Updated September 28, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team
GJW Direct vs Hiscox
Where GJW Direct and Hiscox differ
| Compare |  GJW Direct |  Hiscox |
|---|---|---|
| Provider type | Broker | Insurer |
| Premium from | £75 | £7.20Lower |
| Excess from | £0Lower | £250 |
| Industries | boat and marine insurance | consultants, contractors, IT, freelancers, self-employed, tradesmen |
| Cover types | Not confirmed | Public liability, Professional indemnity, Employers liability, Cyber |
| Indemnity limit | Not confirmed | £10,000,000 |
Same on both: Monthly payments (Yes).
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Key differences
- Hiscox scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- Founded is lower at GJW Direct: 1826 vs 1901.
- Premium from is lower at Hiscox: £7.20 vs £75.
- Excess from is lower at GJW Direct: £0 vs £250.
- Support channels: only GJW Direct offers Chat.
- Support channels: only Hiscox offers Phone.
Our verdict on each
GJW Direct
GJW Direct is a broker built around boat and marine insurance, so it suits people who want one specialist marine book and can pay monthly. Premiums start at £75, which sits above the €8.37 site median for business insurance, and your contract sits with Ripe Insurance Services Limited.
Hiscox
Hiscox is the insurer on this comparison that carries risk on its own balance sheet, with an indemnity limit of £10,000,000 for consultants, contractors and the self-employed. It suits small consultancies and trades that want a deep limit on paper and can absorb a premium of £7.20 with an excess of £250.
Score breakdown
| Area | GJW Direct | Hiscox |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Higher | 9.0A premium of £7.20 paired with an excess from £250 lifts what a small claim costs you. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.4HigherLines listed in public liability, professional indemnity and employers liability, monthly payments on the monthly model, and claims through online and phone. |
| Trust | 9.3 | 9.6Higher |
Choosing between them
Pick GJW Direct if excess from matter most.
Pick Hiscox if offer, trust, and premium from matter most.
Availability and regulation
| Country | GJW Direct | Hiscox |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority 313411 |
Available in 1 country for both.
How they place
| Ranking | GJW Direct | Hiscox |
|---|---|---|
| Car insurance | 20 of 375 | 91 of 375 |
| Business insurance | 16 of 147 | 57 of 147 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | GJW Direct | Hiscox |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Ripe Insurance Services Limited | Hiscox Insurance Company Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Bermuda |
| Founded | 1826Lower | 1901 |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Phone, Help centre |
Personal insurance
| Fact | GJW Direct | Hiscox |
|---|---|---|
| Insurance types | Not confirmed | Auto |
| Pricing model | Monthly | Monthly |
| Cover limit | Up to £20k personal accident cover; legal protection up to £100k | General liability: $300,000 to $2,000,000 limits |
| Claims channels | Phone, Email, Post, Online portal | Online, Phone |
| Age range | no age limit for users of craft | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | GJW Direct | Hiscox | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indemnity limit | Not confirmed | £10,000,000highest quarter | £5,000,000 |
| Premium from | £75highest quarter | £7.20at the median | £7.20 |
| Excess from | £0below the median | £250highest quarter | £50 |
Median across 13 listed insurance providers.
Pros and cons
GJW Direct
Pros
- A broker whose book is boat and marine insurance, trading in that field since 1826
- Claims can be started by phone, email and post
- Monthly payments are available, so a monthly schedule can spread the cost of cover from £75
Cons
- Support runs on chat and help centre only, so policy questions do not travel on the claims routes
- The book is boat and marine insurance, so a wider set of business risks is not what this firm is set up for
- Monthly payments mean £75 is the start of the cost, not the whole of it
Hiscox
Pros
- An indemnity limit of £10,000,000 ranks 1 of 11 brands on this comparison, so the cover on paper is deeper than most of the field.
- Hiscox is an insurer, so the risk stays with the company that writes the policy rather than with a broker such as WeddingPlan Insurance or a comparison site such as EverQuote.
- Monthly payments are available, and monthly is the payment model listed, so cash flow follows the month rather than the renewal date.
Cons
- The excess starts at £250, so a small claim leaves more of the bill with the business than a policy with a lower excess would.
- The entry premium of £7.20 sits above the median premium across the brands compared here, which is €8.37, so Hiscox is not the value pick at the starting price.
- The insurance type listed is auto alone, so a firm that wants motor cover in the same place has to look elsewhere for it.
Who each suits
GJW Direct
Who it suits
- Boat owners who want a single specialist broker rather than an open market search
- Craft users of any age, since no age limit for users of craft
- Anyone who prefers a monthly payment schedule over one annual bill
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for people who want the risk carrier itself: Hiscox UK is an insurer, not a broker
- Not for weighing the market first: EverQuote is a comparison site, so start there before settling on a marine broker
Hiscox
Who it suits
- Consultants, contractors, IT freelancers, the self-employed and tradesmen, the industries Hiscox names for its business cover.
- Small firms that want depth on paper, since the indemnity limit of £10,000,000 ranks 1 of 11 brands here.
- Businesses that would rather spread the cost, since monthly payments are available on the monthly model.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers shopping purely on entry price, because Hiscox UK quotes £5.20 against £7.20 for this brand.
- Firms that would rather have a broker place the cover, since WeddingPlan Insurance is a broker and handles the placement instead.
- People who want many insurers screened in a single search, since EverQuote is a comparison site rather than an underwriter.
Country by country
| Country | GJW Direct | Hiscox |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
GJW Direct
What does cover cost at the cheapest end?+
Small boat cover starts at £75. That sits above the €8.37 site median for business insurance, so expect to pay more than a typical entry price for a business policy. The final premium depends on the craft, the waters it is used on and the level of cover you choose.
Is GJW Direct the insurer or the broker?+
GJW Direct is a broker, not the insurer. Your policy is arranged with an underwriter and the contract is with Ripe Insurance Services Limited. If you would rather deal with the company that carries the risk, Hiscox UK is an insurer and writes its own policies.
Hiscox
What does Hiscox business cover start at?+
Business cover is quoted from a premium of £7.20. The median premium across the brands compared here is €8.37, so the headline figure sits above the middle. Your own price will move with your trade, the limit you choose and the volume of work you handle.
What is the excess on a Hiscox claim?+
The excess starts at £250, which is the amount a claim leaves you to cover before the insurer steps in. A policy priced at £7.20 can still cost more than a dearer rival if the excess is set high, so read both figures together before you choose.