A		[back to top][back to Home]
Access to other vehicles	Whether you can drive other cars in the family	UK insurers may charge less as you can't drive both at the same time
Accidents	You will be asked to detail any accidents (usually in last 5 years)	Some may cause an increase in your motor insurance premium
Additional drivers	You can name other people who will drive your car, or say anyone can drive it	The more drivers, young or unspecified, there are - the more you pay
Alarms	These are sound devices, fitted as standard or by you, to prevent theft	Most UK insurers will give you a discount on your premium
Annual mileage	You should have an accurate idea of how many miles you drive each year	The usual rule is "fewer miles, lower premiums" but be honest
At fault	Whether you were at fault or not
B		[back to top][back to Home]
Bonus affected	You must state when getting a quote whether your NCB was reduced
Breaks in cover	Periods when the car is not insured	Not recommended
Broker	A company which chooses the most appropriate insurance company for you	See Intermediary
Budget Insurance	Like Budget Rentacar and Easyjet, it provides good quality at low cost	Very efficient and can be cheapest for motor insurance
Business usage	This allows you to use the car in the normal course of your daily job
C		[back to top][back to Home]
Cancelled insurance	Getting a new quote, you must say if your insurance has been cancelled before	The insurer may ask more questions but may not charge extra
Certificate	This shows who is entitled to drive and the dates the cover starts and ends	You should check this and have it available
Cheap insurance	Everybody wants low premiums, everyone offers them !	Little relevance until an insurer claims they are EXPENSIVE
Cheaper insurance	Everybody wants low premiums, everyone offers them !	Little relevance until an insurer claims they are EXPENSIVE
Cheapest insurance	Everybody wants low premiums, everyone offers them !	Little relevance until an insurer claims they are EXPENSIVE
Claim made	Whether you made a claim to the insurer or not	You may have chosen not to, thus avoiding paying the excess
Claims	The wider term including theft, windscreen breakage as well as accidents
Comprehensive	This covers you for damage to your vehicle as well as to other people and cars
Compulsory excess	The amount the insurer insists you contribute to a claim settlement	A high excess will reduce your premium but you pay each claim
Conviction code	These are the DVLA codes that get onto your driving licence	e.g. SP50 for speeding on the motorway
Convictions	Motor insurers are usually only interested in motoring offences	Non motoring convictions should have no effect on your premium
Cost of repair	Best estimate of the total damage - both (or all!) parties' vehicles
Cover type	Whether you want comprehensive or TPF&T or TPO cover	The better the cover, the more you will pay for your insurance
D		[back to top][back to Home]
Date insurance to start	When you want the new insurance policy to begin	The car must always be insured
Date licence gained	When you passed your test to get the licence you have	Experienced drivers are charged less
Date vehicle purchased	When you bought your car	Some insurers charge less the longer you have had the car
Declaration	Statement, signed by you, that you have been honest on your proposal	This is the basis of the agreement between the insurer and you
Declined insurance	You must say if your application for motor insurance has been declined before	The insurer may ask more questions but may not charge extra
Description of damage	Give a brief explanation of what damage was caused
Direct debit	The insurance premium will be taken from your bank account	Efficient but still check your renewal premium each year
Direct insurers	Insurers who provide motor insurance to the public over the telephone	Each one is cheapest in some cases but use an intermediary
Direct Line	The first and largest provider of car insurance on the telephone	Little relevance as it has been copied and can be expensive
Discounts	Reductions in your car insurance premium for a variety of reasons	Ask the insurer what discounts are available
DVLA	Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency - looks after drivers and cars	Based in Swansea, SA99, Wales - very helpful people
E		[back to top][back to Home]
E-mail address	Your e-mail address	Used to confirm cover in some cases
Excess	The amount which you contribute to a claim - e.g. you pay the first £100	A high excess will reduce your premium but you pay each claim
F		[back to top][back to Home]
Fault accidents	These are accidents where you were (found to be) the cause of the accident	These will usually mean you pay a larger premium
