Two motor policies with the same premium can behave completely differently on the day you claim. The differences live in details that take ten minutes to check up front — and can cost thousands if discovered late.
1. What level of cover are you actually buying?
Third-party liability covers damage you cause to others and nothing else. Comprehensive adds your own vehicle. Between them sit intermediate options like third-party, fire and theft. Confirm which one the quote describes — the cheapest number is often the thinnest cover.
2. The deductible, in real money
Your deductible (excess) is what you pay from every claim before the insurer pays anything. A low premium with a high deductible can be the expensive option for a driver who claims. Decide what you could comfortably pay on a bad day, and price policies around that.
3. The declared value of your car
Claims settle around the vehicle's declared or market value. Over-declaring wastes premium; under-declaring shrinks your payout. Check how the policy defines settlement value — market value, agreed value, or replacement — and make sure the number is realistic.
4. Who is actually covered to drive
Named-driver policies can leave a borrowing friend — or your own spouse — uninsured behind your wheel. Match the driver list to reality.
5. Exclusions that match your life
- Commuting or business use, if the policy assumes personal use only
- Parking and storage conditions the insurer expects
- Geographic limits, if you drive across borders
- Modifications the insurer must know about
6. What the claims process looks like
Approved-repairer requirements, courtesy-car provisions, and claim notification windows all shape the experience after an accident. A policy that pays fairly but slowly, or only through distant repairers, has a real cost.
7. No-claims benefits and how fragile they are
If you've built up a no-claims discount, check how a single claim affects it and whether it can be protected. Sometimes paying a small damage bill yourself is the rational move — but only if you know the numbers.