Legal Cover Car Insurance Guide for Car Owners

If you're a car owner, you know how stressful it can be to deal with the law. Legal cover car insurance is designed to protect you from the financial burden of legal costs, which can be overwhelming if you're involved in an accident or receive a parking ticket.

You can expect to pay around £20-£30 per year for legal cover car insurance, which is a small price to pay for the peace of mind it provides.

This type of insurance can cover costs such as court fees, solicitor's fees, and even compensation to other parties involved in an accident.

If you're considering adding legal cover to your car insurance, you might be wondering if it's really necessary. The good news is that there's no legal requirement to have it, but it could save you a lot of money in the long run.

You should check if you already have legal expenses included with your standard car insurance policy. Sometimes, legal expenses are already covered, so you won't need to add it separately.

The cost of legal bills can be staggering, easily running into tens of thousands of pounds. This is why having legal cover can be a lifesaver, especially if you're in an accident that wasn't your fault.

To help you decide, ask yourself a few questions. Are you already covered? Do you have a comprehensive policy? And are you likely to need it? These questions will help you weigh up the pros and cons of adding legal cover to your policy.

Here are some things to consider:

Ultimately, the decision to add legal cover to your car insurance depends on your personal circumstances and preference.

Legal cover car insurance is an additional extra that covers the cost of any legal action you pursue after an accident that wasn't your fault. It's not a legal requirement and many drivers don't have it, but it can give you some extra peace of mind when you're driving.

Legal cover will cover your legal expenses, up to a certain amount, if you decide to take another driver to court. This can be a big help if you're facing a lot of costs after an accident, like medical bills or lost earnings.

The costs that legal cover can help with include medical costs, loss of earnings, travel costs, and damage to your vehicle (if you don't have comprehensive car insurance). It can also cover the costs of making an insurance claim, such as the cost of your excess.

However, it's worth noting that legal cover doesn't directly provide you with compensation for any of these costs. Instead, it only pays for the legal costs involved in taking someone to court to address these costs. This process can be really expensive, and that's exactly why legal cover exists.

To be eligible for legal cover, your claim will need to have a "reasonable prospect of success". This means that your claim will need to be judged by your insurer's legal team to have a more than 50% chance of winning the case.

Legal cover car insurance can be a valuable addition to your policy, offering peace of mind and financial protection in the event of an accident.

Adding legal expense cover to your car insurance policy can cost as little as £15 to £35, which is a relatively small price to pay for the potential savings of thousands of pounds.

You can even get motor legal protection as a standard inclusion with certain car insurance policies, so it's worth checking the policy wording when you buy.

Having car insurance legal cover can be a cheap add-on to your policy, and it can save you thousands of pounds in legal costs.

Here are some key benefits of car insurance legal cover:

However, it's worth noting that your insurer can refuse to fund your legal claim if they believe you don't have a reasonable chance of winning the case.

Your policy will specify the amount of motor legal protection cover you have, with many insurers offering up to £100,000 worth of cover. It's worth looking for at least £50,000 worth of cover to ensure you're not left out of pocket.

Your insurer may not accept your legal expenses claim if they feel it has a low probability of success, or if too much time has passed since the incident.

If your claim is accepted, your insurer will appoint a solicitor to act for you, or you may be able to nominate your own representation. They will also contact the other party's insurer to let them know you want to recover costs not covered by your insurance.

To make a claim, contact your insurer on their claims line and provide full details of the incident, including when and where it happened, as well as any supporting evidence. Your insurer will then handle the process, contacting any other relevant parties and appointing a solicitor if necessary.

Here are some common exclusions that may prevent you from making a claim:

If you need to make a car insurance legal cover claim, you should contact your insurer on their claims line. It's a good idea to have your policy documents to hand when you call them. You'll need to provide full details of the incident, including when and where it happened, as well as any supporting evidence, such as photos of your damaged car.

Your insurer will then either appoint a solicitor for you or let you appoint your own representative, depending on your motor legal protection policy wording. Your insurer will contact any other relevant parties.

You'll have up to six months after the incident to make a legal claim, and sometimes longer. When you do make the claim, you'll need to share as much information as you can with your insurer about any damages, injuries, or expenses you've incurred.

Here's a step-by-step guide to making a car insurance legal cover claim:

You'll usually need to pay the excess before your claim can go ahead. This can be a significant cost, but it's a necessary step in the claims process.

If another party caused the accident, you might feel like you're being unfairly penalized for paying the excess. But motor legal protection can reimburse those costs so you don't lose out.

Using your savings to pay lawyers' fees isn't a practical option for many people, as legal action can be extremely costly.

You could consider using no-win, no-fee solicitors, but be aware that they typically charge a success fee of 25% if you win your case, which means you'd lose a significant proportion of your claim.

After-the-event (ATE) insurance is another option, but it's a lot more pricey than motor legal protection cover.

Legal cover car insurance is a type of insurance that protects you from financial loss if you're involved in a car accident and are found liable to pay damages to others.

The process typically begins with a claims notification, which can be made by phone, email, or online. You'll need to provide your policy number and details of the incident.

You may be required to provide evidence to support your claim, such as witness statements, police reports, and medical records. This evidence will help your insurer assess the severity of the incident and determine the level of compensation you're entitled to.

Your insurer will then review the evidence and assess the level of liability, taking into account factors such as the severity of the incident, the extent of the damage, and the level of fault attributed to you.

If your claim is approved, your insurer will pay out the agreed amount to cover the costs of damages, medical expenses, and other related costs. This can help you avoid financial hardship and get back on the road quickly.