Personal insurance
Personal insurance guides
Home, car, pet, gadget and specialist personal cover explained in plain English.
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Home Insurance Explained
- Buildings covers the structure; contents covers your belongings. Some people need both.
- Underinsurance is common — especially for contents and valuables sub-limits.
- Escape of water, accidental damage, and ‘unoccupied home’ clauses are frequent claim trouble spots.
- Rebuild cost is not the same as market value; insure the correct figure for buildings.
- Renewal is a good time to check excess, limits, and security requirements — not just price.
Car Insurance Explained
- Third-party is the legal minimum; comprehensive cover often provides broader protection and can be competitively priced.
- Premiums depend on driver risk, vehicle risk, location, mileage, and use (including commuting and business use).
- No-claims discount (NCD) can reduce premium, but claims and convictions still matter.
- Excess, repairs network, and courtesy car terms vary widely.
- Provide accurate details — incorrect use or mileage can cause claim issues.
Travel Insurance Explained
- Medical expenses abroad are usually the biggest value driver — check limits and exclusions carefully.
- Declare pre-existing medical conditions accurately; non-disclosure is a common reason claims fail.
- Check cancellation cover matches your trip cost and what qualifies as a valid reason.
- Activities matter: winter sports, trekking, diving and rentals may need extra cover.
- Single-trip vs annual multi-trip depends on how often you travel and trip length limits.
Pet Insurance Explained
- The biggest differences are between lifetime cover and time-limited or per-condition cover.
- Pre-existing conditions are typically excluded — define ‘pre-existing’ carefully and disclose history.
- Check annual vet fee limits, excess, and whether you pay a co-payment as your pet gets older.
- Look at what is included beyond vet fees (dental, behavioural, complementary therapy).
- Act early: switching insurers after your pet develops a condition can leave it excluded with the new insurer.
Gadget Insurance Explained
- Gadget insurance often covers accidental damage, theft, and breakdown — but exclusions are common.
- Check if you already have protection via manufacturer warranty, bank account benefits, or contents insurance.
- Unattended theft and loss cover are frequent sticking points; many policies exclude or restrict them.
- Excess and replacement methods vary (repair vs refurbished replacement vs cash).
- Check global cover if you travel and want cover outside the UK.
Specialist Home Insurance Explained
- You may need specialist cover for non-standard construction (thatched, timber frame, flat roof, listed buildings).
- High-value homes often need bespoke limits for buildings, contents and valuables.
- Flood, subsidence, and unoccupied properties can require specialist underwriting and higher excess.
- Accurate property details are crucial; misdescription can affect claims.
- Specialist doesn’t always mean ‘more expensive’ — it can mean ‘better matched’ cover.