Insurance cover sets out what is protected, who or what is insured, and the limits, exclusions, excesses and conditions that apply.
Insurance cover is the protection provided by an insurance policy. It sets out the people, vehicles, property, belongings, events or legal liabilities an insurer may protect.
The type and level of protection depend on the policy you choose. Cover is always subject to the policy terms, limits, exclusions and conditions.
Having insurance does not mean every loss or incident will be covered. When you make an insurance claim, the insurer will assess what happened against the policy terms and the evidence provided. The Financial Ombudsman Service explains that insurance complaints are considered using the policy wording, evidence and relevant law.
Your insurance cover is usually explained across several documents.
The policy wording contains the full terms and conditions. Your insurance schedule records details that apply to your policy, such as the insured person, vehicle or property, the policy dates and selected cover.
An endorsement can add, remove or change a standard policy term. You should read all endorsements alongside the schedule and policy wording.
You may also receive an Insurance Product Information Document. This gives a summary of the main cover, restrictions and exclusions. It does not replace the full policy wording.
A cover limit is the most an insurer may pay under a section of the policy. Separate limits may apply to certain items, events or benefits.
An insurance excess is the amount you may need to pay towards a claim. A policy can include both a compulsory excess set by the insurer and a voluntary excess chosen by you.
The insurer may reduce or reject a claim where a relevant term has not been met. This depends on the policy wording, the circumstances and applicable law. MoneyHelper provides guidance on why insurance claims may be rejected.
For cars and vans, third-party insurance is the minimum cover required by law for use on UK roads. It covers injury or damage caused to other people or their property, but not damage to your own vehicle. GOV.UK explains the legal motor insurance requirements.
Broader car insurance options can include third party, fire and theft or comprehensive insurance. Benefits still vary by insurer and policy.
Van insurance should match how the van is used. Personal use, ordinary business use, courier work and deliveries may need different cover.
Home insurance can include buildings cover, contents cover or both. Restrictions may apply to flood risk, listed buildings, unoccupied homes, valuable items and let properties.
Your insurer uses the information you provide to decide whether to offer cover, what terms to apply and how much the policy may cost.
For consumer insurance, you must take reasonable care when answering the insurer’s questions. The insurer’s response to incorrect or incomplete information can depend on whether you took reasonable care, whether the information affected the cover it would have offered and whether any qualifying misrepresentation was careless, deliberate or reckless. The Financial Ombudsman Service explains how misrepresentation and non-disclosure can affect insurance.
The FCA’s Consumer Duty requires regulated firms to support good customer outcomes and provide information that customers can understand.
Before buying or renewing cover, check:
Two policies with similar names can offer different benefits and restrictions. Price should not be the only point you compare.
We arrange car, van and home insurance through a range of insurers. This includes cover for some people or properties with non-standard circumstances.
We can explain the available options and the documents provided by the insurer. The cover, price and acceptance will depend on the full details, the insurer and the policy terms. No insurance policy guarantees that every claim will be paid.
