….What exactly is Your Key?
Your Key is an after-accident support club for you and your family.
Your Key arranges the services you will need after an accident, and provides free accident legal expenses insurance so you can recover for injury and loss when someone else is to blame. Our protection covers any accident, is not limited to just one vehicle, and includes your family*, plus pillion riders and passengers.
….Where did we come from?
Your Key was developed to answer the needs of those unfortunate enough to be involved in accidents. After an accident there are services you need, but where do you start, and which do you trust? Your Key gives the answers.
Is free accident legal expenses insurance possible?
It is free to you as we pay the premium. We can do this as we earn commission if we help after an accident. These commissions are usually paid to your insurance company or broker. The difference is that we package the insurance and services together, and make no charge.
After-accident 24/7 help line
As a member make your first call after any accident to 08000 114 114 or 0330 022 5210. Our friendly trained operators will then guide you and provide access to our services. Our 0330 number should be cheaper if you use a mobile.
Free accident legal cover
As a member you have an accident legal expenses insurance policy in place at no cost. This insurance includes your family*, plus pillion riders and vehicle passengers. The cover is for any accident, so any activity, and is not limited to one vehicle. We automatically renew your membership and this insurance each year without cost. Therefore you do not need to buy this insurance when insuring your vehicles in the future. You could save as much as £25 on each vehicle every year.
Membership cards
Our earliest members have key ring cards so our help line number is close at hand. With or without a card make sure our number is saved to all phones used by your family group as “accident” - 08000 114 114.
Services available:
- Recovery ** of a vehicle after an accident.
- Replacement** by hire while your vehicle is repaired.
- Repair** can be quickly arranged by our operators.
Legal help is at hand as we will arrange for an experienced solicitor to act for you and recover compensation with the backing of your insurance.
Extensive cover
It is worth repeating that your accident legal expenses insurance extends to your family, pillion riders, and vehicle passengers. It covers any accident, whether at work, in a public place, playing sport, or on the road.
You may have some of the component parts of our service through other arrangements you have in place, but without Your Key you will not have everything you need without cost, and on one free telephone number. We will guide you by identifying your needs, arranging the services you need, and sorting out the expense through a compensation case supported by the free legal cover. 0800 0 114 114 is the only number to call after an accident.
*Family means your spouse or partner, and children living with you up to 21 years of age.
**You will be asked to pay for recovery. If the accident was not your fault the expense can usually be claimed back. Payment for hire and repair depends on who is at fault. Our first priority is to give you access to the services you need, when you most need them. If an accident is your fault, you or your insurer will have to pay, but through our freephone number we allow you to access the services you need.
Feel free to make comments or ask questions below.
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August 9th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Query - I have not received any information in the post this year - but received an email with new policy number. Bit worried - as I have bought
insurance without legal cover. Can you send me an email and my key card in the post. Thanks. Phoebe
Phoebe, there is no need to worry, as your policy and Your Key membership are automatically renewed each year. We do not trouble you at renewal time. All you need do is make sure we have your current details. New details can be provided on the your details page of this website.
You are one of our original members and have a card for your key ring. We are not sending them out at present, so hold on to yours as it has our phone number - 08000 114 114.
Mark for Your Key
August 12th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
> Query - I live on the Isle of Man, do your services extend over here? And if so, will you provide local support, as we have a slightly different legal system? Thanks, Chris.
Well spotted Chris. The Isle of Man is outside the cover of our legal insurance as the legal system is different. We cover the UK and Channel Islands, but not the Isle of Man. We can provide the after accident services though, so do keep our number close to hand - 08000 114 114. Thanks for your question. Mark for Your Key
October 8th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Could you please explain if I was to have an accident and it was my fault I would have to pay the excess on my insurance policy and that is all. By using your key what other (if any) expenses would I incur and would I be liable for repairs/compensation to any other party. thank you
October 9th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Good question thanks Ray.
You must have an insurance policy to cover your liability to others – third party insurance. To cover yourself you can add fire and theft, and beyond that take comprehensive insurance.
Comprehensive as a word means everything, but as an insurance term it is misleading. You only have the cover you buy. Usually that means your vehicle is insured for its market value at the time it is damaged. If you want the price you paid, “new for old,” you have to spend more on GAP insurance. Your clothing, helmet, and possessions may be covered, but again check the fine print. As we seek cheap insurance we cannot be surprised if the cover is limited.
