You are legally obliged to have car insurance. There are three levels of cover to choose from and oddly enough the best cover – fully comprehensive – is often cheapest. It also pays to know how your no claims bonus works and how to get the excess levels right on your policy.
- Do you need car insurance?
- The different levels of car insurance
- Policy checklist
- No claims bonus – what it is and how it works
- Excess – what it is and how it works
- What you must declare to your insurance company
- Finding the best car insurance for you
Do you need car insurance?
Yes – legally you must have at least a basic level of car insurance, called third party insurance, even if you don’t drive the car.
The only exception is if you officially register your car as off the road, with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
The different levels of car insurance
There are three levels of car insurance cover:
- Third party
- Third party, fire and theft
- Comprehensive
Third party – the minimum you can legally have
Third party insurance covers other people (third parties), but not you.
f you injure someone or damage their property, they’re covered but if your own car is damaged or stolen, you have to pay for the loss yourself.
Don’t assume it’s the cheapest. Strangely enough, you can sometimes get more cover for less money, so always check.
Is it suitable for you? Possibly, if you can’t get decently-priced comprehensive insurance.
This is usually when:
- you don’t have a no claims bonus
- you live in an area that’s considered high-risk for crime and other risks, or
- your car is worth less than say £1,000 and you can afford to buy another car if you have an accident.
Third party, fire and theft
Third party, fire and theft covers other people.
So, in that respect, it’s like third party. But if your own car is damaged, you have to pay for it yourself.
The difference is that it does cover repairs or replacement if your car is stolen or damaged by fire.
Like third party insurance, third party, fire and theft isn’t always cheaper than fully comprehensive cover – always compare prices.
Fully comprehensive
The highest level of cover.
On top of the basics of third party, fire and theft, it’s the only type that covers you if you damage your own car, even if the accident was your fault.
You can claim for:
- repairs after an accident
- accidental damage, or
- vandalism, say if someone deliberately scratches your car.
Plus, if necessary, you might legally be able to drive other people’s cars if you have their permission – but usually you’ll only have third party cover, which means you have no cover if you damage the car you’re driving.
Check your policy details carefully on this – they’re all different.
Policy checklist
There are some things that usually come with comprehensive car insurance – but not always.
They might be important to you, so check your policy carefully.
Check if you’re covered for:
- car stereo, speakers or sat-nav
- personal belongings that are in the car
- vehicle recovery or accident transport, and
- windscreen damage and loss or theft of keys.
Other questions to ask:
- Will I get a courtesy car? It’s something to drive while yours is being repaired, but you might only get it if you use an approved repairer. Check how long you can keep the car – some insurers limit this cover to between 14 and 21 days.
- Do I have to use a specific repairer? Your cover might be affected if you don’t use an approved repairer. For example, some insurers limit the windscreen cover if you don’t use the approved repairer.
- Can I add named drivers? These are extra people who can drive the car under the same policy, perhaps a spouse or child.
We’ve put together a list of things to check for when you’re comparing car insurance policies – just follow the link below:
No claims bonus – what it is and how it works
The less you claim, the happier your insurers will be. Insurers provide a discount if you do not claim within the policy.
Your no claims bonus grows every year you don’t make a claim. Typically the scale is:
- 30% off after 1 year
- 40% off after 2 years
- 50% off after 3 years
- 60% off after 4 years, and
- 65% or more after 5 years
If you have an accident and you claim for it, you generally lose two years’ worth of no claims bonus and your premiums go up.
If you have more than one accident in a year, you might lose all of your no claims bonus.
If you have an accident and don’t claim, you keep your no claims bonus but your premiums might still go up.
Please note, you must notify your insurer of any accidents even if you don’t claim.
Failing to do this might mean a future claim is refused.
Protect your no claims discount bonus
With some insurers you have the option to buy ‘no claims discount protection’.
You can then make claims without it affecting your no claims bonus.
The terms set will vary, but you’re usually allowed to make one claim in one year or two claims in three years without losing your no claims bonus.
Excess – what it is and how it works
Your insurer won’t usually pay for the whole of your claim – you have to pay a set amount yourself, called the ‘excess’.
It’s the same no matter how big your claim is.
The amount of excess will vary depending on the type of claim. For example fire, theft, accidental damage, and windscreen claims.
You can sometimes increase the voluntary excess to reduce the cost of your premium.
What you must declare to your insurance company
You must give your insurance company accurate up-to-date details about yourself and your car.
Otherwise your policy might not be valid, and it could be harder and more expensive to get insurance in future.
Tell your insurer if you:
- change address
- use your vehicle for business
- get points added to your licence
- change your occupation or trade
- modify your car (for example you install alloy wheels)
- have an accident or have previously made a claim, or
- change alarm system or other security, or the place where you park your car.
Finding the best car insurance for you
If you’re shopping for the cheapest policy – see how to find it in our guide: Car insurance – how to get the best deal
This article is provided by the Money Advice Service.
