FAQs

Get as much information as possible, ask the other driver(s) involved for their names and addresses and make a note of the vehicle registration numbers. Ask for the name of their insurers and, if possible, policy number, DO NOT ADMIT LIABILITY. Take photos of the scene and damage, to both parties. Try to obtain names and addresses of any witnesses and if there are any injuries you are obliged to inform the police. If possible try to report the claim to us from the roadside; Tel: 0333 003 5795 or email; claims@ashbourneinsurance.co.uk.

Not necessarily. If you purchase insurance on-line directly from a provider, you become the broker. The cover will be less comprehensive and you have no right of recourse if cover is not fit for purpose, this is a non-advise sale

We are a family business established over 35 years and are authorised and regulated by the Financial conduct authority. We are independent and so free to search all leading insurers for cover tailored to your specific needs at a price to suit your budget. Finally we are a multi award winning company.

We can offer payments spread over a 10-month period via a premium finance house; however you will incur interest for the privilege. Please note that in the event of cancellation a “short-period” cancellation scale will apply.

Yes, we can offer you immediate cover on the vast majority of personal risks, certain more complex commercial risks can take longer and the more time we have the better the cover and price.

Consider every element of the risk and tell us everything, the more we understand your needs the better placed we are to negotiate improved terms and premiums. Try to combine multiple elements into a single policy, E.G. buildings & contents and for motor think about the drivers, annual mileage and parking arrangements.

There is a greater risk of ware and tear damage with a flat roof. The insurer will want to know the extent of the flat roof, its construction and the last time it was inspected or any maintenance works completed.

If you work from home in any capacity, it's essential to inform your broker / insurer. You won't necessarily have to take out additional cover, but not telling them could invalidate a future claim. If you have business related visitors at home there is a potential requirement for increased levels of liability, for this we recommend a specific home-worker policy. Occasionally working from home for your employer doesn't usually count as business use.

Yes.

Yes, immediate cover is available.

There is a greater risk of ware and tear damage with a flat roof. The insurer will want to know the extent of the flat roof, its construction and the last time it was inspected or any maintenance works completed.

This is an entirely optional question for research and marketing purposes, but you should be aware that insurers typically exclude cover for accidental damage caused by pets.

Yes, subject to certain conditions around mains supplies, boarded-up properties and regular visits to the premises. Typically you should inform your broker / insurer immediately it is known that the premises will be unoccupied for 30-days or more.

A standard home contents policy will only include contents and possessions within the home (main residence). Select insurers will grant cover for contents and possessions away from the home, however if shared accommodation please note that theft will only be covered is there is evidence of forced / violent means of entry / exit.

Garden fences (wooden) are a general exclusion from most insurance policies as a consequence of storm damage. Permanent structures built of brick / iron will be covered.

Insurers will place restrictions on cover whist building works are being completed. Accidental damage will be excluded and a request to turn off mains supplies if the premises are vacated. Our advice would be to obtain the liability insurance details of the builder or tradesman, prior to starting any works.

Most insurance policies will require a single “dead-lock” of either 3 or 5 mortise levers. In addition it is expected that accessible windows should have a locking mechanism as should patio doors.

If you specify that your property has an alarm and your policy includes an alarm warranty then your insurer will expect you to activate the system every time you leave the premises vacant. Failure to do so could invalidate cover and claims.

If you work from home in any capacity, it's essential to inform your broker / insurer. You won't necessarily have to take out additional cover, but not telling them could invalidate a future claim. If you have business related visitors at home there is a potential requirement for increased levels of liability, for this we recommend a specific home-worker policy. Occasionally working from home for your employer doesn't usually count as business use.

Insurance for your contents & personal possessions is not compulsory, neither is it for your buildings cover. If however you have secured a loan or mortgage against the premises then the lender will insist that cover for the buildings as a minimum is in place and that their interest is specified on the policy.

No, as a leaseholder, you cannot insure a single unit within a larger block for buildings only. The owner of the freehold should insure the entire block of flats for buildings cover.

Our advice is that you should always combine the two levels of cover on a single policy, not only will this generate further discounts, in the event of claim you have a single policy and insurer to liaise with making the process much easier.

These items are typically excluded from the standard cover limits and therefor must be specified on the policy for cover to exist. You may also want to extend this cover to outside the home.

Subsidence must be advised to the insurer regardless of when the incident occurred and what remedial action was taken. Failure to advise the insurer could invalidate cover and any subsequent claim. Whilst many insurers upon notification will attempt to exclude future cover, there are exceptions.