You ask what is the score if you are involved in an accident which is your fault? First get our help to decide if you are actually at fault. It is usually a common sense decision, but sometimes you can miss the obvious. The answer is that you are responsible for the cost of all involved. Your insurance will pay the third party losses, and you pay the excess if one applies, and what you can claim for your loss depends on your own cover. If you are third party only you are entitled to nothing. If comprehensively insured your machine will be repaired or written off, and its market value at the time will decide the payment. Beware if you underinsured, as you will not get market value then.
Your Key gives you an advice service, and independent advice is valuable. The legal cover is free, but it will only support a compensation case for you, or a family member, if you have a reasonable case. If we arrange services, and you have no one to blame, then you or your insurer will have to pay. We work hard to make sure the price is competitive. If you are to blame Your Key will advise and weigh up the options with you, but the services like hire and repair have to be paid for. Our guidance can be very valuable, as you will need independent and experienced help.
November 6th, 2008 at 10:19 am
excuse my ignorance but how am i a member is it through some other insurance policy i have ? Or is it something i am unaware of ?
Hi Paul,
I will answer in QandA style to help others grasp the detail.
Q: Why have I been offered Your Key membership?
A: You obtained an insurance quote online and might have missed the offer of free legal expenses insurance just for taking that quote. The
insurance is brought to you by Your Key, and taking a quote was enough. It does not even matter if you bought insurance, or do not yet
have a vehicle.
Q: What does my membership of Your Key give me?
A: Your Key is an after accident support service which delivers all the services you will need if you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident. These services include vehicle recovery, hire and repair, plus the legal expenses insurance necessary to fight for compensation without fear of legal fees.
Q: What is legal expenses insurance?
A: It covers the legal fees if you have to bring a compensation claim after an accident. It is also called legal cover or legal protection.
Q: How can the insurance be free?
A: It is free to you as Your Key pays the premium. If our after accident services are used by members we earn commission. We do not
increase the costs after an accident, we simply provide the services in a convenient package through our freephone number, 08000 114 114.
I hope that helps, and do go to http://www.yourkey.info/faqs for more.
Mark for the YourKey team.
March 11th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Hi there can you please tell me if my key number covers me in my car and on my motorbike,also will my wife be covered in her own car or will she need a membership number as well.
Many thanks Brian.
Thanks Brian,
Your Key membership and the free legal expenses insurance policy cover ANY ACCIDENT, so that means any vehicle or activity. We cover your wife/partner, children up to 21 years of age, plus pillion or passengers.
You have got used to buying this legal cover with each vehicle policy you buy. Those policies have legal cover limited to the use of that vehicle only. That limitation means you have to buy a policy for each vehicle. Our one policy does the job for all as we are insuring you for any accident.
If there is anyone who falls outside this cover they can get free cover from our website at http://www.yourkey.info/become-a-member
You should save enough to pay for your breakdown cover.
Hope that helps.
best wishes from the Your Key team.
April 21st, 2009 at 2:50 pm
I have just become a member, please could you confirm the value of legal expenses cover some companies have a limit of £50,000 etc. what is your limit.
Thanx
£100,000 is the answer.
Your Key team
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Do you cover theft damage or theft attempt damege..basically someone damaged my bike while they were trying to steel it…am i covered by yourkey? thanks
Gian
Thanks you. Your Key is quite separate from your vehicle insurance. We are an accident support service which gives you free legal cover. This legal cover allows you to seek compensation, using a solicitor we select, and have no worries about paying legal fees.
If someone has stolen your bike, or damaged it, that is a matter for your own insurance.
Your Key team.
September 13th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Hi, i have brought a brand new motorbike in october 2007 which came with a 12 months parts warranty. I have been having a problem with some of the bike’s parts but the company i have purchased it from still hasn’t sent me the new parts. What should I do?
Thanks Rid,
Warranty is a device used to limit the liability of the supplier and manufacturer of goods sold. Limit the warranty to 12 months and you limit your costs. Limit the warranty and you can sell your customers another warranty. Here is the guidance we have copied from a booklet of the European Commission. It can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/publications/booklets/move/64/en.pdf. It says this;
“Product guarantees
‘How long are guarantees on consumer goods valid?’
