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Car Insurance Checklist

Before you accept a car insurance policy, you need to be sure that you have adequate cover. All insurance policies vary – so ask yourself:

• Is your policy designed for a particular group – such as over 50s, or women-only?
• What you use your car for – social, commuting or business?
• What added extras do you get – such as breakdown cover, lock replacement, overnight accommodation if you are involved in an accident, or have your car stolen if you’re away from home?
• Similarly if you drive abroad for long periods of time, are you covered?
• Do you have a courtesy car, if your car is being repaired? And if so, how long does it last for, and do you have to pay to insure it?
• Do you have legal cover if you go to court? Some insurance policies will pay legal bills up to £50,000.
• Can you protect your no-claims bonus, and how many claims are you allowed to make?
• Can you transfer a no-claims bonus built up whilst driving on someone else’s insurance policy?
• Can you transfer your no-claims bonus onto a second car?
• If you pay monthly, will your policy be more expensive than if paying for it in full?

What will I need to know when applying for a policy?

When you are happy that you’ve found the right car insurance policy for you, before you apply you will need to know the following details:

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• The type of cover you require
• Who will be driving the car
• The make, model and registration number and year of manufacture of your car
• The value of your car
• Full details of all claims or convictions you’ve had over the past three years
• The number of years of no claims discount you’ve accrued
• Where the vehicle is kept when it is not in use
• What you use the vehicle for, such as business or domestic use
• Estimated annual mileage
• The dates and details of any claims you have made
• Your full address
• Full details of any alarms or immobilisers it has

And always read the small print!

Make sure you check that the policy document you receive in the post is the same as the one you saw online before signing on the dotted line.

Find out more:

• Compare Car Insurance Quotes