1 week Ago By [email protected] (Jordan Coussins)
The AA is ringing the alarm bell over concerns that drivers might be cruising with inadequate car insurance policies, leaving them unprotected due to key coverage omissions. The organisation pointed out that insurers are peddling "essentials", "basics" and "value" comprehensive insurance products that lack highly sought-after features. Astonishingly, 84% of motorists expect windscreen cover as part of their comprehensive motor insurance, yet some insurers are excising glass protection from "essentials" and "basics" packages without affording drivers an opportunity to add it on, potentially exposing them to higher costs post-accident.
The AA’s research revealed a mere 17% of over 10,000 respondents would willingly renounce windscreen and glass cover, whereas 60% would dismiss European travel cover. Additionally, half of those surveyed would drop breakdown assistance, and 44% would surrender protection for their in-car audio and sat-nav gear. Advocating for industry integrity, the AA is now proposing that policies excluding windscreen cover should not be marketed as "comprehensive" but instead as enhanced third-party, fire and theft offerings.
Read more: Owners respond to Birmingham fairground ride crash Motorists are also being cautioned about "essentials" and "basics" options which may not provide the vital cover they need. Moreover, drivers have been alerted to the risk of being unable to claim following incidents. One of the most common claims made by drivers is related to windscreens and glass, which can often cost up to £700 to replace.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, has warned that it could be misleading for drivers to assume that "comprehensive" cover will protect them from almost everything on the road. He said: "At the same time, 'essentials', 'basics' or 'value' makes drivers think that some of the broader benefits have been dropped from the policy, leaving just the core protections in place. However, many are discovering that windscreen cover, a part of a policy they believe is sacrosanct, has been stripped out to create products consumers don't want and doesn't meet their needs.
We believe that a policy can't be called comprehensive if it's missing fundamental elements that drivers want and expect. Ripping out items such as windscreen, and at the same time calling it 'essential' feels misleading." Cousens added that the AA wants the car insurance industry to "put the customer first and sell these policies as an enhanced third party fire and theft product".
If this were to become the standard, drivers would know exactly what they're buying, rather than being caught off guard when they need to make a claim and find out they may be rejected. Given that windscreens and glass contribute to the majority of claims, drivers could be left having to pay hundreds of pounds out of pocket..