Viktor used to live in Germany, where it is common for products to have manufacturers’ guarantees of five years. In March 2005, he bought a new washing machine in his home town of Eger in Hungary, but it started to leak water in April 2006. ‘I complained to the Hungarian representative of the manufacturer, but they didn’t want to know. They said in Hungary there is only a one-year guarantee, not five years. What can I do?’
In this case, Viktor’s rights as an EU consumer are not being respected by the Hungarian representative of the manufacturer. The fact is that a twoyear guarantee applies for the sale of all consumer goods everywhere in the EU (Directive 1999/44/EC). In some countries, this may be more, and some manufacturers also choose to offer a longer warranty period.
When you buy a new product, it should look and function exactly how it was advertised. But do you know what your rights are if your new coffee machine leaks, or if a green door is delivered instead of the blue one you ordered?
The vast majority of purchases and transactions in Europe take place with no reason for complaint. However, if you do have reason to complain, you should be aware that the following rights and responsibilities apply everywhere in the EU:
• If the item you bought does not look or function as it was advertised, or if it is not satisfactory, you have the right to have the item replaced or to get your money back if the replacement was not completed in a reasonable time at no extra cost.
• If you buy goods that turn out to be faulty, manufacturers must compensate you for any personal injury or damage caused to property.
• When you buy goods or services by post, telephone, fax or through the Internet from a professional trader, you have the same rights in relation to guarantees as if you had bought them in a shop.
Further information:
ec.europa.eu/consumers/cons_int/safe_shop/guarantees/index_en.htm”
Your bike and your parts are consumer goods sold in the European Union. never mind what you are told, you have a minimum of two years protection. This law crept in, but it is being used more and more, and most suppliers will now be aware. So use the law and stand your ground.
November 14th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Query - You say that my policy covers a common-law partner, but I have just updated
my details and have the choice of Single, Married, Divorced or Widowed. I have
therefore chosen single… I am actually engaged (but not yet married), but have not
notified you of my Fiances\’ details. Do I need to in some way, or is she just
automatically covered by living at the same address?
November 14th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Thank you for contacting us.
The policy covers your spouse “or common law partner.” If you are living
together as “man and wife” then the cover is in place for both of you. If you are not yet living together permanaently then the best thing is for your fiance to sign up in her own right, using the link below.
http://www.yourkey.info/become-a-member
Let us know if you need more help.
Your Key team
November 24th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Query - Can you tell me what the difference would be between my free legal insrance
with you & the ??25 one offered from my car insurance company, if another driver
cliamed I was at fault for an accident?
November 24th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
You are asking about two seperate types of insurance.
You must have third party cover on your vehicle by law. This covers your
liability for the consequences of an accident for which you are at fault.
If you are at fault your insurance company will handle everything,
including the legal costs of a compensation action brought against you.
The insurance companies and brokers try to sell an additional type of
insurance called legal cover or legal protection. They sell this with
every vehicle they insure, and the cost is getting close to £30.
This legal cover is actually legal expenses insurance. It works when you
are involved in an accident for which someone else is to blame. In this
situation you do not need the help of your own insurance company, as you
need to take action against the party to blame, and their insurance
company. The legal cover means we can appoint a solicitor for you, and you
do not need to worry about the legal costs. That is the assurance provided
by legal expenses insurance.
We can give you the cover free as we receive commission when we line up
the services you need, such as hire, repair and a solicitor. These are
commissions your insurer will earn if you contact them first, but that
looks a little greedy when they have already charged you for the legal
cover.
Remember our cover is for any accident, which means all your vehicles and
activities.
Remember also that family members are included.
Legal cover with Your Key is free. If you have two vehicles we save you
enough to buy your breakdown cover.
Best wishes from the YourKey team
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Query - Hi, does this cover me in my car or is it just for my bike? The reason
being Im being hassled constantly over the phone by AIG to buy their legal cover.
Do you offer cover for cars too or is it just for motorcycles? I\’m loathe to spend
??30 odd to a guy who tried to scare the hell out of me by telling me Im NOT covered
for accidents only fire or theft. and if Im hit from behind Id have to suffer the
consequences of an uninsured driver. He told me I CANNOT EVER be covered by a thurd
party policy that wasnt attached to my car insurers policy. Any help or advice you
can offer me would be greatly accepted.
