What is car insurance?

[Mojooo]

The question is a bit longer than the thread subject might seem. Basically I am in my 5th year of buying insurance but now I have no many quotes in a similar price range but they all offer varying levels of cover and extras it seems.

Is there any legal definition of the minimum you should get when buying a fully comprehensive policy?

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OK, lets say I have fully comp and I cause an accident. My insurance company will pay for all the repairs to my car and any damage I cause to a third party, presumably this includes me crashing into a house and the insurance company having to fix the house?

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• Legal Cover** - some insuance companies seem to add this as an optional extra whereas on others it doesn't look like it can be removed.

When exactly does legal cover come into play?

If I cause an accident by dangerous driving and I need to go to court will they pay my costs?

If someone tries a civil claim for damages will they pay for that?

Is legal cover used when you wnat to claim from a third party for injuries THEY cause you (i.e whiplash) - or is this just a service your insurance company provide anyway?

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• Accident Benefit**

This, again, is a seperate choosable benefit on some policies. They pay you out money if someone gets injured/dies in your vehicle. Normally when you choose this and pay for it the amounts are quite high (upto £30,000 etc).

Is this in addition to you suing someone for causing injury to you by dangerous driving?