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What is comprehensive Car Insurance?

Comprehensive car insurance, which is also known as fully comprehensive car insurance, is a type of coverage that can provide protection for your car against a wide range of risks, beyond just damage.

With comprehensive cover, you can rest easy knowing that you're covered for things like theft, vandalism, fire, natural disasters, and more. So, if a tree falls on your car during a storm or someone dinks your bumper pulling out of a parking spot, you're covered.

What is a Car Insurance broker?

Simply put, a car insurance broker is an intermediary, acting essentially as the ‘middle-man’ between you, the client, and one or multiple car insurance companies.

We have a great relationship with a panel of trusted car insurance providers, and we work with them on your behalf to find you the best value deal we have available. Part of that process also involves getting to know you, and fully understanding what you want from your car insurance cover, before relaying that information over to our car insurance panel.

Find out more.

Why do I need Car Insurance?

Having car insurance is all about securing peace of mind. Accidents can happen at any time, and having car insurance can help protect you financially in case of an accident, theft, or another unexpected event.

Not only does car insurance provide financial protection, it’s also a legal requirement. Driving without insurance can result in hefty fines or even legal trouble. But, with the right coverage, you can feel confident that you're protected no matter what the road throws your way.

What type of Howden Car Insurance do I need?

The type of car insurance you will need depends on the level of cover you’re after. For instance, if you're looking for the bare minimum, third party insurance might be the way to go, whereas if you want to be fully protected, you’ll need a more comprehensive insurance package. Below are the different types of insurance we offer:

Fully comprehensive

Offers the highest level of protection, designed to keep you as financially unaffected as possible in the event of an accident.

Third party, fire and theft

If your car is stolen or damaged in a fire, you’ll be protected under this cover. A third party’s injuries and vehicle damage with also be covered, but damage to your own car will not.

Third party only

This is the lowest level of car cover, required as a bare minimum to drive on UK roads. It only protects you if other people are injured or their property is damaged.

It is important to know that the exact details of each of these levels of cover differs for each insurer, meaning the cover you’re looking for may depend on the provider you choose.

Optional upgrades and enhancements

Your car insurance does not need to come as standard, as insurers will often offer you optional extras you can add to your policy. The most common additional cover options include:

• Breakdown cover
• Courtesy car cover
• Windscreen cover
• Wrong fuel cover
• Cover for lost or stolen keys
• No claims discount protection
• Personal injury cover

Each car insurance provider is different – some will charge you to add upgrades to your policy, whilst others offer them free of charge. It’s important that you find out exactly what an insurer does or doesn’t offer before taking out a policy, so you can make sure you can protect yourself however you deem fit.

What isn’t covered?

Each insurance provider is different, so being aware of exactly what isn’t included in your policy is crucial to ensure you don’t feel unexpectedly out of pocket.

Typically, fully comprehensive car insurance policies will not cover you for:

• Driving with an invalid driving license.
• Any damage or injuries caused as a result of the driver being under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Theft resulting from carelessness.
• Any general wear or tear.

Other types of cover

We know a standard car insurance policy isn’t always enough to adequately protect drivers in the event of an accident. That’s why here at Howden we offer an array of specialist cover options.

Multi-car

Multiple cars you need to insure? Multi-car insurance might save you some money.

Business use

You’ll need a specialist type of insurance if you’re using your car solely for work.

Classic car cover

Classic car insurance provides specialized coverage that recognizes the unique value and needs of vintage and collectible cars.

Short-term

Perhaps you want to borrow someone else’s car? Short-term cover can keep you protected for a temporary period of time.

Telematics / black box

Telematics or black box insurance can be an ideal insurance alternative for young drivers looking to potentially save on their premiums.

Motor Trade

Motor trade insurance policy are designed to protect motor businesses and give them the peace of mind they need in order to be able to operate smoothly.

How to get cheaper Car Insurance

Who doesn’t want to know how they can get cheaper car insurance? The good news is, there are ways you can lower the cost of your car insurance premiums, and they are as follows...

