Written by, Marija Petkova
Updated April, 20, 2022
A standard car insurance policy protects you against most damages that stem from road accidents. However, it won’t cover any legal fees or related costs if the case ends up in a courtroom.
That’s where legal cover could help.
But, what is legal cover on car insurance, what does it cover, and do you need it?
Let’s dive in.
A motor legal protection is essentially financial coverage for your legal expenses, following an accident that wasn’t your fault.
Drivers aren’t legally required to have motor legal protection insurance but, if you find yourself in a legal proceeding due to a car accident, it can be useful to have one.
Did you know? There were above 125,000 people with slight injuries in reported car accidents.
You can add legal protection to your existing car insurance, which usually costs between £25 to £35.
The motor legal protection cover makes up for uninsured losses that aren’t typically included in a standard car insurance policy.
The legal cover car insurance pays for:
Although it’s not mandatory to have legal cover on your car insurance, it can come in handy in a court case.
It’s the best way to protect yourself from mounting legal expenses in case someone takes legal action against you after an accident or if you want to get your money back from an uninsured driver (if you sue them).
While a motor insurance legal cover can offer solid financial protection, there are both advantages and disadvantages of auto legal protection that you might want to consider before adding extra costs to your premiums.
The main pros of having car legal cover are:
The cons of purchasing motor legal insurance include:
To make a legal protection claim to your car insurance, you’ll need to contact your insurance provider and give them a full account of the accident.
Their legal protection team will then examine the information and decide whether your claims are valid enough to build a case. If they are, they will assign a solicitor for your case.
However, you can’t claim legal protection if the accident was your fault.
If you want to cancel your legal protection add-on, you can ask your insurer to do so, but you’ll likely need to pay cancellation fees. You might be able to avoid these fees if you cancel in the first 14 days after purchasing the policy, but that depends on the insurer’s offer.
If you don’t think that legal expenses cover on your car insurance is worth the investment, there are some other options available on the market.
A standard auto policy pays out if your car was involved in an accident, was stolen, vandalised, or catches fire. However, it won’t cover any legal expenses if the accident (or incident) triggers a lawsuit. The legal protection add-on covers legal fees and other costs in case someone sues you over an accident that wasn’t your fault.
Related: Car Insurance Statistics in the UK
A car legal protection coverage provides financial protection against any losses and legal fees that stem from an accident that wasn’t your fault. A legal protection car insurance can help you save thousands of pounds if someone sues you, but it’s not always the best option for everyone
Whether it’s worth buying a legal cover depends on your circumstances. If you can afford it, having legal cover is a good idea, but there are other alternatives you can opt for in case you need help covering legal fees.
Motor legal protection will cover your expenses if you decide to bring an uninsured driver to court and vice versa.
A legal protection add-on is not a legal requirement in the UK. However, if you have a good understanding of what is legal cover on car insurance and the financial assistance that this cover can provide, you’ll know that it can serve you well in a legal dispute.