09/08/2024

Why do I need Motor Legal Protection?

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Every driving journey comes with its own level of risk, as there’s always a chance of an accident that could lead not only to vehicle damage, but also to big legal problems and costs.

Motor legal protection is designed to mitigate the costs associated with legal proceedings that may arise from road incidents, and that your regular car insurance doesn’t cover.

This article will help you understand what motor legal protection is and how it just might be the most important car insurance add-on you didn’t know you needed. We’ll also give a real life example of where someone would benefit from having this additional policy.

Jump to:

What is Motor Legal Cover?
Do I need this additional policy?
What is and isn’t covered?
Example of Motor Legal Protection
How much does Motor Legal Protection cost?
Comparing to other insurance add-ons

What is Motor Legal Cover?

Motor legal protection is pretty much exactly what it says on the tin: it helps with unforeseen legal costs after a car accident that wasn’t your fault.

When added to your car insurance, it can protect you against the financial strain of legal fees, loss of earnings and other unexpected costs – which your standard insurance policy wouldn’t cover.

For example, if you need to go to court because of a car accident, whether it’s your fault or not, this policy helps pay your legal fees and other costs such as missing out on income because of the accident. It helps to cover your fees if you take legal action against another driver, or if they take action against you.

Let’s delve into what this add-on policy represents and why it could be a critical addition to your classic car insurance or multi car insurance policy.

**Do I need this additional policy?**

You don’t need to have motor legal protection by law, but you would be wise in considering it. Having this policy means you don’t need to worry about the cost of taking any legal action that might be necessary.

Think about it — could the cost of legal trouble be more than the small price you pay for this policy each year?

When an accident happens, getting medical help is of course the priority, but having quick access to legal advice is a close second. By having this policy add-on, you will have access to a 24/7 helpline with legal experts just a phone call away ready to help you at any time you need. This can make a big difference when things get confusing and stressful after an accident.

How would Motor Legal Cover protect me?

Heritage’s motor legal protection with ALPS is designed to cover a legal advisor’s costs to help pursue or defend a claim up to the value of £100,000. You’ll also get quick and easy access to a legal advice helpline should you need it.

What is covered?

Personal injury claims to pursue damages if you or your passengers are injured by another driver’s negligence.
Uninsured loss recovery helps reclaim expenses not covered by your standard policy, such as policy excess and car hire costs.
Loss of earnings compensates for income lost due to injuries sustained in an accident.
Travel costs covers additional expenses if you’re unable to use your vehicle after an accident.
Motor prosecution defence provides legal support if you face charges related to a motoring offence.
Contract disputes aids in legal matters related to the buying or selling of your vehicle.
Vehicle cloning assists in defending against legal issues arising from unauthorized use of your vehicle’s identity.
Illegal clamping and towing to recover costs if your vehicle is unjustly clamped or towed.

What isn’t covered?

A motor legal protection policy generally may not provide cover for:

Pre-inception events refer to incidents that occur before the start of your policy and are not covered.
Prospects of success excludes legal actions with less than a 50% chance of a successful outcome from coverage.
Proportionality limits coverage when the claim amount is below the small claims court threshold, excluding costs exceeding the damages.
Conflicts means costs that are covered under another insurance policy will not be included.
Approved costs require prior agreement, excluding legal advisor’s costs or other expenses that are not pre-approved or exceed approved amounts.

A graphic of a 1998 Mazda MX-5 with a photo of a man.

Steven’s accident in his Mazda MX-5

Motor Legal Protection: Example

Steven, 56 years old, was driving to work in his 1998 Mazda MX-5 when suddenly another driver bumps into the back of him upon approaching a traffic light. The accident left him shaken, with his lower back in slight pain and his car’s rear bumper damaged.

The other driver is adamant that it wasn’t his fault, and falsely claims that Steven had purposely slammed on the brakes to cause the accident.

Here is an example of the difference having Motor Legal Protection could have in this situation below.

Image used for illustration purposes only.

VIEW EXAMPLE

Aspect	Without Motor Legal Protection	With Motor Legal Protection
Access to legal support	Steven must now find reliable representation or rely on his own minimal legal knowledge. This could result in delays or potential mistakes in his claim, respectively.	Steven calls the 24/7 legal advice helpline on the spot and ensures he is protected ahead of the claim.
Legal fees	Steven incurs legal fees totalling £20,000 which he must pay out of his own pocket.	Legal fees of £20,000 are covered by his Motor Legal policy, saving him from a significant financial burden.
Time	Steven spends considerable time researching legal procedures and handling paperwork, detracting from his recovery and daily responsibilities.	The claims process is handled with professional support, allowing Steven to focus on recovery while his legal advisor manages the complexities of the case.
Peace of mind	Steven faces uncertainty about the outcome of his claim and the financial implications of legal proceedings, causing stress and anxiety.	Steven feels reassured knowing that his legal expenses are covered, reducing anxiety and providing a sense of security during a challenging time.
Expert negotiation	Steven negotiates directly with the other party’s insurer, potentially facing challenges in achieving a fair settlement and understanding the legal jargon involved. He doesn’t get any associated legal costs reimbursed.	Steven’s legal advisor advocates on his behalf, leveraging their expertise to negotiate a settlement that accurately reflects the damages and losses. He gets all costs reimbursed including damages, loss of income and the hire car.
Financial loss recovery	Steven lost out on income from his job that day. He also had to hire a car for two days which cost him £160.	Steven gets legal pursuit of the loss of earnings for the day he had to take off work to deal with the incident. He also get reimbursed for the costs from needing to hire a car.

An infographic showing the cost of Motor Legal Cover (£2.67) vs a Costa Coffee (£4.40).

How much does Motor Legal Protection cost?

The cost of motor legal protection varies depending on the provider and the number of vehicles you’re including in the policy.

Heritage’s motor legal protection with ALPS is priced from:

Single vehicle: £32 annually or £2.67 a month.
Multiple vehicles (no limit): £42 annually or £3.50 a month.

Legal fees can quickly amount to unaffordable sums. You can quite literally be protected against these potential costs, for less than the cost of your monthly Costa coffee – a small price to pay for the cover you get.

Comparing Motor Legal Protection with other insurance add-ons

When you’re looking at insurance add-ons for your car, it’s good to know what each one does so you can decide what you really need. Each add-on offers unique benefits, designed to help you in specific situations. Let’s explore how motor legal protection stands alongside other popular add-ons like breakdown cover and key protect.

Breakdown cover

Breakdown cover is essentially your emergency roadside assistant. If your car breaks down while you’re out driving, whether it’s due to a flat tyre or the engine gives up, breakdown cover ensures someone will come to help you. They can try to fix the problem right there on the road, or they can tow your car to a nearby garage for repairs.

This type of cover would be incredibly helpful if you travel a lot or if you’re not too confident about handling car problems yourself. It’s all about getting you back on your way with as little stress as possible.

Key protect

Key protect is all about solving a very specific problem — losing your keys. We all know how frustrating and expensive it can be to replace modern car keys, which often have electronic components driving up the replacement cost.

This covers the cost of replacing your keys, but not just for your car, you may also need to get your house key replaced too. This will cover you if your keys get lost, helping you avoid out-of-pocket expenses and the hassle of sorting everything out on your own. It’s especially valuable if you’re someone who tends to misplace things or if you just want to be cautious.