Insurance
Coverage Guide
Learn policy terms, compare contract clauses and find questions to ask before deciding.
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Who is the cover for?
Coverage concepts
The building blocks of a policy
Glossary
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16 terms
Cover for injury or damage you cause to other people, their vehicles or property. Most markets require a minimum level by law.
Pays towards repairing or replacing your own vehicle after an accident, minus the excess. Often called collision or comprehensive cover.
Cover if the vehicle is stolen or damaged by fire. Insurers may require keys to be secured and approved security fitted.
Payments towards medical costs or lost income after an accident, whoever was at fault. Availability and limits vary by market.
The amount you pay towards a claim before the insurer pays. It can combine a compulsory and a voluntary amount.
The price of the policy for its term. Check whether it includes taxes and fees, and whether paying monthly adds interest.
The most the policy will pay — overall, per claim or for specific items such as belongings, accessories or windscreens.
A situation the policy won't cover, such as unlisted drivers, undeclared modifications or using the vehicle for an uninsured purpose.
A change to the standard policy wording that applies to you — for example an extra excess or a condition about where the vehicle is kept.
The page showing your details: names, vehicle, use, cover level, excess and dates. Check it carefully — errors can affect claims.
A person listed on the policy as allowed to drive. Anyone not named, or not covered by an any-driver clause, may not be insured.
Roadside help or recovery if the vehicle breaks down. Levels range from local roadside help to national or international recovery.
A temporary vehicle while yours is repaired by an approved garage. It's often small and may not be provided if the car is written off.
Help with legal costs, such as recovering uninsured losses after an accident that wasn't your fault.
One policy covering several vehicles under one business, often with any-authorised-driver rules and claims assessed across the fleet.
Cover for loss of or damage to goods you carry for your business or customers. Usually separate from motor cover.
Worked example
Included, conditional or excluded?DEMO
Hypothetical example for learning — not a real policy.
| Situation | Typical treatment | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You damage another car in a car park | Included | Liability to others |
| Your car is stolen from your driveway | Conditional | Only if theft cover is included, and keys were secured |
| A friend not named on the policy crashes | Conditional | Depends on who's allowed to drive |
| You use the car for paid deliveries | Excluded | Business use not declared |
Reading your documents
How to read a policy
- 1Schedule / declarations — check names, vehicle, use, cover level, excess and dates.
- 2Policy wording — what's covered and excluded, and your obligations.
- 3Endorsements — changes to the standard wording that apply to you.
- 4Certificate — legal proof of cover where your market requires one.
Checklist
Questions to ask before deciding
- What exactly is covered, and at what limits?
- What's the total excess I'd pay on a claim?
- Which exclusions could affect how I use the vehicle?
- Who's allowed to drive?
- What do I need to tell the insurer if things change?
- Is the price the total for the term, including taxes and fees?
Questions
Coverage Guide questions
It explains general concepts. Your insurer's policy wording is what applies.
Nothing — they're two names for the same thing. “Excess” is common in the UK and Ireland; “deductible” is used in many other markets.
Each insurer writes its own policy wording, and laws differ between markets. Always check the definitions in your own policy documents.
Yes. Use “Print checklist” under “Questions to ask before deciding” — only the questions are printed.