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UK
Car Insurance Options and Extras
To ensure you obtain the most suitable car insurance policy,
it is imperative you know exactly what you want from your cover. You will
probably be aware of the three main policy types and the level of protection
each provides:
Fully
Comprehensive - Covers you for claims made by other people for bodily
injury or damage to their property, cover if your car is stolen or fire
damaged, and accidental damage to your car.
Third
party, Fire and Theft - Covers you for claims made by other people
for bodily injury or damage to their property. Plus your car is covered
if stolen or fire damaged.
Third
Party Only - Covers you for claims made by other people for bodily injury
or damage to their property. (Click link above for further information).
Policy
Options and Extras
In addition to the cover levels delivered by each policy type
(see above) it is possible to add a number (mix) of optional extras to
your policy. Before buying your new car insurance it is important that
you understand the additional features and benefits you can 'bolt-on'
to your policy.
Adding
optional extras onto your car insurance will cost you extra, so the cheapest
option is to take out basic cover. But remember this might prove costly
in case you need to make a claim. You will also discover that each insurer,
intermediary and broker will offer a slightly different array of options
etc.
Voluntary
Excess
An excess is the amount you pay towards a claim or loss of or
damage to your car. With a voluntary excess
the more you pay, the lower your premium will be, and vice versa. Be careful
you don't just go for the lowest premium and the highest excess as you
will have to pay that excess in the event of a claim.
Breakdown
Recovery Insurance
Breakdown Recovery
will give you assistance in case you break down on the road. It provides
services such as immediate repair, cover of cost of repairs, towing and
alternative transport. Vehicle breakdown cover offered will vary from
provider to provider and there are different levels of cover available,
from basic to luxury.
Cover
When Traveling in EU Countries
Normally all UK car insurance policies provide the minimum compulsory
insurance cover required in the European Union. However this would not
cover loss or damage to your car for comprehensive and third party fire
and theft policyholders. For all policyholders including third party the
level of third party liability may not be as great as in the UK.
For a small
additional premium, you can choose to extend this minimum cover to give
the full benefits of this insurance when you are traveling in EU Countries
for up to 180 days (varies according to insurer) in a row, including when
your car is being transported.
Adding an Additional Driver
Adding An Additional
Driver - The majority of insurers can provide policyholders with a
quote for adding on additional drivers. The leading question asked by
motorists is often‘how will this affect the premium?’
Motor
Legal Protection
Motor Legal
Protection is designed to help you protect your legal rights. If you
are involved in an accident that is not your fault, you have a legal right
to claim back your uninsured losses, (losses not covered by your car Insurance
policy), from the person who caused the accident.
Personal
Accident Cover
This policy provides you with personal injury cover up to a pre-determined
amount. This means you're protected in the event of a serious injury resulting
from a car accident.
Protected
No Claims Bonus (NCB)
Protected No
Claims Bonus (NCB) is when the policyholder chooses to pay an additional
premium to his insurer so that in the event of a claim being made his
no claims bonus (NCB) is not stepped back. It is usually only available
at the point in time when a maximum NCB has been accrued.
Payment
Protection
If you are paying your motor insurance premium in instalments, you might
want to take out cover for your payment. For an additional cost your instalments
can be covered against accident, sickness or involuntary unemployment.
Hire
Car Cover
Keep on the road in the event of an accident, recovered theft (which renders
the vehicle a total loss) or an un-recovered stolen vehicle. For a small
extra premium, your insurance partner will supply a hire car for up to
14 days (variable). Generally, Hire car cover can only be added to your
policy if you have Comprehensive cover.
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