A new survey found little difference in the quotes given by three brokers - Dolmen Insurance, Mike Murphy Insurance and 123. ie - to insure a 2003 Ford Fiesta driven by a 33-year-old Dublin man. But insurance companies FBD and Quinn Direct, which do not deal through brokers, were prepared to insure the car for up to 300 less.

The survey, by Consumer Choice magazine, found similar results with home insurance, with the brokers being undercut by as much as 100 for cover on a twobedroom terraced house in the Dublin suburb of Cabra.

"Judging by our brief survey of brokers versus insurance firms for motor and home insurance, brokers are not hugely competitive, " according to Consumer Choice. "However some surveys have found that . . . in some instances they can get you deals that are not otherwise available."