Vauxhall Insurance - Frequently Asked Questions

How do I retrieve a saved quote?
If you have previously saved a quote, you can retrieve your quote using the retrieve a quote function on the website and the system will prompt you to complete some security details.

Payments & Fees

How can I pay for my policy?
We offer our customers a choice of easy payment methods. You can choose to pay your premium in a lump sum, by debit card or credit card. We accept the following credit or debit cards:

Visa
Maestro
JCB
Visa Electron
Solo
Mastercard

Can I pay monthly?
If you prefer, for an additional charge, the cost of your car policy can be spread over the year by paying instalments by direct debit.

Documents

What documents will I receive?
All relevant documents for your policy will be sent to you in the post.

Additional documentation:

If additional cover has been purchased, separate policy documentation will be provided for each product. These include:

A Breakdown Cover document
A Motor Legal Protection policy document

If any changes are made to your policy mid-term, new policy documents will be sent to you in the post.

What changes in my circumstances do I need to inform you about?
Existing customers should inform us of any changes to the information on which their car insurance is based prior to the change being required. This includes changes to any of the information detailed on the policy documentation, such as:

replacing your vehicle with another one
modifications or non-standard accessories, including changes to the engine, suspension, brakes, body, exhaust or wheels
ownership or use of the vehicle
the address where any documentation needs to be sent
the address where the vehicle is usually kept overnight
persons who will be driving the vehicle
the number of vehicles in the household
driving convictions relating to any of the insured drivers, other than fixed-penalty parking offences
motor accidents, claims or losses of any insured driver
medical or physical condition changes that affect the ability to drive of any insured driver
the level of car insurance cover required
the class of use required
adding or cancelling Motor Legal Protection or Breakdown Cover
any other information on which the car insurance is based (i.e. the details you gave when you applied for the insurance).

If we are not informed immediately of any changes to a policy, cover may become invalid. This could result in a customer not being insured, or claims being rejected.

Once we are made aware of the changes, we will assess the new details and adjust the insurance premium if appropriate.

We will send new policy documentation confirming any changes made to the insurance policy if appropriate.

Cancellation

How do I cancel my policy?
If you do not want to accept the policy and you return the certificate of insurance to us within 14 days, we will refund the premium for the exact number of days left on the policy. We will also do this if you want to cancel the policy within 14 days after the renewal date. You may cancel the policy at any other time by giving seven days’ notice and returning the certificate of insurance to us.

Will there be any charges if I cancel my policy?
We reserve the right to charge an administration fee of up to £35 for any costs incurred in cancelling the policy.

What happens to the Breakdown cover / Motor Legal Protection if I cancel my policy?
When a car insurance policy is cancelled, all related additional cover such as Motor Legal Protection and Breakdown Cover will be cancelled at the same time. The premium for Motor Legal Protection and Breakdown cover is not refundable outside of the 14 days.

Renewals

When will I receive my renewal quote?
A renewal notice will be sent in good time before the current insurance policy expires, inviting you to renew your insurance with us. The car insurance renewal notice will contain details of the new policy on offer, including the premium and any changes to the cover or service.

Will my payments automatically continue?
Customers should check their car insurance renewal offer carefully to determine whether they do need to call us - if the renewal offer does not state that your policy will automatically be renewed, you will not be insured if you do not call us. If the renewal offer states that your policy will be automatically renewed, then your payments will automatically continue.

When will I receive my renewal certificate?
Your new car insurance policy documents and a Certificate of Motor Insurance will be sent out automatically when the new period of insurance commences.

Claims

How do I make a claim?
In the unfortunate event that a claim has to be made by you or a third party, please report the incident to us as soon as reasonably possible by calling the Vauxhall Claims Helpline on 0844 84 85 844.

Can I arrange for my car to be repaired anywhere?
If you have Comprehensive Car Insurance cover, you will usually be advised to take your vehicle to an approved repairer, which may avoid you having to get additional estimates. This also usually speeds up the repair process.

