The Exeter review
Updated September 28, 2026 · AssureCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
The Exeter is a UK friendly society insurer for adults who want life, income protection and health cover under a single provider, with monthly payments on its life cover. Life cover pays Life (Real Life): max benefit GBP 3,000,000, and claims can be opened by phone, email or post.
Key facts
- Best for
- Monthly life cover from a UK insurer that also offers health and income protection
- Insurance types
- Life, Income-protection, Health (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Provider type
- Insurer (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Monthly payments
- Yes (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Cover limit
- Life (Real Life): max benefit GBP 3,000,000 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Claims channels
- Phone, Email, Post (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Age range
- 18-80 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Exeter Friendly Society Limited (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Phone, Email (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Pricing model
- Monthly
- Official website
- the-exeter.com
Pros and cons
Pros
- Life, income protection and health sit with the same provider: life, income protection and health
- Premiums can be paid monthly, and monthly is the payment model listed for the life range
- Claims can be started on phone, email and post
- Regulated by the Prudential Regulation Authority, 205309, and listed on the Registrar of Friendly Societies register, 91F
Cons
- Support runs on phone and email only, which is narrower than the claims routes
- Eligibility is capped at the 18-80 band, so anyone outside it cannot buy cover
Who it suits
- People in the UK who prefer to deal with the carrier itself rather than an intermediary, since insurer
- Monthly payers, as monthly is the only pricing model listed and monthly payments are offered
- Anyone who wants claims handled on phone, email and post
Who should look elsewhere
- Those who want a life policy from a specialist: Linxea lists life only
- Households also needing property, travel or gadget cover, which Good Sam Insurance Agency lists, auto, home and renters
- Shoppers pairing life with gadget cover, a mix Oney Préstamos ES offers, health, life and gadget
Safety and regulation
The Exeter is an insurer, so the contract sits with the company that pays the claim rather than a broker. It is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority, 205309, and appears on the Registrar of Friendly Societies register, 91F. Both entries point to a supervised UK carrier.
Who runs it
The provider is Exeter Friendly Society Limited, based in the United Kingdom. Support runs on phone and email, so day to day contact happens by phone or email with the carrier itself. The same company is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority, 205309, and listed on the Registrar of Friendly Societies register, 91F.
How The Exeter compares
9.2 vs 8.6
9.2 vs 9.4
9.2 vs 9.4
9.2 vs 9.4
9.2 vs 9.4
9.2 vs 8.8
9.2 vs 8.7
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 9.4
9.2 vs 9.3
9.2 vs 8.9Worth a look if life is the only cover needed, since Linxea lists life.
9.2 vs 8.9
9.2 vs 8.9
9.2 vs 9.3- 9.2 vs 9.3
9.2 vs 9.3Max Life Insurance
9.2 vs 9.3
9.2 vs 9.3
9.2 vs 9.3
9.2 vs 9.2
9.2 vs 9.2
9.2 vs 9.2
9.2 vs 9.2
9.2 vs 9.2
9.2 vs 9.2- 9.2 vs 9.1
9.2 vs 9.1
9.2 vs 9.1
9.2 vs 8.9
9.2 vs 8.9
9.2 vs 8.8
9.2 vs 8.8
9.2 vs 8.6- 9.2 vs 8.4
- 9.2 vs 8.2
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Where The Exeter is available
- Available
- United Kingdom
- Licence in United Kingdom
- Prudential Regulation Authority (205309), checked September 26, 2026
- Licence in United Kingdom
- Registrar of Friendly Societies (Friendly Societies Act 1992 register) (91F), checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What does life cover from The Exeter pay out?+
Life cover is sold as the Real Life product, with Life (Real Life): max benefit GBP 3,000,000. Eligibility runs to adults inside the 18-80 band. Alongside it the company offers income protection and health cover, life, income protection and health, so a death benefit and an illness or income line can come from the same carrier.
Can I pay monthly?+
Yes. Premiums can be paid monthly, and monthly is the only payment model the company lists for its life cover. Spreading the cost across the year makes the policy easier to fit into a monthly budget than settling it as a single payment.
Is my money safe with The Exeter?+
The Exeter is an insurer, authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority, 205309, and listed on the Registrar of Friendly Societies register, 91F. Policyholders deal with the carrier that pays the claim rather than a middleman.
How do I make a claim?+
Claims can be started on phone, email and post. That is a wider set of routes than the phone and email offered for general enquiries, so a claim does not have to travel through the same channel as a routine question about the policy.
What kinds of insurance does it sell?+
The range covers life, income protection and health, life, income protection and health, all under Exeter Friendly Society Limited. Bundles that also need property, travel or gadget cover need another provider, and Good Sam Insurance Agency lists auto, home and renters for those lines.
Who does this provider suit?+
Adults in the 18-80 band living in the UK, since the company is based in the United Kingdom and holds UK regulatory entries. It also suits people who want a single insurer for life, health and income protection, life, income protection and health, rather than a separate provider for each line.
How do I compare the cost against other providers?+
Listing level figures give the shape of the market. The site's median starting premium is €8.37, and in the life insurance ranking it is €7.95. Use them to place The Exeter in a range rather than treat them as a quote for an individual policy.
Does The Exeter sell directly or through a broker?+
Directly, as insurer indicates, and the same legal entity, Exeter Friendly Society Limited, appears on the Registrar of Friendly Societies register, 91F. Linxea covers life only, life, while Oney Préstamos ES pairs health, life and gadget cover, health, life and gadget.
Sources
- the-exeter.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Provider type, Headquarters, Insurance types, Legal entity, Support channels, Licences
“The Exeter is a trading name of Exeter Friendly Society Limited, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential...”
- the-exeter.com/customer/life-insurance checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Age range, Cover limit, Pricing model, Monthly payments
“Real Life is available to customers who are UK residents and aged between 18 to 80 inclusive.”
- the-exeter.com/make-a-claim checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Claims channels
“You can register your claim in either of the following ways: Write to us: The Exeter, Lakeside House, Emperor Way, Exeter EX1 3FD; Call us: Claims team 0300 123 3201; Health insurance claims: Email...”
Compiled from 3 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Premium from.
The Exeter
Monthly life cover from a UK insurer that also offers health and income protection