Glossary of Terms | Direct Car Insurance

Glossary

Getting lost in the financial jargon of car insurance? We'll help you to unravel complicated terms.

Access to any other vehicles

This is when you or any proposed drivers have any use of another vehicle.

You could own another vehicle
You could be a named driver on another insurance policy
You could have access to a company car within working hours
You could have daily access to a company car with social domestic and pleasure use.

Business use

This is use by the policyholder for their own business to travel to more than one place of work and between places of work.

On-line car insurance does not provide cover if the car is used for any form of selling, soliciting for orders or for the collection of monies. If you want to arrange this cover, you may call us, as one of our experienced sales advisors will be able to help.

Cover

Third Party Only cover - This is the most basic insurance and covers your liability for death or bodily injury to a third party (including other occupants of your vehicle) and your liability for damage to third party property.
Third Party Fire and Theft cover - This covers third party risks as described above plus the risk of fire and theft in connection with your vehicle in accordance with relevant insurance policy terms. Some insurers will provide cover for the contents of the vehicle and details will be provided with your on-line quote. Audio equipment cover is provided with a number of insurers and details will be provided with your on-line quotation.
Comprehensive cover - This includes the Third Party Fire and Theft cover, as well as loss of or damage to your vehicle caused by accidental or malicious damage. Comprehensive cover usually includes some personal accident benefit in respect of personal injury to you or your death (please refer to your policy terms for details). Theft cover for the contents of your vehicle is provided by most insurers but only to a specified amount and subject to policy terms. Details will be shown with your on-line quotation. Audio equipment cover is provided by most insurers and full details will be provided with your on-line quotation.

Disabilities or medical conditions

Certain disabilities or medical conditions will need to be notified to the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency), as they may affect your or any named drivers' ability to drive.

DVLA must be informed if you/they have any of the following:

An epileptic event (seizure or fit)
Sudden attacks of disabling giddiness, fainting or blackouts
Severe mental handicap
A pacemaker, defibrillator or anti-ventricular tachycardia device fitted
Diabetes controlled by insulin
Diabetes controlled by tablets
A serious problem with memory
A major or minor stroke
Any type of brain surgery, brain tumour, or severe head injury involving in-patient treatment at hospital
Any severe psychiatric illness or mental disorder
Continuing/permanent difficulty in the use of arms or legs which affects your/their ability to control a vehicle
Dependence on or misuse of alcohol, illicit drugs or chemical substances in the past 3 years (this does not include drink driving offences)
Any visual disability which affects BOTH eyes (no need to declare short/long sight or colour blindness)

If you require any further assistance, please read the DVLA medical rules.

Although we are currently unable to offer a quotation for disabilities or medical conditions on-line, if you call us, one of our insurance advisors will take down all relevant details and find you the most competitive quotation.

Excess

This is the first part of each and every claim which you (not your insurer) must pay. There are two types of excess:

A compulsory excess - This is an excess that has been applied as a requirement by your insurer and will vary according to your personal circumstances and the terms of cover provided. A compulsory excess may be required if you drive a particular vehicle or you have inexperienced drivers on your policy. There is also a compulsory excess for fire, theft or windscreen claims.
A voluntary excess - This will apply where you agree with your insurer to pay a greater part of each claim, in addition to your compulsory excess. A voluntary excess can be increased or decreased at your request during your on-line quotation and it may affect your premium.

Foreign use

All car insurance policies we offer on-line provide the minimum cover you require to drive in any of the EU countries.

To extend you normal insurance policy cover for the purpose of travel within the EU you will need a Green Card. This maybe included free of charge (in any one period of insurance), please see your on-line quotation for further details.

Immobiliser

There are two types of immobiliser:

Manual immobiliser - This is usually placed on the steering wheel of your car e.g. Krooklok.
Electronic immobiliser - This disables the engine of your car. Some newer cars have these factory fitted by the manufacturer and these are normally shown within your car brochure. It is also possible to have these immobilisers fitted by a garage or specialist, who would supply a certificate of installation detailing the exact model of your cars immobiliser. A copy of your certificate may be required.

Material fact(s)

Material facts are those that the insurer would regard as likely to influence the acceptance and assessment of this application. If you are in any doubt about whether facts are considered material, you should disclose them. We will be happy to give you advice if you wish.

Modifications

This is when the car's engine, suspension or body has been altered in any way.

The most common modifications are alloy wheels, spoiler, sunroof and any performance enhancements.

Please note that the above lists are not exhaustive.

Although we are currently unable to offer a quotation for modifications on-line, if you call us, one of our insurance advisors will take down all the relevant details and find you the most competitive quotation.

Motor Legal Expense Cover

This additional cover (Legal Expense Cover) will protect you if you incur any uninsured losses as a result of an accident that wasn't your fault. Losses which are uninsured may include loss of earnings, personal injury, loss or damage to personal property and excesses under a comprehensive policy.

Legal Expense Cover also includes a credit repair facility.

This is a summary of the cover that is available. If you require further details, please view our car insurance Policy Extras.

Part-time occupation

For example, working part-time in a public house or working part-time as a sales representative in the evenings.

Although we are currently unable to offer a quotation for part-time occupations on-line, if you call us, one of our insurance advisors will take down all relevant details and find you the most competitive quotation.

Protected no claims bonus (NCB)

This will allow you to make a certain number of insurance claims arising from your own error or fault without affecting your no-claims discount. Please refer to your policy wording for full details.

Social, domestic and pleasure use

You can choose to include commuting which will provide cover to and from one place of work.

Tracking device

This is a device which enables the police to locate your car if it is stolen. Some newer cars may have this device installed by the manufacturer. However, this is normally a facility which you are required to subscribe to on an annual basis.

Frequently asked questions

We have compiled a series of answers to some frequently asked questions, which will help you purchase a policy or make a claim.

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