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Tyre and Alloy Wheel comparison.

 

With so many companies offering tyre and alloy wheel insurance, how do you know which is the best, and how can you make an informed comparison?

 

We supply tyre and alloy wheel insurance and genuinely think our policies are some of, if not the best, in the marketplace today. 

 

So, how can you make a tyre and alloy wheel Insurance comparison? 

 

This easy-to-use guide will help you. 

 

Start by finding out the following details about each policy you are considering.

 

 

  1. Claim Limit per claim?
  2. Excess Amount?
  3. Total number of claims you can make?
  4. Supplier/ repairer restrictions?
  5. Where is your alloy wheel repaired?
  6. How many years do you want?
  7. Does the policy cover after-market alloy wheels?
  8. Does the policy buy you a new alloy wheel if it is not repairable?
  9. Where are the claims teams based?
  10. Is the policy an insurance policy or a guarantee?

 

Or, if you prefer, why not skip our Example Tyre and Alloy Wheel Comparison Table?

 

Once you have all the information about the tyre and alloy wheel policies you are considering, you can start to make informed choices and accurate comparisons. So why is this information necessary, and why should you check before you buy any policy?

 

The information is important as it can restrict your ability to make a claim and, in some cases, invalidate your policy. So, let's take a closer look at each of the citrea, why it is a key point, and how it may lead you to pick one tyre and alloy wheel insurance policy over another.

 

1. Replacement Tyre Claim Limit - This is the maximum amount you can claim per replacement wheel or puncture repair.

If a new tyre costs £180 to fit and your claim limit is £150, you must pay £30 on top of every claim you make. This may not be a problem, but you will have to factor in the additional costs.

 

2. Excess Amount? - This is an amount you must pay each time you make a claim; it can be called an excess or call-out charge. 

You may be happy paying an excess, but if the call out or excess amount is £25 and you make just one claim per year over the next three years, that is an extra cost of £75.

 

3. Total number of claims you can make? This is the total number of claims you can make over the policy's lifetime. 

Reducing the number of claims you can make means that the underwriters will have a lower risk. Lower risks should mean lower policy prices. This may be fine, and you may not be concerned, but it is something to consider, as once you have reached the maximum number of claims, your policy will finish, and you will be responsible for any future costs.

 

4. Supplier/ repairer restrictions? - Do you have to contact a specific tyre specialist to process your claim?

Some policies state that you can only use specific chains of national specialists. This is a significant consideration as their chosen tyre specialist may not have a branch close to you. What happens if you are out and about and need to make a claim? 

 

5. Where is your alloy wheel repaired? - Is it repaired at home or work, or must you box the wheel and send it away?

Some alloy wheels cannot be repaired by a mobile repairer as they require more specialist techniques. So what happens now? Do you have to send the wheel away? This may be fine if you have another wheel to use and can remove it yourself. Worse, your car could be off the road while the wheel is repaired and sent back to you. 

 

6. How many years do you want? Does the policy cover you for the length of time you plan on keeping your car?

If you plan to keep your car for four years, does your policy cover you the whole time? If not, please remember that when your tyre and alloy wheel insurance policy expires, you will be liable for the cost of repairing any damage or replacing any tyres.

 

7. Does the policy cover after-market alloy wheels?-  These are alloy wheels that are not standard or manufacturer options.

Most policies do not cover after-market alloy wheels, so if your car has them fitted, you could be paying for tyre and alloy wheel insurance and never be able to make a claim on the alloy section of your policy.

 

8. Does the policy buy you a new alloy wheel if it is not repairable? - if your alloy wheel is, for example, buckled, what happens?

Most policies will not replace your alloy wheel as they could cost as little as £100 to thousands each. So, what happens to your claim? Do you get goodwill payment, and if so, how much do you get? In most cases, this will not be enough to replace your wheel; however, it is nice to have.

 

9. Where are the claims teams based?- Are you calling someone in the UK or abroad if you need to make a claim?

This is nice to have, as it is good to know that you are not calling outside the UK. As a good security measure, you should always know which organisation and which country they are in before you give out any personal data. This is because different countries have different rules regarding how your data is stored, protected and used.

 

10. Is your tyre and alloy wheel policy an insurance policy or a guarantee? - 

This is super important as guarantees and insurance-backed policies have different protections.

A fully insured policy means that if the insurance company that pays for your repairs or replacement tyres fails, you are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. A guarantee may not be protected by the FSCS, which means that if the company you are buying it from ceases to trade, you could be left with no cover.

 

Lastly, what is the cost of the policy?- How much is your policy costing?

 

Price is always important, and what appears to be the best price may not always be the best value. This is where it gets complicated. To make accurate comparisons, you need to use much of the information you have gathered about the different tyre and alloy wheel insurance policies you are considering. To help, we have made an easy-to-use table that will allow you to enter the details of the policies you are comparing and see which offers the best value for money based on your circumstances. Naturally, and we hope you will understand, we have already completed the details for our policies.

 

Tyre and Alloy Wheel Comparison Table 

 

Tyre and Alloy Wheel Comparison Suppliers Excess Amount Per claim Total number of Claims Total Claim Amount - Tyres Maximum Number of - Alloy Wheels Maximum Amount per Alloy Wheel Claim Insurance or Guarantee Total Amount Payable by Policy Tyre and Alloy Wheel Policy Price
Total Loss Gap 0 16 £350 16 £250 Insurance £9600 £545.82
Supplier 2                
Supplier 3                

 

Prices were taken on 23/04/2024. This was based on a 4-year tyre and alloy wheel policy with standard wheels, up to 4-tyre and alloy wheel claims per year. These may not be your exact parameters; however, we hope you can use this to judge for yourself and make a real comparison as to which tyre and alloy wheel insurance policy, if any, is best for you.