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

When you're shopping at Marks & 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. Offering everything from savings accounts and credit cards, to Property Insurance and Car 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. 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, you would have been in good hands; within just a short time of the volcanic ash disruptions, visitors to the M&S Money 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 Mark & Spencers 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 M&S, through its M&S Money website, offer a range of financial products which would not look out of place in many banks, including M&S Car 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.

Pure Cotton Check Pyjama Bottoms, at Marks & Spencers
Fashionable and practical, these check pyjama bottoms are made from soft breathable cotton for a comfortable night's sleep

Younger Girls' Dip Dye Sunglasses, at Marks and Spencers
Cute and colourful, these dip dye sunglasses will give her a touch of star style!

Pure Cotton Stitch Detail Pull On Trousers, at Marks and Spenser
Relaxed and comfortable, these cotton pull on trousers make it easy to dress. They feature a waist tie and handy pockets. A practical, fashionable and easycare style

Single Suede Sprung-Edge Divan with 2 Large Drawers, at Marks & Spencers
Single (3ft): W90 x L190cm H41cm Can be used with any mattress Solid wooden frame Large drawer: H14 x W78 x D52cm Feet are castors 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 , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

T340778A, at Marks and Spenser
Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Extra High Impact Racerback Sports Bra, at Marks and Spencers
Offering the superior support and control you need for those high energy workouts. This extra high impact sports bra features a racerback design and sets the pace for essential comfort thanks to an easycare fabric and the shape retaining qualities of added stretch

Per Una 3/4 Sleeve Knitted Top, at M+S
Comes with the necklece shown A fashionable 3/4 sleeve knitted top featuring lace trim

Kitchen Butchers Block, at Marks & Spencer
H90 x W55 x D60cm Some self-assembly required. Delivered boxed to your door. You will need to unpack, assemble and position the item yourself This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Fairy Activity Magic, at Marks and Spencer
She can read all about fairies and then create stories of her own with this bright and fun fairy activity pack

Shimmer Stripe Wallpaper, at Mark's & Spencer
Textured wallpaper No pattern repeat Roll dimensions: W52cm x L10m Suitable for living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms and hallways Not suitable for bathrooms or kitchens Made in the UK and sourced from sustainable, renewable forests How many rolls do you need?Click here for our wallpaper calculator Complete your room with made to order curtains. Click here to view our range For a detailed view of the colour and pattern, please click on the image and use the zoom function. Please note that your monitor settings may affect how colours are displayed, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Charlotte Lge 2 Seat Sofabed (occasional) AU09 Newness, at Marks and Spencers
Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Autograph Merano 2-Seater Unit (Right-Hand Arm), at Marks & Spenser
H84 x W172 x D102cm Seat H47cm, arm H63cm, top back rail H63cm (all dimension are approximate) Seat cushions made from shape-retaining foam with extra-thick fibre wrap - 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 have 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 Glide feet with a dark finish 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

3 Pairs Of 60 Denier Opaque Tights, at Marks & Spenser
These essential 60 denier opaque tights are outstanding value. They're made with added stretch and a reinforced toe for comfort and durability

Classic Collection Funnel Neck Fleece Jacket, at Marks & Spencer
Perfect for relaxing at home as well as keeping warm outside, this cosy fleece features jacket-style detailing for a smart, fashionable look. So versatile and comfortable, you'll want to wear it all the time

Kitchen 1000mm 3 Drawer Base Unit, at Marks & Spencer
H87.5 x W100 x D52cm Some self-assembly required. Delivered boxed to your door. You will need to unpack, assemble and position the item yourself This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Edwardian Lady Hand Finished Multipack of Cards, at Marks and Spencer
Cover Text: Design 1: Just to say Cover Text: Design 2: Especially for you Both designs: blank for your own message Pack Contains: 6 cards, 2 designs Approx. Size: 200mm x 80mm

