Motor legal protection

Following the rules of the road both inside and outside your vehicle, from putting on your seatbelt to following traffic laws, is fundamental to protecting yourself (and others) when driving.

And as you zoom along the roads, your car insurance works as an invisible layer of security. But there may be another layer that you’ve not explored, which can cushion the impact of legal costs should they arise.

It’s often a car insurance add-on that can cover legal expenses, up to an agreed limit, related to a car accident that wasn’t your fault. Although some insurers may offer motor legal protection (or car insurance legal cover) as standard, other insurers may charge extra to add it to the policy.

Here are the basics with this type of cover: 

• it applies in motoring accidents or incidents that aren’t your fault. 
• in making a claim, there must be 
  • someone you can hold responsible for compensation or financial losses. 
  • a reasonable chance of success, which means it must be more likely to succeed than not.

“Purchasing a motor insurance product,” says Martin Smith Aviva Claims Manager, “is different to most other purchases we make. Spend several hundred pounds on a new phone, TV, or designer outfit and it gives you instant gratification. Spend similar on your motor insurance and all you get is some paperwork and policy wording, which is unlikely to be the most thrilling book you’ve ever read.

But, in the event you have an accident, your car is damaged or stolen, or you cause injury to somebody else, then that purchase may be one of the most important you’ve made. It springs into action, not only supporting and financially protecting you against claims made, but it gets you and your vehicle back on the road.”

It can help you recover, from the person who caused the accident, losses you suffered. Some of which may include:

1. damages to your car, especially if you don’t have comprehensive car insurance. 
2. personal injury costs, either to yourself or any passengers. 
3. earning losses if you’re not able to work because of injuries from the incident. 
4. expenses like the excess on your car insurance policy.
5. travel costs if you’re no longer able to use your vehicle.

Ultimately, in what may already be a stressful situation, motor legal protection gives you expert legal advice to guide you through the process and costs after an accident that isn’t your fault. And typically, you’ll get to keep 100% of any compensation when you buy this cover before an accident. This may not be the case if you use an ‘after the event’ claims management company that works on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis who could take a chunk of the compensation.

As you may expect, this depends on the insurer. Generally, motor legal cover ranges between £15 and £30 per year. And since it may protect you against as much as £100,000 in legal expenses, for some drivers, it costs between £1.25 and £2.50 per month. Legal expenses aside, legal processes themselves can be burdensomely complex and overwhelming. So, it may be a relief to have an expert leading you through.

It’s worth checking your policy documents to review what level of protection you have, since some insurers offer (some level of) legal protection as standard.

Although you don’t need it to drive legally on the roads, as you would with standard car insurance, it may be worth thinking about having motor legal cover.

But it's important to review some of the benefits and limitations, although not an exhaustive list below, before making a decision.

Make sure to check the details of any motor legal policy you're looking to get, as different insurers will vary in the products, cover and limitations they offer.

Yes, it is! But remember to shop around for the best deal, as the prices you pay will vary depending on the level of protection you’re offered.

Yes, but it’s worth checking with your insurer and it won’t protect you from events that already happened. Generally, you should be able to update your car insurance policy to include motor legal protection at any point, but there may be a fee associated with the update.