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Lancaster Insurance car insurance review
Does the car insurance offered through Lancaster Insurance give your classic car the tender, loving care it deserves? We've analysed what you get.
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Have you taken extra special care of your classic car, and expect your car insurer to do the same? Lancaster Insurance says it can track down your perfect bespoke classic car cover. And if you’ve got a vintage, a 4×4, a campervan or a tractor, you could still find cover through this broker.
Who is Lancaster Insurance?
Lancaster Insurance has more than 30 years’ experience of arranging classic car insurance. As well as covering cars, it also provides home, pet, health and travel insurance.
It began in 1984 as MG Insurance Services Ltd, as part of the insurance arm of the MG Owners Club. In 1989, it expanded and rebranded to Lancaster Insurance Services Ltd to offer insurance for many other classic cars.
Lancaster Insurance Services is a trading name of Insurance Factory Limited and has been part of the Markerstudy Group since 2013.
What are Lancaster’s levels of cover?
Lancaster Insurance Third Party cover
Third party cover is the minimum level of cover that Lancaster Insurance offers. All drivers in the UK are legally obliged to have at least this insurance to be on the roads. If you are responsible for causing an accident, you’ll be covered for damage to third party vehicles or property. But it won’t cover any damage to your own car. Don’t assume this is the cheapest option because it has the least protection. Check each cover level to see which offers you the best value.
Lancaster Insurance Third Party Fire and Theft cover
This gives the same level of cover as third party but will also provide protection against any fire damage to your car or theft of your car.
Lancaster Insurance Comprehensive cover
This gives the same protection as the other levels in addition to insuring your vehicle against accidental damage and vandalism. This level of cover can be cheaper than third party, or TPFT, so it’s always worth checking.
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 | ✓ |
Optional extras
Lancaster Insurance can provide add-ons including:
- Key and gadget cover
- Breakdown cover
- Legal expenses cover
- Personal accident cover up to £20,000
- Excess protection
- Agreed valuation
- iSmart technical support cover
General exclusions
There are a few exclusions that Lancaster Insurance 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 are paid to carry passengers.
- 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 Lancaster Insurance
- Check comprehensive. Contrary to what you might expect, comprehensive cover can be cheaper than third party (TP) or third party, fire and theft so it’s always worth checking. This is because of the risk profile of many people who get TP.
- 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 find details about any compulsory or voluntary excesses in your policy document.
What is the claims process for Lancaster Insurance?
You should call the Lancaster Insurance motor claims line on 01480 484802 to report an incident. You’re likely to need your personal details as well as all facts about the incident such as names and contacts of third parties and passengers, photographic evidence, if available and a crime book reference number, if applicable.
Even if you’re not responsible for an accident, it’s important that you let your insurer know about it as soon as possible. If you don’t report an incident quickly, your claim could be rejected later on.
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