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

Nonetheless, many features are standard to both the Premier and the Standard Motor Insurance policies on offer from Mark's & 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 Motor Insurance from Marks & Spencer Money, you get more, and you pay less.

Contrary to popular opinion, not every insurance company is out to get you, and it's not every insurance company that will disect the fine-print until they find some way of denying your insurance claim. However, you do need to shop around for the financial products and insurance policies that are the best suited for your individual needs.

That's why insurance policies, and other financial products, from M&S are so useful. M&S Money Direct financial products are, of course, designed to make Marks and Spencer a profit, but there is no denying that they are also very good value for money, offering many features as standard which you'd often need to pay extra for at other insurance companies.

Take, for example, Buildings Insurance policies. Usually, UK Buildings Insurance policies have limits on particular types of items such as freezer contents, garden furniture and outdoor toys, outbuildings or cars, etc. These restrictions are called inner limits. However, the only inner limits on the M&S Money Direct Buildings Insurance policy are £500 for cash; £2m for property-owners and personal liability; £10m for domestic employees liability and £40,000 for tenants liability. Even better is the fact that you're likely to pay no more for M&S Money Direct Buildings Insurance than you will anywhere else, and you may even pay less with M&S.

When you're shopping at Mark's & Spencer 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 Insurance and Motor Insurance, there's a lot more going on at M & S 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."

Portfolio Pure Silk Floral & Spot Print Lightweight Scarf, at Marks and Spenser
Add a luxurious finishing touch to your look with this elegant pure silk floral and spot print scarf. The perfect accessory to this season's styles

Older Boys' Bart Simpson Mule Slippers, at Marks and Spenser
Round toe Slip on Bart Simpson motif 'Bad boy' slogan THE SIMPSONS ™ & 2006 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved

Limited Collection Quilted Belt, at Marks&Spencer
Define your waistline with this fashionable quilted belt

Ingredients Sweet Fig Body Butter, at Marks & Spencer
200ml Sweet fig fragrance

2 Serving Spoons, at Marks&Spencer
Set of 2 18/10 stainless steel - the highest grade of stainless steel This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Dualit Hand Mixer - Cream, at M&S
5 speed settings 300 Watt heavy duty professional motor Unique retractable power cord storage Soft Touch mark-resistant finish, with Soft Touch easy grip handle Beater ejector unit Includes 2 multi-purpose oversize flat beaters, 2 dough hooks & 1 balloon whisk Integral plug storage Dimensions: H30 x W18 x D6.5cm 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 , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Long Sleeve Funnel Neck Fleece Jacket, at M&S
An essential part of any wardrobe, this great value fleece is warm and cosy. A fashionable and practical choice.

Autograph Essentials Vintage Rose Embroidered Shorts, at M & S
Elegant and feminine these flattering shorts feature rose embroidered details. The modern low leg hipster styling gives a shapely fit. Beautiful exclusive lingerie

Pure Cotton Premium Basic Straight Leg Jeans, at Marks and Spenser
Jeans are a wardrobe essential and this straight leg pair make a fashionable and practical choice

Tiga Large Glazed Top Unit, at MarksandSpencer
H114 x W156 x D33cm 2 toughened-glass doors 2 fixed shelves Top unit sits on sideboard Made from sheesam wood Finished with a protective matt lacquer for added durability 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

Cotton Rich Bootleg Jeans with Belt, at Marks & Spenser
Flattering and fabulous, bootcuts make legs look longer and are kind to curves. This pair sits below the waist and is designed to give a shapely feminine silhouette. Added stretch gives the perfect fit.

Pure Cotton Front Frill Stripe Top, at Marks & Spencer
Smart and stylish, this front frill top is made from cool comfortable cotton and features a stripe design

Autograph V-Neck Mock Shirt Jumper, at M&S
Fashionable and contemporary, this mock layer jumper is part of our exclusive Autograph collection. A great design, superior fabric and careful attention to detail makes it exceptionally stylish and comfortable

Nail Care Miracle Buffers, at Marks and Spencer
Pack of 2 Buff and smooth your nails using the coloured side of the buffer Use the white side of the buffer to achieve the high gloss finish Two-toned colours