In most instances the third party would need to contact their own insurer to begin the claim process; however it is highly likely that this insurer will attempt to make a counter-claim against you.

Standard home insurance will include “impact” from a third party and if we can identify the insured vehicle you can claim against their motor policy.

Typically the carpets are covered by your buildings insurance and not your contents.

In 2015 the government introduced the FloodRe scheme to provide cover for those that live in areas at risk of flooding. We have a range of insurers to choose from and can provide advice.

We are not qualified to provide you with a valuation for the reinstatement of your building and would recommend you contact a qualified surveyor. Please remember that you need to insure the reinstatement value and not the re-sale value of the property.

Most insurers will exclude “garden” cover as standard, so it will need to be requested as an optional extra. Items stored within an integrated garage could be included; however anything in a shed is not. Please think carefully about the value of and specifying garden machinery. Sculptures and ornaments kept outside should also be specified.

Yes in many instances we can provide you with a single policy to cover all your business needs. However it may be advisable to separate certain sections of cover to obtain a more competitive quote or more comprehensive cover.

Business interruption provides cover for loss of earnings as a result of not being able to trade. This could be due to stock or equipment being stolen, damaged or destroyed. It also covers any additional costs you have to pay out to get your business back up and running.

You can extend material damage cover to include items; tools, stock and materials away from the premises, subject to certain security restrictions and single article limits. Please note property not secured in a locked building or compound will not be covered. E.g. tools left in an unattended van overnight.

Liability is calculated on the approximate income of the business and the amount spent on wages for employees and sub-contractors; labour only and bona-fide.

One which has its own lockable entry and exit and has bathroom and / or kitchen facilities. These premises should not be accessible to anyone outside your influence or control.

If you are alleged to have provided inadequate services, advice or designs, professional indemnity insurance (PI) covers legal costs and expenses in defending a claim, along with compensation payable to rectify the mistake.

Public liability insurance covers the cost of injury to a third party or their property on your premises, or as a result of your business operation. Claims can escalate, so without public liability, you could face bankruptcy in the event of a claim.

Employers' liability insurance protects employees and a business in the event of someone being injured or becoming ill as a result of their work. All UK-based employers are legally required to have employers' liability insurance

Employers' liability insurance is the only aspect of business insurance that's a legal requirement, unless you have a loan or mortgage on commercial premises, then the lender will then insist on buildings cover as a minimum. However, having the right cover is crucial in protecting your business, staff, clients and the any third party. It's advisable to consider the options and take out appropriate cover for your needs.

There are lots of options available for business owners including: premises insurance (commercial buildings insurance), material damage insurance, known as business contents, public liability and / or employers’ liability, Professional indemnity insurance , stock and goods in trust, business interruption, cyber liability and financial crime.

Yes.

Yes, immediate cover is available.

Please report the theft as soon as possible and inform the Police. Regretfully you are not entitled to a courtesy vehicle in the event of a theft or total loss, unless you have taken the optional extra cover.

Get as much information as possible, ask the other driver(s) involved for their names and addresses and make a note of the vehicle registration numbers. Ask for the name of their insurers and, if possible, policy number, DO NOT ADMIT LIABILITY. Take photos of the scene and damage, to both parties. Try to obtain names and addresses of any witnesses and if there are any injuries you are obliged to inform the police. If possible try to report the claim to us from the roadside; Tel: 0333 003 5795 or email; claims@ashbourneinsurance.co.uk.

In some instances, particularly young drivers or those that use the vehicle for work; taxi’s, couriers etc. Telematics can make the initial policy premium more attainable, please be aware premiums are subject to fluctuation based on driving style.

Notify us so that we can adjust your insurance policy accordingly. Subject to the vehicle being an acceptable change then we would encourage you to maintain the current policy and swap one vehicle for another. Additional premiums may be applied for newer, more powerful or valuable vehicles.

You should immediately notify your broker / insurer. The endorsement may not take effect until renewal, however you should always notify. Please note that any motoring conviction that results in a driving ban will invalidate your insurance should you choose to continue to drive your vehicle.

Most comprehensive policies will provide cover for breakage of glass. If the glass has to be replaced you will be required to pay the windscreen excess, if repairable there is no excess to pay. Glass claims will not affect your "no claim bonus" for a single vehicle policy.

