It is traditionally known as 'car insurance', but could the recent increase in web-based comparison websites be making drivers confused? The Association of British Insurers classifies it as 'motor insurance', and the official body for compensating the victims of uninsured drivers is the 'Motor Insurers' Bureau' (MIB). Although a predominantly U.S. term, 'auto insurance' is also starting to appear in the UK.

There is the question that asks: "does it really matter what it's called?" 'Car insurance' is possibly the clearest term, as it does exactly what it says. 'Van insurance' and 'motorbike insurance' are also reassuringly straightforward. 'Motor insurance' indicates coverage for any engine-powered vehicle. However, this doesn't necessarily mean an insurer will have a quote immediately at hand for a ride-on Shop-mobility scooter!

Car insurance, motor insurance, auto insurance; whatever customers choose to call it, is a huge business for good reason - there are plenty of vehicles to protect. There are approximately 30,000,000 cars licensed in the UK, with 73% of UK households owning at least one car. In 2006, total net premiums for motor insurance in the UK came to £10.3 billion. In the same year, motorists filed £8.0 billion-worth of claims.

It therefore can be surprising to learn that the UK has the status as one of the worst offenders in Western Europe for uninsured drivers on the road. The MIB estimates that one in every twenty cars on the road being driven without insurance, adding up to an estimated £30 to every UK driver's insurance premium in order to compensate. It's every driver's responsibility to ensure that they're insured, and from 2009, it will be an offence to keep a car without insurance - whether or not it is being used - unless you have filed a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) declaration.

However, finding car insurance in modern times can be a minefield. It's a pervasive irony that protecting your vehicle against risks on the road can be a risky business. Type 'car insurance' into a search engine online and the riotous spectrum of policies on offer can make finding the necessary cover seem as complex as finding a needle in a haystack. For those who wish to avoid struggling through the labyrinthine range of coverage options, a whole industry has popped into existence for the purpose of making drivers' choices clearer.

It can, however, be difficult to know which of these comparison companies to choose for the best insurance option. There may be many websites devoted to comparing costs, but it is also important to get the right coverage depending on personal priorities. With thousands of new drivers entering the market every year, motor insurance will continue to be a legal requirement and an essential piece of protection against other road users.

When drivers need clarity about car insurance, there shouldn't be confusion about its name. It doesn't matter what it's called, but that it can be relied on when the unexpected happens.