Car Insurance Policy Extras
Legal Expenses
Legal expenses are often included as part of an insurance policy however you should always check it is included. It costs very little to purchase legal expenses cover and it could save you a lot of money. Legal expenses comes in to play in the event of an accident. Your insurer will use the extra cover to pay for lawyers/solicitors to fight your case if you claim for an injury as a result of an accident, or in the event of an accident where the person at fault isn't clear. Most insurers will offer protection up to the value of £50,000 although this varies between insurance companies.
Courtesy Car
Courtesy car cover is an excellent insurance extra that should always be considered, especially by people who can not get to work or manage without their car. Some insurers provide courtesy car cover as standard, whereas most offer it for an extra fee ranging from £5 to £50. Courtesy car protection comes into play in the event of a claim where your car will be taken away for repair or has been written off. Your insurance company will then provide a courtesy car until your car is repaired. In the event of a total loss (written off) a courtesy car will normally be provided for a duration of upto 14 days unless the claim is settled sooner.
Personal Injury Cover
Personal injury cover is often an insurance policy option, some insurers will try to sell it to you as you are taking out a policy with them. If you are injured as a result of an accident personal injury cover will payout depending on your circumstances. Its cover can range from loss of earnings to quite substantial payouts for serious injuries such as limb loss and broken bones.
Gap Insurance Protection
Gap insurance is only offered to owners of new cars. If your new car is a total loss within the first year of ownership, gap insurance cover will ensure that your insurance company pays out the full value of the car that it originally cost.
Protected No Claims
Protected no claims is only available to drivers with a minimum of 4 years no claims bonus (ncb). If protected no claims is taken out, in the event of a claim the drivers ncb will remain in tact. Most insurers allow 1 or 2 claims per year although this is worth checking with the individual insurance company.
It is worth noting that although your ncb will not be effected, your renewal premium may still increase as you would have made a claim.
Breakdown Cover
Some insurance companies offer breakdown cover, although this is rarely included with the policy. It is worth looking into if the insurance company offers a decent discount on the cover, otherwise it is worth sticking to the big guns such as the AA and The RAC for breakdown cover.
Driving Abroad
Driving abroad is normally included in all car insurance policies, however it should always be confirmed with your insurer before travelling. In most cases your insurance company will provide third party cover abroad, even if you have a fully comprehensive policy. For an extra premium you insurer will offer you full cover whilst driving abroad.