Shop around and compare

It is worthwhile weighing up your options and comparing what different insurers have to offer. An easy way to do this is to speak to a car insurance broker, who will take your details and source you car insurance deals based on your information.

Reduce your annual mileage

The further you drive your car each year, the more likely you are to make a claim, in the eyes of an insurer. So, if you can afford to drive a little less each year, it could reduce your car insurance premium.

Keep your driving record clean

Insurance companies often offer lower rates to drivers with a clean driving record, so it's important to drive safely and avoid accidents and traffic violations.

Stay safe and secure

Driving a car equipped with safety features such as anti-lock brakes, airbags, and anti-theft devices may qualify for lower insurance rates. Insurers will also bear in mind where you park your car overnight, as home driveways for example are deemed safer and more secure.

Avoid large engine cars

Looking for a new car? Cars with larger, more powerful engines typically cost more to insure.

We also remind our clients though that the cheapest option may not always be the best option. It's important to weigh the cost and benefits of different policies before choosing car insurance that’s right for you.

Is it cheaper to use a car insurance broker?

It doesn’t have to cost you more to get expert advice and guidance when you’re looking for car insurance.

Differently to comparison sites, we offer a personalised, bespoke service which is tailored around getting to know you personally, whilst fully understanding what you’re looking for from a car insurance policy. Moreover, our goal is also to get you our best value car insurance deals available on the market via our panel of insurers. We aim to save you time, money and hassle when comparing car insurance options.

What else can affect your price?

Yes, there are ways that you could potentially lower the overall cost of your car insurance premium. However, there are also aspects that can affect your premium price, which are out of your control. Your car insurance cost could be influenced by:

Your occupation – insurers deem some jobs riskier than others, influencing insurance premiums.

Your age – younger drivers will typically be charged more than older drivers.

Your car’s insurance group – you’ll pay less if your car is in a lower insurance group.

Where you live – the number of claims made in the area you live in will affect the cost of your premium.

Your driving experience – New drivers are deemed to present a higher risk to insurers, so the more driving experience you have, the better.

Additional drivers –a named driver on your policy could potentially lower a premium, especially if they are an experienced driver with a clean driving record.

What do I need to get a Car Insurance quote?

To get a car insurance quote, you will need to provide us the following information:

• Your personal details – your name, your age, where you live, your job title etc.
• Information about your car – the registration number, its make and model, how old the car is.
• How you’ll intend to use the car – will you be driving the car for pleasure or business? What is your annual mileage?
• Your driving record – we’ll need your driving license number, how long you’ve been driving for, and whether you’ve made any claims in the past.

Looking for a more personalised service? Come visit us in branch or just give us a call and we’ll ask you all the necessary questions before compiling together a quote that’s right for you.

Who we work with

The great relationships we have with a wide range of trusted car insurance providers allows us to provide a service which supports each and every one of our clients.

The years of experience our team have working in the insurance industry, in addition to being enthusiasts themselves, has meant that Howden continues to be rated highly by our clients.

Is Car Insurance compulsory in the UK?

To drive your car on roads in the UK, yes, you’re legally required to have car insurance. The minimum level of cover you’re required to have is third party car insurance.

Can you tax a car without insurance?

No, you can’t tax a car without car insurance. In order to tax a car, you typically need to provide proof of insurance, which confirms that the vehicle is covered in case of an accident or incident.

When is my Car Insurance due?

You can figure out when your car insurance is due by keeping an eye out for any communications you’ve received from your car insurance provider, such as emails or letters, letting you know that your policy has either expired, or is about to expire. Most insurers also offer an online portal where you can log in and view your policy details, including your insurance status.

You can always contact your insurance provider via email or over the phone to check the status of your policy too. Ultimately, remembering when you first purchased a car insurance policy will allow you best to keep track of when your car insurance needs renewing.

How can I check if a car is insured?