Fine	How much you were fined
First name	This should be your given name, the name on your licence
G		[back to top][back to Home]
Grey imports	Cars which are bought abroad and brought into the UK for their new owners	You may have to pay an extra premium
H		[back to top][back to Home]
Hire or reward	This is the description used for taxis or minicabs	If you drive a taxi or a minicab, you will need a special policy
Homeowner	You should say if you OWN your home	Many UK insurers now give discounts for this
I		[back to top][back to Home]
Immediate cover	You can be insured over the telephone	You should need a credit or debit card for this
Immobilisers	These devices stop the car being moved, fitted as standard or by you	Most insurers will give you a discount on your premium
Imports	You must say if the car has been imported, even from the EU	You may have to pay an extra premium
Instalments	What you pay each month towards your annual premium	You will usually be charged extra for this, find out how much
Insurance cancelled	Getting a new quote, you must say if your insurance has been cancelled before	The insurer may ask more questions but may not charge extra
Insurance company	A company which insures people and/or property	Look for ABI members in the UK
Insurance declined	You must say if your application for motor insurance has been declined before	The insurer may ask more questions but may not charge extra
Insuring young drivers	Do not try to hide a young driver by claiming that you are the main driver	The claim may not be fully paid out
Intermediary	A company which chooses the most appropriate insurance company for you
L		[back to top][back to Home]
Left hand drive	You must say if the car is left-hand drive	You may have to pay an extra premium
Legal expenses cover	This product is an efficient and cost effective method of recovering costs and expenses from negligent third parties.	A small additional premium usually gives up to £50,000 legal fees
Legal protection	As legal expenses cover	A small additional premium usually gives up to £50,000 legal fees
Length of time at address	How long you have lived at your home	A few insurers believe people who are settled are better risks
Length of time in UK	How long you have lived in the UK	Still used to find whether you are an immigrant - not PC to ask that
LHD	Left hand drive	You may have to pay an extra premium
Licence type	Whether you have a Full UK, Provisional or other type	You will be charged less if you have a Full UK licence
Lloyds syndicate	Like an insurance company but guaranteed by Lloyds of London
Loadings	Increases in your car insurance premium for a variety of reasons	Ask the insurer what loadings have been applied
Low cost insurance	Everybody wants low premiums, everyone offers them !	Little relevance until an insurer claims they are EXPENSIVE
Low cost premiums	Everybody wants low premiums, everyone offers them !	Little relevance until an insurer claims they are EXPENSIVE
M		[back to top][back to Home]
Main driver	Tell your insurance company who the usual driver of the car will be
Marital status	Whether you are married, single, divorced, living together	Most insurers now treat "living in sin" as married couples
Medical conditions	If in doubt, declare any medical problems - such as heart disorders	These usually relate to those reported to DVLA
MIB	Motor Insurers' Bureau
MID	Motorists Insurance Database
Modifications	These are changes made to the car beyond the manufacturer's specification	You will have to pay extra premium in most cases
Monthly premiums	You can pay your annual premium in monthly lumps	You will usually be charged extra for this, find out how much
Monthly terms	You can pay your annual premium in monthly lumps	You will usually be charged extra for this, find out how much
Motor Insurers' Bureau	This company was set up to compensate victims of uninsured drivers	Each insured person effectively pays about £25 towards this
Motor legal protection	As legal expenses cover	A small additional premium usually gives up to £50,000 legal fees
Motor trade	These are car dealers - they are charged a lot more for motor insurance	If you are a car dealer, you will need a special policy
Motoring convictions	You will be asked to detail any motoring conviction (usually in last 5 years)	Some convictions will mean a load on your premium
Motorists Insurance Database	This holds details of everyone who has bought car insurance	People who drive without insurance in the UK can be easily caught
N		[back to top][back to Home]
NCB	No claims bonus
NCD	No claims discount
NCD protection	When you have some NCD, usually four years, you can avoid losing it	Paying an extra premium will allow you one or two claims per year