Yes, subject to the driver / vehicle being acceptable to the insurer you can make temporary adjustments to your policy upon payment of an additional premium.

Dependent upon age and occupation, certain insurers will provide a “driving other cars” extension. Please note if you have a private car policy this will be limited to other private cars. Cover is restricted to Third party only.

Some insurers extend cover to include the European Union; however you will need to check before departure. Please note a motor insurance policy will not extend to providing breakdown cover whilst abroad.

Comprehensive will provide cover for your own damage and any caused to a third party including fire and theft. Third party fire & theft will exclude your own damage and Third party only will exclude own damage and fire & theft.

Previous motoring experience is very relevant to any insurance quote, therefore not having a Full UK drivers licence can impact on the premium. Please ensure that your licence is up-to-date, check with DVLA for possible transfers into a UK licence if a full time resident.

Depending on the type of modification; cosmetic or performance enhancing we have solutions to cover either. However please ensure that you disclose all / any modifications no matter how minor you think they may be failure to disclose any modification could invalidate your policy.

No claim bonus is always issued in the name of an individual / company but is restricted for use against a single policy. Some insurers will provide a “mirrored” or “introductory” discount based on bonus earnt on another policy; however, "no claim bonus" cannot be shared against multiple vehicles.

It is expensive to insure young drivers, however this practice, known as “fronting” is illegal, the person who does the bulk of the driving must by law be listed as the main driver. Insurers will refuse to honor any claim and may take legal action against both you and your child. A lower premium might be obtained by listing the parent as a ‘named’ driver on the policy.

What the car is used for and how often is a risk factor that can affect the premium. More importantly you want to have the right cover for the vehicle use to insure that your policy is valid, listed below are some examples; Social, domestic and pleasure – personal private use only. Social domestic and pleasure including commuting – personal use plus commuting to a single place of work, please note driving to a train station to get to work is considered commuting.

Yes you need to have insurable interest in order to qualify for insurance cover. The policy name should reflect that of the vehicle owner, the only exception to this would be between married couples.

The appointed repairer will in most instances provide a courtesy car for the duration of repairs; however it is subject to availability. Please note that in the event that your vehicle is a write-off or stolen, then there is no courtesy car cover. Commercial vehicle policies will not always guarantee a courtesy van.

The excess is the amount paid by the policyholder in the event of a claim. There can be both a compulsory excess and a voluntary excess. The total excess combines these two amounts and is the sum you pay in the event of a claim. You can choose a higher voluntary excess to help reduce your premium.

Yes in the event of fire or theft personal possessions will be covered, however the amount you can claim will be limited, typically £250 is the maximum amount you can claim and you will be expected to produced proof of purchase, receipts etc.

Yes for certain high value or exotic models you can save money by garaging the vehicle. However be careful, the policy will be endorsed so that if stolen within a certain radius of your home address then the claim will only be honoured if the vehicle was in the garage. If you state you keep the vehicle in the garage then it must always be put in the garage.

A travel insurance policy can include personal possessions cover; however there will be limitations to the maximum value and single article limits. Travel insurance is not designed to cater for high value items, these should be covered on your home insurance, under; “Worldwide all risks” sections. Some policies will also exclude cover more mobile phones, tablets and laptops.

Yes, definitely, absolutely. Your policy contains critical information on things like what to do in the case of a medical emergency abroad, it gives you the full details on what you are covered for and what you are not covered for.

The policy duration should cover the date you leave the UK until the date you return back to the UK inclusive.

For single-trip policies from the date you buy your policy, you'll have cancellation cover regardless of whether the policy has started. For annual multi-trip cancellation cover starts from the policy start date, so if you want immediate cancellation cover, the policy must be effective from todays date.

The policy will contain conditions and exclusions relating to dangerous activities, sports or pastimes where there is a risk of injury, or can be expected to aggravate an existing infirmity. Please see the hazardous pursuits in the policy under Important Information and Conditions Applying to All Sections.

Yes and if related to the pre-existing medical condition as long as it was declared and accepted by underwriters prior to inception.

Any condition for which you have or are awaiting to receive treatment or taking medication for is considered to be a pre-existing medical condition

Yes.

Yes, immediate cover is available.

There is a greater risk of ware and tear damage with a flat roof. The insurer will want to know the extent of the flat roof, its construction and the last time it was inspected or any maintenance works completed.

This is an entirely optional question for research and marketing purposes, but you should be aware that insurers typically exclude cover for accidental damage caused by pets.

