Apart from the basic legal requirement for a motorist to be insured when driving a car, insurance companies offer a range of additional options that can be taken out with the basic insurance. Although these add to the overall cost of the insurance, they can prove useful and save money in the long term in the event that a claim has to be made.

No Claims Bonus

If a driver does not claim on an insurance policy for a year they may be entitled to a discount, known as a “no claims discount” on their premium for the following year. This can lower the cost of insurance premiums. Each additional year without a claim may add to the discount received for up to four years. After this time, the bonus can be protected through making an additional payment when renewing the insurance. The protection will usually allow up to two claims in a period of three years before the entitlement is lost.

Cover for Legal Expenses

Legal expenses after an accident can add up very quickly and insurers can offer cover for those expenses. There is an additional charge for this but cover of this kind can provide peace of mind in the event that an unfortunate legal situation arises. Motorists who decide to take out this additional legal cover should read the small print of the policy to be certain that the cover they desire is appropriate for their needs.

Breakdown Cover

Many motorists may already have breakdown cover, either by buying it directly from a specialist provider or through a package that may be offered, for example, as an incentive from a bank for taking out a particular financial product. Many insurance companies will offer breakdown cover and if a motorist does not have this, it is worth looking into. It may be worth adding the cover to a policy at a later date, especially if it proves to be less expensive than that from a specialist provider.