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Category: Insurance
Car insurance is a legal requirement in the UK.
The minimum level of cover you should have is Third Party Car Insurance, although you can have more extensive cover through a Fully Comprehensive policy.
In 2011 it has also become a legal requirement to insure cars that aren't driven, or get them issued with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
Fully Comprehensive car insurance is traditionally the most expensive type of cover – but gives the most protection. Third Party gives basic cover and is usually cheaper. However, this isn't always the case – in some instances it can be the same price or even cheaper to go Fully Comprehensive!
Think carefully about the level of cover you need and don't be swayed by price. If you had an accident, could you afford to foot your repair bill, or buy a new car completely?
Think also about what you would claim for. Would you want to claim if you wrote off your old Fiat Panda worth a few hundred pounds – probably not. In that case you might be happy with Third Party car insurance.
But you'd probably want to claim if you wrote off your new Ferrari – so Fully Comprehensive cover might be more appropriate.
As with all things shopping around is always the best idea. Compare car insurance quotes to see if you can save, or get a better level of cover for your money.
Every car insurance quote will differ depending on your age, experience, gender, where you live, occupation (dependent on the risk of your role) and the provider from which you buy the car insurance.
Be straight with your car insurer when making an application. Telling a couple of porkies now to save a few pounds might seem innocent enough – but it could invalidate a claim later. And if your circumstances change, such as your job title, it's advisable to advise your insurance company immediately, as this could affect your premium and any future claim. Moneysavingexpert.com suggests that 'subtly tweaking job descriptions when you renew can cut car insurance costs'. Just remember, the purpose of having motor insurance is to pay out if you need to make a claim, so honesty is always the best policy.
The car insurance excess is the amount that you would need to pay in the event of a claim. Remember that smaller claims may not be worth making – as you'd lose your no claims bonus (see below).
The higher you set your car insurance excess, the cheaper it will make your premium.
Your insurance company may also apply a compulsory excess in addition to any voluntary excess you enter.
Set the excess at an amount you would be able to easily afford, otherwise you could find this quite a challenge to find in the event of a claim.
No claims discounts or bonuses can seriously reduce the amount you pay for your car insurance. No claims can be earned on all types of car insurance policies.
Think twice before making a smaller claim on your car insurance as you may lose some or all of your no claims bonus. This will mean that your insurance premium will go up the following year, so weigh up whether a short term hit to your finances will actually save you money in the longer term before making a claim. Read more about no claims discounts.
Car insurance providers may offer a number of optional extras that you can bolt on to your policy. These can be very useful but remember they will add to your premium.
If you have earned a full no claims discount (typically a period of 5 years without a claim) you can opt to protect this. Protected no claims can be a really valuable extra as your no claims discount can save hundreds of pounds every year on your car insurance premiums.
You can be insured for the costs of taking a case to court if you need to recover any expenses if you're hit by an uninsured driver, or other uninsured losses (such as your excess). This can also include cover for loss of earnings and legal advice.
Roadside assistance may be offered.
Comparing car insurance online is easy and convenient. But make sure the policies you are comparing are what you want.
Comparison sites may well make assumptions about your cover, such as setting a voluntary excess at an assumed amount. If you want a higher or lower excess it will affect the amount you will pay, so look at the policies carefully before deciding which one is right for you.
Car insurers can charge a small fortune for changing details on a policy later on (such as adding a named driver). If you know you might need to change details later when you take the policy out, make sure you check the charges you will have to pay.
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Disclaimer: This information is intended solely to provide guidance and is not financial advice. Moneyfacts will not be liable for any loss arising from your use or reliance on this information. If you are in any doubt, Moneyfacts recommends you obtain independent financial advice.