Yes, subject to certain conditions around mains supplies, boarded-up properties and regular visits to the premises. Typically you should inform your broker / insurer immediately it is known that the premises will be unoccupied for 30-days or more.

A standard home contents policy will only include contents and possessions within the home (main residence). Select insurers will grant cover for contents and possessions away from the home, however if shared accommodation please note that theft will only be covered is there is evidence of forced / violent means of entry / exit.

Garden fences (wooden) are a general exclusion from most insurance policies as a consequence of storm damage. Permanent structures built of brick / iron will be covered.

Insurers will place restrictions on cover whist building works are being completed. Accidental damage will be excluded and a request to turn off mains supplies if the premises are vacated. Our advice would be to obtain the liability insurance details of the builder or tradesman, prior to starting any works.

Most insurance policies will require a single “dead-lock” of either 3 or 5 mortise levers. In addition it is expected that accessible windows should have a locking mechanism as should patio doors.

If you specify that your property has an alarm and your policy includes an alarm warranty then your insurer will expect you to activate the system every time you leave the premises vacant. Failure to do so could invalidate cover and claims.

If you work from home in any capacity, it's essential to inform your broker / insurer. You won't necessarily have to take out additional cover, but not telling them could invalidate a future claim. If you have business related visitors at home there is a potential requirement for increased levels of liability, for this we recommend a specific home-worker policy. Occasionally working from home for your employer doesn't usually count as business use.

Insurance for your contents & personal possessions is not compulsory, neither is it for your buildings cover. If however you have secured a loan or mortgage against the premises then the lender will insist that cover for the buildings as a minimum is in place and that their interest is specified on the policy.

No, as a leaseholder, you cannot insure a single unit within a larger block for buildings only. The owner of the freehold should insure the entire block of flats for buildings cover.

Our advice is that you should always combine the two levels of cover on a single policy, not only will this generate further discounts, in the event of claim you have a single policy and insurer to liaise with making the process much easier.

These items are typically excluded from the standard cover limits and therefor must be specified on the policy for cover to exist. You may also want to extend this cover to outside the home.

Subsidence must be advised to the insurer regardless of when the incident occurred and what remedial action was taken. Failure to advise the insurer could invalidate cover and any subsequent claim. Whilst many insurers upon notification will attempt to exclude future cover, there are exceptions.

In most instances the third party would need to contact their own insurer to begin the claim process; however it is highly likely that this insurer will attempt to make a counter-claim against you.

Standard home insurance will include “impact” from a third party and if we can identify the insured vehicle you can claim against their motor policy.

Typically the carpets are covered by your buildings insurance and not your contents.

In 2015 the government introduced the FloodRe scheme to provide cover for those that live in areas at risk of flooding. We have a range of insurers to choose from and can provide advice.

We are not qualified to provide you with a valuation for the reinstatement of your building and would recommend you contact a qualified surveyor. Please remember that you need to insure the reinstatement value and not the re-sale value of the property.

Most insurers will exclude “garden” cover as standard, so it will need to be requested as an optional extra. Items stored within an integrated garage could be included; however anything in a shed is not. Please think carefully about the value of and specifying garden machinery. Sculptures and ornaments kept outside should also be specified.

Yes.

Yes, immediate cover is available.

Possibly, some insurers will offer discounts, however ultimately it is your claim frequency and value of payments made that have the biggest impact.

We recommend that you check all drivers’ licences annually and for all new drivers for motoring convictions. The insurer must be notified of any motoring convictions, however not all will result in increased premiums.

Most business fleet policies will cover any driver, over a particular age that has held a full UK licence for at least 2 years. Any driver must have permission from the policyholder to use/drive the vehicle. Home or private fleet policies usually cover specified drivers only.

Fleet policies are rated on the claim frequency and value and are not subject to no claim discounts. You will receive a copy of your claim history at renewal and this is one of the factors that will determine the premium you pay. If purchasing fleet cover for the first time, previous no claim bonus rated policies can result in an introductory discount.

Technically yes, as long as the vehicle is owned by the policy-holder. We have an extensive panel of insurers to choose from and most if not all vehicles types are acceptable.

Yes.

A Notice received from Aviva insurance.

