Car insurance question in the uk??

Question

when i try and get aquote,it takes aweek to cut in,and dad said u can get a cover note,he said they send u one out,but i dont no if they do it automatically,or will i have to phone???

Answer 1

If you insure on-line you get the full insurance document on e mail straight away. Otherwise ask them to put a cover note in the post right away. Most insurances start at midnight the same day unless otherwise requested.

Answer 2

You can normally ask them for immediate cover or tell them when you want cover to commence - you will have insurance from that point but no hard evidence until the certificate arrives through the post.

A cover note is a temporary document which is issued in lieu of a insurance certificate.  They were more common in the days when insurance was purchased over the counter from brokers - the broker would issue a cover note to confirm you had purchased insurance from them which you would keep until a proper certificate arrived from the insurance company.

They are less common these days as most of us deal with our insurance companies online or via the telephone and certificates are printed and mailed automatically within a day or two of you taking out a new or changing an existing policy.

If you need evidence of insurance for a specific purpose such as buying or financing a new vehicle, obtaining a tax disc etc you can ask the insurance company to fax a copy.