

Non-Iron Stain Defence™ & Stormwear™ Zip Pocket Bootleg Trousers, at Marks & Spencer
Smart and modern, these easycare bootleg trousers are treated with our unique Stain Defence™ and Stormwear™ finishes, making them resistant to water and stains

Hellboy Blu-ray DVD, at Marks & Spencer
Rating Suitable for 12 years and over,

Per Una Long Wear Nail Colour, at Marks and Spencer
Chip resistant Long-lasting Apply two coats and allow to dry Nail colour: 11ml This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

Older Boys' Bart Simpson Swimming Shorts, at Mark's & Spencer
These Simpson shorts are sure to make a splash. The contrasting drawstring waist helps give a secure fit. Fashionable, practical and easycare

Footglove™ Leather Knee High Slouch Boots, at M+S
Round toe Stitch detail Slouch style Pull on Flat sole Comes in sizes 3-8, including half size

Pure Cotton Knee Length Cargo Skirt, at Marks & Spenser
A bright summer skirt makes a stylish alternative to shorts

MoDA Café Scene Bamboo Paper Blank Card, at Marks & Spensers
Cover text: Blank Inside message: Blank for your own message Our MoDA range has been screen printed onto paper made from bamboo. Bamboo is a truly sustainable and renewable resource as it's the fastest growing plant on the planet! Approx size: 150 x 150mm

Schoolwear Plus Fit Stain Defence™ Non-Iron Trousers With Stormwear™, at Marks & Spenser
These larger sized trousers are treated with Stain Defence™ and Stormwear™ technologies, so they repel water and stains. They're non-iron for convenience - for best results, machine wash, tumble dry and hang straight away View Plus Schoolwear Size Guide. Find out more

M&S Money Direct 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 Money Direct 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 Spencers 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, Sainsbury's, 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 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 Money Direct UK and European Breakdown Cover, since it covers you as a passenger too.