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Tyre Insurance from Total Loss Gap protects you against the cost of replacing or repairing your car tyres following damage sustained in an accidental or malicious incident.
Examples would be running over a pothole, picking up a nail in the tyre or someone slashing your tyre. The cost of a replacement tyre can be high, and of course, these incidents always come at the worst possible time.
Please note our policy terms have been updated from March 2023; if you have purchased a policy before this date, your terms and conditions will be different. For a full list of what your policy will and will not cover, please see your policy documents or call a team member at 0151 647 7556 or 0800 195 4926.
*If you purchased a brand-new car and your Tyre insurance policy before you took delivery.
If you have a tyre 'blow out', having to replace the tyre is not a pleasant experience. With low-profile tyre walls and several manufacturers using the newer 'run flat' style of tyres, replacements can cost upwards of £350. It is also essential to consider that these are nearly impossible to repair. This means that if you have a run-flat tyre, a simple puncture on these types of tyres would generally mean that you will need a new replacement tyre.
When you add the conditions found on typical roads these days, where avoiding potholes is almost a daily occurrence, the chances of damaging a tyre are clear. This is why more and more people are considering Tyre Insurance to cover these circumstances where the damage renders the tyre unsafe and would not pass an MOT.
This is an important question and something we want to explain in as much detail as possible. We understand that many Tyre Insurance products are in the market today. Your motor dealer has probably offered you one, and you will be able to find any number of products of the same ilk from other online providers.
We can also cover the following types of tyres
For a complete list of eligibility, please see your policy documents.
What is not covered by Tyre Insurance from Total Loss Gap?
Examples of where claims would not be permitted include:
1. Do you have to buy another type of Insurance from Totallossgap.co.uk to buy Tyre Insurance too? - It has often been the case that with some other providers, you have to buy a Gap Insurance policy first to qualify to buy Tyre Insurance, too. At the time of writing, we are pleased to confirm that this is not the case with Totallossgap.co.uk. You may buy a Tyre Insurance policy independently from Gap, Alloy Wheel, or Motor Excess Insurance.
2. Why is there a maximum limit of 30 days from when you buy the vehicle as the maximum period in which you can buy Tyre Insurance from Totallossgap.co.uk? - This is simply a fraud prevention measure. As you can buy the policy online, it would be tempting for someone needing a Tyre Insurance policy (as they have just suffered a 'blowout') to go to our website and buy a policy to cover the cost. We have seen very high numbers of very early claims (for example, 20% of the total number of claims coming within ten days of policy purchase) with some policies in the past without this measure.
By keeping the policy fairer for our customers and insurers, we can see claims costs kept in line with expectations, with all legitimate claims paid. Therefore, we can maintain excellent value policy prices.
A high number of questionable claims would raise prices. We are only interested in offering the best value products to those who intend to use the policy legitimately.
3. Where can my Tyre Insurance claim be processed? - We don't know where in the country you are based, and we don't know where or when you will need to have a puncture repaired or a replacement tyre fitted. Our policy is administered on a pay-for-claim basis, which gives you more freedom, autonomy, and choice about where your tyres are repaired or replaced.
4. What type of damage cannot be claimed for on Tyre Insurance from TLG? - There are a couple of areas to use as examples to answer this point (please check the policy terms via the link below for full exclusions). The first would be typical wear and tear. Tyres wear down with everyday road use; a tyre that needs replacing due to wear and tear would not be covered. Another example would be where the damage incurred does not render the tyre unsafe, i.e. it would pass an MOT. Another final example would be where you use the vehicle for unusual uses like racing, rallying or track days. These are likely to see a higher chance of damage and would not be covered by the policy.
5. What does Tyre insurance cover? - Your total loss Tyre insurance will cover the cost of a puncture repair up to £50 or the price of a replacement tyre to either £150 or £350, depending upon the level of cover you have chosen.
6. Is Tyre insurance worth it?- With a modest tyre costing upwards of £100 and a premium bigger-sized tyre costing over £300, we think that a tyre insurance policy is worth considering. After all, why let a puncture or blowout ruin your day? Why not let you use your insurance policy for it instead?
7. Can tyres be replaced with a tyre insurance policy? - Your tyre insurance policy will replace your tyres if they have been punctured, blown out, or suffered other unforeseen or malicious damage. (T&C's Apply) However, it will not replace your tyres if worn out, as this would be classed as a serviceable item and, as such, something that is expected to be replaced during the ordinary course of driving.
8. Will Tyre insurance payout if your tyres are bald? No. To make a successful tyre insurance claim, your tyres must have a minimum width of 2 mm for tyre depth. Please remember that you would commit a criminal offence if your tyres were bald, as they would be below the minimum requirement of 1.6 mm.
9. Is it better to repair or replace a tyre? There is no fixed answer, as it will depend on the type of tyre and the location of the damage.
Ultimately we have to take the advice of your tyre specialist as they will know if a repair is possible or if a new tyre is needed.
10. Would you replace the other tyre on the same axle if you damage one tyre? No, we would only pay to replace ( when necessary) the damaged tyre.
11. What happens if my new tyre costs more than the maximum claim limit I chose for my insurance policy? In such a scenario, Your tyre insurance policy would cover up to this maximum, and any additional amount would be your responsibility. We believe in transparency and want you to be fully aware of the process.
