Motor Insurance legal cover
Discussion
Can anyone give an insight into the benefits of motor insurance legal cover? It's included on many policies but some of the cheaper ones have it as an extra, usually coming in about £20.
I understand it's insurance up to a certain value to cover legal costs of uninsured losses.
Purely theoretical...
Why when I have legal cover does an insurer state it's not worth fighting and go 50/50 anyway despite my request to argue it? Can I insist they fight the case?
I already have £50K of legal cover when I bought insurance for my other car, can I use that if I need it? What about the legal on my home policy?
Why would I pay for cover when there are plenty of no win no fee solicitors out there?
Do I get to choose which firm I want to use?
Can I use it to pay for my divorce legal bill?
Genuine questions, when put to the call center staff usually met with some confusion about what it is they are actually selling and how it works. I can't really see why I need it but happy to be proved wrong.
Thanks.
p.s Do I need to declare points that are valid at the time of asking the question but have expired by the time the policy starts? i.e pts 15/01/2010. Policy 16/01/2015.
I understand it's insurance up to a certain value to cover legal costs of uninsured losses.
Purely theoretical...
Why when I have legal cover does an insurer state it's not worth fighting and go 50/50 anyway despite my request to argue it? Can I insist they fight the case?
I already have £50K of legal cover when I bought insurance for my other car, can I use that if I need it? What about the legal on my home policy?
Why would I pay for cover when there are plenty of no win no fee solicitors out there?
Do I get to choose which firm I want to use?
Can I use it to pay for my divorce legal bill?
Genuine questions, when put to the call center staff usually met with some confusion about what it is they are actually selling and how it works. I can't really see why I need it but happy to be proved wrong.
Thanks.
p.s Do I need to declare points that are valid at the time of asking the question but have expired by the time the policy starts? i.e pts 15/01/2010. Policy 16/01/2015.
Edited by Rick101 on Friday 2nd January 00:17
I haven't bought legal cover\ uninsured loss recovery now for 15 years.
Reason being last time I had it a 13 year old on a stolen bike crashed into my car.
I stumped up my xs to have the car repaired, waiting for uninsured loss to refund my xs.
It wasn't that simple. 7 months later he went to court with a few charges, and basically was let off. His parents paid nothing because they were skint, so the insurance said sorry there's nothing they can do. The other party needs insurance or money in order to get something back.
Reason being last time I had it a 13 year old on a stolen bike crashed into my car.
I stumped up my xs to have the car repaired, waiting for uninsured loss to refund my xs.
It wasn't that simple. 7 months later he went to court with a few charges, and basically was let off. His parents paid nothing because they were skint, so the insurance said sorry there's nothing they can do. The other party needs insurance or money in order to get something back.
nottyash said:
I haven't bought legal cover\ uninsured loss recovery now for 15 years.
Reason being last time I had it a 13 year old on a stolen bike crashed into my car.
I stumped up my xs to have the car repaired, waiting for uninsured loss to refund my xs.
It wasn't that simple. 7 months later he went to court with a few charges, and basically was let off. His parents paid nothing because they were skint, so the insurance said sorry there's nothing they can do. The other party needs insurance or money in order to get something back.
I've always suspected it's another worthless add on to fReason being last time I had it a 13 year old on a stolen bike crashed into my car.
I stumped up my xs to have the car repaired, waiting for uninsured loss to refund my xs.
It wasn't that simple. 7 months later he went to court with a few charges, and basically was let off. His parents paid nothing because they were skint, so the insurance said sorry there's nothing they can do. The other party needs insurance or money in order to get something back.
k you that little bit harder for your insurance, and your experience certainly seems to suggest that it is. I've asked in the past and the response from the call centre people is always very vague indeed. The fact is that if someone that causes an accident doesn't have insurance they probably have no money to get from them through the legal route either.dme123 said:
nottyash said:
I haven't bought legal cover\ uninsured loss recovery now for 15 years.
Reason being last time I had it a 13 year old on a stolen bike crashed into my car.
I stumped up my xs to have the car repaired, waiting for uninsured loss to refund my xs.
It wasn't that simple. 7 months later he went to court with a few charges, and basically was let off. His parents paid nothing because they were skint, so the insurance said sorry there's nothing they can do. The other party needs insurance or money in order to get something back.
I've always suspected it's another worthless add on to fReason being last time I had it a 13 year old on a stolen bike crashed into my car.
I stumped up my xs to have the car repaired, waiting for uninsured loss to refund my xs.
It wasn't that simple. 7 months later he went to court with a few charges, and basically was let off. His parents paid nothing because they were skint, so the insurance said sorry there's nothing they can do. The other party needs insurance or money in order to get something back.
k you that little bit harder for your insurance, and your experience certainly seems to suggest that it is. I've asked in the past and the response from the call centre people is always very vague indeed. The fact is that if someone that causes an accident doesn't have insurance they probably have no money to get from them through the legal route either.As the OP suggests there's plenty of companies wanting your business after an accident, with no charge.
I've used 2 for non fault accidents, where I've received hire cars, compensation and a car repaired without claiming my insurance at all, and without paying an xs
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