Getting Elephant Auto Insurance - Some Basic Ideas

"Should You Go With Elephant?"

Here are some factors to keep in mind while thinking about getting an Elephant auto insurance policy in the UK.

Elephant offer a cheap service that compares well, financially, with other insurers. People often use them because they're cheap but you have to factor in the replacement value of the item you're insuring: would you be badly 'burnt' if there was a hold-up or problem with your claim? Where they fall down is in the charges they make for changes to your policy; about £27 at the time of writing. Also, if there's something awkward about your status, like you're a young driver, your premiums will be high.

However, this is true of 99% of insurers. Young drivers are the biggest risk and so attract high premiums. Insurers would much rather insure people who're unlikely to make a claim!

Watch out for benefits that are peculiar to particular insurers. Like, some insurance companies offer a free courtesy car in the event your car becomes undriveable.

You become eligible for a 'No Claims Bonus' if you make no claim for a whole calendar year. Another common benefit is a multi-policy discount. This can be extremely beneficial. What you do is get all your insurance, like home, life, health and car from the same company. This will mean that you can then get a kind of bulk discount on your premiums.

Policy Details - Very Important

The details that you fill in in the proposal form are very important when it comes time to settle a claim. This information can be used to deny your claim. What?!! Well, if the information on the form is not correct this can have a material effect on liablility. A simple example would be if you had stated that you car was routinely garaged when it turns out that it was not. This is an excuse, a good one, for the claim to be denied, if you car is damaged outside your house, in the street.

Your policy is a contract. You have to offer correct details when you sign up. It's a mistake to try and fudge matters because one day you may badly want the money. You don't want to give a bean-counter the opportunity to decrease his 'outgoings' by finding fault in your claim.

Sounds a bit mean, doesn't it? Well, insurers are in business to make money and insurance is a safety net, not a piggy bank. You really hope you never have to use it but it's nice to know it's there.

The whole policy can be deemed 'null and void from inception' if any information in it is incorrect. You lose all the money you paid as premiums and you don't get your insurance payout either. It's a smart move to answer each question fortrightly and accurately

Also please note that a car insurance policy contains legal terms that may not mean what you think they mean. If you are in doubt, ask. Be happy you understand what your entitlements and liabilities are before you sign.