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 Insurance is probably the biggest yearly bill that you will pay for your car. That's why it's important to shop around for the best quote for you. Price is not the only consideration when obtaining a quote; the amount of cover you will receive includes drivers legal protection which cover court bills in the case of anything going to court, Coutesy cars, road side assistance, online quotations, named drivers, etc are all things which can affect a premium but it's up to you to decide what you really need. You do not need road side assistance if you are already in a motoring organisation like the AA. You might not need Legal Protection if you could qualify for legal aid. There are three main types of car insurance that you can choose from Third Party Only Covers you for claims made by other people for bodily injury or damage to their property. Third Party, Fire and Theft As above, plus your car is covered if stolen or damaged by fire. Comprehensive This gives you both of the above and also covers accidental damage to your car. Which you choose is up to you. Fully comprehensive insurance is the best policy to have for peace of mind but will be more expensive. Third Party insurance could leave you out of pocket if a crash is your fault but the difference in Premiums over several years could be more than the cost of a repair and could therefore be cheaper in the long run. Motor Insurance - things you should know When taking out motor insurance it is a good idea to spend some time exploring all of the different policies and the companies offering them. Quotations can vary up to hundreds of pounds between the highest and lowest, so it is definitely worth getting as many quotes as possible. Don’t forget that insurance companies are dealing in a very competitive market so they will try and better or match any quote that you may already have. Once you have chosen the company you are going to insure with, and have received the policy documentation, read it carefully-and the small print, and check that there are no mistakes - if there are any, make sure you get them changed. Finally once you have your complete policy keep it in a safe place incase you ever need it. The bare minimum insurance is ‘third party’ cover-this type of cover will not protect you or your car, only the person you may be involved in an accident with. Few insurers will actually provide third party cover alone. If your cover is comprehensive, the main items you will be covered for are: • Accidental damage to your car • Damage caused by fire, theft and malicious acts • Repair or replacement of broken glass, and • Injury to other people and damage to their property Don’t be fooled by the word ‘comprehensive’, it can often mislead people… Even if you have ‘comprehensive’ cover your policy will not pay for: • The excess. • Loss or damage to the car, arising from theft while the keys of your car have been left in or on the car. • Loss of use, reduction in value, wear and tear, or mechanical, electrical or computer breakdowns, failures or breakage’s. • Damage to tyres from braking or from punctures, cuts or bursts. • Loss or damage as a result of pressure waves caused by an aircraft or other flying devices travelling at, or above, the speed of sound. • Loss of value following a repair |
