More customers are comparing providers before renewing insurance policies, yet fewer are deciding to switch after doing so, according to Roy Morgan research.

In the past year 9.4 million general insurance policies, or 19% of the total, were considered for change, up from 8.3 million five years ago.

But only 2.1 million policies were changed to a different insurer, down from 2.7 million half a decade ago.

“It appears more people are looking around at renewal time, but fewer are actually switching,” Roy Morgan spokesman Norman Morris said.

The latest quarterly update of Roy Morgan’s General Insurance Currency Report shows 78.4% of policies were automatically renewed without other companies being approached for quotes in the past year, up from 77.5% the previous year.

A further 14.9% were renewed after approaching other companies, while 4.2% changed providers.

Companies with the most customers to renew without looking around were CGU (85.8%) and RACV Insurance (83.5%). The least “loyal” customers among the majors were at Youi, with 70.6% renewals, AAMI at 73.3% and GIO at 73.7%.

Mr Morris says general insurance policyholders primarily shop around in search of better premiums, though other motivations can include bad claims experiences, poor customer service, better products elsewhere and recommendations from family or friends.

Roy Morgan surveys 50,000 Australians a year who hold more than 120,000 general insurance policies.