Is motor legal protection worth it?
Legal cover for car insurance is an optional extra that you can add to your car insurance policy. But how much does motor legal cover cost?
What does it cover? And, importantly, is motor legal protection worth it?
Legal cover for car insurance is an optional extra that you can add to your car insurance policy. But how much does motor legal cover cost?
What does it cover? And, importantly, is motor legal protection worth it?
What is motor legal protection?
Motor legal protection, also known as legal expenses cover, is an optional extra you can add to your car insurance.
Motor legal protection could help you recoup any losses in the event of a non-fault claim that isn’t covered by your regular car insurance policy. For example:
- Your excess – the amount you pay towards a claim
- Medical costs – if you or your passengers are injured
- Travel costs and hire car charges – if you’re no longer able to use your car
- Loss of earnings – if you’re unable to work following an accident
- Personal possessions – items you carry with you such as your handbag, purse, wallet and smartphone
- Legal defence fees – if a claim is made against you after an accident and it ends up in court.
What does motor legal protection cover?
Motor legal protection could help cover the costs of legal advice and solicitors’ fees associated with a car insurance claim in the event of a non-fault accident that isn’t covered by your regular car insurance.
It could also provide legal cover for other car-related situations. For example, disputes when buying or selling a car, or defending yourself if accused of a motoring offence.
At Compare the Market, you can compare quotes from insurance providers who provide a minimum of £50,000 in legal expenses cover.
How much does motor legal protection cover cost?
Motor legal protection cover could typically cost between £15 and £30 a year.
However, some comprehensive car insurance policies already have motor legal expenses cover included as standard.
If you’re considering car insurance legal cover, it’s worth shopping around and comparing policies. That way, you can decide which option would be better value for money and which offers the right level of cover.
Don’t just look at the price either, read the small print to see what’s included and which scenarios you would be covered for.
Is motor legal protection worth the cost?
Motor legal protection isn’t mandatory, but it could potentially save you thousands of pounds in expensive legal fees should your case go to court. If it’s a complicated legal case, the fees could be much higher, so adding motor legal protection might be worth it.
Some policies also include free legal advice on a range of personal matters for you and your family. These can include employment, family, conveyancing and probate (administering the will of a deceased person).
Depending on your policy, you may be able to call a 24-hour helpline so you can access legal advice quickly on car insurance and other subjects. This could be a huge benefit if it’s a service you’ll actually use and one you couldn’t afford to pay for on your own.
However, remember that:
- There’s no guarantee your claim will be taken on by a lawyer, especially if it’s unclear who’s to blame for an incident
- It won’t cover you if you were at fault for the accident related to your claim
- Your claim might also be rejected if too much time has passed since the incident, or the amount you’re contesting isn’t worth the expense of a court case
- Insurance providers usually have their own panel of solicitors, so you may not be able to choose who represents you.
Did you know?A condition of virtually all motor legal protection policies is that your case will only be taken on if there’s a ‘reasonable prospect of success’ – according to the Financial Ombudsman, this means you have a 51% or more chance of winning. |
Do I need motor legal protection cover?
Unlike with car insurance, motor legal protection cover isn’t a legal requirement. It’s up to you to decide whether it’s worth paying a little extra for it.
Before you buy or add motor legal protection to your car insurance policy, check the following:
- If legal expenses are already included in your existing car insurance policy
- If you’re a named driver on someone else’s policy, check whether they have motor legal protection cover and if you’re also covered
- If you’re a member of a trade union, check whether you already have access to free legal advice
- If you have motor legal expenses insurance that covers motoring from another insurance or banking package.
Pros and cons of motor legal protection
As with all add-ons, it’s a good idea to weigh up the pros and cons before deciding if legal cover for car insurance is worth the extra cost.
Motor legal protection advantages:
- You could potentially save a lot of money in expensive legal fees
- It could help you recoup your out-of-pocket costs
- It could cover the costs of both pursuing or defending a car insurance claim
- Many policies include free legal advice on a whole range of personal matters, not just car insurance
- Motor legal cover usually comes with a helpline providing 24/7 access to legal advice.