Sony Cyber-shot™ DSC-S930P Digital Camera, at Marks and Spencer
Pixels: 10.1 megapixels Zoom: 3x optical zoom lens, 17x smart zoom, 6x precision digital zoom Screen: 2.4 inches ISO: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 Dimensions: H61 x W89.5 x D26.1mm Weight: 118g Video: Motion JPEG movie recording at approximately 30 frames per second PictBridge Enabled: Yes Seven scene selection modes for excellent results under a wide range of conditions Face Detection optimizes focus and exposure for clearer portraits SteadyShot image stabilization reduces image blur during handheld shooting Fun in-camera retouching functions: image trim and red-eye correction Picture Motion Browser software simplifies image management, searches and viewing on PC 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

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

The Floral Collection Iris Soap, at Marks & Spencers
3 x 100g Iris scented Added moisturisers

Stain Defence™ Tab Detail Fashion Skirt, at MarksandSpencer
Smart and stylish, this fashionable skirt is treated with Stain Defence™ technology which helps repel everyday stains. The adjustable waist gives a perfectly comfortable fit for longer

Linen Blend Sleeveless Shell Top, at M&S
This sleeveless top will make a useful addition to your wardrobe. It features pretty pintuck detailing for a stylish casual look

Autograph Leather Cross-Body Midi Bag, at Marks and Spencers
Luxurious and beautiful, this cross-body handbag is part of our exclusive Autograph collection. It's made from soft hardwearing leather, and is useful and practical as well as being a highly desirable fashion accessory

Sony DPF-D70 Digital Photo Frame, at Marks & Spencer
Display: 7 inch photo-quality LCD screen. Actual viewing area: 152 x 91mm Features: Intelligent orientation sensor automatically rotates picture for correct viewing with frame in landscape or portrait positions. Choice of Slideshow modes or clock display Connectors: Multi-card slot accepts Memory Stick, Memory Stick Duo, SD, MMC, CompactFlash, MicroDrive or xD media Image Transfer: Easy transfer of images from connected PC to photo frame's internal memory with no software required Memory: 256MB internal memory stores up to 500 pictures: Auto size adjustment re-scales large files for increased album capacity Accessories: Wireless remote commander and AC power adaptor 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

Flat Screen Wipes, at Marks and Spencer
50 moist cleaning tissues Alcohol free Ideal for TFT, LCD, laptop, PDA and all glass surfaces 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

Harrowgate Victoria Shiraz 2006 - Case of 6, at Marks and Spencer
Style: Full bodied Grape variety: Shiraz Country of origin: Australia Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 6 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 14.5% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 10.9 Alcohol units per 125ml: 1.9 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

16-Piece Soho Cutlery Set, at Marks & Spensers
16 piece set Includes 4 forks, 4 knives, 4 dessert spoons and 4 teaspoons 18/10 stainless steel - the highest grade of stainless steel Criminal Justice Act 1988 (as amended): please note we are not permitted to sell a knife or blade to any person under the age of 18 This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Collezione Pure Wool Single Pleat Stripe Trousers, at Marks and Spencer
Italian tailoring is renowned for its sophisticated style. Each collezione suit is designed with that same passion, using the finest fabrics and best tailoring techniques. Inspired by Italian flair, we've lavished time and care on this garment to give you a feeling of luxury like no other

Bamboo Pumice Stone and Nail Brush, at Marks and Spenser
Pumice Stone Short bristle Wooden handle Rope detail

Knitted Hooded Glove, at Marks & Spensers
Keep out the cold in style and comfort with these flattering soft stretchy jersey gloves finished with hooded detail

3 Button Bootleg Trousers, at Marks & Spenser
Fashionable and fabulous, bootcuts flatter curves and make legs look longer. This pair sits on the waist and is designed to give a shapely feminine silhouette. A look that's always in style

Sapporo Sideboard, at Marks & Spencers
H80 x W120 x D40cm Made from solid bamboo and bamboo veneer Finished with a matt lacquer that provides the pieces with extra protection and durability Legs made from solid wood 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 manufacturer's instructions, and be aware that polishes can add sheen This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Short Sleeve Pure Cotton V-Neck T-Shirt, at Marks & Spenser
This fashionable cotton t-shirt features a v-neck design for a fresh modern look

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