What Is Legal Cover on Car Insurance?
Gain clarity on legal cover in car insurance. Understand its scope, limitations, and how to navigate this important policy feature.
Legal cover, often called motor legal protection or legal expenses insurance, is an optional addition to a standard car insurance policy. It provides financial assistance for legal costs arising from motor incidents. This coverage helps policyholders manage expenses for pursuing or defending a legal case, ensuring access to legal representation without substantial out-of-pocket fees.
Typical Inclusions of Legal Cover
Legal cover typically extends to several types of costs and situations following a motor incident. A common inclusion is the recovery of uninsured losses, which are expenses not covered by the main car insurance policy. This can include the policy excess paid to your own insurer, compensation for personal injuries sustained by you or your passengers, and reimbursement for lost earnings if an injury prevents you from working.
The coverage also assists with costs for travel and car hire charges incurred while your vehicle is being repaired or replaced after a non-fault accident. It can cover legal expenses for disputes over vehicle damage or repairs, especially when negotiating with another party’s insurer. Policyholders might also find legal defense covered if they face prosecution for certain motoring offenses, such as speeding or careless driving.
Common Exclusions of Legal Cover
While legal cover offers valuable protection, it comes with specific limitations and exclusions. This coverage does not pay for fines, penalties, or civil judgments resulting from motoring offenses. For instance, it covers legal fees for defending a speeding charge, not the ticket itself.
Claims arising from intentional acts, such as deliberately causing an accident or damage, are excluded. Legal cover generally does not apply if the incident occurred before the policy’s start date or if the policyholder did not obtain prior approval from the insurer before incurring legal costs. Insurers may also deny claims if there is no reasonable prospect of success in a legal case.
Adding Legal Cover and Initiating a Claim
Legal cover is commonly offered as an optional add-on to a standard car insurance policy. Policyholders can elect to include this coverage when they purchase a new policy, during renewal, or sometimes as a mid-term adjustment. The cost for this protection is usually a small extra charge compared to the potential legal fees it can cover.
To initiate a claim, the policyholder should notify their insurer as soon as possible after the incident. Provide accident details, contact information for all parties, and supporting evidence like photographs or police reports. The insurer will guide the policyholder through the process, which may involve engaging legal representation. The legal team appointed or approved by the insurer will gather evidence, negotiate with other parties, and pursue or defend the claim.