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Driving & Motor Insurance in the UK
How Motor Insurance Works In The UK - What You Need To Know
WHAT IS MOTOR INSURANCE IN THE UK?
When trying to understand how motor insurance works in the UK, the first thing you need to know is exactly what it is. Motor insurance (also known as car, vehicle or auto insurance) is insurance for cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other road vehicles. Insurance is a contract, which comes in the form of a policy, in which an individual or company receives monetary protection and reimbursement of damages from an insurer following traffic accidents and any other liability that could also arise from the accident. Motor insurance may additionally provide cover against the theft of the vehicle, and against damage to the vehicle incurred from other events, such as storms and accidental damage if you hit stationary objects e.g. a gate post or car park wall. The exact terms of vehicle insurance will vary by policy and insurer.
IS MOTOR INSURANCE COMPULSORY IN THE UK?
Yes, it is a legal requirement in the UK for motorised vehicles that use public roads to have insurance. Therefore, to drive your car legally, you must have a car insurance policy in place. Third party insurance is the legally required minimum.
In the UK we have the Motor Insurance Database (MID) which records all insurance policies and continually compares the driver and vehicle records provided by insurance companies. Therefore, at any point in time, law enforcement agencies know which vehicles and drivers are insured and those who are not!! Many thousands of drivers are prosecuted for having uninsured vehicles. The penalties for not having insurance do vary, at the lower end it can be a fine and penalty points on your license or at the higher end your vehicle could be seized and/or destroyed.
The only exception to the above is if your car is “off the road” which means that it is not on public land and not being used. This could be the case if it is in a private garage, on a drive or on private land. In this situation you can make your vehicle subject to a SORN (Statutory Off-Road Notice), which means you can stop taxing and insuring it. However, even off the road your vehicle is still at risk from fire, theft and vandalism, therefore it is recommended to have some insurance cover in place.
HOW THE COST OF MOTOR INSURANCE IS CALCULATED
The cost of car insurance in the UK is based on many different factors. These will generally include your age, occupation, driving record, postcode, and the type of car you drive. The insurer will want to know about the car’s security, annual mileage and your driving habits too.
To calculate car insurance prices in the UK, insurance companies consider risk; the higher level of risk the more expensive the premium will be. Insurers have huge amounts of data at their disposal and they know that some occupations and UK postcodes are riskier than others.
The car you drive is one of the key elements involved in an insurer’s risk assessment, which then affects your final premium. All vehicles in the UK are assigned a ‘grouping’ and insurers use these groupings as a guide in their assessment. There are 50 car insurance groups in the UK, which are simply known as group 1 to group 50. Vehicles in the highest groups have the highest premiums. A car’s grouping depends on factors like its price, performance, claims history and the cost of repairs.
As an example, if we take the popular Audi A3: an entry level 1.6 diesel 3 door is likely to be assigned to a group around ‘18’ but the Sportback RS3 with 360bhp is likely to be in a group around ‘45’. It’s also worth noting that a car’s grouping can vary with each insurer.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF MOTOR INSURANCE IN THE UK
Another aspect of knowing how car insurance works in the UK involves getting to grips with the different types there are available.
In the UK there are three main different types of car insurance;
Third party – this is the minimum cover required by law in the UK. It covers drivers against costs that arise from a claim by a third party for injuries, damage to their vehicle and third-party property.
Third party fire and theft – this is third party cover with added protection against your insured vehicle being affected by theft, attempted theft and fire. Comprehensive – this is the most popular car insurance type in the UK as it protects drivers and cars against most eventualities. This type of car insurance can include:
• Injuries to other people and damage to their vehicles or property
• Your vehicle being damaged, stolen or destroyed in a fire
• Accidental damage and medical expenses* (*these may not be automatically included in a comprehensive policy – sometimes this is an optional addition)
• Damage or theft of vehicle's contents* (*maximum limits will apply).
There are some additional aspects to consider when choosing your car insurance. Not all policies include windscreen cover as standard, and it’s also worth checking the legal expenses, and it’s advisable to find out about the courtesy car which will keep you mobile in the event of an accident and/or when your car is being repaired and vehicle breakdown cover.
WHAT INFORMATION DO I NEED TO APPLY FOR CAR INSURANCE?
When you apply for car insurance you will get asked a range of questions, all of which are necessary - so it’s a good idea to have your information to hand. You should be prepared to answer all of the following regarding your personal details:
• Your age
• Occupation
• Address
• Details of any previous claims/motoring convictions together with your NCB (No Claims Bonus) in years.
Should your vehicle be regarded as ‘high performance’ , you will be asked additional questions about your driving experience and previous vehicles that you have owned.
