How the charges send bills soaring

Admiral Raked in £203million from insurance add-ons last year. This included £56million from customers paying monthly who were charged 11 per cent interest, adding £29 to an average £481 car policy. Other fees included £19.50 to change policy details, research for the Mail by price comparison firm GoCompare found. Direct Line

Raised £179million overall from extras including £116million from monthly payments, with customers charged up to 12 per cent

interest. An extra £22million came from selling legal and repair services. Hastings

Netted £299million, including charging customers as much as £32.50 to set up a new policy and £25 for later changes. It made £94million by charging interest, sometimes as high as 29.9 per cent.

Esure

Generated £125million in total. Monthly payments were charged at 11.6 per cent interest, while a change in policy details cost £26.