Car legal expenses cover
What is Legal expenses cover?
Legal Expenses is optional cover that provides legal support and advice for a wide range of incidents.
Legal support can be expensive, particularly if you're unable to meet the up-front costs of a claim. With our Legal Expenses cover, you’ll have peace of mind knowing we’ll provide you with up to £100,000 of cover for legal costs, as well as access to a 24-hour legal advice helpline which can provide advice on a range of personal legal matters.
Examples of when you could use the legal support and advice under the policy:
- Legal costs and advice if you're in an accident which was the fault of another insured and identifiable driver and;
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- you’re seeking compensation from them for injuries suffered in the accident, or
- you’re seeking compensation from them for other costs such as your insurance excess
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- For defence of motoring prosecutions – defending a criminal legal action that has arisen, for example, a speeding ticket you want to dispute
- For either pursuing or defending contract disputes, relating to your car, including the car itself (if the amount in dispute is more than £250) for example, if you have purchased a faulty car
- If your car’s identity is stolen, you’ll be covered for costs to defend criminal or civil proceedings
- To help cover disputes following false or incorrect information about you or your car on the Motor Insurance database
What’s not covered:
- Motoring offences related to drugs or alcohol, or where you are disqualified from driving or don't hold a licence
- Any claim reported more than 180 days after the incident
- Claims that don’t have at least a 51% chance of success. Costs must be agreed before they are covered
For full terms and exclusions of our Legal Expenses cover, please read our policy booklet
Need to change something on your policy?
Did you know, you can add our optional extra’s part way through your policy term? So you can add more protection if you decide you want more peace of mind throughout the year - simply log into your online account.
Our car insurance optional extras
Car breakdown cover
Find out moreLegal expenses cover
Find out moreReplacement vehicle cover
Find out moreView our policy document
Take a look at the policy section that relates to the comprehensive cover you are interested in.
Frequently asked questions
Motor legal protection, also known as legal expenses cover, can help protect you from being out of pocket if you have to take legal action following a car accident that wasn’t your fault. It can assist you in recovering losses you aren’t insured for as well as cover personal injuries or compensation for damaged belongings. Legal protection may be included in your comprehensive car insurance, but it’s also likely that your insurer will give you the option to add this to your policy for an additional cost.
Motor legal protection, also known as legal expenses cover, protects you for some additional benefits that would not necessarily be part of your standard car insurance policy. These can include:
- Personal injury cover for you and your passengers
- Costs associated with your claim (for example, the cost of a solicitor or legal advice)
- Medical expenses
- Damage to your vehicle
- Loss or damage to personal belongings
- Vehicle cloning
If you’re thinking of adding legal protection cover to your policy, it’s important that you read your policy documents thoroughly or speak to your insurer to know exactly what you’re covered for.
Motor legal protection does not cover all eventualities. For example, most insurers will not cover you if the car accident was your fault.
You may also not be covered for the following:
- Legal expenses paid before the claim is accepted
- Any costs against you from the court for any criminal offences
- Any claim reported after the cut-off date (check with your insurer)
Legal expenses cover can provide peace of mind that you are covered for additional, unexpected eventualities when on the road.
The cost of legal advice can be huge. But motor legal protection cover can help you minimise the inconvenience and financial impact of legal proceedings after a car insurance accident. It's worth bearing in mind that you need a 50% chance of succeeding in your legal action to be able to claim on your policy.
Benefits of legal expenses cover can include:
- Personal injury protection for you and your passengers
- The cost of a solicitor to defend your claim
- Recovering your motor, legal and personal costs
- Access to a 24/7 legal advice helpline
Although this type of cover is not mandatory, it can help you save a lot of money if you ever find yourself in a court case following a car accident.