No claims bonus	The same as No claims discount	Up to 65% can deducted from your motor insurance premium
No claims discount	You will earn discount by claim-free driving - it will be shown on your renewal	Up to 65% can deducted from your motor insurance premium
Non-fault accidents	These are accidents where you are (pretty) sure you were not the cause	These accidents are usually ignored by insurers
O		[back to top][back to Home]
Occupation	You will be asked for a clear description of your job and the industry you work in	Some occupations attract loadings on their motor insurance
Off the road	If the car is not used - even then some cover is recommended	UK insurers get suspicious of breaks in cover
Overnight parking	Where you park your car - garage, drive, car park, street etc	The more secure, the lower the premium
P		[back to top][back to Home]
Points	How many points were added to your licence for a motoring conviction	e.g. SP50 for speeding on the motorway gets 3 points
Post code	The full postcode where you live	Also see vehicle address
Proposal form	The form you fill out stating all your details	Some insurers will do this for you
Protected NCD or NCB	When you have some NCD, usually four years, you can avoid losing it	Paying an extra premium will allow you one or two claims per year
Q		[back to top][back to Home]
Q plates	These are the special number plates intended to be temporary	Insurers are wary of these and will charge a lot more for insurance
R		[back to top][back to Home]
Racing etc	Insurers ask you to say whether you are going to race your car or rally	You will be charged a lot more and should seek special advice
Registered owner	This should be you - if not the insurer will ask more questions
Renewal date	The day when your current policy ends	Your new policy should follow on immediately
S		[back to top][back to Home]
Schedule	This document details the cover, excesses and any special conditions	You should carefully check that this is what you agreed to buy
SD&P	The car will be used for Social, Domestic and Pleasure purposes	Not for commuting to work or for business purposes
SD&P plus commuting	The car will be used for Social, Domestic and Pleasure plus commuting to work	Not for business purposes
Security devices	General term covering alarms, immobilisers and tracking devices	Most insurers will give you a discount on your premium
Smoker	State whether you smoke or not	Some insurers charge less to non-smokers
Special rates	This is usually said in an advertisement - it means lower premiums	It also means that these are only available for some people
Statement of facts	Statement from insurers detailing what you told them on the telephone	Vital to check that what you said is recorded properly
Surname	This should be your family name
T		[back to top][back to Home]
Third party only	This is the minimum legal requirement	You should think hard before buying Third Party Only cover
Third party, fire and theft	Covers you for damage to other people and cars plus theft and fire of your car	If your car is worth more than £4,000 you should have Comprehensive
Title	Whether you are a MR MRS MISS MS or DR	Purely for addressing letters to you
TPF&T	Third party, fire and theft cover
TPO	Third party only cover
Tracking device	This device, although expensive, means that the car can be found after a theft	Most insurers will give you a discount on your premium
Type of claim	Accident, theft, fire, windscreen
Type of cover	Whether you want comprehensive or TPF&T or TPO cover	The better the cover, the more you will pay for your insurance
U		[back to top][back to Home]
UK specifications	This means that the car is designed and built to UK specifications	There should be no extra premium to pay
ULR	This means Uninsured Loss Recovery and is similar to legal expenses	A small additional premium usually gives up to £50,000 legal fees
Uninsured driver	One of the 1,300,000 people who drive round with no insurance	If you are hit by one of these you need help - see legal expenses
Use of vehicle	What you will use the car for - usually SD&P or SD&P plus commuting
V		[back to top][back to Home]
Vehicle kept	Address where the car is regularly kept - don't be tempted to use another one	It is vital you are accurate, even if your friend's post code is better
Vehicle usage	What you will use the car for - usually SD&P or SD&P plus commuting
Voluntary excess	The amount you choose to contribute to a claim settlement	A high excess will reduce your premium but you pay each claim
Y		[back to top][back to Home]
Young driver excess	Often an addition excess when a young driver is involved in the incident