All cars need insurance but there are various options
Third party insurance
This is the most basic cover you can get, and is the legal minimum of car insurance cover. In the event of an accident that was seen to be your fault, this type of cover protects other people, vehicles and property, but injuries you suffer and damage to your own car is not covered.
Third party insurance only covers you against having to pay if you injure someone or damage their vehicle or other property, but won't pay to repair damage to your car or other property.
Third party, fire and theft cover
This will cover third party damage, and also fire and theft, so you can claim for replacing your car if it is stolen, damaged as a result of an attempted theft, and fire damage.
Comprehensive cover
This is the most commonly purchased option. Comprehensive cover pays to repair damage to your car, including windscreens, in addition to all of the cover included in Third Party, Fire and Theft cover.
People sometimes incorrectly assume that comprehensive cover is the most expensive cover but this is not necessarily true – you may find that comprehensive cover works out as cheap as Third Party, Fire and Theft.
Remember that with Comprehensive car insurance you are covered for everything included in Third Party, Fire and Theft cover, plus:
Damage to your own car
A pay-out for the market value of your old car
Windscreen cover
However, if your car is relatively cheap to repair, then a third party policy might be better for you. A newer car might cost £100s or £1000s to repair, in which case third party cover would leave you footing a hefty bill, and wipe out any savings you made by choosing Third Party cover.
Table of cover
John Lewis
FINANCE
Aviva
M&S Bank Standard Cover
SAGA
Sainsbury's
Bank Standard
Replacement Car provided
for up to 30 days as standard*
Up to 75%
No Claims Discount**
Emergency Journey Cover
as standard***
Vehicle ID Theft Cover
as standard
Source: John Lewis Insurance Internet Survey 14th October 2016, based on insurer direct websites, using the standard available product, excludes optional extras.
* Cover is provided if your insured car is a total loss (a write-off) or has been immobilised due to a fault road traffic accident, theft, fire, vandalism or an act of malicious damage. Comprehensive cover only. Other terms and conditions apply.
** Maximum 75% is only available with 9 years or more no claims history. Quotes offered from a panel of insurers. Not all panel members offer up to 75%. Minimum premiums apply. No Claims Discount Protection does not protect the overall price of your policy, which may still increase if you make a claim.
*** In the event of an emergency, we'll reimburse you up to £50 in taxi or train fares. Terms apply.
If you’re a safe driver your discount is safe with us because in most cases you can choose to protect it.**
Free Replacement Car
Never miss a school run. We’ll keep life carrying on as normal with a free replacement car as standard.*
Emergency Journey Cover
If you need to get somewhere due to an emergency while you’re waiting for your replacement car, we’ll reimburse you up to £50 in taxi or train fares. ***
Third party insurance only covers you against having to pay if you injure someone or damage their vehicle or other property, but won't pay to repair damage to your car. Third party, fire and theft cover will also pay to repair or replace your own car if it is stolen, or damaged or destroyed by fire.
The most commonly purchased option is comprehensive cover. This cover pays to repair damage to your car, including windscreens, in addition to all of the cover described above.
If you're involved in an accident, you're legally required to:
Give your name, address and insurance details to anyone who has a good reason to ask for them – namely the other driver.
Report the incident to the police within 24 hours if you or anyone else is injured, and provide your Certificate of Motor Insurance within 5 days of the incident.
You should also collect the following information:
Full details of the other driver(s).
Registration numbers of all vehicles involved in the accident.
Where, when and how the accident happened.
Injuries or damage caused
Names and contact details of witnesses
Police officers’ details and report references
Photographs of the scene or any damage, if possible
If you need to make a claim, please call us immediately on 0345 610 0360 and our claims team will be able to help, 24 hours a day.
For a windscreen claim call us on 0345 610 0361 (also available 24 hours a day).
The claims handler will ask for the details of your claim. The more details you can provide during the first call, the quicker the claims process will be.
If your vehicle is not driveable, the claims team will help arrange a replacement car to get you on your way again (usually within 24 hours), or if it’s an emergency and we cannot arrange the replacement in time, we will refund your taxi fare up to £50.
John Lewis plc is an appointed representative (Financial Conduct Authority number 416011) of Ageas Retail Limited. John Lewis Car Insurance is provided by Ageas Retail Limited (No1324965). Registered office: Ageas House, Hampshire Corporate Park, Templars Way, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO53 3YA. Ageas Retail Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (number 312468). Ageas Retail Limited is a sister company of Ageas Insurance Limited.
John Lewis Finance and John Lewis Insurance are trading names of John Lewis plc. Registered office: 171 Victoria Street, London SW1E 5NN. Registered in England (Registered Company Number 233462). John Lewis plc is an appointed representative of a panel of carefully chosen partners to offer a full range of insurance products and services via John Lewis Finance (Financial Conduct Authority number 416011).
