Just renewed my insurance - Extras?

BuToNz · 14 Mar 2013 at 13:05

So just swapped insurance companies (My premium has gone down a lot since turning 25!) I've added the usual breakdown cover as we travel away to family long distance often. Every other optional extra I tend to uncheck as it's normally never needed.

This morning I had a call from the insurance company asking why I didn't opt for the Legal Expenses* option.

*"Up to £100,000 to help claim for uninsured losses in a non-fault accident."

He explained the obvious reasons to go for it but I've never been one to fall for sales talk, is it really worth me paying the extra £6 per month for this? My excess is relatively low (£200 compulsory and £0 voluntary) and I've never had an accident which has been my own fault.

Due to the value of the car I've only gone for third party fire & theft and feel I've always been a 'safe' driver.

Any views on this would be great

Thanks!

Amos91 · 14 Mar 2013 at 13:09

Was it actually cheaper TPFT? Fairly often its the other way round so pretty pointless not to.

BuToNz · 14 Mar 2013 at 13:11

olivercamos said:
Was it actually cheaper TPFT? Fairly often its the other way round so pretty pointless not to.

Cheapest FC was £480 and cheapest TPFT was £300, I've never gone fully comp since I started driving. Never really owned anything worth upwards of £2k. Plus the excess tends to be more on fully comp.

Tom_ed1987 · 14 Mar 2013 at 14:49

I don't see the point in legal cover when accident management companies are so prolific. And if a 3rd party is playing hard ball when it is clear they are liable a simple small claims summons forwarded to their insurers will get the fastest result.

BuToNz · 14 Mar 2013 at 15:09

Tom_ed1987 said:
I don't see the point in legal cover when accident management companies are so prolific. And if a 3rd party is playing hard ball when it is clear they are liable a simple small claims summons forwarded to their insurers will get the fastest result.

Thanks for clearing that up, didn't really want to be paying another 10% for something worthless.

Liquid_Entity · 14 Mar 2013 at 15:16

olivercamos said:
Was it actually cheaper TPFT? Fairly often its the other way round so pretty pointless not to.

I just got a quote for a car I am interested in...

£345 for TPFT excess £100
£385 for FC excess £300

Not sure what's the better deal really. £40 to insure my car and the 3rd party but pay £300 if I do prang or £40 saving and paying £100 on a 3rd party claim.

bledd · 14 Mar 2013 at 17:10

Did you check the prices for paying 12 months instead of monthly, you often save a fair bit by doing this.

StevieP · 14 Mar 2013 at 17:24

BuToNz said:
He explained the obvious reasons to go for it but I've never been one to fall for sales talk, is it really worth me paying the extra £6 per month for this?

I don't think I'd pay £72 a year for this cover - in fact that's a ridiculous price!

I work for an insurance broker and we charge £18.00 for the year for our legal expenses cover! At £18.00 I'd have it all day long, very useful if you are involved in a non-fault incident for excess recovery, injury, damage to property in the car etc but £72.00 is crackers!

Gribs · 14 Mar 2013 at 17:55

Liquid_Entity said:
I just got a quote for a car I am interested in...

£345 for TPFT excess £100
£385 for FC excess £300

Not sure what's the better deal really. £40 to insure my car and the 3rd party but pay £300 if I do prang or £40 saving and paying £100 on a 3rd party claim.

You don't pay any excess on a third party claim. The £100 is purely for fire or theft.