Sheilas’ Wheels makes Facebook first with motor policy

Sheilas’ Wheels, Esure’s female-friendly motor insurance brand, has become the first company to sell a motor policy through Facebook, Insurance Times understands.

The scheme, currently a pilot, lets customers to use quote and buy facilities on Sheilas’ Wheels’ Facebook page, and is accessible via computers and laptops, as well as standard Facebook apps for mobile devices.

Speaking at a press conference about Esure’s forthcoming flotation, chief executive Stuart Vann said: “We have launched quote capability within our Sheila’s Wheels Facebook page as a pilot phase that we believe will be the first in Europe, possibly the world. It is very much a pilot and we have got many evolutions of that setup that we can release in the coming weeks and months.

“I believe social media will be the next big distribution channel following on from the aggregator distribution channel, when you consider how many people use Facebook and similar packages in their day-today lives.”

The company has partnered with the charities Water Aid, the NSPCC and Macmillan Cancer Support, and consumers who purchase through the Facebook channel will be able to select one of the three charities to which Sheilas’ Wheels will make a £20 donation.

The company made its first sale through Facebook earlier this week.