Privilege car insurance review

With Privilege, you can get a basic third party, fire and theft policy, or you can opt for a comprehensive or comprehensive plus deal. You can get perks like a courtesy car and a five-year guarantee on any repairs too.

With 5-star Defaqto ratings for its policies and a whole host of other extras, Privilege is certainly worth looking at. Check out our review of Privilege below to see what types of policies it offers and what you’ll be covered for.

What is Privilege?

Privilege was founded in 1994 and today has more than 600,000 home and car insurance customers. It’s part of the Direct Line Insurance Group, which also owns Churchill and Direct Line.

What makes Privilege stand out is it targets customers who look to buy protection through price comparison sites. It targets tech-savvy people looking to find a decent deal online.

With a couple of different comprehensive policies, you can get benefits like an uninsured driver promise, personal accident cover and a courtesy car.

• What company underwrites Privilege insurance?

  Privilege car insurance policies are underwritten by UK Insurance Limited. For more details, you should look at a Privilege car insurance policy document. You can find this on its website.

What are Privilege’s levels of cover?

Privilege offers three levels of cover: third party, fire and theft; comprehensive; and comprehensive plus. If you’re a new driver with an inexpensive car, you’ll probably want a third party, fire and theft deal.

These types of deals are generally cheaper as you and your car have less protection on the roads. For example, it won’t pay out for any damage your car sustains in a collision.

However, this isn’t always the case. It’s definitely worth getting quotes for comprehensive policies as they sometimes work out as being cheaper. This sounds bizarre but it’s true.

Privilege doesn’t offer a basic third party policy, so if you’re looking for a really basic level of coverage, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

• Third party, fire and theft
• Comprehensive cover
• Comprehensive Plus cover

Optional extras

Privilege also has a number of extras to add to your cover. Optional extras include the following:

• Foreign use
• Guaranteed Hire Car Plus cover
• Protected no claims discount
• Green Flag breakdown cover

What’s covered under my policy?

Check your policy carefully to ensure it covers everything you need it to cover.

General exclusions

As with all car insurers, Privilege has a list of reasons it won’t pay out for a claim:

• Any damage caused by wear and tear.
• Any damage that arises from you leaving your car unlocked.
• Mechanical, electrical or computer problems.
• If you fail to provide accurate and honest information when signing up.
• If you fail to keep your car in a good, road-worthy condition.

For a full list and explanation of the exclusions, see your insurance policy.

How to save on your Privilege car insurance policy

• DriveXpert. Drivers under the age of 26 can apply to get DriveXpert with your insurance. Having a black box in your car can prove you’re a responsible driver, which could mean a discount on your policy in the future.
• Drive safely. If you avoid getting speeding tickets and try keeping your claims to a minimum, your insurance will get cheaper over time.
• Park your car somewhere safe. Keeping your car in a garage or in a secure driveway can drive costs down.
• Lower mileage. If you’re set to retire or switch to a job that means a shorter commute, make sure your insurer knows this. It may well decide to lower your premiums.
• Up the excess. An excess is the amount you contribute towards a claim before the insurance money kicks in. Voluntarily agreeing to pay a higher excess will lower your premiums.
• Pick a smaller car. Insurers see more powerful cars as being higher risk, so opting for a smaller model could lower your insurance costs.
• Check comprehensive. Riskier customers have historically taken out third party policies, so check to see if a comprehensive policy is actually cheaper.

What is my excess?

A policy excess is the amount you will have to contribute towards a claim before the insurer starts paying out. Generally, it’s up to an amount of £350, and you can lower your premium costs by agreeing to a higher excess. Although you need to make sure you can afford to pay this fee should you need to make a claim.

How do I make a claim?

For most claims, you can call 0345 878 5222. The centre is open Monday – Friday 8am – 8pm, Saturday 9am – 5pm and Sunday 10am -5pm. You will need your insurance details when you get in touch,

For windscreen repairs, you need to call 0800 328 747. For the 24-hour emergency helpline, you can call 0800 028 5904.

Frequently asked questions

• What will I be asked when I call to make a claim?

  When you call to make a claim, you will be asked for the following:

  • Your personal details
  • Details of the damage to your car and how it happened
  • Whether the car is usable
  • Details of any witnesses or other people involved in the incident
  • A crime reference if the police were involved

• Does Privilege offer third party insurance?

  No, the lowest level of cover Privilege offers is third party, fire and theft.

• Can I use a garage of my choice when I make a claim?

  You can, although you will miss out on the five-year guarantee that you get when using a Privilege-approved workshop.

Written by

Esther Wolffowitz

Publisher

Esther Wolffowitz was a publisher at finder.com specialising in insurance. Esther holds an MSc in Media and Communication Governance from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). See full bio