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What should I look out for when purchasing car insurance?

Jason Barker • April 3, 2023

Car insurance is essential in giving you financial protection in the event of an accident.


What is fully comprehensive insurance?

Fully comprehensive insurance pays out if you damage your car, someone else’s car or cause injury in an accident, even if you’re not at fault. You might also be covered for other events, such as vandalism, for example.


What is third party insurance?

This is the minimum level of cover you can legally hold unless you officially register your car as off-road with a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN). This type of policy covers the costs of damage you cause to someone else’s vehicle, as well as any injuries you may cause to a third party. There is no cover if your own car is damaged or stolen.


What is third party, fire and theft insurance?

As above, this covers other people but offers you no protection if your own car is damaged in an accident. This type of policy differs from generic third-party insurance in the way that it covers repairs or replacement if your car is stolen or damaged by fire.


What are car insurance groups?

All cars are assigned a car insurance group from 1 (lowest/ cheapest) to 50 (highest/ most expensive). Your insurer will take this into consideration when calculating your forthcoming premiums. The insurance groups are subject to change and are dependent on several factors, such as:

  • The value of the vehicle
  • The vehicle’s safety and security features
  • The vehicle’s performance
  • Potential repair costs


As well as numbered groups, lettered suffixes are also allocated to each vehicle, which correlate to the safety level, as follows:

  • A = Meets the level of security requirements for this vehicle.
  • D = Does not meet the security requirements for this type of vehicle. This may increase the group allocation of the vehicle and subsequent repair cost.
  • E = Exceeds the security requirements for this type of vehicle. This may decrease the group allocation of the vehicle and subsequent repair cost.
  • P = There is not enough available data to classify the car into an insurance group. The rating is therefore classed as provisional.
  • U = The operative level of security is unacceptable. Usually, the insurer may require you to upgrade the vehicle’s security before providing cover.
  • G = Applies to imported vehicles which were not built for the UK market.


It is therefore worth noting that ensuring your vehicle has appropriate safety and security measures could result in a lower insurance group classification and lower premiums.


We also recommend exploring the potential cost of car insurance before purchasing a new vehicle. Visit our blog ‘How do I choose the right insurance company for me?’ for further information.


What is no-claims bonus?

Most insurers offer you a discount for not claiming on your policy. The discount increases with each year that you don’t make a claim, subsequently reducing your premiums. If you have an accident and you make a claim on your car insurance, you may lose part or all of your no claims discount, therefore pushing your premiums up.


It is important to note that this may remain the most cost-effective option if you need to make a claim following an accident, due to relatively high repair costs.


Protected no claims bonus is where an element of cover is placed on your standard no claims bonus, meaning you can make claims without affecting your discount. Insurance companies may, however, place a limit on the number of claims you can make before losing the additional protection.


What is insurance excess, and do I have to pay it?

The level of compulsory excess is decided by your insurer. The voluntary excess is an amount selected by you, which you agree to pay in the event of a claim. You should therefore make sure you select an affordable excess amount. Usually, the higher the excess, the lower the premiums. At CARS, we offer to help our customers with their excess to make the cost of their claim more manageable.  


Will I have to take my vehicle to my insurer’s approved repairer?

In short, no. Your insurance company may try to tell you that you can only use one of their approved repairers, but this is not the case. It is your legal right to take your vehicle to a repair centre of your choice.


Your policy may state that an additional fee will become payable if you choose to take your vehicle to a repairer of your choice, or that they won’t give you a courtesy vehicle. A local repair centre, like CARS, would be able to help you with this additional premium and could also provide you with a courtesy vehicle for as long as required.


You should ask for the following information in respect of the insurance company’s approved repairers:

  • Location – It is possible that your insurance company may not have any approved repairers local to you and there may also be additional travel or recovery costs associated with getting your vehicle to the garage. It is also possible that it might not be safe to drive to the repairer if your vehicle isn’t road-worthy after an accident. Furthermore, the approved repairer may not be willing to offer you a courtesy vehicle.
  • Customer Service and Reviews – Before purchasing a product or service, you would usually look at reviews of, say, your top-three choices and pick the best. Insurance companies are unlikely to take this into consideration when agreeing their list of approved repairers. It’s possible that you may receive a better service by taking the vehicle to a local repair centre of your choosing.
  • Repair methods – Several insurance companies grant their approved repairers the use of second-hand or non-genuine parts during a repair. This can alter the safety and performance of your vehicle. Ultimately, your car should be returned to the state at which the manufacturer intended upon originally leaving the factory.