You can find out if a car is insured by searching the Motor Insurance Database. You can access this by visiting the askMid website.

Here you can enter the car’s registration number, and then the database will confirm if the car is insured. Otherwise, you can expect to see a message saying "Sorry, we couldn't find any record of insurance for this vehicle".

If you're having trouble finding out if your car is insured, you can also contact your insurance provider directly and ask them to confirm if your car is insured or not.

Can you insure a car you don't own?

Yes, some insurers will allow you to insure a car you don’t own. However, you’re required to tell the insurer that you don’t own the car, and you’re also obliged to have the car owner’s consent before insuring it.

Can I cancel my Car Insurance policy?

Yes, you can cancel a car insurance policy whenever you like. Just be sure to check the terms and conditions of your policy first, as your insurance provider may charge you a fee for cancelling.

Most insurers will now allow you to cancel your policy online, but some might still expect you to speak to a representative over the phone.

Can I drive someone else's car on my insurance?

You’re only able to drive someone else’s car if you’re marked down as a named driver on their car insurance policy, and belongs as you have the car owner’s permission.

There is some confusion with this as previously fully comprehensive policies allowed policyholders to drive any car they wished, but this is no longer the case. You should never assume that you’re insured to drive another person’s car.

What types of cars can I insure?

There’s no such thing as a ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to car insurance. No matter what type of car you own, we want to find you the perfect policy. As well as standard cars, we’ll assists owners of:

Classic cars      Electric Cars    Sports Cars      Green Cars      Modified Cars

Is it better to pay Car Insurance annually or monthly?

Whether you pay your car insurance annually or monthly is completely dependent on what you’d prefer.

Whilst paying monthly in the long term may be more expensive than paying annually and in a one-off payment, making monthly payments might be much easier for you to manage. However, the cheapest way to pay car insurance premiums is to pay for it in one go.

What is third party Car Insurance?

Third party car insurance is there to cover you if you damage someone else’s vehicle or injure someone, and it is your fault.

It is compulsory for drivers to have car insurance, and third-party car insurance is the most basic level of cover drivers are legally allowed to have in the UK.

What is a no-claims bonus?

A no-claims bonus, which you may see abbreviated as NCB, is a reward offered to policyholders by insurers, on the condition that the policyholder makes no claims throughout the duration of the policy. These are also known as no-claims discounts.

This reward is offered as an incentive by insurers, to encourage safe driving, thus reducing the number of claims they need to pay out for.

For instance, an insurer might offer a discounted policy renewal price to a new policyholder if they manage to go the length of the policy’s duration without making any claims. That discount may be increased as well for each consecutive claim-free year.

However, unless the policyholder has a protected no-claims bonus, which allows them to make a number of claims without losing the discount, the policyholder could lose their no-claims bonus if they make a claim. This is dependent on the terms and conditions of the car insurance policy.

What does Car Insurance excess mean?

Car insurance excess is the amount of money you pay yourself towards a claim you make on your insurance, regardless of who’s to blame.

For example, if you set your excess at £50, and you claim £500, your insurer will pay up to £450 and you’ll pay £50. If your car can’t be fixed, your insurer will take £50 off the money they pay you to replace your car.

How does telematics insurance work?

Telematics insurance, also known as black box insurance, uses technology to monitor a driver's behaviour and adjust their insurance premium based on their driving habits.

The driver installs a small telematics device, usually a small box or a mobile app, into their car. The device collects data on the driver's behaviour and sends it to the insurance company.

The insurance company uses the data to calculate the driver's premium. Drivers who are safer on the road are rewarded with lower premiums, whilst more reckless drivers may face higher premiums or penalties.

What are Car Insurance groups?

Car insurance groups are used by insurance companies to categorize cars based on their risk factors. Insurance groups range from 1 to 50, with cars in group 1 being the least expensive to insure and cars in group 50 being the most expensive.

The group rating is determined based on several factors such as the cost of the car, the car’s performance, its safety and security features and the amount it would cost for repairs.