Set out below are some of the questions that people ask most frequently in connection with motor insurance    

 1. What do I do if I  am involved in an accident with an uninsured driver?  

 Regrettably this is all to common. It is estimated that around one in twenty drivers in the UK is uninsured, notwithstanding the fact that it is illegal in this country to drive without insurance.  

 In the normal course of events, if you have an accident you and the other party leave it to your respective insurance companies to sort out what happens. In this instance you obviously can't do this. Instead you should approach the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) to whom you can make an application for compensation. The MIB is a government funded organisation which was set up to help motorists in precisely these circumstances.  

 If you are injured you may also be able to claim compensation from your own insurance company so check the details of your policy.  

 2. What do I do if I am involved in a hit and run accident?  

 Unfortunately these are all too common as well.  

 Again you may still be able claim compensation for personal injuries from you insurance company. However, as above, you first port of call should be the Motor Insurers Bureau. They will advise you how to proceed  

 3. How do I get around immediately after an accident?   Your insurance company will normally pay for the costs of getting you and your passengers back home in the immediate aftermath of an accident if you car is not fit for use. Depending on the degree of the necessary repairs they may also pay for the costs of temporary car hire while your vehicle is being repaired. Check the details of your policy to see if this applies in your case  

 4. Can I drive abroad on my existing insurance policy?  

 Most English insurance policies will give you a basic level of insurance cover while driving in EU member State countries. Outside the EU you are unlikely to be covered by your existing insurance policy. Before driving anywhere abroad you are strongly advised to contact your insurance company. Discuss with them what you are covered for and what additional cover may be necessary  

 5. How do I choose between different insurance companies when deciding which policy to buy?  

 There is no simple answer to this question since no two people's needs and priorities are identical. However, the following rule of thumb might be of use. If your driving record is clean, you know a reasonable amount about insurance, and  you are not hugely risk averse then you would probably tend towards going for an online direct insurer. They tend to be cheaper for 'standard' insurance packages. If, on the other hand, you are the type of person who wants to know in precise detail what you buying  or have a more complicated driving record then you would probably wish to consult an insurance broker and, in all likelihood, buy a policy through them. You may not get the very cheapest deal available but a broker will be able to scour the market on your behalf to get a 'good' deal and explain the policy in detail to you. On the whole, unless there are exceptional reasons for doing so, it is not generally advisable to go straight to a single insurance provider without at least comparing their quotation with others first  

 6. Why do insurance premiums vary so much?  

 If you want a more detailed answer to this question consult our 'Cost' page above. In essence, however, insurance is priced by insurance companies in line with their claims experience with different types of driver and in different locations. The following shows in general terms what increases or decreases the cost of insurance:    

Increases car insurance cost                                                                     
Living in a town or city                                                         
Being male                                                               
Being young or elderly                                                   
Having driving convictions or points on your license               
High value cars                                                                   
Parking your car on the street                                               

Decreases car insurance cost
Living in a rural area
Having a clean license
Low value cars
Parking your car in a garage
 Being middle aged
Being female  

7. How can I lower my insurance premium?     

The most effective way of doing this (other than shifting - if you can - from the right to the left had side of the table above) is to make sure you have the maximum no claims bonus entitlement possible (for an explanation of which see our 'Cost' page). Other things you might wish to consider are increasing the voluntary excess on your policy and paying for any minor repairs to your car yourself in order to protect your no claims bonus.  

8. What type of insurance policy should I buy?  

As we explain on our 'Basic info' page, there are two main types of  car insurance policy: comprehensive policies and a third party fire and theft policies (though some insurance providers will split the second category into pure third party policies and third party fire and theft policies).  

There is no simple answer to the question of which is most suitable for you. Please consult our 'Basic info' page for further guidance on this issue  

9. What is legal cover?  

If your policy includes legal cover your insurance company will cover, up to a certain limit, the costs of recovering uninsured losses (ie losses not specifically covered by your policy) which arise directly from an accident involving:  
 - your death or injury
 - damage to your car
 - damage to any property which you own or are legally responsible for  

10. What is an excess?  

The excess is the amount you are required to pay towards a claim before the insurance company will make a contribution. Suppose you make a claim towards the £2,000 cost of repairing your car following an accident. If the excess on your policy is, say, £200, you will pay £200 and the insurance company will pay the remaining £1,800