An A - Z of commonly used terms to help you better understand our Car Insurance.
Actual Voluntary Excess
This is the amount of voluntary excess that's granted by the insurer of your John Lewis Car Insurance policy: the quote given is based upon your requested voluntary excess. However, in order to provide you with our most competitive price, the requested voluntary excess may change slightly.
Association of British Insurers (ABI)
The trade association for British insurers. Insurance companies that are members of the ABI must abide by the association's standards.
Approved repairer
A car repairer that meets an insurer's quality standards and has been approved by that insurer to repair its customers' vehicles.
Breakdown Cover
A policy that covers sending a mechanic to your car if you break down, and towing you to the nearest garage if the problem can't be fixed at the roadside. There are also options to help you get your car going if it won't start when you’re at home.
Car Identity Theft Cover
Cover for your legal fees resulting from ID-related car crime. For example, if someone clones your registration plate and then runs up speeding and parking fines in your name, you’re likely to need legal help to prove the fines are not yours.
Claim
You make a claim when you ask the insurance company to pay for a loss that's covered under your policy.
Comprehensive insurance
Insurance that gives you the most extensive protection available, like John Lewis Car Insurance's Comprehensive policy. And remember, you can gain even more security by adding optional extras to your comprehensive insurance policy. Find out more about John Lewis Car Insurance's optional extras.
Compulsory Excess
The amount towards a claim you’ll have to pay and that the insurance company fixes.
Courtesy Car
A car you can use while your own car is being repaired following a claim.
Depreciation
The reduction in the value of your car because of ageing and general wear and tear. Depreciation is higher the more you drive the car.
Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA)
The government agency that is responsible for the registration of UK cars and drivers.
Estimated annual business mileage
The number of miles you drive on business trips during a single year.
Estimated annual mileage
The amount of miles you drive in a year. Insurers need to know this figure to give you a quote as it will affect the likelihood of your car being damaged and will contribute to wear and tear to the car.
To estimate your annual mileage, take the number of miles you drive in an average week and multiply it by 52. You should also add in any holidays or other long trips you expect to make.
Emergency Taxi Cover
If you have an emergency appointment you need to get to and your car is out of action due to an accident (whether it’s your fault or not), we’ll refund your taxi fare. Emergency Taxi Cover is only available in cases where we can’t provide a Replacement Car in time.
Excess
The amount you agree to pay if you make a claim. This is made up of compulsory excess (an amount fixed by your insurance company) and voluntary excess (an additional amount determined by you). The higher the total excess you agree to pay the lower your insurance premium will tend to be.
Excess Protection
Cover to provide reimbursement of excess payment (excluding windscreen excess) you have to make for repairs following accidental damage to your car.
Exclusions
Incidents and certain circumstances that are not covered under your policy. Most companies exclude damage caused by "Acts of God" (natural disasters such as earthquakes), among other things.
Immobiliser
There are two types of immobiliser:
- Manual immobiliser - This is usually placed on the steering wheel of your vehicle (eg Krooklok).
- Electronic immobiliser - This disables the engine of your vehicle. Some newer vehicles have these factory fitted by the manufacturer and these are normally shown within your vehicle brochure. It’s also possible to have these immobilisers fitted by a garage or specialist, who would supply a certificate of installation detailing the exact model of your vehicle’s immobiliser. A copy of your certificate may be required.
Insurance Premium Tax (IPT)
A tax paid on insurance premiums. All insurance companies have to include this in their quotes, but some may not state the actual percentage. Keep an eye out for the phrase "plus IPT".
Limits
The maximum amounts your policy will cover. Limits will vary from policy to policy and across different sections of the policy. For example, the limit for personal belongings is usually much lower than the limit for personal accident.
Geographical Limits
There are defined geographical areas which your Car Insurance provides cover for. Geographical limits will vary depending on the type of cover selected and will sometimes have time limits, for example, to drive in Europe.
For a full definition of geographical limits, including applicable countries, check the policy wording.
Misfuelling Cover
Our Misfuelling Cover will pay for emptying and cleaning your tank if you fill your car with diesel instead of petrol, or vice versa. Unfortunately it doesn’t cover damage if you drive off with the wrong fuel in the tank.
No Claims Discount
A discount you can get from your insurance premium for each year you don’t make a claim. John Lewis Car Insurance's No Claims Discount provides up to 75 per cent off your insurance premium.
Pass Plus certificate
A Pass Plus certificate means you've passed an additional Driving Standards Association training scheme on top of your ordinary driving test. If you have one, we may be able to give you a better price for your Car Insurance in the first year after you’ve passed your test.
Premium
The amount of money you pay for your insurance cover.
Q Registration-plate
Number plates starting with the letter Q show that the car's age or identity is unknown, that it has been made from a large proportion of used parts or that the car has previously been written off.
This also applies to vehicles imported without supporting evidence to identify the vehicle's age. Cars with Q-plates are generally more expensive to insure.
Registered keeper
The person whose name appears on the registration certificate (V5C) of the car. They may be different from the owner - for example, if you have a company car you’re likely to be the registered keeper, while the company is the owner. The registered keeper has legal responsibility for the use of the car.
Replacement Car
A car you can use for up to 21 days following the theft or write-off of your own car.
Requested Voluntary Excess
The amount of voluntary excess you ask a quote to be based on.
Schedule
The list of specific benefits, charges and exclusions to your insurance policy.
Third party cover
Insurance covering any damage your vehicle does to another person, their vehicle or their property.
Third party, fire and theft
Insurance that provides third party cover and also includes repairs if your car is damaged in a fire or if it is stolen and/or later recovered damaged.
Total Loss
Also known as a write-off. This is where a car is damaged to such an extent that it's not worth repairing.
Uninsured Loss
Potential financial losses which aren't covered by a particular insurance policy. These usually include:
- loss of earnings
- cost of alternative travel arrangements
- recovering your excess from a third party.
Legal cover, such as Legal Protection<add link> provides cover for uninsured losses.
Vehicle Identity Theft
If your vehicle’s identity (for example registration number) is used by any other person or organisation and this misuse leads to criminal proceedings, our Vehicle Identity Theft Insurance provides cover for legal costs to defend yourself.
For a full description of Vehicle Identity Theft cover see the policy wording.
Voluntary Excess
The part of the excess that you can choose. Where possible, John Lewis Car Insurance will match the voluntary excess you choose (called the requested voluntary excess).
However, so that we can give you the most competitive price possible, the actual voluntary excess may be up to £25 above or below what you requested. We'll always make it clear what your voluntary excess will be.
Write-off
A car that is so badly damaged the insurance company decides it’s not worth repairing.