You may find it effective to use a local broker when arranging car insurance, or if you want just a simple chat, feel free to give us a call and we can offer you impartial advice.

What is young driver excess?

By Ebony Barker • February 13, 2025
For many young drivers, the cost of car insurance is extremely steep to begin with. This is because insurers view young and new drivers as a risk given their lack of experience, meaning that the potential for a claim being made is quite high. As a result, in addition to the standard compulsory and voluntary excesses, a young driver excess may be applicable to these policies. This is dependent on age and will vary from insurer to insurer, however most policies tend to have this excess applied until they are over age 25. It is important to remember when purchasing vehicle insurance that selecting a higher excess amount will result in lower premiums (and vice versa). Whilst this may be tempting to do, we encourage our customers to always select an excess amount that they can afford to pay, should the worst happen. If you’ve had an accident, we always encourage calling CARS before your insurance company to ensure you receive credible and non-biased advice, tailored to your circumstances. Get in touch with our team on 01472 453622 for further information.  Visit our blog ‘ Common car insurance myths ’ to find out more.

What is protected no-claims discount?

By Ebony Barker • January 14, 2025
Many insurance companies use no-claims discount (NCD) to reward their drivers for not making a claim during a specified timeframe, usually a policy year. This, in turn, encourages sensible driving behaviour. For example, if four years pass by without a customer making a claim on their policy, they will have earned four years’ worth of no-claims discount. This discount usually results in a reduction in premium costs upon policy renewal. The discount will depend on the insurance company’s specific terms and the number of consecutive claim-free years. In some cases, there may be a maximum limit to the number of years of NCD that can be accumulated, and this should be checked with insurance companies on a case-by-case basis. Protected no-claims discount differs from standard no-claims discount in the way that an insurer may allow for more than one claim to be made before the discount is lost or reduced. A fee may be payable for this added layer of protection, commonly in the form of slightly higher premiums. We always encourage our customers to opt for the highest level of protection when it comes to their NCD. This will ensure that they have a greater level of cover if the worst happens. Always remember that if you’ve been involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, we have a method here at CARS which enables us to repair your car without impacting your NCD, even if it’s not protected. We also have various excess support options available to our customers. Call us on 01472 453622 for further information. Visit our blogs ‘ How do I choose the right insurance company for me? ’ and ‘ I’ve had an accident; do I have to pay my excess? ’ for further information.

What is a non-approved repairer excess?

By Ebony Barker • December 11, 2024
A non-approved repairer excess is an additional sum that will be charged in the event that you do not use one of your insurer’s approved (preferred) garages when you make a claim. The non-approved repairer excess is commonly in the region of £250, and is charged on top of the compulsory and voluntary excess. Unfortunately, this additional excess is becoming more common and it’s increasingly difficult to find a policy without one. However, it’s important to remember that it is your right to take your vehicle to any repairer of your choice. Sometimes, a phone call with your insurer is enough for the additional excess to be removed but in more stubborn cases where your insurer is not willing to negotiate, we offer various excess support options to our customers to reduce the total amount payable. We feel that this is unfair, given that in most cases approved/ preferred repairers are allowed to fit second-hand or non-genuine parts. In comparison, here at CARS, we only use new and genuine parts. Additionally, we have an excess support package available to our customers, where the non-approved repairer excess may not be payable. If you need to make an insurance claim, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to see how we can help you.

