More consumers are going online for insurance quotes as internet sales cut into the market share of phone sales.

The AC Nielsen survey of 20,000 internet users shows consumers are increasingly using the internet to compare premiums, with nearly half of internet users accessing insurance information online in the past six months. This is up 9% since October.

AC Nielsen Financial Services Director Glenn Wealands says 16% of those surveyed would purchase or renew policies online in the next 12 months for the first time.

Most common uses of the internet included comparing products and prices (79%), obtaining a quote (67%) and paying for a policy renewal (54%). More than half of respondents said they had purchased an insurance policy online in the past 12 months.

The survey also found consumers are more likely to shop around while online, with most users getting three quotes. Their phone-wielding counterparts were happy with two.

Respondents who bought their motor policy over the internet were nearly twice as likely as phone users to shop around at their next renewal.