You will also be asked questions about the vehicle including:
• Its registration number
• Age
• Make and exact model
• An estimate of your annual mileage
• Where it will be kept overnight.
Should the vehicle be different in any way from standard, it could be regarded as modified and all changes must be disclosed. Modifications range from a sound system upgrade, changing the alloy wheels, through to engine and suspension upgrades. Obviously, some modifications will be more material to insurers than others!
You will also be asked about your intended use of the vehicle. The options include;
• Social Domestic and Pleasure
• Social Domestic and Pleasure with Commuting to work
• Social Domestic and Pleasure with Commuting to work and Business Use.
It helps to have the above details to hand, together with an idea of your requirements prior to contacting any insurer or broker particularly if your circumstances are unusual such as being an expat or a driver from overseas. Please do check what is included and what is NOT included with any policy that is discussed, and it may help to make notes during conversations for future reference.
Insurance fraud is a criminal offence in the UK, so it is important to be open and honest with your answers. Failure to disclose any relevant information could invalidate your policy. Also during the policy term you should inform your insurer/broker if any of your circumstances change.
UNDERSTANDING NO CLAIMS BONUS
A major factor affecting the price of your car insurance premium is your record as a driver; insurers reward careful drivers. One of the best ways to cut the cost of motor insurance is to drive carefully and build up a no-claims bonus discount. The more years you accumulate without making a claim, the more savings you will make on your premium. Most insurers in the UK allow up to a maximum of 9 years bonus discount – if applicable.
Being an expat or new to the UK, a specialist broker is most likely to be able to assist you, considering your driving record and any NCB from your own country which may be able to be used in certain circumstances with specialist polices.
UNDERSTANDING CAR INSURANCE EXCESS
Excess can be a confusing element when arranging insurance policies. The excess amount is always mentioned in discussions as it applies to all policies, but it only ever emerges when there is a claim. All car insurance policies and indeed other types of insurance have excesses which is an amount of money that the policy holder must pay towards any claim made.
THE ROLE OF BROKERS
Confusion can arise because there are two types of excess; compulsory excess and voluntary excess. The compulsory excess is set by your insurer on your policy and cannot be changed. However, the size of any voluntary excess is agreed by you and can be from zero up to a few hundred pounds. It must usually be within a range that is set by your insurer.
In practice, if you choose a low voluntary excess, you will have to contribute less if you make a claim. But with a higher voluntary excess, your premium may be slightly lower for your car insurance but remember you will have to pay the higher excess should a claim arise.
An example of excess costs would be; if your claim is £1,500 and you have a compulsory excess of £350 and a voluntary excess of £50, the insurer will only cover £1,100 of the claim. You will have to contribute the excess amount, totalling £400.
HOW LONG DOES A CAR INSURANCE POLICY LAST?
Standard car insurance policies in the UK last for 12 months. Usually the premium for the year is paid when the policy commences as a one-off payment. However, the majority of insurers/brokers are likely to have arrangements that allow the premium to be paid across several months. If you do choose a monthly scheme you are likely to be charged interest. Any such arrangements and their terms will vary by insurer/broker so please do check any such arrangements.
WHAT IS SPECIALIST CAR INSURANCE?
Mainstream insurers cover a wide range of motorists and vehicles, but in some situations - like being an expat or new to the UK - is it likely that you might need a specialist car insurance policy. Specialist providers can also help if you’re looking for classic car insurance or your car is modified, or if you’d like to insure an imported car.
THE ROLE OF BROKERS
Whilst we are in an era of doing everything digitally and anonymously it is worth noting that the traditional role of the broker be it in Insurance, Finance, Commodities, Real Estate, steadfastly remains in providing personal customer services.
Online quotes for car insurance will require UK data and driving history to be entered, which are almost impossible for expats and anyone previously living abroad to supply. However, a broker can assess a client’s previous driving experience in a different country and underwrite a policy accordingly. Furthermore, brokers can search the market to find the most appropriate policy for you which usually is unavailable elsewhere, and to have the time to appreciate your unique circumstances whatever they maybe.
This article was compiled by Keith Michaels plc who are a specialist independent insurance brokerage established over 30 years who provide policies for experienced drivers, expats, enthusiasts, business and personal customers who require specialist services and individual underwriting.
CONTACT
Email: expat@keithmichaels.co.uk
Phone: +44 208 329 1150
Website: www.keithmichaels.co.uk/expat
Keith Michaels plc are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Membership number 306600) to transact general insurance. Members of BIBA (the British Insurers Brokers Association) which is the UK’s insurance industry’s body.
