Perhaps you are considering buying a car or wish to find ways to reduce your premiums. Either way, you’ll need to know what car insurance is and isn’t true.
Colour Affects Insurance Premiums
The colour of a car doesn’t impact insurance costs. Premiums are based on the car’s make, model, engine size, and driver history.
Personal Belongings are Automatically Covered
Most policies don’t cover personal belongings left in the car. Separate personal property insurance is often needed.
Third-Party Cover is Always Cheapest
Third-party insurance isn’t always the cheapest option. Comprehensive cover can sometimes offer more value for similar costs.
Older Drivers Pay More
Insurance for older drivers isn’t necessarily higher. Experience and a clean driving record can lead to lower premiums.
Parking on the Street is Cheaper than a Garage
Parking on the street isn’t always cheaper. Insurers may offer lower premiums for cars kept in a garage or secure location.
Business Use is Automatically Covered
Standard policies usually don’t cover business use of a car. Additional coverage is typically required for business activities.
Insurance Covers All Accidents
Not all accidents are covered. Coverage depends on the policy type and circumstances of the incident.
Credit Score Doesn’t Affect Insurance
Credit scores don’t directly affect car insurance premiums in the UK, unlike in other countries.
Men Pay More Than Women
Insurers in the UK can’t use gender to determine premiums due to EU gender directive rules.
Fully Comprehensive Covers Driving Any Car
Fully comprehensive policies don’t always allow driving other cars. This is a policy-specific feature and not a standard inclusion.
It is best to let your policy automatically renew every year
There are no prizes for remaining loyal when it comes to auto insurance. If your policy is due to run out soon, you would be better off doing a car insurance comparison to see if you can find a cheaper deal elsewhere.
Black box policies have a curfew.
A lot of people overlook black box policies because they believe that they will not be able to drive after a specific time. This is not the case. When black box policies emerged, a few operated this way, but times have changed. Insurers now base their premiums on factors relating to driving behaviour, for example, accelerating, braking, speed, and mileage. For young drivers, black box policies present an effective method for reducing your premiums.
You can drive any car with a comprehensive cover.
There is a massive misconception that you are automatically covered to drive someone else’s car if you have comprehensive coverage. While some of these policies will offer third-party liability, it is not a given. You need to check the terms and conditions of your specific policy before driving someone else’s vehicle.
You don’t need to pay the excess if the claim was not your fault
If you can prove the claim was not your fault, you will get the excess waived. However, you usually have to pay for it first, and then it will be returned to you.
So there you have it: some of the most common car insurance myths debunked. Hopefully, you now feel like you have a much better understanding of what does and does not matter when it comes to auto insurance and the different factors you should consider when purchasing.
Why do we report on these car insurance myths?
While the internet enables us to find information quicker and easier than ever, it has also given rise to many so-called ‘experts’ and misinformation. At Insuro, we aim to provide you with resources that you can trust. If we can help you in your car insurance journey, then this makes our efforts worthwhile.