Understanding insurance terminology
Understanding the language and terminology used when purchasing an insurance policy can often be confusing. Please refer to our glossary of terms and descriptions detailed below designed to help explain what some of the common insurance terms mean. We hope that you find this useful.
Modifications
These are any changes (including factory-fitted optional extras) that make your car different from the standard vehicle specification. Examples would be alloy wheels, spoilers, engine modifications etc.
Imports
Imports are vehicles which were, or are, being brought into the country. This does not include vehicles that are brought into the UK from UK dealers. Generally speaking these fall into two categories:
- UK specification vehicles - these are brought in from abroad (normally Europe) but match UK specification.
- Non UK specification - these are brought in from abroad (normally outside of Europe) but don't match current UK specifications.
Drivers' details
- Main driver - the person who uses the vehicle the most.
- UK residency date - the time that you have been continuously resident in the UK prior to this insurance policy.
- Annual mileage - approximately how many miles you think your car will travel in total during a 12 month period from the policy start date.
- Non-motoring convictions - criminal convictions which you or other drivers under the policy may have and which are not spent. If you are unsure about whether you need to disclose one or not then you should and we will ignore it if it is not relevant.
- Motoring offences - traffic offences such as speeding and drink-driving and will normally be found on your licence.
- Accidents or claims - including any incident which could give rise to a claim.
- Fault/non-fault claim - what's the difference? Unfortunately, fault claims are not just those where you accept that you are to blame. The terms fault and non-fault relate to whether the insurer was able to recover all their costs from someone else. If they did not, then it is a fault claim even if you aren't necessarily to blame. For example, a theft claim is regarded as fault. Regardless of this fault / non-fault distinction, glass claims are considered to be non-fault if they occur without any other claim being made.
Uninsured driver promise
If you make a claim for damage sustained to your car following an accident where it is established that the driver of the other vehicle was not insured to drive that vehicle, then we promise to refund your excess and reinstate your No Claims Discount, provided:
- The accident is not your fault; and
- You are able to supply the make, model and registration number of the responsible vehicle; and
- You are able to supply the responsible driver's name and address: and
- Where possible, supply details of independent witnesses to assist in confirming who is at fault.
You may be required to pay your excess whilst we investigate the circumstances of the accident and if these are still ongoing when your policy falls due for renewal, then we may have to reduce your No Claims Discount. However, once we have identified the uninsured driver and established that they were to blame for the accident, we will refund the cost of your excess, reinstate your No Claims Discount and refund any additional premium you had to pay to us for any temporary loss of your No Claims Discount.
Policy details
Different levels of cover
Third Party Only - no cover for your vehicle, cover for damage or injury you may cause to someone else and/or their property only.
Third Party Fire & Theft – as per Third Party Only and also covers your vehicle for damage caused by theft, attempted theft and/or fire.
Comprehensive – as per Third Party Fire & Theft and also covers your vehicle for damage caused accidentally or maliciously - as a result of an accident for example.
Different use types
Social, domestic and pleasure - covers you for normal day to day driving, such as driving to visit family or friends, or shopping. Excludes driving to / from work.
Social, domestic, pleasure and commuting - use for social purposes and for travelling to / from one permanent place of work (including part of a journey to work such as driving to a train / bus station).
- Business use class 1- This use allows the regular driver and spouse / Civil partner only, to use the car for social, domestic, pleasure, to travel to various places of work in connection with their own employment.
- Business use class 2- This is an extension of class 1, in that it allows authorised drivers to use the vehicle in connection with the businesses of the Regular Driver and their Spouse / Civil partner only. They cannot use it in connection with any other business.
- Business use class 3- This allows the insured and authorised drivers to use the car in connection with the business of the regular driver and/or the regular driver's spouse / Civil partner only, to solicit orders, deliver pre-purchased goods. Basically anyone who will use the car to travel from customer to customer. Any goods carried in the insured vehicle will not be covered.
Voluntary excess
The amount that you voluntarily choose to pay towards the cost of a claim. This is in addition to any compulsory excess that will also apply to your policy. If you choose a voluntary excess you will receive a discount in premium.
No claims discount
No claims discount (NCD) is the discount that you have earned for the number of consecutive years that you have not made a claim. For more information about how no claims discount and protected no claims discount work, please click here.
Your insurance documents
Statement of fact
The Statement of Fact is a record of the information you give us, on which your policy is based. A paper copy of this will be sent to you once you have accepted your policy. It is your responsibility to check this document and inform us of any errors. (Please see our Terms & Conditions for more details).
Schedule
The document which identifies the policyholder and sets out details of the cover your policy provides.
Certificate of motor insurance
This document provides evidence that you have taken out the insurance you must have by law. It identifies who can drive your vehicle and the purposes for which your vehicle can be used.