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Dear Daz,
The insurers and brokers do sell legal cover aggressively. The policy they
sell is for that one vehicle only. The policy we give you is for ANY
ACCIDENT. It doesn’t matter what vehicle you are using, and you do not
even have to be driving, as our policy is for any accident.
So you are right, you do not need to buy the cover you are being offerd,
as you already have it.
The YourKey policy also covers your wife/partner, children under 21 years
living at home, plus your pillion or passengers.
The YourKey policy is renewed free each year.
The insurers make money at both ends of legal cover. They charge a premium
with each vehicle you insure, and then if they help after an accident by
arranging services, they earn commission. We give you the legal cover
free, and content ourselves with the commission if we help after an
accident.
Let us know if you need more help.
December 6th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Thank you for your extremely quick reply!! I have since rang my car insurer to
inform them that their cover is DEFINITELY NOT needed as you have ensured me that my
‘yourkey’ cover will in fact cover me for any vehicle/accident etc. The guy
insisted that you were wrong in no uncertain terms as I will NOT be covered in the
event of an accident, he then followed up with the fact he’s been in insurance for
so many years and that I was disrespecting his knowledge gained via his many years
of service. I asked for his name as I wished to complain about him which he laughed
at and gave me gladly saying go ahead complain all you like, you’re the one who’s
not covered not me I have only tried to advise you truthfully that yourkey will NOT
and I repeat NOT cover you!!
So in short AIG rep’s are telling (harassing) people into thinking that yourkey is
not a valid company or in fact will cover anyone as a third party policy, he said
that I am NOT covered, I said yes i am I’ve just been told, his reply was ‘well Im
telling you, you’re NOT COVERED!!’. As a closing statement he said I obviously dont
believe him and to check the level of cover offered and the unusual limitations,
then I’ll see Im not covered at all…
Whether you wish to complain to AIG direct is upto you as it seems they are
belittling your policy and company as a joke.
Hope you find this helpful although you probably have more important things to worry
about
Many thanks once again
December 6th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Thanks Daz,
The people selling you this additional cover are often paid on commission,
so they do try to scare you into buying. More than 80 per cent of people
who insure vehicles buy the legal cover on top.
I don’t take the comments personally as they will run down any product but
their own. I had a look at their website, at
http://www.aigdirectcar.co.uk/Policy-Extras.asp, and the policy looks the
same as ours, save our top line is £100,000 and theirs is £75,000. The
support is all based on someone else being at fault. If you feel energetic
you could ask them for a copy of the policy itself, as the truth of these
policies lies in the detail.
February 21st, 2010 at 6:39 pm
Can I just clarify, I have taken out Your Key for my husband last year and we have actually used your services which was fantastic, thankyou very much. I am just about to renew my car insurance and can I just double check that I would be covered for legal protection via my husbands policy with you?
Thank you in advance.
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Thanks Andrea,
Glad to see we have been able to help you.
Our legal cover is renewed automatically each year, so there is no need for any renewal process. As our policy covers any accident, it will cover any vehicle, and in fact, any activity. So yes, you will have our cover driving your car, and while doing most other things.
We would like to know how much you are being asked to pay for legal cover on the car.
Thanks for getting in touch.
June 1st, 2010 at 7:35 am
How much legal in expenses
June 5th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
We think you are asking a question, so we will do our best to answer it.
Legal expenses insurance is designed to pick up your legal expenses if your case for compensation goes wrong. So your legal expenses, that is the legal bill you are liable to pay. is picked up by the legal expenses insurance policy.
Legal expenses insurance allows you to pursue a compensation case which has a reasonable chance of success. You would hope to recover compensation for your personal injury, damage to your vehicle, insurance excess, earnings loss, travel expenses, and medical expenses. If the injury is very serious you can recover compensation for private medical treatment and the care you need.
If you want to recover all these expenses you have to bring your own claim for compensation, as your own vehicle insurance only covers your liability to third parties, and your vehicle if you have fully comprehensive insurance.
Fully comprehensive insurance is not really very comprehensive, but that’s another story, and to read it please click here.
Take care
Your Key team.