In addition to supporting the Association of British Insurers 5 step insurance pledge, we know how important the NHS is to the wellbeing of our country. We are therefore going to be there to help any of your customers who work for the NHS should anything go wrong during the current COVID-19 pandemic. We are therefore offering all your customers with Aviva branded policies who work for the NHS the following additional cover for no extra charge until further notice:

- A standard courtesy car should they have an accident making their vehicle unroadworthy
- Priority repairs – any motor claim will be prioritised so they can get back on the road as quickly as possible
- Breakdown cover
- Personal belongings cover for home contents if their personal effects are lost, damaged or stolen whilst they are working or commuting.

If you are undertaking unpaid voluntary work to help your local community in the collecting and delivering of medicine or groceries because of the impact of Covid-19, some insurers are automatically extending cover.

If deemed to be a key worker (as listed by the government) and you need to use your own car to drive to different locations for work purposes because of the impact of Covid-19, some insurers are making the existing policy valid.

Where customers may now need to drive to work as their unable to use their normal route such as public transport or car share. Some insurers are extending cover for any customers who only have Social Domestic Pleasure to Social Domestic Pleasure & Commuting.

Generally, there is no cover under your policy in these circumstances because there has been no ‘material damage’ to property.

Very few policies provide cover where you are ordered not to use or to access your insured premises only following a small number of localised incidents. As a result, generally you are not covered for general shutdowns ordered by the government.

Generally, there is no cover under your policy in these circumstances because there has been no ‘material damage’ to property.

Generally, there is no cover under your policy in these circumstances because there has been no ‘material damage’ to property and a reduction in income is not ‘interruption’.

Generally, there is no cover under your policy in these circumstances because there has been no ‘material damage’ to property.

Generally, there is no cover under your policy in these circumstances because there has been no ‘material damage’ to property.

Most insurance policies are endorsed that you must advise us if your property is going to be left unoccupied for more than 30 consecutive days. Given the exceptional circumstances now, some insurers are extending this period to 90 days. We recommend shutting off the water supply to the premises and ensure that any measures to prevent thefts are taken, such as locking away equipment and setting intruder alarms.

Generally, yes, subject to you having the additional “all-risk and transit” insurance within your current schedule of cover.

If you currently purchase employer’s liability cover for your business, then most insurers will extend to cover them while they are working from home during this period. This is usually restricted to clerical work only.

The FCA and Insurers will now work with the Supreme Court to agree a set of declarations and the FCA has also indicated that it intends to issue a Q&A document for policyholders.

Previous guidance from the FCA required all insurers with ‘potentially affected claims’ to communicate with policyholders on the status of claims already submitted, and to review the status of claims following the High Court judgment in September 2020. Policyholders who have previously received communications from insurers can expect further communications following the Supreme Court judgment.

Policyholders that submitted claims earlier but that have not heard from insurers since the commencement of the Test Case, but who believe that their claim may be affected, should contact their broker or insurer to seek clarification. Policyholders who did not submit a claim but believe they may now have a valid claim following the judgment should contact their broker or insurer to discuss how to notify a new claim.

Many policyholders making claims will have benefited from various forms of government assistance since the emergence of the pandemic, and the correct treatment of such financial assistance for the purpose of calculating a BI claim indemnity is unsettled. The FCA advised insurers in September 2020; “We therefore do not consider the Government’s treatment of the Small Business, Retail, Hospitality and Leisure or Local Authority Discretionary grants for tax purposes is a proper basis for insurers treating those payments as turnover under the policies. Nor do we see that insurers can apply these amounts as savings against fixed business expenses”. As to other forms of government support, there remains ample scope for further disagreement.

Policyholders with coverage under those Prevention of Access and Hybrid clauses that the High Court found would respond to Covid-19 BI losses are now likely to have broader coverage in two important respects:

- Some policyholders whose coverage would not have been triggered at all under the ruling of the High Court will now be able to claim – in particular businesses that were only partially closed (for example a restaurant that was able to continue to offer takeaways services.)

- Policyholders whose coverage would not have been triggered until the coming into force of legal Regulations on 21 or 26 March 2020 may now claim from an earlier date, if their business was affected by instructions issued by the Government.

Importantly, no policyholder with a valid claim will now have the value of their claim reduced as a result of a downturn in business caused by Covid-19 prior to cover being triggered, or taking into account any Covid-19 related factors whatsoever in considering the performance of the business against which the losses should be measured.

The Supreme Court found resoundingly in favour of policyholders, essentially upholding the findings of the High Court and in some cases broadening the coverage available for Covid-19 BI losses.