Getting Car Insurance in the UK is a no-brainer, but some people are unsure about the process required to get the best car insurance in the UK, which is why we have brought you this Guide to Getting Car Insurance in the UK.
The chances of having continuous coverage may be near impossible due to insufficient information or based on your location; however, there are numerous initiatives available for public access that you should be aware of.
In this article, I’d like to walk you through some of the options you have for car insurance.
Detailed Explanation of Car Insurance Policy
Vehicle Insurance otherwise called ‘car insurance, motor insurance…’ is insurance for cars, trucks, motorcycles and other road vehicles. It is primarily used to provide financial protection against physical damage or bodily injury resulting from traffic collisions and against liability that could arise from incidents in a vehicle.
Car Insurance in the UK may additionally offer financial protection against theft of the vehicles and against damage sustained from other events such as keying, weather or natural disaster and colliding with stationary objects. Car Insurance is mandatory by law, therefore, has its advantages with little or no disadvantages hence, it (vehicle insurance) is protection for the vehicle rather than the driver.
Major Advantages of Getting Car Insurance
Here are the major advantages that you opt to have a car insurance policy in the UK:
- Assured for financial liability
- Legal Requirement
- Assured of repairs and replacement
- Protects driver and passenger liability
- Assured for medical claims
Assured for financial liability
Are you financially sound enough to cover large accidental damages? If the answer is no, then selecting the best car insurance policy is the best way to avoid massive colossal damage costs.
Legal Requirement
A car owner requires liability insurance for their newly purchased vehicle; having the proper insurance policy protects you from legal clauses.
Assured of repairs and replacement
The car insurance company assesses the extent of the damage and decides whether to repair or replace the spare parts. A car insurance policy protects your vehicle from the aforementioned car damages. Because of the bumpy and patchy roads, this rainy season may cause more damage to your vehicle. This damaged road has an effect on your vehicle’s mechanical components.
Protects driver and passenger liability
If there is any damage to drivers or passengers as a result of an accident, your insurance policy will cover the costs. Because of the benefits included in the car insurance policy, you can now drive without stress on the roads. Never drive too recklessly when backed up by an insurance policy; there are numerous benefits of car insurance premiums. Learn how insurance can protect you from unforeseen damages.
Assured for medical claims
In the event of serious injury to the driver or a passenger, an individual will be unable to cover the high medical costs. Having an insurance policy ensures that medical expenses are covered in order to support financial obligations.
Furthermore, as important as it may be for a driver to have his/her car insured in all parts of the world if you are planning to drive in the UK, it’s essential you have the right Insurance. Vehicle Insurance in the UK is compulsory for drivers. And, if you are looking out for ‘How to go about insuring your car in the UK’ then this article is for you.
UK CAR INSURANCE
UK car insurance typically covers the vehicle rather than the driver, this means that you aren’t automatically insured to drive another person’s car, Because of this, it pays to shop around for insurance companies and get a deal that suits your need.
Types of car insurance coverage in the UK
The main types of car insurance are as follows;
- Bodily Injury Liability
- Property Damage Liability
- Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist
Bodily Injury Liability
Bodily injury liability insurance is intended to pay for someone else’s medical expenses if you injure them in an accident in which you are found to be at fault. This coverage may apply to you as well as any other drivers listed on your policy.
Property Damage Liability
Property damage liability insurance also protects you in the event of an accident in which you are at fault. It covers the cost of repairing the other driver’s vehicle or any other property you may damage.
Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection
If you or a passenger in your vehicle is injured in an accident, medical payments or personal injury protection coverage can help pay your medical bills. This type of coverage can also cover lost wages if you or an injured passenger are unable to work, as well as funeral costs if someone in your vehicle dies in an accident.
Collision
While property damage liability insurance covers damage to another person’s vehicle or property as a result of an accident, collision coverage covers damage to your own vehicle or property. Damages caused by a collision with another vehicle or hitting a stationary object, such as a tree or fence, can be included.
Comprehensive
Comprehensive coverage compensates you for loss, theft, or damage to your vehicle that is not the result of a collision. This can include, for example, fire damage, hail damage and other falling objects, or animal damage.
Underinsured/Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Underinsured motorist coverage can protect you if you are involved in an accident and the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance. Uninsured motorist coverage is intended to protect you if you are involved in an accident with a driver who does not have any insurance at all.
Cost of car insurance in the UK
To begin, the cost of car insurance in the UK is determined by factors such as:
- Car insurance type
- Vehicle value
- What you will use the vehicle for
- Driver age, history and profile
The average cost of car insurance in the UK as of 2018 was £431 a year, in 2020 which is exactly two years, it was £526 that’s to say it increased, the average cost of car insurance this year 2022 is now £550, it increased to 2% after 3 months of the same year.
You can look to lower your annual car insurance premiums by;
- Reducing risks associated with your car i.e installing an alarm to reduce the risk of your car getting stolen or fitting sensors.
- Paying the annual amount upfront rather than in monthly instalments as others may advise.
- Take out black box insurance that sees a device fixed to your car that tracks your driving habits. If you are a safe driver, you could see reductions in future premiums.
- Increasing your excesses: This means the amount of money you’ll need to pay against any claim, for instance, if you have an excess of £1000, the insurer will pay £900. All insurers have a compulsory excess but you can voluntarily increase this to bring down the premium.
Purchasing additional forms of car insurance in the UK could help to Mitigate against further risks, they include;
- Warranty: This covers any mechanical faults with the car, this is often included with new cars, but some companies offer an additional warranty.
- No claims protection: This protects your no claims bonuses in the event of making a claim.
- Legal insurance: To cover legal expenses in the event of an incident that goes to court.
Things to look out for when choosing a car insurance company in the UK
Before shipping for the car insurance in the UK, you can take a number of different factors into knowledge beyond costs, these may include;
- Company reputation: what is the customer feedback like about the company?
- Policy coverage: can what is excluded from standard coverage be added and at what cost?
- No claims bonus: what discounts are offered and what is the policy around transferring bonuses from elsewhere?
- Genuineness of company: what if it is not a legal company; would you know if underground research isn’t made?
It is necessary for research to be made about the company before you proceed to get your car insured, this is applicable anywhere.
How to apply for car insurance in the UK
After you have made research about the company, then you want to proceed with the insurance.
You will need to provide typically, the following documents to take out car insurance in the UK;
- Your personal information
- Car information
Your personal information
Your personal information for obtaining car insurance in the United Kingdom will include details such as
- Full name (as it is on your driver’s license)
- occupation
- Active email address
- Current home address
- Date of birth and other personal data
Car information
In the same way that you provide personal information, you will provide car information such as;
- The registration of the car you want to insure
- Your driving license information
- What you will want to use the car for and other information that may be required of you by the company
List of car insurance companies in the UK
It pays to shop around for car insurance companies that will suit you, hence, there are over two hundred car insurance companies to choose from in the UK,
some of which are listed below;
FAQs about Guide to Getting Car Insurance in the UK
Who is the best car insurance company in UK 2022?
The best car insurance in the UK are:
- Saga
- Direct line
- Churchill
- AXA
- Aviva
- Admiral
- RAC
What are the 5 guidelines to know before purchasing car insurance?
You have to consider the following when shopping for car insurance in the UK:
- Company reputation
- Policy coverage
- No claims bonus
- Genuineness of company
How much is car insurance per month UK?
The average cost of car insurance in the UK in 2020 was £526. That’s the equivalent of £43.83 per month, but if you choose to pay monthly, interest will be added on top, so the total cost will be higher. Surprisingly, higher levels of coverage are actually less expensive.