Samsung PL60 Digital Camera, at Marks and Spencer
Pixels: 10.2 megapixels Zoom: 5 x optical zoom, 5 x digital zoom Display: 2.7 inch TFT colour LCD Screen ISO Equivalent : With a true ISO 3200 setting, your Samsung camera can effectively minimise noise for crystal clear images Dimensions: W94 x H59 x D23.7mm Weight: 219g (without battery and card) Digital Image Stabilization: DIS (Digital Image Stabilization) Storage capacity: Internal memory: 34MB, External memory: SD Card (up to 4GB guaranteed) MMC plus(up to 2GB guaranteed) SDHC (up to 8GB guaranteed) Power Source: Samsung SLB-10A Self Portrait: Accurate exposure and focus for self portrait shots 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

Panasonic SC-PT170 DVD Home Cinema Sound System, at Mark & Spencers
Whisper-mode surround 1080p Up-Conversion with HDMI 6 speakers Number of Output Channels: 5 + Subwoofer (5.1) Dolby Digital Decoder Total Wattage: 300W (RMS) Dolby Digital + DTS MP3 & DivX playback Super Video CD, Video CD Playback Dolby Pro Logic II Advanced Progressive Scan (PAL/ NTSC) Front speaker dimensions: W9.2 x H12.8 x D8.1cm Centre speaker dimensions: W12.5 x H9.4 x D8.1cm Surround speaker dimensions: W9.2 x H12.8 x D8.1cm Subwoofer speaker dimensions: W13.6 x H33.9 x D21.3 cm Television Signal System: PAL & NTSC USB Interface DVD and CD player

2'' Longer Pure Cotton Stripe Long Sleeve Shirt, at Marks & Spencers
Woven in pure cotton fabric, long sleeves and double button cuffs add a smart focus to your office look. A practical and convenient choice for everyday wear

2 Pure Cotton STAIN-AWAY™ Ruffle Pocket Polo Shirts, at Marks & Spencers
A great value 2-pack treated with STAIN-AWAY™, our unique high performance finish which helps prevent everyday stains, and makes them easy to wash out clean. It even works with ink blots!

Ashbourne 2-Seater Sofa, at Marks and Spencer
H99 x W202 x D104cm Seat H49cm, arm H65, top back rail H75cm 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 seat 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 Solid birch feet with a dark finish 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

Pure Cotton Quick Iron Dobby Stripe Shirt, at Marks & Spencer
Stylish and innovative, this pure cotton easycare shirt is quick and easy to iron for a smart crisp look

2 Piece Pure Cotton Dungaree Outfit, at Marks and Spencers
Practical and pretty, this cute 2 piece outfit is made from pure soft cotton to keep her feeling comfy and happy

M&S Switchable Scart Adaptor, at Marks&Spencer
Connective solution for phonos/s-videos to scart Switch devices between input and output 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

Die Cut Cross Christening Card, at Marks n Spencer
Cover text: On your christening Inside message: Blank for your own message Approx size: 178 x 126mm

Autograph Large Cylinder Hurricane Lamp, at Marks and Spencer
Tinted glass Bedded in sand to balance candle Dimensions: H30 x Diam 30cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Cotton Rich Spot Print First Bra, at Mark & Spencers
This pretty spot print bra is designed for a supportive and comfortable fit. The non-wired design is the best choice for first bras.

Low Back Bra Extender, at Mark & Spencers
Make your bra backless with this clever bra extender. Ideal for wearing under low backed tops and dresses

Zip Folio Case, at Marks & Spenser
When you're on the move, make sure to keep your important documents in order with this smart looking folio

Per Una Silk Blend Rosa Knitted Top with Linen, at Marks and Spenser
A stylish 3/4 sleeve top featuring a scoop neck with fluted cuffs and hem. Comes with necklace shown

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 Marks and Spencers are so useful. M&S Money financial products are, of course, designed to make MarksandSpencer 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, Property Insurance policies. Usually, UK Property 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 Property 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 Property Insurance than you will anywhere else, and you may even pay less with M&S.