Is knocking off the 'Motor Legal Protection' bit a good way to save on Car Insurance?

*MF*

Late in the day for this comment - but it would have maybe been useful if there had been a poll run on this thread to see how we all shape up overall. Could that still be done? Anyone know?

The_Dangerman

olly300 wrote: »

@TheDangerman Moneypooh was talking about a non-car related small claims case.

Apart from the money people take others to the small claims court to prove they are not willing to be ripped off. All the cases I've taken to the small claims have been settled outside it simply because the other party knows they are in the wrong and I have ways of locating them.

Ahh, so they weren't, although the way it was written wasn't totally obvious that it was seperate cases but I did misread it. My fault though.

Principle still stands, though, that in a worst case scenario that a) You lose your excess b) can't claim it back by any other means c) actually want to make a claim on your insurance policy d) regularly have accidents etc, then it's a good idea to take it out. Otherwise, don't btoher.

Assuming that legal expenses cover is only applicable to non-fault accidents where there is a good chance of recovery, then the amount of times it's actually going to come in handy is?

Horlock

Definately not in my opinion. I didn't. Had an accident. First question insurance company ask: Do you have legal cover? Second question insurance company asked: Do you want it now - it won't cost you anything?
Guess what my answers to the first and second questions were!

jondunn

This is an old thread but I thought I'd add my experience of NOT having legal protection. I had an accident which my insurance company insisted was 50/50 (which it wasn't) and they weren't interested in pursuing the other driver.

Once they got the repair bill and the hire car bill for over £2000 (the policy provided me with an 'equivalent vehicle' so they gave me a brand new Mercedes C180 for 6 weeks) they suddenly decided it wasn't my fault after all and successfully claimed against the other driver, excess and all. And that's with no legal cover.

The reason legal protection is optional, and yet they're so keen to sell it to you, is purely financial; each policy costs them about 50p so they can make £25 extra profit on just about every car insurance policy they sell.

vaio

My view is it’s not worth it, it’s a very profitable add-on for the insurance companies to sell you. If an accident is your fault they won’t help and if it’s someone else’s fault the ambulance chasers will be queuing up to give you cash back to let them handle your case (and times two if there is an injury involved)

Lirin

I didn't have legal cover until they threw it in free. Not something I'm overly concerned about having. Don't have breakdown cover either.

Keep_saving

I buy family legal cover through the RAC for £30 per year which covers the 3 cars in the family rather than paying £25 per car with the insurance renewal. Haven't had to use it and hope I don't have to, but that goes for all of my insurance policies.

olly300

Lirin wrote: »

I didn't have legal cover until they threw it in free. Not something I'm overly concerned about having. Don't have breakdown cover either.

Use AutoAid for breakdown cover. It's the cheapest and actually works.

I've met other people who don't have breakdown cover. They have been fine when their car has broken down near where a mate or family member lives but not when they are on a Motorway.

Ten98

'Motor legal protection' isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

All the insurance company do is pass your case on to a no win no fee solicitor. Nothing you couldn't do yourself with the internet and a telephone and certainly not worth £25.