SMART and Alloy Insurance Explained

SMART and Alloy insurance is designed to cover your lease vehicle against small scratches, scuffs, and dents to the bodywork, and alloy wheel damage caused by accidental or malicious damage. This policy is separate from your standard motor insurance and ensures repairs are carried out using SMART repair techniques (Small to Medium Area Repair Technology), which typically take around an hour to complete.

A SMART and Alloy Insurance policy covers you for sudden and unforeseen damage to the lease vehicle, which can be repaired using minor damage repair techniques. Specifically, this includes:

Minor Damage Repair Insurance

• The cost of a SMART repair where accidental minor cosmetic damage occurs to the bodywork of your vehicle as a result of day-to-day motoring. 
• Minor cosmetic damages includes: minor dent not exceeding 30cm in diameter, a minor scratch not exceeding 30cm in length, a scuffed bumper that's less than 30cm in diameter, a scratched or scuffed wing mirror that's less than 30cm in diameter. 
• The cost of a SMART repair for minor cosmetic damage is limited to £1,000 per claim including VAT and £3,000 including VAT in total. 
• A contribution of up to £250 including VAT towards a bodyshop repair, where the minor cosmetic damage falls within the 30cm covered area and is not repairable using a SMART repair techniques.

Alloy Wheel Insurance

• The cost of a repair to an alloy wheel in the event of accidental or malicious damage. 
• Alloy wheel repairs are limited to ten (10) during the policy term at a maximum of £150 per repair including VAT and £1,500 including VAT in total. 
• A contribution towards a replacement alloy wheel in the even it is damaged beyond repair, up to a maximum of £150 including VAT per alloy wheel. Any contribution towards a replacement counts as one (1) of the ten (10) repairs. 

Windscreen Replacement Excess Cover

A contribution towards your motor insurance windscreen excess where your vehicle requires a replacement windscreen as a result of damage caused by day-to-day motoring, for a maximum of: 

• Three (3) contributions during the policy term; and 
• £150 including VAT for any one contribution; and 
• £450 including VAT in total, during the policy term. 

Not all vehicle damage is covered by SMART Insurance and you must make a claim within a specified time limit. Specifically, SMART Insurance does not cover:

• Any claim which is not reported within thirty (30) days of the incident date. 
• Stone chip damage to the vehicle. 
• Damage that is not repairable by a SMART repair, is beyond minor cosmetic damage, or because of the extent or number of areas of damage, a bodyshop repair is required. 
• Any damage where the body panel, bumper, or wing mirror is ripped, perforated, cracked or torn or there is damage to the structure and/or alignment. 
• Damage to the roof, locks or handles, beading, mouldings, lamps, window panels, glass, windscreen (other than a claim for windscreen replacement excess) or wheel trims. 
• Any claim relating to damage caused by neglect or by a deliberate, careless act or emission by you, or the cost of any routine maintenance or adjustments. 
• Any claim where the damage has been accumulated over an extended period and is deemed wear and tear. 
• Any damage to an alloy wheel due to rust or corrosion. 
• Any claim relating to an alloy wheel that wasn't fitted/present at the start of the policy. 
• Any claim relating to an accident or as a result of fire, theft, or flood. 
• Any claim for malicious damage that is not accompanied by a crime reference number. 
• Vehicle that have a specialist bodywork finish. 
• Wheels that are of chrome finish, polished finish, or split rim construction. 
• Any windscreen replacement excess claim involving malicious or intentional damage. 
• Consequential damage, loss or injury of any kind. 

For full terms and conditions please refer to your policy document.

Up to 36 months of cover is available with SMART Insurance. The cover runs from the start date, which for lease agreements is usually the date the insured vehicle is delivered. The cover end date will be the first of the following dates: 

• the end date of the policy as shown on your policy schedule, or 
• the date on which the maximum claims amount has been reached
• you fail to pay your premium when due
• you, or the vehicle, no longer meet the eligibility criteria for your policy
• the vehicle is sold or transferred to a new owner, other than under section 9 – transferring your policy
• the policy is cancelled by either you or us

Please note, this insurance policy cannot be renewed and can only be taken out within 30 days of delivery of your lease vehicle.

As long as the scratch, scuff or dent meets the specified criteria outlined in the policy, cover is provided for incidents which occur within the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or Channel Islands and for a single trip that lasts no more than 60 days to Switzerland or the countries of the European Economic Area. 

Cover only applies where the damage is a result of day-to-day motoring and where the accidental or malicious damage is a result of a sudden and unforeseen event. 

You must also be a resident in the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man. 

