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Car insurance \u2013 it shouldn\u2019t be a headache, right? You want to feel confident that you understand what you\u2019re covered for, and how claims work, every time you get behind the wheel. That\u2019s why we\u2019ve created the Know your policy<\/em><\/strong> series, packed with straightforward information to help you understand your cover.<\/p>\n We\u2019re starting the series by covering the most common questions we get from policyholders.<\/p>\n Does DOC cover all drivers and vehicles on any comprehensive policy?<\/strong><\/p>\n You never know when you might need to drive a car that isn\u2019t your own \u2013 whether it\u2019s a quick errand, an emergency, or just helping out. This is where the DOC section of your policy comes into play. Depending on your job, DOC is usually included in Silver and Gold policies. <\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s only available for drivers over 25 and it only covers the main policyholder. DOC does not cover you for driving these:\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s important to know that for this part of your insurance to work, your own insured vehicle must not be \u201ctoo broken to fix\u201d. This means if your car is off the road and cannot be fixed, you won\u2019t be covered to drive someone else\u2019s car.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n DOC only provides third-party cover, meaning you are only covered for damage to other vehicles, things or people. It doesn\u2019t cover any damage to the car you borrowed. If you have a policy with us, make sure to check your policy documents to see if you have DOC cover.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What excess will I have to pay if I make a claim?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n When you make a claim, you\u2019ll need to pay the total amount of your voluntary and compulsory excess. Compulsory excess is a fixed amount set by the insurer, while voluntary excess is an additional amount you choose to pay. We provide a full excess breakdown with your quote, and again when you purchase your policy. You can find this information on your schedule, which was sent in your purchase confirmation email, or by logging into the customer portal.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We have different compulsory excess amounts for each policy type, and it can vary depending on the vehicle or ages of the drivers.<\/em><\/p>\n Do I need to collect third-party details if I\u2019m not planning on making a claim?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Yes. Even if you initially don\u2019t plan on making a claim, failing to collect third-party details can leave you exposed. You might discover hidden damage later or have an injury that you initially dismissed. If this happens and you do not have their details, you won\u2019t be able to make a claim.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Do I need to report very minor damage to my car, even if I\u2019m not going to make a claim?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Yes, it\u2019s essential for you to let us know about <\/span>all <\/span><\/i>incidents involving your vehicle. This includes even minor scrapes or dents, no matter who was at fault or whether you plan on making a claim. Failing to report any incidents can lead to complications if you need to make a claim in the future.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Does protected NCB mean my insurance price won\u2019t go up after a claim?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n No, protected NCB is not a guarantee that the price of your insurance won\u2019t increase if you make a claim.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You can earn a no claims bonus (NCB) for each claim-free year that you\u2019re on the road, creating discounts that can be applied to the cost of your insurance policy. Protected NCB is an optional add on that helps to protect the discount you have earnt through your NCB. However, it only protects the level of your discount, not your overall premium.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you make a claim, no matter how minor, or if you weren\u2019t at fault, the cost of your insurance can still increase at renewal. However, with protected NCB, a percentage of discount will still be applied from your NCB, saving you money.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s important to know that there is a limit to the number of claims this protection can apply to within a set time.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Are theft claims, vandalism, weather related incidents or being hit by an unknown driver classed as \u2018non-fault\u2019 claims?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n No, these types of incidents are classed as \u2018fault\u2019 claims. A non-fault claim happens when another identifiable person is responsible for the incident, and their insurer agrees to cover the costs \u2013 including your excess.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Even if you are not at fault for causing the incident, like if you experience a theft, vandalism or weather-related damage, if there is no identifiable person to recover costs from, it would still be classed as a fault claim. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Our Silver and Gold policies include an <\/span>uninsured driver promise<\/span><\/b>, which protects your fault claims status.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n What is a split claim?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n A split claim happens when one person isn\u2019t totally to blame for an accident. This means that both driver\u2019s insurance companies will agree to split the costs of the claim. It could be a straight down the middle 50\/50, or maybe one person is seen as a bit more responsible, resulting in a 70\/30 split in the costs. <\/span><\/p>\n However, a common misunderstanding for motorists is that \u2018split\u2019 claims are \u2018non-fault\u2019 \u2013 which unfortunately is not the case. This is because both insurers have covered a cost. You may however still get some compensation\/costs covered with the claim.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Remember, you can find your policy information on your schedule which was sent in your welcome email, or by logging into the customer portal.<\/span><\/p>\n Click here to login.<\/a> <\/em>Don\u2019t<\/span> have an account? <\/span><\/span><\/a> <\/p>\nDriving other cars (DOC)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Excess<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Third party details<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Notification only claims<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Protected NCB (no claims bonus)<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Fault claims<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Split claims<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Want to check something on your policy?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Got a question?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n