Car Insurance

If your car is lost, stolen or damaged, we will:

• pay for your car to be repaired; or
• replace your car; or
• pay you a cash amount equal to the loss or damage.

The same cover also applies to accessories while these are in or on your car or while in your private garage.

The most we will pay will be the market value of your car at the time of the loss.

If your new car (under twelve months old) is stolen or suffers extensive damage, we may replace it with a brand new one to help get you back on the road as quickly as possible.

We will replace your car with a new car of the same make, model and specification (if one is available in the UK ) if, within 12 months of you or your partner buying the car from new:

• the cost of repairing any damage covered by the policy is more than 60% of the car's UK list price (including car tax and VAT) when you bought the car; or
• your car is stolen and not recovered.

We will only replace your car if:

• you or your partner own the car or are buying it under a hire purchase agreement or other type of agreement where ownership passes to you;
• the Financing Company agrees ; and
• you or your partner are the first registered keeper of the car, or you or your partner are the second registered keepers of the car, if your car has been pre registered in the name of the manufacturer or supplying dealer, providing at the time of purchase by you or your partner, the mileage of the car was less than 250 miles.

Any audio equipment in your car is covered as part of your car's accessories (see section on loss, theft of, or damage to your car).

We will pay for the replacement or repair of the glass in your car’s windscreen, sunroof or windows if it is lost or damaged or the bodywork of your car suffers scratching arising solely from the breakage of glass.

You must telephone our Claims Helpline before any work is carried out. We will direct you to an approved repairer.

For replacement of glass, if you

• use our approved repairer, you will have to pay the first £60 of the cost of glass replacement.

If the glass is repaired rather than replaced no excess will apply.

Your no claim discount will not be affected by making a claim under this section.

Within the UK we can arrange for the protection and removal of your car to the nearest repairers. In the event of a claim we will arrange for the following at no additional cost:

• Someone to come out and help. If your car cannot be made roadworthy immediately it will be taken to our nearest approved repairer.
• Your car can be taken to a repairer of your choice if this is nearer, but this may lead to delays in arranging the repairs to your car.
• Transport for you and your passengers home or for the completion of your car journey.
• The onward transmission of any messages on your behalf.
• Delivering the car back to your address in Great Britain , the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands after the repairs have been carried out.

If you or any other person in your car are injured as a direct result of your car being involved in an accident, we will pay the medical expenses arising in connection with that accident.

We will reimburse any person using your car for payments made under the Road Traffic Acts for emergency medical treatment.

We will pay you (or, at your request, the owner) for loss or damage to personal belongings caused by fire, theft or an accident while they are in or on your car.

We will not pay for:

1. money, stamps, tickets, documents or securities (Such as share and premium bond certificates).
2. goods or samples carried in connection with any trade or business.

If your ignition keys are lost or stolen we will pay the cost of replacing the

• affected locks
• lock transmitter and central locking interface affected parts of the alarm and/or immobiliser

If you have any named drivers on your policy who have not earned their own no claim discount, and they maintain a claim free record for at least one year, then they can also build up no claim discount in their own name for use on a future Norwich Union policy.

This only applies to drivers who have been named on a Norwich Union Direct policy when they take out a Norwich Union Direct Car Insurance policy in their own name.

Driving other cars:

We will insure you, for third party only cover, whilst you are driving any other car within Great Britain, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man providing;

• the car does not belong to you or is not hired to you under a hire purchase agreement,
• you are driving the car with the owners express consent,
• you still have your car and it has not been damaged beyond cost effective repair,
• you are aged 25 or above,
• your certificate of motor insurance indicates that you can drive such a vehicle.

If you have a child seat fitted in your car and your car is involved in an accident or damaged following fire or theft we will contribute up to £100 per child seat towards the cost of a replacement even if there is no apparent damage.

Having an accident can shake your confidence behind the wheel, and you may be reticent to get back on the road immediately. Norwich Union are unique in providing an in car driving support session to help rebuild your confidence following an accident.

If you're hit by an uninsured driver and it wasn't your fault your no claim discount won't be lost - you may even be able to recover your excess!

Rescue Only breakdown cover is available for breakdowns occurring in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It can be upgraded to more comprehensive cover levels, and provides the following:

• A Norwich Union Rescue patrol, an RAC patrol, or a contractor to assist you and provide labour at the roadside.

If we are unable to repair the vehicle within a reasonable time or if our patrolman considers the repairs are unwise:

• We will transport your car to a destination of your choice within 10 miles, or to the nearest garage.
• We will transport you and up to seven passengers to the destination above. (If there are more than five people this may require two separate vehicles. An adult from the covered car must accompany any children).
• If you need to leave your car at a garage we will pay for taxi fares for up to 20 miles (a receipt must be obtained).

Norwich Union Rescue and Recovery Breakdown cover offers the same service as Rescue Only cover with the following additional benefits if we cannot get your car repaired locally within a reasonable time:

• We will transport your car home or deliver it to a single address anywhere in the United Kingdom
• We will transport you and up to seven passengers to the above chosen destination. (If there are more than five people this may require two separate vehicles. An adult from the covered car must accompany any children)
• The above Recovery service is also available should you be taken ill and can't continue your journey if you have no passengers who can legally drive the car.

