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Should I insure all our cars with the same insurer?

Will Thomas, Confused.com's motor insurance product manager, answers another of your car insurance questions.

Q Will I save money if I insure all my family’s cars (we have four now my daughter’s passed her test!) with the same company?

A Not many firms offer multi-car insurance, but those that do, say it can reduce the overall cost in a lot of cases. Your best bet is to compare prices for insuring your vehicles together and then separately.

One thing to watch out for is that multi-car policies may require you to pay for the whole family’s cover at the same time every year, which could cause cashflow problems.

Do I have to tell my insurer about parking fines?

Will Thomas, Confused.com's motor insurance product manager, answers another of your car insurance questions.

Q I’m currently in a dispute with my local council about unpaid parking fines, and my car insurance is up for renewal soon. Will I have to report the dispute when I apply for cover – and will it make my premiums more expensive?

A No, insurers are only interested in criminal offences such as speeding or drink-driving, not civil issues such as parking fines or towing charges.

Should I take out breakdown cover?

Will Thomas, head of motor insurance at Confused.com, fields another of your questions.

Q: My car insurer wants me to take out breakdown cover as well as my motor policy. Is this a good idea?

A: It’s up to you to decide whether you need breakdown cover, but don’t assume you’ll get the best deal from the company which happens to provide your car insurance.

As with your motor policy, you should shop around to make sure you get the most suitable and cheapest deal available.

Read our recent article Breakdown cover: How the big names compare, which should help you make an informed choice. 

Why did I pay twice the excess I was expecting to?

Another of your car cover questions is answered by Will Thomas, head of motor insurance at Confused.com.

Q: I’ve just made a claim on my policy, and I’ve been charged twice the excess I put down on my application. What’s going on?

A: There are two types of excess: voluntary and compulsory. The voluntary excess is what you agreed to pay in the event of any claim when you made your application.

Drivers can cut the cost of cover by choosing a higher voluntary excess. But most insurance providers will also add a compulsory excess, which you can’t opt out of. Add them together, and this is the total excess you have to pay.

I had an accident in a hire car on holiday - need I tell my insurer?

We've been putting your questions to Will Thomas, head of motor insurance at Confused.com - here's the latest...

Q: I had a minor accident in my hire car when I was on holiday. I am still disputing who was to blame, but what I want to know is should I tell my UK car insurer when my renewal is due next month?

A: To be on the safe side you should probably mention it when you make the actual application – but you don’t need to disclose it on your price-comparison search when it asks whether you’ve been at fault in an accident, as this is likely to push premiums up, perhaps unnecessarily.

Once you’ve found an insurer, speak to them to see whether they need to take a hire-car accident into account. Many will not hold this against you, but it is best to come clean at the start.

Can I add a named driver temporarily?

Will Thomas, head of motor insurance at Confused.com, answers more of your questions on car cover.

Q: I’d like to add my 20-year-old son to my car insurance policy when he comes home from college at Christmas and Easter etc. Will any companies allow me to do this, or will I have to list him as a named driver for the whole year? I’m worried this would make my policy much more expensive.

A: Most insurers should allow you to add a named driver for a temporary period: as well as paying their cover you are likely also to face an administrative fee, so check what this will be in advance and compare it with putting your son on the policy for the full year.

My insurer won't pay what my car's worth following a write-off.

Will Thomas, Confused.com's motor insurance product manager, answers another of your car insurance questions.

Q: My car has been written off after being involved in an accident but my insurer is refusing to pay the amount I covered it for on the application policy. What are my rights?

A: When an insurer settles a write-off claim, it should make you an offer based on the retail value of a vehicle comparable to yours at the time the accident occurred.

The fact that you gave a higher (or lower) value on your application is irrelevant: after all, your car could have depreciated in value since then.

Transferring no-claims bonus from partner's car

Will Thomas, Confused.com's motor insurance product manager, answers another of your car insurance questions.

Q: I have been a named driver on my partner’s motor policy for the past three years without either of us making a claim. Now I want to get my own policy: do I have three years’ no-claims bonus?

A: As far as some insurers are concerned, the answer could be ‘yes’: but this won’t be the case with every provider, so you need to check before you sign up.

Use your no-claims bonus when you run a price-comparison search, but make sure you disclose the fact it comes from being a named driver when you finally make your application.

An accident wasn't my fault: How much can I claim?

Will Thomas, Confused.com's motor insurance product manager, answers another of your car insurance questions.

Q: My car has been involved in an accident which was someone else’s fault, and I’m worried it might be a write-off. How much am I likely to get for it?

A: Your insurer should make you an offer equal to the retail price for a comparable vehicle at the time of the accident. This will take into account the vehicle’s make, model, mileage and age.

According to the Financial Ombudsman, the price should be that charged by a “reputable dealer”.

If you think you’re getting less than you should be, visit the ombudsman’s website, where it sets out how write-off claims should be settled. If you think your insurer is not following the rules, make a complaint and take your case to the ombudsman if you’re not satisfied with the firm’s response.

Transferring a no-claims bonus from a company car

Will Thomas, Confused.com's motor insurance product manager, answers another of your car insurance questions.

Q: I have been driving a company car for the past five years, but now I want to take out insurance on my own car. Can I use the no-claims bonus I’ve built up?

A: If you’ve been the only person named on the insurance policy for your company car, the provider should have a record of your no-claims: get hold of this and use it when you take out your new policy.

But double-check with your new insurer that it will accept the company car no-claims.