Things to look out for in your car insurance policy fine print

By Ebony Barker • November 4, 2024
Although we deal with car insurance claims and repairs on a daily basis, we understand that purchasing car insurance can be bewildering and stressful at the best of times. For a start, there are many myths around consumer entitlement. To make matters worse, it can be hard to tell if the policy you’re purchasing is appropriate for your circumstances in the first place. In this blog, we highlight some of the things you should look out for when purchasing car insurance, especially in the fine print! The use of second-hand and/ or non-genuine parts – Unfortunately, it’s becoming more and more common for insurers to grant their preferred repairs the use of second-hand and/or non-genuine parts to carry out a repair. Essentially, this means that if you take your vehicle to one of your insurer’s preferred repairers, your car may not be repaired with new or genuine parts. This is to keep costs down for insurers but may compromise repair quality and the safety of the vehicle being returned to the road. As an independent repair centre, we always use new and genuine parts to repair our vehicles. We can guarantee the use of new and genuine parts because we are not bound by the contract you have with your insurer. Change of Circumstances – Some insurers state that any change of circumstance must be reported to them during the policy term, and not just at renewal. This may include (but is not limited to), change of address, change of occupation or any driving convictions. Different insurers have different requirements around this, so it’s always worth checking your policy fine print. In the event of a claim, your insurer may not pay out in full if you fail to disclose information which would have altered the purchase price of the policy. Personal vs Business Use – Some insurers have strict requirements when it comes to vehicles being used for any kind of business activity. For example, if you use your vehicle for parcel deliveries, or carrying passengers for a fee, this must be disclosed to your insurer. Disclosing inaccurate information to your insurer could result in an insurer denying a claim or cancelling your policy. Young Driver Excess – Many insurers now apply a young driver excess to their policies. This means that if you’re under a specified age, usually 25, and you make a claim on your policy, you could be paying an extremely high excess amount. If you’re a young driver, this is something you should look out for when purchasing car insurance. Remember to always select an excess amount that you can afford to pay, should the worst happen. Here at CARS, alongside carrying out top-quality repairs, we provide credible and non-biased advice, tailored to our customers’ individual circumstances. Visit our advice centre, in particular the blogs ‘ How do I choose the right insurance company for me? ’ and ‘ What happens if I make a claim on my car insurance? ’ to find out more.

What is car insurance fronting?

By Ebony Barker • November 4, 2024
With the ever-increasing cost of living, we’re all on the hunt for ways to save money wherever we can. Car insurance costs have been on the rise for some time, especially for 17- to 24-year-olds. To ease these costs, it’s not uncommon for young drivers to add an older and more experienced driver, such as a parent or carer, to the policy. Listing the parent or carer on the policy as the main driver when they are not, is known as fronting and is illegal. Car insurance fronting is a type of insurance fraud and could result in a penalty such as points on your license, a fine or a driving ban. Unfortunately, fronting isn’t always detected by insurance companies. One of the main ways it could be discovered is when a claim is made, and an insurer identifies that the main driver has been disclosed incorrectly. This could result in them refusing to pay out for the claim, or they may even cancel the policy in full. You should always ensure that any information you disclose to an insurance company is correct. If you are a young driver and you’re looking at ways to lower your insurance costs, our blogs ‘ How can I reduce the cost of my car insurance as a young driver? ’ and ‘ What is black box car insurance? ’ may be useful for you. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for further advice. 
Traffic sign recognition systems use camera technology to scan the road ahead for traffic signs.

What is traffic sign recognition?

By Ebony Barker • October 1, 2024
Traffic sign recognition systems use camera technology to scan the road ahead for traffic signs. This then connects to image processing and recognition software which makes a note of any changes and potential obstructions, before relaying a signal to the vehicle’s interior control panel or dashboard. Whilst not a necessity, this is extremely useful when travelling in an unfamiliar area, or where you are unaware of the speed limit. Like other ADAS components, traffic sign recognition is not a replacement for human due diligence and attention.

What is blind spot detection?