Recovery is available for incidents which occur in the United Kingdom.

Rescue, Recovery & At Home offers all the benefits of Rescue and Recovery with the added peace of mind that this cover is available for any incidents that occur at or within a quarter of a mile of your home (or where the vehicle is normally kept).

At Home breakdown cover is available within the United Kingdom only.

Rescue, Recovery, At Home & Onward Travel cover is the ultimate package available with Norwich Union Direct car insurance. It provides everything included in the At Home option along with one of the following extra benefits in the event that we cannot get your car repaired locally or that you are unfit to drive:

• Replacement hire car
• Alternative transport
• Hotel accommodation
• Onward Travel benefits must be requested at the time of breakdown and cannot be arranged later.
• Onward Travel breakdown cover is available within the United Kingdom only.

Guaranteed No Claim Discount (NCD) is only available with Comprehensive cover and protects your No Claim Discount for the life of your policy. This means that however many claims you have you will never lose your hard earned No Claim Discount. In addition your premium will never be increased as a direct result of any claims and the policy can not be cancelled as a direct result of multiple claims.

You can benefit from this additional peace of mind if:

• You have at least 5 years earned No Claim Discount
• Have selected a minimum of £220 voluntary excess
• All drivers are aged 21 or over
• No driver has had any at fault claims in the last 3 years

Norwich Union Direct may ask you to provide proof of your No Claim Discount at any time during your period of insurance. This could take the form of a renewal notice from your previous insurance company, or a letter on headed paper from that company.

What's covered - Protected No Claim Discount (NCD) with 3 years earned No Claim Discount

• Protected No Claim Discount is available with Comprehensive insurance for customers with 3 or more years earned NCD. If you have 3 years earned No Claim Discount, Protected No Claims Discount allows you to have one at fault claim before your No Claim Discount is affected.
• To be eligible you must have at least 3 years earned No Claim Discount, be aged 21 or over and no driver has had any at fault claims in the last 3 years.

What's covered - Protected No Claim Discount (NCD) with 4 or more years earned No Claim Discount

• Available with both Comprehensive and Third Party, Fire & Theft cover: if you have 4 or more years earned NCD, Protected NCD allows you to have up to 2 at fault claims in a 3 year period before you lose any NCD.
• To be eligible you must have at least 4 years earned NCD, be 21 or over and no driver has had any at fault claims in the last 2 years.

(Please note if any driver has had one at fault claim in the last 2 years you can still protect your NCD but it will only be protected against 1 at fault claim in any 3 year period)

Norwich Union Direct may ask you to provide proof of your No Claim Discount at any time during your period of insurance. This could take the form of a renewal notice from your previous insurance company, or a letter on headed paper from that company.

• We'll cover you for up to £10,000 in legal costs to defend a motoring prosecution following an accident (though not drink or drug related offences).
• And we'll cover you for up to £50,000 in legal costs for you, your passengers or an authorised driver, to pursue your case after a motor accident.
• We also provide a 24-hour legal helpline, which gives you free confidential legal advice from an expert, so all you pay for is the phone call.
• Legal assistance is also available to recover any uninsured losses, such as your policy excess, medical fees or damages for injury after a motor accident

Only available with Comprehensive cover, you have the option to select an enhanced courtesy car if your vehicle is involved in a claim. We recognise that not all people needs are the same, and as a result we offer a larger courtesy car.

This option is best suited to customers who already have a larger car and use it for situations like, the school run, have small children and need room for a pram, or use their car for business which may involve a lot of motorway driving. An enhanced courtesy car is typically a 5 door car with a 1.6 litre engine and room to seat 5 people.

If you select the courtesy car option, a replacement car is provided by one of our approved repairers and is available for the duration of any repairs. If your car is stolen or written off, we provide a hire car until an offer is made to settle the claim (up to a maximum of 14 days).

If you select the courtesy car option, a replacement car is provided by one of our approved repairers and is available for the duration of any repairs. If your car is stolen or written off, we provide a hire car until an offer is made to settle the claim (up to a maximum of 14 days).

Designed to keep you mobile during the period of your claim, this option should satisfy the needs of most customers. A standard courtesy car is typically a small, 3 door, 1 litre hatchback model.

Your policy will automatically provide the minimum cover required to travel in most European countries: usually the equivalent of UK Third Party only cover.

This can be upgraded for an additional annual premium of £26.25 to give you the same cover as you have in the UK for travel within the following countries, for a period of up to 21 days:

Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France (including Monaco), Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy (including San Marino and the Vatican City), Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland (including Liechtenstein).

Your vehicle must be registered in the UK to be covered. If the country you wish to travel in does not appear in the list above, please call 0800 092 9561 and one of our advisors will help you.

If you or any other person in your car are injured as a direct result of your car being involved in an accident we will pay for treatment from a chartered physiotherapist we have appointed who believes treatment will help your recovery.

Physiotherapy will end once you have recovered from your injury or the policy limit has been reached, whichever happens first.