Multi car insurance

How does multi car insurance work?

Multi car policies are designed for households with multiple drivers. In short, they could suit families with adult children, couples with two or more cars and even in some cases relatives living separately. Not all policies will allow multiple addresses though, so it's worth checking individual policy wording.

Insurers offer a discount for each additional car on a multi car insurance policy, and they typically extend this up to 5 cars. This means that if 3 cars are already on a policy and a 4th is added, all 3 current cars and the new one could all receive a discount on the policy. This can lead to big savings in some cases, but you should always compare car insurance quotes, as in some instances these savings could be negated by other factors.

The two major types of multi car insurance are:

• Linked multi car policies – These allow you to have different levels of cover on each car, but all under the same umbrella policy. This means the policies can all start and finish on different dates, and each vehicle can have different types of cover and add-ons. For example, you may need comprehensive cover on the family car as well as third party fire and theft on your teenage son's car, with breakdown cover for both.
• Single policy – This would cover all your family cars under one policy, usually meaning they all have the same level of cover and add-ons.

Should I choose multi car insurance?

There are a few factors which determine whether a multi car policy could be right for you. In the majority of cases, households with multiple drivers living under one roof benefit from multi car policies. But did you know that some of the best multi car policies will also allow vehicles to be used at other addresses? This means if your children are away at university for some parts of the year, they could still be covered on a multi car policy. Be sure to check the wording of the policy before you buy if this is what you're looking for.

Another big selling point for multi car insurance policies is that they can effectively help you streamline the process of renewals. Having everything in one place allows you to more easily compare car insurance with other providers if you're thinking of switching down the line, and they'll also generally make claims easier to handle. In a nutshell, your paperwork could be massively reduced!

Things to consider when choosing multi car insurance

Multi car insurance isn't necessarily always the right choice though, and there are instances where single policies could work out cheaper or more effective. It's important to bear in mind that, as with any car insurance policy, the insurer will take all drivers situations into consideration when writing the policy. This means that if a new driver or someone with a driving conviction is placed on the policy it's possible that this will push the price up for other drivers, when they could get a cheaper quote with a specialist insurer. It's always a good idea to run a car insurance comparison and compare the combined cost of single policies with the multi car insurance quote in these instances.

This can also apply to the insurance group of the vehicles on the policy. Adding vehicles in higher groups and expensive cars could hike your premiums up in some cases.

Finally, it's worth noting that, while tying up your renewal dates into one yearly payment can be a great help, it also means that the lump sum has to be paid at once. Some people may wish to spread this out throughout the year by paying monthly, but the interest this incurs could be eating into those savings you made taking the policy!

FAQs

What if all cars have different renewal dates?

Many insurers will allow you to start a multi car policy with only one car. Just let them know the dates when the additional cars insurance renewals fall, and they'll be brought onto the policy at that point. Don't forget to let your previous insurer know you won't be renewing!

Can a family with children at university use multi car insurance?

In some cases. This will vary between insurers so if this is your main reason for researching multi car insurance it's time to get out the magnifying glass and check the fine print!

Can I add a van or motorcycle to the policy?

Van and motorcycle insurance isn't covered on multi car policies. They will need to be dealt with separately.