You must have also purchased the policy from the dealer no later than thirty (30) days after agreeing to the vehicle. 

The main benefit of taking out SMART Insurance is that you can maintain the appearance of your lease car. Repairing minor damage as it happens can help avoid the cost of hefty end-of-contract fees when your vehicle is inspected at the end of your contract. SMART Insurance also means there will be no vehicle down time while the vehicle is in the body shop for minor damage, so you won’t have to arrange alternative transport.

Other benefits include:

• Professional repairs are carried out at a time convenient for you.
• Up to £1,000 per claim.
• Unlimited number of claims up to the maximum aggregate of £3,000.
• If the damage is within 30cm but requires a body shop repair, the policy will contribute £250 towards the cost.
• Cover for up to 36 months.

As with any insurance policy, it is important that you review the policy, including any exclusions to ensure that SMART Insurance is right for you. Things to consider include:

• Any damage which is not SMART repairable is not covered by this policy.
• SMART repair technology will not correct damage to bonnets, boots and roofs.
• Any damage needs to be reported within 30 days of occurring on the vehicle.
• Vehicles used as emergency vehicles, driving school cars, or any other type of hire and reward are excluded.
• Vehicles used for road racing, rallying, pace-making, speed testing and any other competitive events are excluded.
• Commercial vehicles weighing over 3.5 tonnes, busses, vans and motorcycles are excluded. 

Please note, all aftermarket repairs vary from the manufacturers factory finish which is machine sprayed to a degree beyond that achievable by human capability.

Please be aware, SMART insurance is not compulsory. However, Nationwide Vehicle Contracts believes it’s a great option to protect your lease vehicle against small scratches, scuffs, and dents that occur more often than not from means out of your control, regardless of how carefully you drive.

You must provide full and accurate information to all questions asked. Your answers must be true to the best of your knowledge and belief. Your answers will form part of the statement of facts on which your policy will be based. If you become aware that information you have given us is inaccurate or has changed, you must inform us as soon as possible. Failure to do this may invalidate your policy and claims may not be paid.

You must advice us if you sell or transfer ownership of the vehicle as this will require changes to the policy. 

You must make us aware of any change in circumstances that affect your eligibility for this policy. 

You must notify us as soon as reasonably possible in the event of a claim but no later than thirty (30) days from the incident date. 

You will be responsible for payment of any repair work completed that falls outside of the scope of this policy. 

For a claim for malicious damage you must notify the police and provide a crime reference number. 

For all obligations please refer to your policy document.

SMART Insurance costs £399 for up to 36 months of cover. You can pay this as a one-off payment or spread the cost over 10 monthly instalments of £39.90. 

If you are interested in taking out SMART Insurance, please contact our Minor Damage Insurance team on 0161 300 7437 or email [email protected]

SMART Insurance is underwritten by Fortegra Europe Insurance Company SE UK Branch, a brand of Fortegra Europe Insurance Company SE (Malta Company Registration Number SE 17; UK Brand registration number BR021916) who is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority. 

Fortegra Europe Insurance Company Limited
The Reed Centre
Blue Harbour
Ta’ Xbiex Marina
Ta’ Xbiex
XBX1027
Malta.

Claiming through SMART Insurance has never been easier thanks to Premia Solutions’ online claim portal. You can contact them by:

• visiting their policy holder portal at https://www.mypremia.co.uk;
• calling 01926 622 660

From there, you’ll be asked to complete a claims form and return it back along with accompanying supporting photographs.

Once your form and photographs have been assessed – checked to see if they meet the criteria – and authorised, a skilled approved repairer will conduct a repair at a time and place convenient for you.

You have the right to cancel the policy at any time. Please contact the supplying dealer if you wish to cancel within 30 days of the start date on the policy schedule or receipt of the policy terms, whichever is easier. If you wish to cancel after this period, you can contact the administrator, Premia Solutions Limited: 

• By visiting https://www.mypremia.co.uk or 
• By telephone on 01926 622 660 or 
• By writing to Customer Services, Premia Solutions Limited, 3 Corunna Court, Corunna Road, Warwick CV34 5HQ 

If you have not made a claim and do not intend to make a claim you may cancel your SMART Insurance within 30 days of receiving the policy documents and you’ll receive a full refund of the premium.

If you cancel after 30 days you will pay for the number of months you have had the insurance for. This figure will be rounded up to the nearest month, and the rest of the premium will be returned to you, minus an administration fee of £35.

For example:

• 36 months cover
• Premium paid £360
• Cancellation in month 18 leaves 18 full months remaining
• Refund of £180—£35 administration fee
• Amount to refund £145