Tips for buying motor insurance

We know you’ll want to shop around to find the best deal for your car insurance. But, before you start comparing what’s available, remember that the cheapest insurance is not necessarily the right option. There are levels of coverage, and we need to decide what is the best level to suit your requirements. The usual types of cover available are:

• Third Party – This gives cover against liability to third parties, not only in respect of death or bodily injury, but also for damage to third party property.
• Third Party, Fire & Theft – This adds cover for the risks of fire or theft damage to the insured’s own vehicle.
• Comprehensive – This includes all the risks described above as well as the very important element of accidental damage to the insured’s own vehicle

However, not every package is available to everyone and every car. Depending on the age and condition of your vehicle, you may not be able to get Fire & Theft or Comprehensive insurance. Most policies have driver restrictions, so check the insurance certificate or policy before allowing anyone to drive your vehicle for any purpose. So it’s important to remember to get your car inspected and valued before the policy is issued or at the next renewal.

A No Claims Discount exists for policy holders who have not made any claims on their insurance. You can be rewarded for safe driving! However, this eligibility may be lost if the insurer has to pay you for a claim, even when the accident was not your fault. The scale of the No Claims discount varies, but a policy holder who has earned a no claim discount with one insurer and changes insurers will usually be given a discount by the new insurer, providing they can produce documentary proof of entitlement.