Keep your motor running: The policy checks to ensure the wheels of industry stay turning

Many of us will start using our cars a lot more often as lockdowns start to ease – and it could be a good time to review your motor insurance.

A survey by consumer watchdog Which? reveals many common incidents may not be covered, so it is wise to shop around. Even the comprehensive policies offered by insurers can be very different and could leave you out of pocket.

Here are five areas of your cover which might not live up to your expectations.

Personal belongings: This can range between £100 and £2,000 and protects personal items that are damaged or destroyed in your car. But insurers are choosy about what counts as a “personal belonging”. Few policies, for example, cover cash. And in almost half of the policies analysed, mobile phones also weren’t covered and almost a fifth

of policies examined excluded laptops and tablets.

Misfuelling: About 150,000 Brits pour the wrong type of fuel into their car each year, which can lead to engine damage. Only half of policies scrutinised provided misfuelling cover as standard, while 36% didn’t offer misfuelling cover at all.

Onward travel: Onward travel if your car is put out of action far from your home wasn’t part of than a quarter of policies.

Lost keys: If you lose your keys most policies will have you covered…to an extent. Of the policies scrutinised, just 15% would pay for replacement keys and locks – but not for the locksmith’s call-out charges. Another 15% don’t provide any cover at all for lost keys, instead only covering stolen keys.