Provisional car insurance help 30 May 2018 at 7:54PM in Insurance & Life Assurance 3 replies 657 views

Nohopeharry

Hi all
Just need a bit of advice regarding buying provisional car insurance please.

I have quotes from a comparison site, but I would just like your opinions on:

-how much voluntary and compulsory excess is needed,

-also whether any add-ons such as legal expenses, breakdown cover, personal accident, windscreen and courtsey car are worth buying.

I am only going to be using the car for practices on the outskirts of town. It is my own car and I will be the named driver.

Thanks in advance!

ValiantSon

Nohopeharry wrote: »

-how much voluntary and compulsory excess is needed,

That entirely depends upon how much you are prepared to pay in the event of a claim. Nobody can give you an answer to what that sum is, other than yourself. The higher the excess you opt for, the lower the premium will be. Ask yourself what you would be comfortable paying and use that as the total excess figure.

Nohopeharry wrote: »

-also whether any add-ons such as legal expenses, breakdown cover, personal accident, windscreen and courtsey car are worth buying.

I am only going to be using the car for practices on the outskirts of town. It is my own car and I will be the named driver.

Thanks in advance!

Everyone will have their own view on legal expenses. I always add it to my policy. It will cover your legal costs should you need them. As an example, if you are hit by a third party and, as a result, you are unable to work then you may have to pursue your claim through the courts. Without legal expenses cover you would have to pay for this. Alternatively, you may need to defend yourself against accusations made by another driver against you. It is up to you if you think it is worth having. Generally it doesn't add a lot to your policy - likely to be in the region of £25-£35.

I wouldn't bother with breakdown cover. You are likely to get a better deal by using a third party to insure against breakdown. Given that you are unlikely to be driving far from home and you don't need your car for work, it is also not worth paying for much cover in your circumstances. Have a look at this link and consider getting basic cover so that your car is towed a garage if it should break down, again the cost will be less than £30 https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/car-insurance/breakdown-cover. Your insurer will probably charge more, but check to see.

Personal accident insurance will cover you for death and certain injuries where you can't claim from a third party. This is likely to be where there is no third party involved, e.g. you lost control of the vehicle, or where the third party is uninsured. If the third party is uninsured then some insurers provide cover for this anyway, but you would need to check. Like all insurance, you need to decide if you think the benefits of the policy are worth paying for. It is unlikely that you will claim under this insurance, but then you may just be one of the unlucky ones. The question is, if you were to suffer an injury that is covered, would the payout be worth having paid the premium for, and how likely do you think it is that you will need the cover. Again, nobody can answer this, other than you.

Windscreen cover is normally included in a standard insurance policy, with a low excess e.g. £75 and no impact on your no claims. Has someone really quoted you for insurance without this as part of the standard cover??? If they have then I wouldn't touch them with a bargepole.

You don't need a courtesy car. You are driving on a provisional licence and will only be using the car to practise in. If you relied on your car for work then this may be worth getting, but in your case it would be a complete waste of money,

eddddy

Also, assuming you're talking about an annual policy, and you plan to take a driving test during the policy year...

Check how much the premium would increase by, if/when you pass your test. The increase might be very dramatic. (Maybe do 'dummy' online quotes, without using your own details.)

If you take your test in your car - and pass, you may not even be insured to drive the car home, without contacting the insurers and paying an additional premium.


Adding an older relative as a named driver can sometimes reduce your premium - and they might be able to drive you home after the test.

ValiantSon

eddddy wrote: »

Also, assuming you're talking about an annual policy, and you plan to take a driving test during the policy year...

Check how much the premium would increase by, if/when you pass your test. The increase might be very dramatic. (Maybe do 'dummy' online quotes, without using your own details.)

Not all insurers will continue to provide cover once you pass. It isn't a matter of paying more they simply won't quote.