Do you provide a courtesy car?
If you have comprehensive cover and your vehicle is being repaired by an approved repairer then a courtesy car will be provided, subject to availability.

If your car is a write off or has been stolen you will not be provided with a courtesy car.

What excess do I pay?
Compulsory excess
Each policy has a compulsory excess which you must pay in the event of a claim. Any additional excesses are stated on your schedule and may apply for young drivers, certain types of vehicle, modifications and protected no claims discount.

Voluntary excess
If you have selected to pay a vountary excess, this will be added to any compulsory excess that applies. Details are on your Policy Schedule.

If you and another person are involved in an accident that is not your fault, and you have a Motor Legal Protection policy, we may be able to claim your excess back from the other driver's insurer.

Vehicles

Will you insure a car that has been imported?
We will only accept imported vehicles providing that:

The vehicle has been re-registered in the UK and has a UK registration number
The vehicle is imported from within the EU
The vehicle is acceptable to ourselves and is available as a standard production model in the United Kingdom
The vehicle is right hand drive.

Will you insure a Q registered vehicle?
Unfortunately, we are unable to insure a Q registered vehicle.

What is a Thatcham Security device?
A security system which meets the minimum standards set by the Thatcham Motor Insurance Repair Centre, who evaluates the effectiveness of car security products.

What is a tracking device?
A vehicle security system which enables the police to track a stolen vehicle via an electronic signal emitted from a sensor concealed in the car. The recovery rates of stolen vehicles with tracking devices are very high.

Will you insure my car if it has a private registration number?
Yes, providing the number has been registered with the DVLA and has been assigned to your vehicle.

Does my policy cover me to drive other cars?
In some cases, you may be covered under your policy to drive someone else's car. The cover is third party only and doesn't apply to any cars owned by or registered hired, rented or leased to you. To see if you have this cover, please check section 5 of your insurance certificate.

Drivers

I have claims / convictions - can I still get a quote?
We need to know about any claims or motoring convictions for you and any named drivers within the last 3 years. These will be taken into account when providing a quote and there may be circumstances when we will not be able to provide a quote.

I have a provisional licence - can I still get a quote?
Yes, when you are asked for your type of license, please select ‘Provisional’. Terms and conditions apply.

I have a foreign driving licence - can I still get a quote?
We can only provide quotes for drivers who have a UK or full EU licence. We do not accept international licences, although the DVLA allow drivers from some countries to transfer their driving licence to a UK driving licence. Please check with the DVLA with regard to the transfer and exchange rules.

I do not live in Great Britain - can I still get a quote?
We do not offer insurance cover to anyone who is not a permanent resident in Great Britain. If someone has moved to Great Britain from the EU within the last three years, we will be able to provide a quote providing they are a permanent resident. Those who have moved to Great Britain from Non-EU countries will be required to become permanent residents and hold a full UK licence.

I have a medical condition - can I still get a quote?
We will accept drivers with medical conditions, providing the DVLA have been notified (where required) and that a valid driving licence is held.

Should the vehicle require to be modified due to the medical condition, then this is also acceptable.

Cover & Use

Can you provide immediate cover?
Yes, subject to terms & conditions and providing that you have a valid debit/credit card. If you choose to pay by Direct Debit we will require a deposit, payable by debit/credit card.

What can I use my car for?
Your policy allows use of your car for social, domestic and pleasure purposes and commuting to and from a permanent place of work for you and your spouse/partner, if named on the policy.

Business use can be added to the policy by selecting the relevant option from the drop down list.

Motor Legal Protection

What is Motor Legal Protection?
If you are unlucky enough to be involved in a motor accident which was not your fault, it is essential that you have legal representation to ensure that you are not left out of pocket for any expenses that you incur and that you receive adequate compensation for any injuries you may have suffered. Motor Legal Protection will arrange and pay for a solicitor to pursue recovery against the negligent party of your uninsured losses up to the value of £100,000.

Who provides my Motor Legal Protection?
Motor Legal Protection is underwritten by Inter Partner Assistance SA and administered on their behalf by Arc Legal Assistance Ltd.

