Multi Car Insurance

Table of Contents

What is multi car insurance?
How does multi car insurance work?
Types of multi car insurance
Is multi car insurance cheaper?
How much does multi car insurance cost?
Multi car insurance pros and cons
Who is multi car insurance for?
Who offers multi car insurance?
Multi car insurance add-ons
Multi car insurance FAQs

Multi car insurance may be worth considering if you or your close family members own more than one car between you. Multi car cover can make the admin of insuring several cars easier and it may work out cheaper than taking out separate policies for each vehicle. Read on to learn more about multi car insurance, including how it works, the discounts you could get, and whether multi car cover might be right for you.

What is multi car insurance?

Multi car insurance cover allows you to insure more than one car on the same policy. The major appeal is that there is usually a discount on the premium for each vehicle added to the multi policy.

How does multi car insurance work?

Multi car insurance provides similar benefits, features and options for each car as you’d normally get with standard car insurance. Some multi policies allow each car to have its own level of cover, add-ons and excess amount, while others may only provide the same cover for each vehicle and driver.

Multi car insurance policies are often set up to cover several vehicles at the same address, though it may also be possible to include close family members who don’t live with you. Cover for each car can start on different dates, meaning you can add other vehicles to a policy as and when their current cover expires. You may want to keep separate renewal dates, or some insurers offer the option to align renewals, so eventually there’ll be a single date when the cover renews for all the cars under the policy.

How does no claims work on multi car insurance?

Each driver on a multi car policy may have their own no claims discount, which can often be built up and remain protected regardless of whether other drivers on the policy make a claim. That said, there may be some insurers where one driver making a claim can affect the no claims discount of others, so always check the policy details. In such cases, making a claim could also lead to higher premiums for everyone on the policy going forward.

Types of multi car insurance

Multi car insurance may be offered in two different ways.

Linked multi car policies

With linked multi car insurance, each car can have a separate level of cover, excess and benefits, as well as different add-ons and renewal dates. So you may have fully comprehensive cover and protection for your no claims discount for your car. While, another family member has third party insurance, including breakdown cover, for their car under the same multi policy.

Linked multi car policies usually allow each driver to keep their own no claims discount, even if others make claims on the same policy. Effectively, they are separate policies, just linked under a single name.

A single policy for multiple cars

With single policy multi car insurance, several cars can be covered by one policy. The level and type of cover, the excess, and any optional extras are the same for each car. It may also be possible to add cars to a single policy at different times of the year, but the end dates then tend to be synced by the insurer, so the renewal for each vehicle is at the same time.

Is multi car insurance cheaper?

The discounts available mean multi car insurance can work out cheaper than having individual policies for each vehicle, but not always.

This means it’s important to shop around. Start by getting standalone car insurance quotes for each driver and see if the combined cost works out cheaper than the best multi car insurance quote you can get for the same level of cover and benefits.

» MORE: Compare car insurance

How much discount do you get for multi car insurance?

The discount for multi car insurance is typically between 10% and 15% per car, depending on the insurer. It may also depend on the number of cars included in the policy as well as other factors, such as the types of cars being insured and the driving experience, history and habits of the different drivers.

How much does multi car insurance cost?

The amount you pay for multi car insurance depends on the same factors that apply when an insurer calculates how much standard car insurance costs. However, with multi car cover, the insurer takes into account each individual and vehicle on the policy. The most important factors include:

The drivers

The ages, addresses, jobs, health and marital status of the drivers included in the policy can all affect the cost of cover. This means having less experienced drivers, or those who are much older, on a multi policy can result in higher premiums. The cost may also be higher if someone has a particular health condition, or if any of those covered live near accident hotspots or where there’s a greater risk of theft.

Your driving records

The driving record of each person on the policy and how each driver uses their car are also important. The cost of a multi car policy is likely to be higher if someone has recent motoring convictions or spends a lot of time behind the wheel.

The vehicles

The value of the cars being insured, and how much it is likely to cost if repairs are needed, also play a part in determining the cost of cover. The make, model, age and any modifications will all be taken into account. But alarms and other security measures could help lower premiums.

