Car Insurance

Already have a policy with us? Take a look at our insurance support pages.

Half of our customers got cover for £384 or less

What is car insurance?

Car insurance is something all drivers have to legally have, to be able to drive on UK roads. Car insurance should pay out if your car is stolen, vandalised, catches on fire or you get into a car accident. The minimum that it protects you for is against any damage you cause to other road users, the public, or their property. These are called third parties. The level of protection depends on what type of policy you choose.

There are 3 levels of car insurance, and which level you choose determines how much protection you have when it comes to making a claim.

You only need to claim on your policy when an accident is your fault. If another driver is to blame, their insurance should pay instead.

The benefits of our car insurance

Panel of insurers

BISL will search a panel of carefully selected insurers to calculate your price

Cover to suit you

Cover if your car is in an accident, damaged by fire or stolen

Driving abroad

Get up to 60 days cover at the same level as your UK car insurance policy

Get a quote

Apply online, or if you need to speak to someone for help with your application, please call BISL on 0330 018 2621

Levels of car insurance

Comprehensive

This is the highest level of cover. It covers you, your car and passengers as well as any third parties involved in an accident. It’ll pay out if your car is vandalised or stolen.

Third party, fire and theft

Covers third parties involved in an accident. It’ll pay out if your car is stolen or damaged caused by fire. It won’t pay out to cover the damage to your vehicle after an accident or act of vandalism.

Third party only

This is the most basic level of car insurance. It covers the liability for injury to others and any damage to third party property only. This level of cover is the minimum requirement for drivers in the UK.

Compare car insurance cover

We can offer you the choice between three levels of cover. See the table below to compare the differences between them.

What it covers	Comprehensive	Third party fire and theft	Third party only
Cover if your car is stolen or damaged by fire or accident
24 hour emergency helpline and claims service
Windscreen cover (subject to excess)
Courtesy Car (subject to availability and eligibility)
Driving in the EU: up to 60 days EU cover
Unlimited cover on manufacturer-fitted audio, sat nav and entertainment equipment
Stolen keys cover – up to £500
Personal belongings cover – up to £100
Approved claims repairs guarantee for 3 years

For full details on what’s covered, policy terms, conditions, and exclusions, please see our policy documents which is available to download when you receive a quote.

How does car insurance work?

Choose from comprehensive, third party fire and theft, and third party only cover. For full details on what’s covered, policy terms, conditions, and exclusions, please see our policy document which is available to download when you receive a quote. Compulsory excesses apply.

1. Take out a policy

You can do this online, or by calling BISL on 0330 018 2621. They’ll be able to give you information on a non-advised basis.

2. Pay

You can choose to pay for your car insurance annually or monthly by Direct Debit which is subject to interest.

3. Make a claim

Make a claim by calling the BISL 24-hour accident and claims line on 0344 854 9823. Or for more information visit how to claim on your insurance.

4. Pay out

Once your claim is approved, a payout is made.

How to make a claim

The policyholder is the person who takes out the car insurance policy. The main driver will earn the no claims discount and this can be different to the policyholder.

Named drivers are additional drivers nominated by the policyholder. They’re entitled to drive the vehicle under the policy.

When you get a quote, you’ll be able to download our policy document. The policy document includes full details of the cover, optional extras, policy terms, conditions and exclusions in it.

For information on how your data will be used you can look at our data protection statement (PDF - 126 KB)

Santander Car Insurance is subject to standard underwriting and acceptance criteria. Quotations are valid for 30 days. Cover is subject to terms, conditions, restrictions and exclusions. Compulsory excesses apply. Full details are available in the policy document, available to download when you receive a quote. Please read the policy document before purchasing the policy.

You don’t need a green card if you're planning on driving a vehicle and towed caravans or trailers in the EU and EEA. However, you may still need a green card if you're planning on visiting certain countries.

Countries you don't need a green card for

Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Countries you may need a green card for

Albania, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Iran, Israel, Moldova, Morocco, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Your insurance cover in these countries will depend on what your policy states. An additional premium may also apply under the terms of your policy.

How to get a green card

Please contact BISL's customer service team on 0344 854 9822 at least 21 days before you're due to travel. Opening hours are:

Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm
Saturday, 8am-6pm
Sunday, 10am-4pm

See our call charges page for more information

If they agree to the cover and you've paid any additional premiums, they'll arrange for a green card to be sent to you if required.

What you'll need to take when travelling

You'll need to take a copy of your Certificate of Insurance, your driving licence, and your V5C logbook. You'll also need to display a UK sticker on your vehicle.

To drive in some EU/EEA countries, you may also need an International Driving Permit.

Trailer registration

If you intend to tow a trailer with your vehicle, depending on the type of trailer you’ve got, you might also need to register your trailer before you travel. Please visit the government’s trailer registration page for more details.

If you took out or renewed a policy with us after May 2021

Please check 'Section 9 Driving Abroad' in your policy's terms and conditions. It still has information in it about the previous EU ruling, which advised that Green Cards were required in all circumstances. BISL will not be reissuing policy documents in the short term. However, if you choose to renew your policy at your next renewal, this section will be updated.

For more information on driving abroad and any required documentation, please see the websites listed below.

The government's driving abroad page covers the basics you need to know before travelling.
They also have a dedicated page on vehicle insurance when driving abroad
Depending on which country you're travelling to, you may need an international driving permit and how long you're planning to stay.

If you’re an existing Santander Car Insurance customer and want to see your documents or make changes to your policy, you can log on to My account