Is Motor Legal Protection automatically provided with my car insurance policy?
No, this cover is not automatically included. This cover is available for a small extra cost and is an additional option you can choose when getting a car insurance quote.

Who would be covered?
Motor Legal Protection provides cover for all drivers named on your current Certificate of Insurance and for any passengers travelling in your car at the time of the accident. Please see the Motor Legal Protection Key Facts for more information.

When can I use the Legal service?
The cover can be used following any road traffic accident involving your car, which is not your fault. Arc will pay the legal costs of appointing a solicitor to help recover any uninsured losses (such as excesses).

Would I be covered in any other car?
No, legal assistance will only be provided for the car detailed on the current Certificate of Insurance.

Would I be covered whilst abroad?
Please see the Motor Legal Protection Policy Booklet for details of the territorial limits.

Breakdown cover

What is covered under my breakdown policy?
There are three levels of breakdown cover available:-

UK Roadside Assistance: Provides AA roadside assistance throughout the UK as long as you are at least a quarter of a mile away from home. The AA will aim to fix the vehicle, but if it cannot be fixed it will be taken to the nearest garage.
UK Roadside Assistance and Recovery: If a prompt local repair is not possible, the AA will arrange onward passage for you, up to eight passengers and your vehicle to any single mainland UK destination. If you are towing a trailer or caravan at the time, this can also be recovered (subject to certain weight and size restrictions).
UK Roadside Assistance, Recovery and Home Start: Provides all the benefits of UK Roadside Assistance and Recovery. This is extended to Home Start which will bring help to your doorstep. If the vehicle cannot be repaired, the AA will transport your vehicle to your local garage only. Recovery to any destination is not available from your home.

Please see the breakdown cover key facts for more information.

Who provides my breakdown cover?
Breakdown cover is provided by the AA.

Is breakdown cover automatically provided with my car insurance policy?
No, this cover is not automatically included. This cover is available for an extra cost and is an additional option you can choose when getting a car insurance quote.

Is my car still covered if I am not driving it?
Yes, the breakdown cover applies to the car, no matter who is driving, and it extends to any caravan or trailer you may be towing at the time.

Am I covered if I am driving someone else’s car?
No, the breakdown cover only applies to the car detailed on the current Certificate of Insurance.

Would I be covered whilst abroad?
No, the breakdown cover does not extend to driving abroad.

Excess

What is a voluntary excess?
On a Comprehensive policy you can choose to pay a voluntary excess. The voluntary excess is the amount you volunteer to pay towards a claim, and in turn, may reduce your insurance premium. Any voluntary excess chosen is in addition to any compulsory excess.

What is a compulsory excess?
A compulsory excess is the first part of a claim which you must pay. More than one excess can apply to your policy as shown on your policy schedule. You must pay all excesses that apply as the first part of any claim.

When would I pay a windscreen excess?
If your windscreen has to be replaced then you would pay the windscreen replacement excess as shown in your schedule. If your windscreen has to be repaired, a small windscreen repair excess would be charged as shown on your schedule.

Can I claim back an excess?
It is possible to claim back your excess from the Third Party if they are deemed at fault.

No Claims Discount (NCD)

Do I need to provide evidence of my NCD?
Yes, an original car insurance renewal notice is probably the simplest way to prove NCD. We will also accept a policy schedule or a letter from your previous insurer stating who the NCD applies to, when it was earned and the amount of discount earned. We can only accept NCD where the previous insurance policy expired less than 2 years ago.

What is protected NCD?
Protected No Claims Discount means that for a small extra cost, you can make 2 claims in 3 years without it affecting your discount.

Free 7 day

Quotes

Can I obtain a quote without a registration number?
Yes, you can obtain a quote without a registration number. However if you wish to purchase the policy you will need the registration number before you can proceed.

How do I retrieve a saved quote?
If you have previously saved a quote, you can retrieve your quote using the retrieve a quote function on the website and the system will prompt you to complete some security details.

Payments & Fees
How can I pay for my policy?
The 7-day insurance product is free.

