Use the FCA’s Financial Services Register on GOV.UK to search for the insurer or broker by name or firm reference number. Check that the firm’s status is ‘Authorised’ and that its permissions cover the insurance services it is offering, taking care with similar or trading names. If you are dealing with an appointed representative, check the details of its FCA-authorised principal as well. If anything is unclear, contact the FCA or choose an FCA-authorised provider and verify its details before buying.