By Simon Mapplethorpe • October 1, 2024
Changing lanes when driving is the cause of many incidents, especially when travelling at high speeds. Even after checking your internal and external mirrors, it is still possible to miss a vehicle in your blind spot. Blind spot detection is a type of advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), which typically operates via sensors located on a vehicle’s wing mirrors and bumpers. These sensors can detect if an obstruction such as a person or vehicle enters your blind spot, and will create a warning, such as flashing lights, steering wheel haptics or an audio alert. In some vehicles, the warning will become louder and/or more obvious the closer the vehicle moves towards the obstruction. If the driver attempts a dangerous manoeuvre, some vehicles use automatic emergency steering and can even apply the brakes when needed, which is known as blind spot assist. 

Should I admit liability after an accident?

By Ebony Barker • September 2, 2024
Should I admit liability after an accident? When customers phone us after an accident, we always tell them never to admit liability in the first instance. Whilst you can try and predict how you’ll react after an accident, you’ll never really know for sure until it happens. It’s an extremely stress-provoking and emotional experience, so we always recommend taking as much information as possible from the scene and phoning CARS to find out what to do next. After the accident occurs, we recommend gathering the following information: Personal details and insurance policy information for all parties involved Personal details of any witnesses Details of all vehicles involved, including registration, make and model Date and time of the incident Images/ videos of all vehicles involved, with close ups of all damage where possible Images/ videos of any road markings Dash cam footage, where available A note of the weather conditions at the time of incident As above, we always recommend contacting CARS before your insurance company. This can help you to avoid any pitfalls, and ensure you receive accurate and non-biased advice, tailored to your individual circumstances. Remember, don’t apologise or admit responsibility for anything that has occurred until you are completely aware of what happened. This will protect you if the accident wasn’t your fault, and liability will be determined fairly via evidence provided. If you want to discuss an accident you’ve been involved in, regardless of whether you were at fault, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.

Can my car be repaired with second-hand parts?

By Ebony Barker • September 2, 2024
Can my car be repaired with second-hand parts? Whilst it may be tempting to repair a vehicle with second-hand parts to keep costs low, it is more important that the vehicle returns to the road in the way that the manufacturer intended when the vehicle was initially produced. When taking out an insurance policy, all vehicles are allocated to an insurance group. This allocation is based on the estimated cost to repair the vehicle using new and genuine parts. As such, when making an insurance claim, if your insurer refers you to one of their preferred (approved) repairers, you should double check that they will only be using new and genuine parts. Unfortunately, many insurers give their preferred repairers the authority to repair vehicles with second-hand or non-genuine parts to keep costs low. You should remember that you don’t have to take your vehicle to one of your insurer’s approved repairers, you can take your vehicle to a repair centre of your choice. When selecting a repairer, you should always check that they repair vehicles with new and genuine parts, and in line with manufacturer repair methods. Read our blogs ‘ Do I have to take my car to one of my insurer’s approved repairers? ’ and ‘ How do I find a trustworthy and reliable accident repair centre? ’ to find out more. At CARS, we only use new and genuine parts during repairs. When a vehicle is manufactured, it goes through rigorous safety checks and testing to establish its safety rating. As such, only using new and genuine parts, specific to that vehicle’s make a model, will ensure it maintains this safety rating and respond accordingly if involved in any future incidents. Ultimately, the use of non-original equipment could impair the quality of repair and the safety of the vehicle. The aim of any high-quality vehicle body repair centre should be to reinstate the vehicle to the standard in which it left the factory. 

Does the value of my car impact the cost of my car insurance policy?

By Ebony Barker • September 2, 2024
Does the value of my car impact the cost of my car insurance? The value of your vehicle will be considered by your insurer when your policy is being underwritten. When determining the price of your insurance, your vehicle will be allocated to an insurance group. This grouping is determined by the estimated cost of repairing the vehicle using new and genuine parts and therefore the underlying value of the vehicle itself. For example, newer and more modern vehicles have increased technological advancements which means that the vehicle value and the subsequent cost of parts and repairs has increased substantially in recent years. This is likely to increase the cost of insurance premiums on the whole. Your insurer will also consider a number of other factors when calculating the cost of your insurance premiums: Driver age and experience Level of cover required Address Occupation Driver history No-claims discount In summary, the cost is based on risk to the insurer and the anticipated cost of repairing the vehicle. Further information can be found in our blog ‘ How are car insurance premiums calculated? ’. 
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