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

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

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's & 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 Marks & Spenser, through its M&S Finance website, offer a range of financial products which would not look out of place in many banks, including M&S Motor 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.

Lightweight Pure Cotton Patchwork Print Scarf, at Marks and Spencer
Keep warm without compromising on style! This fashionable patchwork leaf print scarf feels soft and cosy and makes a great way to keep looking great on those cold days

Electronic Salt & Pepper Mill Set, at Marks&Spencer
H21 x Diameter 4.5 cm Stainless steel effect, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Portfolio 3/4 Sleeve Lace Ponte Dress, at Marks & Spensers
Part of Portfolio's Parisienne trend. Feel bold and chic in this feminine look inspired by Parisian style. With a striking colour palette of cream, ruby, black and dove grey, this is a style-conscious trend for the new season

7 Pairs of Big & Tall FreshFeet Contrast Heel & Toe Socks with Silver Technology, at Marks&Spencer
Our odour control Freshfeet socks are now better than ever with a new Sanitised Silver finish. Known for its natural antibacterial properties, silver helps reduce the presence of bacteria that causes smelly odours, so your feet stay fresh with every step and it keeps working for the lifetime of the socks

Collezione Luxury Wool Micro Texture Trousers, at MarksandSpencer
Italian style is renowned for its attention to detail. Each collezione piece 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 these trousers to give you a feeling of luxury like no other

Sony Bravia 46'' KDL-46W4500 HD Ready LCD TV, at M+S
HD Ready 1080p: HD 1080p compatible to display High Definition signals in breathtaking quality, i.e. Playstation 3, Blu-ray, etc. HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) delivers crystal-clear, digital audio and video signals using a single cable. 1080p is the maximum resolution defined for HDTV use Display: 46 inch LCD TV, 6.2 Mega Pixels Contrast Ratios: Dynamic contrast 50,000:1 Integrated Digital and Cable Tuner Provides access to all Freeview™ terrestrial digital channels and radio stations (subject to coverage in your area) and is cable TV ready (with supported providers only) Dimensions: W112 x H78.2 x D30.7cm (with stand) , W112 x H74.2 x D11.5cm (without stand) Weight: 31kg (with stand), 26.5kg (without stand) S-Force Pro Front Surround: Gives you virtual surround sound from just two front speakers Connections: 4 x HDMI (3 in back, 1 on side), PC connectivity, 1 x Component and 2 x SCART sockets BRAVIA Engine 2: Experience incredibly clear and defined images with BRAVIA ENGINE 2 picture enhancement technology and Advanced Contrast Enhancer Live Colour Creation with x.v.Colour: Uses a larger colour palette to produce vibrant colour like nature intended it to be seen 24p True Cinema: Shows films at 24 frames per second, just like a real cinema Motionflow: Boosts the refresh rate from standard 50Hz to 100Hz for super-smooth, precise viewing, which is ideal for sports Xross Media Bar: A new Sony interface that's easier to operate Picture Frame Mode: When you are not watching TV, display one of the 6 pre-installed masterpieces or show one of your own photos uploaded via the USB input Voice Zoom: Allows you to alter the volume of voices without changing the background volume BRAVIA Theatre Sync: Synchronises your Sony theatre system so it can be operated by the press of a single button Use wall mount T042104 to perfectly mount this TV, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Limited Collection Bow Detail Court Shoes, at Marks & Spencers
Pointed toe Bow detail Slip on Court style High heel Heel hieght: 104mm Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes

Perfect Boyfriend Style Cardigan, at Marks & Spencer
Everyone's favourite style is back. We've updated our boyfriend cardi for this season, in a couple of different lengths. Enjoy!

Cotton Rich Embroidered Animal Top & Dungaree Set, at Marks and Spencer
Soft fabrics, fashionable designs and cute finishing touches make our babywear range outstanding. This high quality, great value top and dungaree set is designed to keep baby looking adorable and feeling comfy and happy

Autograph Pure Cotton Animal Border Duvet Cover, at Marks & Spensers
Co-ordinate with satin stitch white plain dye sheets and pillowcases strokes T356490F,T356490S,T356940P Embroidered detail Comes in Single (3ft), Double (4ft 6in), King Size (5ft) and Super King Size (6ft), Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Wedding Band Duo Rings, at Marks & Spensers
Add instant sparkling style with these gorgeous platinum plated rings set with dazzling diamant

Abbot Chair in Plain Leather - Poppy, at Marks & Spencer
H78 x W76 x D78cm Seat H43cm, arm H71cm (all dimensions are approximate) Upholstered in poppy leather Seat cushions filled with shape-retaining foam - superior quality foam with a high density for added comfort and support Solid birch feet with a dark finish Free swatch samples: Order up to 6 free swatch samples of any fabric to help you choose your upholstery by calling 0845 603 1 603 Seams and pattern match on fabrics - Please note that the images of fabrics displayed here are overlaid onto models. These images act as a guide and may not be representative of the finished product. Seams and pattern match may differ from what is shown All of our fabrics have a stain resistant finish. Detailed care instructions are included Frame exceeds the British Standards set for heavy domestic use This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Stripe Detail Plastic Sunglasses, at Marks & Spensers
With full UV protection and a flattering modern design, these smart sunglasses will see you through the summer in style