Choice of cover

When arranging car insurance, the policyholder chooses the voluntary excess – a higher excess means paying more towards a claim yourself, but can also result in lower premiums. Also think carefully whether paying for any optional extras is worthwhile.

Ultimately, the cost of any type of cover, including multi car insurance, can differ between insurers. This makes it essential to shop around.

» MORE: Tips for getting cheaper car insurance

Multi car insurance pros and cons

Advantages of multi car insurance

It could work out cheaper compared to taking out individual cover for each driver.
Depending on the insurer, it may be possible to tailor cover and benefits for each driver.
Having a single insurer for multiple policies can make admin easier and mean less paperwork overall.
Synced policies can make it easier to keep track of when everyone’s cover needs renewing.
The no claims discount of individual drivers can often be built up separately and may be protected, even if someone else on the policy makes a claim.
Some insurers may allow family members at different addresses to be covered by the same policy.
Some multi vehicle policies allow vans to be insured alongside cars.

Disadvantages of multi car insurance

There may be a maximum number of cars that qualify for a discount under any one multi policy.
Depending on the insurer, the cover and benefits may need to be the same for every driver.
Adding less experienced drivers or drivers with convictions could raise the overall cost for everyone.
On some policies, everyone’s no claims discount could be affected if someone makes a claim.
Future premiums could rise for all if anyone on the policy makes a claim.
Synced policies means the cost of buying cover arrives all at once rather than different times throughout the year.

Who is multi car insurance for?

Multi car insurance is an option for families, partners and friends who own multiple cars but want to insure them together with one insurer. It may also be worth exploring if you own more than one car yourself.

Multi car policies can be popular among parents with grown-up children who now have their own car, or couples who each have a car. Many multi car policies require that you live at the same address as the other drivers on the policy, although some don’t. This means it may also be possible for parents to share cover with children who are at university or have left home.

Who offers multi car insurance?

Several well known insurers offer multi car insurance in the UK, including Admiral, Aviva, AXA, Churchill, Direct Line, Hastings Direct and LV=. It’s important to compare multi car insurance between providers, and also with similar standalone car insurance, to find the best deal for you.

Multi car insurance add-ons

As with standard car insurance, you’re likely to be offered the chance to enhance your multi car insurance through optional add-ons. However, these will add to the cost of your premium, and may not qualify for a discount. Some of the extras typically available include:

Motor legal protection: Helps cover legal costs not covered by a standard policy if an accident isn’t your fault.
Personal accident cover: Provides a payout to you or loved ones if you’re injured or die as a result of a road accident.
Protected no-claims discount: Keeps your no-claims discount intact in the case of a claim.
Windscreen cover: Covers repair or replacement costs if your windscreen is cracked, chipped or shattered.
Breakdown cover: Allows you to call for emergency assistance if your car lets you down.
Key cover: Covers the cost of replacement car keys if they are lost or stolen.
Courtesy car cover: Provides you with another vehicle while yours is being fixed or if it’s stolen.
Misfuelling cover: Covers the cost of repairs and damage if you put the wrong fuel in your car.
Personal belongings cover: Protection if your possessions are damaged or stolen while in your car.
Excess cover: Allows you to claim back the excess you pay yourself if you make a claim.
Driving abroad: Extra cover if you need to drive in the EU or elsewhere overseas.

» MORE: Compare car insurance

Yes, it is possible to insure two or more cars under a single policy by taking out multi car insurance.

Yes, some insurers do provide multi car insurance for drivers that live at different addresses.

Yes, some insurers offer multi car and van insurance, providing the top to insure cars and vans alongside each other under a single policy.

» MORE: Compare van insurance

Cars that are classified in group one tend to have the cheapest insurance. Generally, the higher the group, the more you’ll pay for insurance – group 50 is the highest in the UK. The group a car sits in is mainly determined by the cost of the car.

You can have more than one insurance policy on one car, but it will likely be considered fraud if you attempt to make a full claim on different policies for the same incident. Having two or more policies on the same car is sometimes called dual car insurance.

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