Marks & Spencer may not necessarily be the first name that springs to mind when you're thinking about renewing your Home Insurance or Car Insurance, but MarksandSpencer do indeed offer a comprehensive selection of financial products, all of which are competitively priced, and all of which you can purchase directly from the M&S Money Direct website. With a simple, no-hassle service, you can compare features between a number of Marks & Spencer Money products and competitor's products, and sign up in just a few minutes.

Whether you're looking for savings products or M&S Money Direct loans, credit cards or Home Insurance - besides a number of other insurance products, M&S Money Direct can save you both time and money, with comprehensive information available at a click.

Free insurance quotes are available online for all of M&S Money Direct insurance products (Home Insurance, Car Insurance, Travel Insurance, Wedding Insurance and Pet Insurance), or you may call if you wish to on the telephone number provided. Suffice to say that there is also plenty of information which you can download for each of the Marks and Spencers insurance products in document format 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 Marks and 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's & 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 Home Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, savings products, M&S Credit Cards, M&S Loans, and much more besides.

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 M&S 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 Direct:

• 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.

Limited Collection Bow Fastening Shoes, at Marks & Spencers
Round toe Bow lace up Stitch detail Heel height 38mm Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes

Apron Lace Up Shoes, at Marks & Spensers
Square toe Stitch detail Lace up Block heel

Per Una Petal Neck Knitted Jumper, at M+S
An elegant scoop neck jumper in a soft knitted fabric. Floral corsage details give it the Per Una touch

Single Breasted 2 Button Corduroy Jacket with Inner Gilet, at Marks and Spencer
A smartly tailored mock layer jacket in pure cotton

8 Cup Cafetiere, at M&S
8 cup capacity Clear jug Metallic frame Contrasting lid and handle, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Limited Collection Almond Toe Shoes, at Marks and Spencer
Almond toe Court style Buckle fastening Mid heel Heel height: 56mm Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes

Pure Cotton Short Sleeve Monkey T-Shirt, at Marks & Spensers
Soft, snug and comfy, this pure cotton t-shirt features a fun monkey motif. Fashionable and practical

Limited Stripe Hat & Scarf Set, at Marks and Spencers
Fashionable and cosy, this hat and scarf set is perfect for chilly days

Indulgence Quilted Bedcover - Chocolate Mix, at Marks and Spencer
Patchwork design Sequin detail Size: L250 x W256cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

MoDA Grasses and Foliage Bamboo Paper Blank Card, at Marks and Spencer
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

Pure Cotton Denim Jacket, at M&S
Stylish and fashionable, this pure cotton denim jacket makes a comfortable and practical choice

2 Easycare Assorted Shirts & Tie Set, at M & S
Smart style for less! This pack of 2 shirts and tie is outstanding value

Limited Collection Snake Print Leggings, at Marks and Spencers
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

Pure Cotton In The Night Garden Short Sleeve T-Shirt, at Marks & Spencers
Fans of 'In The Night Garden' will love this pure cotton T-shirt featuring the popular characters. A practical, easycare style

Short Sleeve Frill Front Shirt, at M+S
Smart and stylish, this spot print shirt features a stunning frill front design. A sophisticated new look, perfect for this season

Limited Collection Front Frill Longline Cardigan, at Marks & Spencer
Pretty and feminine, this front frill cardigan is made with comfortable breathable cotton. Get the latest look!

Reader's Digest -The Most Amazing Place To Visit In Britain, at Marks & Spencers
Discover Britain as you've never known it before, with ''Amazing Places to Visit in Britain''. ''Reader's Digest'' and a team of experienced travel writers have specially chosen the 1,000 most amazing places in Britain to feature in this book. From castles, cathedrals, stately homes and natural wonders to power stations, bellfoundries and even a water tower, this book reflects the diversity of fascinating places that Britain has to offer. Read about some of the world's best early medieval stained glass, found in Canterbury Cathedral, and then turn to an entry on the ossuary at St Leonard's church in Hythe housing 2,000 human skulls, or the Donnington Grand Prix collection at Donnington Park. ''Amazing Places in Britain'' is a modern guidebook to Britain, and as such includes entries you won't find in most UK guidebooks

Sonoma Display Shelving Unit, at M&S
H160 x W147 x D40cm 4 shelf design Made from solid oak and oak veneer This range features natural wood characteristics Finished with 2 coats durable, clear lacquer of low sheen Drawer boxes and fronts made from solid Oak. Drawer bottoms made from White Oak veneer Side and back made from white Oak veneer Delivered flatpack due to size. 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 , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Light Control Lace High Waist Shorts, at Marks and Spenser
Look slimmer in seconds! These light control high waist shorts gently flatten tummies for a sleeker, slimmer silhouette

Wisteria Small Rollercase, at Marks and Spencer
Smart and practical, this rollercase is made from hardwearing fabric and is fully lined. It features lock trolley system and comes with a padlock for security

Autograph Luxury Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Multi Stripe Shirt, at Marks and Spencer
Smart and refined, this shirt is part of an exclusive range of beautiful garments, available only in our top stores and online. It's made from superfine yarn so it feels luxuriously smooth. Designed for a stylish contemporary look and great fit

PlayStation®3 Sonic the Hedgehog Game, at Marks and Spencer
3 playable characters Run through stages with Sonic's trademark speed 10 action packed stages Customise and personalise your abilities Multiplayer modes Suitable for 12 years and over 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 *Must be returned with the tamper seal intact for full refund, ESRB Rating: Teen

Grandson Star Birthday Card, at Marks & Spencers
Cover text: Brilliant, Grandson, Smashing, Fabulous, Splendid Inside message: Happy Birthday Approx size: 150 x 150mm

Per Una Essentials Cotton Rich Non Padded Bra, at Marks & Spencers
Elegant and feminine, this stylish bra in stretch cotton fabric features a lace trim and centre button detail. It's underwired for great support and an enhanced natural shape. Pretty everyday fashion

Woven Silk Floral Dot Tie with Stain Defence™, at Mark's & Spencer
This woven silk tie has been treated with our stain defence™ technology giving inbuilt resistance to everyday spills, this repellence benefit is maintained after dry cleaning

Leather ID Hip Wallet, at MarksandSpencer
Smart, stylish and practical, this leather wallet makes it easy to organise cards, notes and coins features multiple comparments

Autograph Low Rise Embroidered Shorts, at Mark's & Spencer
Elegant and feminine these gorgeous shorts are made from the softest lace which looks and feels luxurious

Cashmilon™ Long Sleeve Turtle Neck Jumper, at Marks & Spencer
Fashionable and flattering, this turtle neck jumper is made from supersoft cashmilon™ and features a turtle neck.

Per Una Floral Embroidered Padded Bra with Modal, at Marks and Spenser
Modern and elegant, this bra is beautifully embellished with floral embroidery. It's underwired for extra support and the padded plunge style gives an enhanced shape. Pretty everyday fashion

Gold Plated Multi Strand Treasure Bead Necklace, at Marks & Spencers
Clasp fastening Adjustable length Multi strand Mixed bead design Necklace length 41cm, extendable by 8cm

There are lots of ways to save money using M&S Money Direct. Not least of these is Marks and Spenser Standard Car Insurance. With M&S Money Direct 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 Money Direct, which also has other features.

Nonetheless, many features are standard to both the Premier and the Standard Car Insurance policies on offer from Marks & Spensers, 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.