12. How many years of tyre insurance can I buy? You have the flexibility to choose the coverage duration that suits you best. You can buy up to 4 years of coverage, allowing you to plan for the future.
13. Can I renew my tyre insurance? Unfortunately, you can not renew your policy when it expires. We recommend reviewing your insurance needs and considering your required coverage before purchasing a new policy. Our customer service team is available to help you and answer any questions.
14. Do I have to pay an excess when I make a tyre insurance claim? We're pleased to inform you that if you have purchased your policy after March 2023, there is no excess or call-out charge. We want you to feel secure knowing there are no hidden costs.
15. How much does tyre insurance cost? Several factors influence the cost of tyre insurance. These include the type and size of your tyres, whether they are run-flat, N-rated, low profile, or standard, and the duration of the policy. The maximum number of claims per year you choose also affects the cost. For instance, a 4-year Run flat tyre insurance policy for 22-inch wheels with up to 4 claims per year will be more expensive than a 2-year 16-inch standard policy with up to 2 claims per year. For a more accurate estimate, click for a quote or call our customer service team.
16. What happens if I have a flat tyre at the side of the road? If your car is safe to drive, please go to your nearest local VAT-registered tyre specialist and contact the claims team. If your vehicle is unsafe to drive, please get in touch with your recovery service, who will assist you in finding a tyre specialist. If you do not have a recovery service with the claims team's authorisation, your policy will pay up to £35.00 towards the recovery cost.
17. Does your tyre's speed rating affect the cost of your tyre insurance? No, your tyre's speed rating will not affect the cost of your Total Loss Gap tyre insurance policy.
18. If my tyre is partly worn, do I have to pay anything towards the cost of a new tyre if it can not be repaired? No, as long as your tyre has a minimum of 2 mm of tread, your policy will, when necessary, pay for a new tyre. However, it's important to note that our tyre insurance policy does not cover tyres damaged due to wear and tear, punctures, or other non-accidental reasons. We recommend reviewing the terms and conditions to understand our tyre insurance policy's limitations comprehensively.
If you are considering adding Alloy Wheel Insurance to Tyre Insurance, please look at our Complete Wheel Insurance. This combined product mixes our Alloy Wheel Insurance with our Tyre Insurance. The combined product offers cover for run flat, standard tyres, and the often excluded diamond and laser cut alloys. Moreover, using the combined product is less expensive than using the Tyre and Alloy Wheel Insurance separately. We say 'Win-win' for more claims, cover, AND lower premiums!
Tyers are made worldwide by many manufacturers and just one tyre can cost more than a brand-new Tesla. The most expensive tyre is a LeTourneau L-2350 front-loader Tyre, which costs an eye-watering £49773.78 per tyre, followed by the Michelin fitted to the Bugatti Veyron, which costs £7898.90 again per tyre. We also need to point out that while we could not cover these tyres, you may be surprised to see how much a tyre for a more popular car may cost.
Type of Car | Ford Fiesta | BMW 420i M sport | Mercedes E Class | Volkswagen Touareg |
Tyre Size | 199/55/16 | 275/45/18 | 275/55/19 | 274/45/20 |
The average cost of a new tyre | £110.00 | £151.20 | £246.19 | £227.60 |
Cost of Total Loss Tyre Insurance Policy | £197.24 | £331.06 | £333.81 | £335.75 |
Maximum Number of claims for 3 years | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Maximum cost if all claims are made | £1320.00 | £1814.40 | £2954.28 | £2731.20 |
( prices taken on the st February 2024 - all policies were quoted with a maximum claim of £350 except for the Ford Fiesta, which had a claim limit of £150)
That means that in each case, you could save over £1000; if you have two or more claims, you have had more than the cost of your premium back.
Approximately 2.35 billion tyres are produced each year. So, how popular is the brand of tyres fitted to your car? Figures taken from the British Tyre Manufacturers Association February 2024 are shown as a percentage of market share. We concluded that while 50% of the tyres produced were from four larger tyre manufacturers, the rest were from over ten other manufacturers.
Tyre Insurance IPID After March 2023 Tyre Insurance T&C After March 2023
Total Loss Tyre IPID Before March 2023 Tyre Insurance T&C Before March 2023
Let's look at a tyre 255/35 R19 96Y.
It is not a random set of numbers; instead, it contains all the information that any tyre specialist needs to ensure that your replacement tyre is the right size.
Different tyre manufacturers spend hundreds of millions of pounds developing their tyres, so the exact formula of what is in any specific tyre is a commercial secret. However, the BTMA ( British Tyre Manufacture Association) lists the following ingredients as being included in the manufacture of tyres.
Tires have come a long way since ancient times when people used various materials to cushion their wheels. Pneumatic tyres were introduced in the early 1900s, improving handling and smoothing the ride. Radial tyres, introduced in the 1940s, improved fuel efficiency and the lifespan of tyres. Tubeless tyres, introduced in the 1960s, made tyres more durable and puncture-resistant. Steel-belted radial tyres, introduced in the 1970s, further improved vehicle handling.
Today, tyres are made of synthetic rubber, natural rubber, and various other materials, making them more durable and long-lasting than ever before. Today's tyres are sometimes designed with the manufacturers' input ( for example, Porsche's input into developing N-rated tyres ), providing maximum performance, safety, and reliability.
Why not click for an instant quote and see how affordable a tyre insurance policy can be?