Stain Defence™ Non-Iron Shorts, at Marks and Spenser
These smart shorts are treated with Stain Defence™, a high performance finish that repels stains. They're non-iron for convenience - for best results, machine wash, tumble dry and hang straight away

5-Piece Mosaic Set, at Marks and Spencers
5 piece set - table and 4 chairs Table: H72 x Diam 110cm Stackable chairs: H96 x W56 x D56cm Seat: 44cm Polyester seat pads Metal frame Granite mosaic design Please note that this range uses natural stone and grouts and therefore the colours within the products may vary from those shown and may change over time Suitable for indoor and all-weather outdoor use Individually hand crafted Please note: Table does not have an opening for a parasol Assembly required This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Solid Spoon, at Marks&Spencer
Suitable for non-stick saucepans Hanging loop, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Straight Leg Trousers, at Marks & Spensers
A stylish smart-casual look, these straight leg trousers chinos are outstanding value! They're made from pure cotton which is comfortable, practical and easycare

Autograph Leather Lace-Up Shoes by Jeffery-West, at M&S
Square toe Punched hole 4 eyelets Lace-up Block heel Tramline design Designed exclusively for Autograph by Jeffery-West

M&S Twin DECT Cordless Phones with Large Buttons, at Marks & Spenser
DECT - Digitally enhanced cordless phones provide crystal clear sound quality, increased talk time and range coupled with increased security Talk time - up to 10 hours with 100 hours standby Speakerphone - talk hands-free Large display, big buttons and ultra-slim profile HD Sound - High Definition communication Large, white backlit inverse display Stores 100 names and numbers Up to 10 hours with 100 hours standby 5 polyphonic ringer melodies and 5 standard ringer melodies Built-in digital answering machine with up to 15 minutes recording time Access the answering machine on the base Message counter display on base 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

Multi Stripe Hipster Bikini Bottoms, at Marks & Spensers
Fashionable and flattering, these bikini bottoms feature a striking multi stripe design

Per Una Fluted Trim Waistcoat, at Marks and Spenser
A stylish knitted waistcoat featuring fluted edges and a rose button fastening

5 Younger Girls' Pure Cotton Dora The Explorer Shorts, at Marks & Spencers
A must for fans of Dora The Explorer, these pure cotton shorts feature cute motifs of the popular character

Boneless Leg of Lamb with Rosemary & Garlic Butter, at Marks and Spencers
Serves 6-8 Ready to cook Suitable for freezing 1.6kg As featured on page 36 in the food to order brochure Order by 5pm to collect in 5 days Available for collection in the majority of our UK mainland stores

Autograph SapporoŽ Lilies, at Marks & Spencers
Online Exclusive Especially chosen for their beautiful and impressive flowers, this stunning bouquet of white Sapporo lilies is from our new luxury Autograph flowers collection. Long lasting huge flowers and a beautiful scent make these lilies an impressive display and a stunning giftAll Autograph bouquets are beautifully presented, wrapped by hand and finished with Autograph branded cellophane & a black organza ribbon Available for delivery from 1st April to 30th September 2009

Collezione Apron Suede Lace-Up Shoes, at Marks & Spencer
Square toe Stitch detail Lace-up Block heel

Footglove™ Wide Fit Stitch Shoes, at Marks and Spenser
Round toe Stitch detail Buckle fastening Heel height 48mm Footglove™ soles are comfortable, highly flexible and lightweight Comes in sizes 3-8, including half sizes

Classic Non-Wired Embroidered Cross-Over Bra, at Marks and Spencers
Soft and comfortable, this full cup non-wired bra is great value. They're designed to give gentle support and a flattering fit

Panasonic HDC-SD20 Camcorder, at Mark's & Spencer
Pixels: 1.47 megapixels Zoom: 16x optical zoom / 1000x digital zoom Screen: 2.7 Wide LCD ( 230,400 pixels) Dimensions: H6.7 x W6.4 x 12.7cm Weight: 270g (without batteries and card) Recording Format: MPEG4-AVC/H.264 (AVCHD standard compliant) Audio Recording System: Dolby Digital (5.1ch) Microphone: 5.1ch Surround, Zoom mic. Media: SD/SDHC Memory Card Power Supply: DC7.2V / 9.3V

Bronze Aviator Sunglasses, at Marks and Spenser
With full UV protection and a flattering modern design, these smart sunglasses will see you through the summer in style

North Coast Pure Cotton Long Sleeve Stripe Shirt, at Marks & Spencers
Stylishly smart casual, this long sleeve stripe shirt is made from pure cotton so it feels soft and comfortable to wear

When you're shopping at Marks & Spenser 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 Finance. Offering everything from savings accounts and credit cards, to Property Insurance and Motor Insurance, there's a lot more going on at Marks&Spencer than you might imagine.

In particular, if you're thinking of travelling soon, then consider Travel Insurance from M&S Finance. 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 Finance, you would have been in good hands; within just a short time of the volcanic ash disruptions, visitors to the M&S Finance 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."