You’ll probably know John Lewis as a department store but did you know it can also insure your car? We’ve got the lowdown on this insurance provider and a breakdown of its policies.
John Lewis Finance offers three levels of car insurance, with its comprehensive policies benefiting from a courtesy car, 90 days of EU travel and misfuelling cover as standard. Its 5-star Defaqto-rated car cover can also be enhanced with optional extras, and policies purchased online could receive up to a 15% discount. John Lewis claims to be a brand that you can trust so check out our analysis to make up your own mind.
Who is John Lewis Finance?
John Lewis has been selling products on the high street for more than 150 years. It has since branched out to create John Lewis Finance, which offers a range of financial products to customers such as credit cards, loans, foreign currency, money transfers and insurance.
It has been named by Which? as a recommended provider of car insurance but it also offers home, travel, pet, wedding, event and life insurance.
John Lewis Financial Services Ltd is a trading name of John Lewis plc, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
What are John Lewis Finance’s levels of cover?
John Lewis Finance offers three levels of cover.
- Third party (TP). Third party cover is the most basic form of car insurance legally accepted on UK roads. If you are involved in an accident deemed to be your fault, you will only be covered for damage to third party vehicles or property. It will not cover any damage to your own car.
- Third party, fire and theft (TPFT). If you are responsible for causing an accident, you’ll be covered for damage to third party vehicles or property. It will provide protection against any fire damage to your car or theft of your car but it won’t cover any accidental damage.
- Comprehensive. This gives the same protection as TPFT as well as insuring your vehicle against accidental damage and vandalism. It’s always worth getting a quote for comprehensive cover, as in some cases, it can be cheaper than lower levels of cover due to the risk profile of customers who choose them.
What is covered under my policy?
| Cover benefits | Third party | Third party, fire and theft | Comprehensive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liability to other people | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fire and theft | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Accidental damage | ✓ | ||
| EU travel up to 90 days | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Courtesy car up to 30 days | ✓ | ||
| Windscreen cover | ✓ | ||
| Unlimited audio or Sat Nav equipment (if fitted by the manufacturer) | ✓ | ||
| Replacement locks | ✓ | ||
| Personal accident | ✓ | ||
| Medical expenses | ✓ | ||
| Misfuelling cover | ✓ | ||
| Vehicle ID theft cover | ✓ | ||
| Emergency journey cover up to £50 in taxi or train fares | ✓ |
Beyond the standard cover benefits above, any other benefits to your insurance policy will vary depending on the insurer that is able to provide the cover through John Lewis Finance.
Check your policy details carefully to ensure you have the right cover for your needs.
Optional extras
In addition to the standard levels of cover, John Lewis Finance can also provide a range of additional protection to add to your policy, including:
- Legal protection up to £100,000
- UK Breakdown cover (three levels of cover)
- EU Breakdown cover
- Excess protection
- No-claims discount protection
General exclusions
There are a few exclusions that John Lewis Finance has for its policies. Your cover is likely to become invalid if any of the following arises:
- Your car is being driven by an unnamed driver on your policy or by a person that does not have a valid driving licence.
- Your car is used for rallies, races or competitions.
- You fail to pay for your premium.
- You change your car during the policy term to a car that the insurer cannot cover.
- You do not provide the correct documents to support your application.
Check your policy for further details to confirm your cover is valid.
How to save on your car insurance policy through John Lewis Finance
- Check comprehensive. Contrary to what you might expect, comprehensive cover can be cheaper than third party (TP) or third party, fire and theft (TPFT) so it’s always worth checking.
- Buy online. John Lewis Finance claims to offer customers up to 15% off policies that are purchased online.
- Park securely. Cars kept in a garage or on a secure driveway are usually cheaper to insure.
- Reduce mileage. If you start working part-time or your long commute becomes much shorter, letting your insurer know about a reduction in your mileage could result in cheaper insurance.
- Increase the excess. Agreeing to pay a bigger voluntary excess could make your overall premium cheaper. But remember that your insurer won’t pay out for a claim that costs less than your excess. So be careful about making it too high, as it could leave you out of pocket if damage occurs.
- Pick a smaller car. Choosing to drive a small and safe car is likely to lower your premium.
What is my excess?
Your insurance excess is the amount of money you have agreed to pay towards a claim. Your insurer won’t pay out for a claim that costs less than your excess. A compulsory excess amount might vary depending on the age of your car and your driving experience.
A voluntary excess is normally an amount set by you when taking out a policy. You’ll have the option of adding or increasing a voluntary excess, which could in turn reduce your premium.
You’ll be able to find details about any applied excess in your policy document.
What is the claims process for John Lewis Finance?
Call the John Lewis Finance 24-hour claims line on 0345 610 0360 to make a claim.
You’ll need to provide your own policy details and have the following information to hand before making a claim:
- Names and contact details of other drivers.
- Details of all vehicles involved such as registration numbers, make and model.
- Details about when, where and how the accident occurred.
- Details about any damage or injuries.
- Names and contact details of witnesses, if available.
- Photographs of the scene of the accident and/or any damage to vehicles or property.
- Crime reference number, if available.
- CCTV or dashcam footage, if available.
It’s vital that you let your insurer know about an incident within 48 hours, even if it’s not your fault. Failure to do this could result in a rejected claim.
Frequently asked questions
*Disclaimer: Please take reasonable care to answer all the questions honestly and to the best of your knowledge. If you don’t answer the questions correctly, your policy may be cancelled, or your claim rejected or not fully paid.
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