Car insurance

It is a legal requirement to have a minimum of third party car insurance in place to drive in the UK, and we offer three levels of cover for car insurance – third party, third party fire and theft and comprehensive.

In a nutshell:

• Third party insurance covers only damage to the other person’s car in the event of an accident
• Third party, fire and theft covers the same as third party insurance, plus cover for fire and theft
• Comprehensive insurance provides cover for damage to both your car and the other person’s car, as well as additional covers, such as liability insurance, medical and legal expenses.

Once you’ve chosen the level of cover you need, you’ll need to decide what type of car insurance you need, or which policy will give you the best deal.

For example, you may only require temporary car insurance while you borrow a friend of parents’ car. If you’re a student, you may find it more cost-effective to take out student car insurance. Alternatively, installing a black box could bring discounts for good driving, as well as reduced premiums at renewal. Do your research to find out which car insurance policy will be most suitable for your circumstances.

Our comprehensive car insurance policy provides the following covers:

• Loss of or damage to your car, including any spare parts or accessories
• Up to £100 cover for personal effects (whilst they are in or on your car)
• 24 hour windscreen and glass replacement
• Replacement car included as standard in the event of an accident
• Cover anywhere in the European Union for up to 90 days
• Audio and navigation equipment which is fitted to your vehicle
• Your legal liability to other people up to £20 million for loss and damage to property and £5 million for legal costs and expenses per incident
• Personal accident benefit up to £2,000
• Medical expenses for you and your passengers, up to £100 for each injured person

We don’t believe in one size fits all, and pride ourselves on providing flexible cover for our customers. That’s why we provide the following optional extras:

RAC breakdown cover

Save on breakdown cover from the RAC at discounted student prices. Each cover option will fix your car at the roadside if you are over a quarter of a mile away from home, or take you to a nearby garage. There are no call-out or mileage charges.

If you've never broken down before and you're not sure what to expect, find out more about what to do if you breakdown.

Legal expenses

If you have an accident that’s not your fault, this cover will provide up to £100,000 for legal representation for you and all named drivers on your policy to pursue recovery of costs not covered by your car insurance from the other driver. You'll also receive help to defend your legal rights if an accident leads to a motoring offence.

Excess protection

This covers the reimbursement of a car insurance policy excess you have to pay following an accident, although please note that windscreen excesses are not included. You can claim as many times as required up to your chosen coverage limit of either £300, £500 or £750 for each excess paid.

What is an excess?

Key cover

This cover provides up to £2,500 for replacing locks and keys for your car, home and office, including locksmith charges. You’ll also receive up to three days of emergency car hire or the option to reclaim the cost of onward transport if your car keys are lost or stolen.

Enhanced personal accident cover

If you're injured in an accident, you may be left unable to work - either while you recover or permanently, dependent on the severity of your injuries. Enhanced personal accident cover will provide a specified lump sum which may provide immediate security in assisting with bills, medical costs and other expenses that may be incurred.

Hire car cover

If your car is written-off or stolen and not recovered, this cover will provide you with a car to use anywhere in the UK for up to 21 days. All named drivers on your policy aged between 18-79 (with a full UK licence) will be able to use this car and you will be covered for up to two claims per policy.

There are lots of ways to reduce the cost of your car insurance quote. Here are some of our top tips:

Take Pass Plus

Pass Plus is a 6 hour long driving course you can take once you’ve passed your driving test, and it helps new drivers build their confidence and improve their skills on the roads. Some insurers will offer a small discount on your premium for taking Pass Plus.

Increase your excess

Increasing your voluntary excess can sometimes reduce your premium. Just remember that you’ll need to pay both your compulsory and voluntary excess in the event of a claim, so you’ll want to make sure the combined amount is still affordable.

Pick a small engine

The type of car you drive can have a big impact on your car insurance premium. Choosing a car with a small engine and no modifications may help reduce the cost of your car insurance quote.

Black box insurance

Having a black box installed to monitor your driving could result in cheaper premiums, just for driving well.

Find out more about black box car insurance.