Research from the Financial Ombudsman Service shows that in the first quarter of 2026/27 (April to June) car and motorcycle insurance complaints rose to 4,100. The FOS says this is up from 4,000 in the previous quarter and from 2,800 during Q1 2025/26. Reasons for complaints, according to the FOS, range from concerns about claim values to policy cancellations and claim delays.

The FOS data also points to rising complaints in the travel insurance sector, which reached 1,300 in Q1 2026/27. This was up on the 1,200 the previous quarter and on the 1,000 received in the same quarter a year earlier. Declined claims remain the most common reason for travel insurance complaints and the FOS suggests the travel disruption linked to the conflict in the Middle East was a driver for increased numbers.

James Dipple-Johnstone, interim chief ombudsman at the Financial Ombudsman Service, said: “As financial services continue to evolve, we are delivering the biggest reforms to our service since we were created to ensure we develop alongside them… we remain committed to providing an accessible, independent and impartial service that supports consumers and businesses alike.”

The FOS says complaints are being resolved more quickly. In Q1 2026/27, more than half of cases (51%) were closed within three months of an investigation starting, compared with 46% in Q1 the previous year.