Insurance: Legal And Breakdown Cover

Legal cover

Legal cover insures you for the legal expenses involved in pursuing any losses that you are otherwise uninsured for through your regular car insurance policy when you have an accident that wasn't your fault. Your legal expenses claim might include your insurance policy excess, damage to possessions in your car, travel expenses whilst you're vehicle is being repaired and compensation for injuries.

This car cover will include the cost of evaluating your insurance claim, negotiating with the other person and their insurers, and taking the claim through the courts if necessary.

When you want to make a car insurance claim, your case is referred to a solicitor or, increasingly regularly, to a 'paralegal', who is basically a poorly-paid junior solicitor. Most car insurance policies will not cover you unless the other party is at least 50% at fault, although for serious injury claims your legal expenses provider may take on the case even if the other party is just 10% at fault (i.e. you are 90% at fault).

Breakdown cover

Each year thousands of motorists get stuck, or break down on the road. Some faults are common and can easily be avoided if you spend a few minutes each month checking over your car.

Another precaution you can take is breakdown cover. Some people recommend that you use the AA or the RAC to ensure that the recovery network is large enough, but there are a few mid- to large-sized competitors to choose from now, such as Green Flag and Europ Assistance, so it's worth shopping around.

Types of packages

Two typical breakdown policies are:

Roadside Rescue

If your car breaks down beyond a specified distance from your house, this type of insurance policy will quickly get you moving again or towed to the nearest garage within a specified radius. If the car can be fixed at the roadside you should receive up to 60 minutes of free labour to repair minor mechanical or electrical faults. All you are likely to pay for are the parts.

Roadside Rescue and Home Rescue

This car insurance policy provides the same level of cover as roadside rescue but will also extend the cover to your house and local area. In addition, this cover will usually return your vehicle to your local garage.

Get help with post-breakdown travel and accommodation

When you've broken down you still need to get to your destination or to return home. Sometimes you can get what's often referred to as 'Recovery Plus', which typically gives you a choice of:

• A hire car to return home or continue your journey.
• The cost of alternative transport to return home or to enable your journey to be completed.
• Accommodation in a local hotel while you await completion of repairs (providing the incident occurred more than a set number of miles away from your home).

Breakdown cover in Europe

If you drive on the continent it is worth considering a European breakdown policy. Some insurers provide this free of charge with car insurance, so check the small print. Benefits of cover include:

• Roadside breakdown.
• The cost of travelling home if your car is stolen.
• The return of you vehicle if it cannot be driven.
• Legal cover and the cost of delivering replacement parts if they're not available locally.

More terms to consider

• Insurance cover for caravans or trailers, but ensure you check the insurance policy details before you sign up.
• Breakdown cover as part of the car insurance policy, which means minimal additional work for you.
• Discounts on the insurance policy for 2nd and 3rd cars kept at the same address.

Tips to keeping your car on the road

Checking your car regularly for faults is the best way to keep your car on the road. Here's a list of trouble spots you can check yourself:

• Check your tyres every few months. Know your tyres' correct pressure-to-load ratio. The tread on your tyres must be within the legal specification (1.6mm - 8mm) and at least 3mm tread is recommended during the winter months.
• Check you have a pumped up spare tyre, and that you have the tools to change it!
• Check there is enough water and anti-freeze in the coolant tank.
• Check there is enough screen wash in the windscreen wiper tank.
• Clean the dirt build up from your headlights to give maximum brightness on dark winter nights.

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Published on December 8, 2006