FAQs - Motor

There are two elements you need to ensure are covered in the event of an incident taking place when you are riding, the first being a personal accident policy. Within this policy it is important to check the amount you would be entitled to in the event of temporary, or in some circumstances permanent total disability. This means that should you be injured and are unable to work you will still receive money up to a certain amount – particularly vital if you are self employed. On top of this, you should check whether you are covered purely for equestrian activities as some equine insurance will only offer this.

On the other hand, if you buy a policy from a non equestrian insurer you may find that it does not cover you for the relevant activities. Secondly, and by no means least importantly, you must have public liability insurance. Some organisations include this in their membership benefits, such as the BHS and BE. Additionally, public liability can be an 'add on' to a horse policy, meaning if you are riding your own or someone else's horse and it is fully covered, you may be protected. However always check this as some people are covered by their affiliations and don't take out the separate public liability with their horse insurance and you could be liable for a huge fine in the event of an accident.

One of the most important considerations for a rider is to check that you are covered if you were to suffer an accident, and it would be recommended to ensure you have a good personal accident policy which includes cover for temporary disablement and loss of income. There are many excellent personal accident policies on the market but it is always a good idea to take one out through a specialist equestrian broker rather than a general insurer as the specialist will have made sure their policy is tailored to suit the equestrian community. From the owners' point of view, any standard insurance policy covers the horse to be ridden by any rider riding with the owner's permission. The public liability section of a horse policy would also cover you if someone tried to claim against you for any damage that they believed had been caused by your horse due to your negligence.

You must phone us for specific advice on whether your policy covers this as it is not standard to all motor policies.

There is no need to cancel your policy as we can change the car insured by your policy mid-term. All you need to do is call us first with the new car details and we will inform you of any changes to cover and premium and make the change for you.

Rising costs from personal injury claims, steep legal fees, insurance fraud and uninsured driving have led to rising motor insurance bills for many people.According to the Association of British Insurers, the motor insurance sector has not been profitable for the past 16 years because the amount paid out in claims and expenses has been greater than that received in premiums, which is why it can seem as though costs are always going up.

Motor insurance costs are usually highest for young drivers, as they are considered a greater risk by insurers. For example, male drivers aged under 21 are 10 times more likely to have a car accident than male drivers aged 35 or over.Taking additional motoring qualifications, such as Pass Plus, is one way in which young drivers can keep down the cost of cover. Pass Plus fees vary, but the cost is usually around £150.If you passed your test more than a year ago, check that you'll be eligible for the discounts on offer from your insurance company before you take the course. Adding a more experienced named driver to your policy may also lower the cost of premiums.

Protecting your no-claims discount may mean higher premiums, but the risk of not protecting it is that if you have to make a claim you will lose some of the discount.The more claim-free years you build up, the more attractive the option of protecting the discount you've accrued becomes. It's worth bearing in mind, that if you do protect your policy but don't make a claim for a number of years, you could find that you are eroding any potential savings. Also consider that the costs involved with premiums and additional fees for protecting a no-claims discount depend entirely on your personal circumstances and motoring history, and on the insurance provider.

While most people can only afford to pay for their car insurance by making monthly payments, if you do have a lump sum available to pay off the full year's cost up front, you should do so. Finance companies usually charge extra if you make monthly payments, effectively loaning you money that you would have spent on an annual policy and charging you interest on top.

The total excess is the amount you pay up front in the event that you need to make a claim. It is usually made up of two parts; the compulsory excess, which is an amount that's specified by your insurance company; and the voluntary excess, which is an amount you choose to pay towards any claim.The higher the voluntary excess you choose, the lower your premiums will be, but you must ensure that the total excess remains affordable, otherwise you might not be able to make a claim at all.

Multi-car policies enable motorists with two or more cars in their household to cover them on the same policy and as a result get a discount on their premium for all their vehicles.This type of policy isn't necessarily always the cheapest however, and some people may find that they are able to save money by insuring vehicles on separate policies.

Yes. The downside of a third-party policy is that it does not insure your own car. If it is stolen, for example, you would have to pay for a new vehicle out of your own pocket. Third-party cover is the minimum legal level of insurance you can have, while third party, fire and theft provides a slightly higher level of cover as it also includes theft, and damage to your vehicle caused by attempted theft or fire.

Comprehensive insurance, however, gives you much greater protection as it covers your liability for injuries to other people, including passengers, as well as damage to other people's property. Your own car is also insured against fire, theft and accidental damage.However, bear in mind that the cost and policy details can vary significantly depending on which insurer you go to, so always look in detail at what is offered.