Motor legal protection disadvantages:
- It’s an extra cost that could bump up the price of your car insurance
- You won’t be covered if you’re at fault
- There’s no guarantee your case will be taken on if it’s likely you could lose, or the costs are too high in relation to the amount you’re claiming
- You may not get to choose which lawyer represents you
- Your claim might be rejected if too much time has passed since the incident.
Is motor legal expenses cover the same as liability cover?
No, motor legal expenses cover and liability cover refer to two different types of insurance.
Legal expenses insurance
Motor legal expenses covers the legal costs associated with pursuing a car insurance claim. This includes defending yourself against claims following a non-fault accident. It could cover you for legal advice, court fees and solicitors’ fees up to the amount stated on your policy.
It could also help you recoup any damages and expenses that aren’t covered by your car insurance policy.
Legal liability insurance
Legal liability insurance helps cover your compensation costs if you injure or cause the death of another person, or cause damage to someone else’s property. Third-party liability is required by law to drive a car in the UK.
It’s important to read the terms of any policy carefully before you buy to see what’s specifically covered in terms of legal expenses and legal liability.
How do I buy motor legal expenses insurance?
Legal expenses insurance is sometimes included in comprehensive car insurance policies. If not, you can normally add on motor legal cover to your policy when you buy it. This is sometimes known as ‘before the event’ legal cover (or BTE).
If you find yourself in a pickle and need to pay legal expenses to pursue or defend against a claim, you can find a standalone ‘after the event’ (ATE) policy.
What are the alternatives to motor legal protection?
If you don’t want to buy dedicated motor legal cover, there are alternatives that could help you avoid high legal fees.
After the event insurance (ATE)
You can buy after the event (ATE) insurance after someone makes a claim against you that you dispute. Or you could buy it if you decide to pursue a claim that’s not covered by your car insurance policy.
The plus side of ATE motor legal expenses cover is that you won’t be paying for any insurance you don’t need. But it’s considerably more expensive than before the event (BTE) legal expenses cover.
No win, no fee
There are also ‘no win, no fee’ solicitors who you won’t have to pay if your case is unsuccessful. Bear in mind, though, that you’re likely to have to pay them a significant percentage of any compensation or damages if you do win. Read any fine print carefully before you sign up to anything to make sure it will be worthwhile.
Legal aid
In some cases, you might be able to find discounted or free legal advice to help you with your claim. You may qualify for legal aid, so long as you’re not making a personal injury claim.
Comprehensive car insurance with legal cover
You might want to consider upgrading to a comprehensive policy that includes motor legal expenses as standard. It might work out cheaper than adding legal cover as an extra.
Compare car insurance with motor legal protection cover
A good way to decide whether motor legal protection cover is worth it is to shop around and compare deals.
Once you have a list of insurance providers who offer motor legal protection, you can easily compare quotes to search for the right car insurance deal for you.
Just remember to give the small print a look over. It’s not a fun job but it could save you a lot in the long run as it’s important to buy cover that’s right for you.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get motor legal protection part-way through my policy?
You should be able to add motor legal protection at any time during the length of your policy. Simply call your insurance provider and ask them to update your policy to include motor legal protection.
They’ll need to adjust the price of your premium and might also charge an additional admin fee to make the changes.
Can I buy standalone motor legal protection?
You can buy motor legal protection as a standalone policy. However, it might be easier and less hassle to simply add it to your car insurance policy.
Can I remove motor legal expenses cover from my policy?
You should be able to remove motor legal protection from your policy if you bought it as an add-on. It shouldn’t cost you anything and may even reduce your premiums going forward.
You might also be able to claim a partial refund for any cover you’ve paid for upfront that you haven’t used.
Think carefully about the positives and negatives of removing legal expenses cover before you speak to your insurance provider.
If legal expenses cover is included as standard in your policy, you won’t be able to remove it.
Does motor legal protection cover passengers?
Yes, legal motor protection covers passengers and named drivers on your policy. It can help you claim compensation for any injuries they’ve suffered, as long as there’s a reasonable chance of success.
Does motor legal protection cover uninsured drivers?
Yes, motor legal protection can cover incidents involving uninsured drivers. It could help you pay for legal fees and help recoup your costs if you need to take the uninsured driver to court.
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