Documents
What documents will I receive?
Your Certificate of Insurance will be sent to your dealer/retailer. All other documents will be sent to you in the post. The policy wording is available for you view, download and print from the website. Please see the Free 7 day policy booklet for more information.

Cancellation
How do I cancel my policy?
If you do not want to accept the policy you must return the certificate of insurance to us, as the cover is free there is no premium to return.

Will there be any charges if I cancel my policy?
No.

Claims

Can I arrange for my car to be repaired anywhere?
If you have Comprehensive Car Insurance cover, you will usually be advised to take your vehicle to an approved repairer, which may avoid you having to get additional estimates. This also usually speeds up the repair process.

Do you provide a courtesy car?
There is no courtesy car provided to 7-day insurance customers.

What excess do I pay?
Compulsory excess
Each policy has a compulsory £250 excess which you must pay in the event of a claim. Any additional excesses are stated on your schedule and may apply for young drivers, certain types of vehicle, modifications and protected no claims discount.

Voluntary excess
There is no voluntary excess applicable to the 7-day policy.

Vehicles

Will you insure a car that has been imported?
We will only accept imported vehicles providing that:

The vehicle has been re-registered in the UK and has a UK registration number
The vehicle is imported from within the EU
The vehicle is acceptable to ourselves and is available as a standard production model in the United Kingdom
The vehicle is right hand drive.

Will you insure a Q registered vehicle?
Unfortunately, we are unable to insure a Q registered vehicle.

What is a Thatcham Security device?
A security system which meets the minimum standards set by the Thatcham Motor Insurance Repair Centre, who evaluates the effectiveness of car security products.

What is a tracking device?
A vehicle security system which enables the police to track a stolen vehicle via an electronic signal emitted from a sensor concealed in the car. The recovery rates of stolen vehicles with tracking devices are very high.

Will you insure my car if it has a private registration number?
Yes, providing the number has been registered with the DVLA and has been assigned to your vehicle.

Does my policy cover me to drive other cars?
Your 7-day policy does not cover you to drive other cars

Drivers
I have claims / convictions - can I still get a quote?
We need to know about any claims or motoring convictions for you and any named drivers within the last 3 years. These will be taken into account when providing a quote and there may be circumstances when we will not be able to provide a quote.

I have a provisional licence - can I still get a quote?
No, we are unable to provide 7-day insurance cover to provisional licence holders.

I have a foreign driving licence - can I still get a quote?
We can only provide quotes for drivers who have a full UK or full EU licence. We do not accept international licences, although the DVLA allow drivers from some countries to transfer their driving licence to a UK driving licence. Please check with the DVLA with regard to the transfer and exchange rules.

I do not live in Great Britain - can I still get a quote?
We do not offer insurance cover to anyone who is not a permanent resident in Great Britain. If someone has moved to Great Britain from the EU within the last three years, we will be able to provide a quote providing they are a permanent resident. Those who have moved to Great Britain from Non-EU countries will be required to become permanent residents and hold a full UK licence.

I have a medical condition - can I still get a quote?
We will accept drivers with medical conditions, providing the DVLA have been notified (where required) and that a valid driving licence is held.Should the vehicle require to be modified due to the medical condition, then this is also acceptable.

Cover & Use
Can you provide immediate cover?
Yes, subject to terms & conditions.

What can I use my car for?
Your policy allows use of your car for social, domestic and pleasure purposes and commuting only. It does not cover business use.

Excess
What is a compulsory excess?
A compulsory excess is the first part of a claim which you must pay. More than one excess can apply to your policy as shown on your policy schedule. You must pay all excesses that apply as the first part of any claim.

When would I pay a windscreen excess?
If your windscreen has to be replaced then you would pay the windscreen replacement excess as shown in your schedule. If your windscreen has to be repaired, a small windscreen repair excess would be charged as shown on your schedule.

Can I claim back an excess?
It is possible to claim back your excess from the Third Party if they are deemed at fault.

No Claims Discount (NCD)
This is not applicable for the 7-day product.