Welcome to BuyAssociation.co.uk

Guide to Car Insurance

The information you need

Regardless of where you want a quote from, make sure you have the following information to hand before you apply:

• Car make and model

• Registration number

• Full post code

• Number of years of no claims discount

• Where the car is normally kept - street, garage, etc. By the way, don’t be tempted to say your car is garaged if it isn’t. In the event of a theft outside your home your claim could be declined

• Details of other drivers - name, date of birth, licence type, residency in UK and occupation

• What the car will be used for – social, domestic and pleasure; or business

• Estimated annual mileage

• Type of cover - comprehensive, third party fire and theft, or third party only

• Full details of claims or convictions in the last three years. This will be on your driving licence

How to cut the cost of your car insurance

The obvious point is that you should shop around at least every two years, preferably annually. But it is also the case that people pay for the level of cover they receive. The more bolt-on “goodies” you have, the higher the cost of their insurance.

So decide which of these you want and which you don’t need:

• Is a courtesy car provided as standard? Is it offered if your car is stolen or written-off? Do you have to pay extra to insure the courtesy car?

• Is motor legal protection included?

• Does the policy offer roadside breakdown assistance? Is Europe covered? If so, this can cost a lot more

• Do you pay extra for overseas cover?

• How high is the policy excess? Are there any mandatory excesses for accidental or malicious damage?

• Does cover include personal injury, personal belongings or replacement locks?

• Does it offer legal advice and medical counselling telephone lines?

• Will your insurer immediately authorise repairs from recommended agents?

• Will your no-claims bonus be affected if the accident wasn't your fault or the cost cannot be recovered?

• Can you transfer a no-claims bonus built up while driving on somebody else's insurance?

• Can you transfer your no-claims bonus on to a second car?

• Can you protect your no-claims bonus? How many claims are you allowed under the scheme before your no-claims bonus is affected?

• When you make a claim, do you speak to the broker who sold you the policy or the insurer?

• Will you be charged extra for paying by monthly direct debit?

And finally...

The downside for many people who make a claim is that they may find it is refused or downgraded. Often, the reasons for this can be found in the original policy documents – which were never read before cover was taken out.

So before you buy, ALWAYS make sure you read the policy documents thoroughly. If you are online print them and out and go through them first. If in doubt, always ask.

Far better to spend a few minutes being bored stiff by technical jargon than to find out in six month’s time that the full cost of replacing your pride and joy will not be met by the insurer because of a small clause in the contract.

More pages

Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: The information you need

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