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5 Bizzare Car Insurance Exclusions
By OnTopic | January 29, 2010
Five Crazy But Common Car Insurance Exclusions
You buy your car insurance, you glance at the policy documents, and you assume you’re covered for all eventualities where your car is stolen or damaged. Think again.
Ensure that you have read your policy documents in detail. Some car insurance policies do not provide cover for passengers over seventy-five years of age. Often, car thieves may operate by persuading you to give them your keys of your own free will; beware, as some companies will not pay out if this has happened. A small number won’t cover damage to your car that’s caused in a road rage incident. Most car insurance policies will not provide gap insurance as standard; therefore you will not be paid out the same as what you paid for your car should it be “written-off” or stolen.
Every car insurance policy includes some exclusions. Some exclusions exist which you may think should be automatically covered, and it could be frustrating to find out later that this is not the case should an unfortunate incident happen to you. Some of them are downright crazy. Five of the most crazy but common car insurance exclusions are:
1. Nuclear Fallout
If Britain was wiped out by a nuclear bomb and you managed to survive, you wouldn’t receive a pay out from your insurer for the damage caused to your car.Nuclear fallout is a standard exclusion to be found in motor insurance policies.
The same applies if your local nuclear power plant explodes and destroys your car, or if your car is contaminated by radioactive waste: you will not be compensated for the damage caused.
Currently this exclusion applies to policies bought from almost all the major motor insurance firms, including Admiral, Direct Line, Aviva, Churchill, Saga, Prudential, Sheila’s Wheels, and Co-operative Insurance to name a few.
2. UFOs
Most car insurance firms will not pay out if your car is damaged by pressure waves from aircraft travelling at or beyond the speed of sound.Any damage which is caused by UFOs from outer space is included.
If you are zapped by an alien laser-beam while driving on the motorway, your insurance firm is unlikely to cover your injuries or the damage to your car.As this type of aggression would be considered an act of war, this qualifies as an exclusion. Car insurance firms usually exclude cover for damage caused by war, civil war, acts of a foreign enemy, or revolution.
Currently this exclusion applies to policies bought from almost all major car insurance firms, including Direct Line, Aviva, Admiral, Churchill, Saga, Prudential, Sheila’s Wheels, and LV=.
3. Car Stolen by Jealous Husband or Wife
Motor insurers will not provide cover if your car is taken without your permission by any member of your household or family. Spouses or partners, children, parents and lodgers are included in this. The exception to this rule would be if your car was reported stolen and you went to court to prosecute.
Most major motor insurers currently have this exclusion listed within their policies.
4. Earthquakes
Fortunately for us Brits, the UK is not prone to earthquakes or tremors. However, were the worst to happen and the ground opened up and swallowed your car, or even if a less violent earthquake shattered your windscreen, it’s probable that your insurer would refuse to pay out.
A small but significant number of car insurance firms do not cover for damage caused by earthquakes. An insurer notable for this exception is most famous for its multi-car policies. Other insurers who refuse cover for earthquakes include Saga, Prudential, and Sheila’s Wheels.
It seems that earthquakes are commonly referred to as “acts of God” within insurance policy documents; make sure that you are aware what else is classified under this phrase. One famous Ladies insurer provides a breakdown service which will not cover you if it is an “act of God” which has caused you to become stranded, for example.
5. Blind Drivers
Unsurprisingly, there is not a single insurance firm who will provide cover for drivers who can’t see. This is never stated explicitly in insurance policy documents, but insurance companies cover their backs by saying they won’t pay out for claims resulting from damage caused by “unlicensed drivers”.
No licence or insurance was no obstacle for one blind driver who got behind the wheel anyway. In 2006, 31-year-old Omed Aziz was banned from driving for three years and given a suspended jail sentence after police caught him driving on the wrong side of the road.
This exclusion seems to apply to policies bought from almost all motor insurance firms.
How do you find the best car insurance policy for your needs?Firstly, it is not only the price of the policy which is important. Research what’s covered and what’s excluded by each company you’re considering. Secondly, if the level of cover you want isn’t available from standard car insurance firms, consider taking out extra insurance, such as gap insurance, from a specialist insurer.
Car insurance exclusions are usually not that hard to find, you just need to have a look at the rarely-read policy documents.
To be sure you’re not hit by a nasty surprise when you need to make a claim, make some time to read through policy documents when choosing your car insurance.You will usually find that your insurance company has a downloadable policy document on their website.
For peace of mind, you can always choose to take out extra cover such as gap insurance, which will ensure your receive the full amount you paid for your vehicle if it’s stolen or written off. You should be aware that the exclusions mentioned may not still be in place as insurers can change these at any time. This article is not intended to advise or recommend and should not be taken as a statement of fact. Always ask your insurer for full details.
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