Your Car

For many people, their car plays an essential role in their life; it provides transport to and from their place of work, as well as giving them the freedom to travel independently whenever they wish. However, buying a car is expensive and losing the use of your car, whether through theft or damage, can be a serious worry. The right insurance should ensure that you can drive with peace of mind.

Accidental loss of / damage to car / equipment
Fully comprehensive insurance covers any damage to, or loss of, your car as a result of an accident: whether this was your fault or not. It also covers the car if it is damaged maliciously, or by vandalism, flood, or storm. Your insurance will pay the cost of repairs to your car, or a replacement of an equivalent market value. Alternatively, you may receive a cash amount equivalent to the current value of the car. Any electronics or car accessories that were stored in your private garage for the purpose of secure storage, are designed to be removed from your car and cannot function without being in your car may also be covered under a fully comprehensive policy.

Loss of / damage to car from theft, attempted theft, fire, lightning, explosion
Third party fire and theft, and fully comprehensive insurance, will cover you in the event that your car is stolen, or damaged, or destroyed by attempted theft, fire, lightning or explosion. Your insurance will pay the cost of repairs to your car, or a replacement of an equivalent market value.

Accident Recovery
Fully comprehensive insurance will cover the cost of removing your vehicle from the scene of an accident in the event that it is not safe to drive afterwards, or if as a result of injury you are no longer able to drive it. Your insurer would generally tow it to the nearest approved garage for repair and subsequently deliver it to your home when ready.

New Car Replacement
In certain cases, your car may need replacing completely. Typically, if your car is less than one or two years old and was bought when new, your car will be replaced with a new car of the same make and model. The following conditions usually apply:

• The cost of repairing the damage to your car exceeds sixty percent of its UK listed price, or it is deemed to be beyond economical repair by an approved mechanic
• You are the owner of the car, or are in the process of becoming owner under a hire-purchase agreement. A hire-purchase agreement is an instalment payment plan whereby you pay an initial deposit as well as monthly repayments (plus interest) to the car dealer, with the aim of owning the car by an agreed date
• You or your partner were the first registered owners of the car.

Windscreen Damage & Repair
Fully comprehensive insurance covers repair or replacement of your windscreen, sunroof or windows, as well as scratching of the bodywork from broken glass. In the event that you suffer damage to, or loss of, your windscreen, sunroof or windows, you should follow your insurer's claim procedure fully. You should call them as soon as you find a chip or a crack: this may allow them to repair, rather than replace your windscreen. You will not usually pay any excess if your windscreen is only repaired. Additionally, if you use their approved glass repairers or mechanics there will typically be no effect on your No Claims Discount. Some insurers limit these benefits to the windscreen only; claims made for a sunroof or other windows would therefore affect your NCD and may be subject to the full excess.

Replacement Locks
If your car keys, lock transmitter, or card for the keyless entry system are lost or stolen, you may be entitled to claim for the costs of replacing the following:

• door and boot locks
• ignition and steering lock
• lock transmitter and central locking system
• the keyless entry card 

Making a claim for replacement locks and accompanying locking devices does not usually affect your no claims discount.

Car Audio, Entertainment and Navigation Devices
Any damage or loss of a permanent in-car stereo, television, DVD, phone, games-console, or electronic navigation device may be covered up to a certain limit. If the equipment was fitted by the manufacturer as part of the original vehicle specifications, cover may be unlimited.