Car Insurance essential extras

[AlbacoreA]

Just looking at the car insurance renewals. What extras do you consider essential.

Cover type Comprehensive/Third Part
Excess
100% No claims protection/Rollback No Claims protection
Driving Other cars
Accidental Damage
Fire & Theft
Free Temporary Car Substitution
Temporary Named Drivers
Windscreen Cover
Breakdown Assistance

Perhaps others I've not thought off.

I generally do most of that except Temporary Car as we have a second car. Also on a cheaper car, I'll probably lower the excess. Wondering what to cut.
For example we often have family over who borrow our 2nd car. But not the 1st, so Temporary Driver is handy.

 

[Protocol]

AFAIK, Driving Other Cars is a normal feature of most/all policies.

Once I have a main insurance policy in my name, I am insured to drive any other car, obviously once I have the permission of the owner of the other car.

(This is not the same as Open Driving)

 

[AlbacoreA]

I thought that most had it 3rd party. But since discovered that some policies don't have it. I've read the odd anecdotal story of people getting stopped by Garda assuming they had it by default, but discovering they don't.

 

[mathepac]

(This is not the same as Open Driving)

No, it is the complete opposite. Open driving on your policy means anyone with a valid driver's licence and your permission, can drive your car. The level of cover that the driver carries, comprehensive or TPF&T, is usually at the discretion of the under wiriters.

 

[AlbacoreA]

Open driving used to be not uncommon a few decades ago. Seems very uncommon now.

 

[mathepac]

Temporary Named Drivers

I've never seen that as an option on any of my policies over the years. Mechanics and break-down personnel are covered by default on most policies

 

[AlbacoreA]

You get so many days in the year included. Used to be handy for visiting family. Hardly use it these days.

 

[ClubMan]

Driving Other Cars is a normal feature of most/all policies

It's been an optional extra on several policies that I've had over the years.

 

[Des Pondent]

Driving other cars does not come as standard with my Allianz policy, but I am happy to pay the additional €4 they charge me to have it.
Another of my essentials is breakdown cover for an additional €20 per year, very good value and way cheaper than the AA etc.

 

[Clamball]

Breakdown cover is essential I think and windscreen cover.

 

[Des Pondent]

For me, I never take windscreen cover as it is then a claim when asked about previous claims when getting future quotes.
In my 40 years of driving, I have only had 1 broken windscreen so I am happy to self insure in that regard anyway.

 

[Brendan Burgess]

I never take windscreen cover as it is then a claim when asked about previous claims when getting future quotes.

Agree that people should avoid this.

And probably the 100% no claims protection. That protects you from your current insurer, but you can't switch to another insurer.

And insurance companies use big data to determine your premium. And the less likely you are to switch, the higher your premium. So, if you can't switch you pay a higher basic premium.