Find out whether you’ll receive a pay out if you’re the victim of a road rage attack
Road rage insurance can cover you if you’re the victim of violence on the road. For example, someone losing their temper or carjacking.
It pays out a set amount if you, or possibly others travelling in your car, are killed or injured in a road rage attack.
It’s rare to find it as part of your car insurance policy. We checked Defaqto and only 12% of 350 comprehensive car insurance policies include road rage cover as standard. Another 3% allow you to add it as an optional extra.[1]
Road rage-inflicted injuries are more often covered by personal injury cover, if you have it.
It’s unlikely you’ll be covered for road rage with a third party, fire and theft policy - a tiny 1% of 188 policies include road rage cover as standard.
But with more than a quarter of drivers surveyed by RAC in 2020 saying other drivers' aggressive behaviour was a concern, it’s cover worth having.
Call the police immediately if you’re the victim of a road rage attack - the perpetrator could be arrested, then prosecuted, fined or have penalty points added to their licence.
Next, give your insurer a ring and explain the situation.
They’ll let you know what you’re covered for – things like medical expenses, trauma counselling or intentional damage to your vehicle.
Make a note of the other person’s details like their reg number before you leave the scene and get the contact numbers of any witnesses.
Take photos of the damage caused and make a note of things like the weather conditions too - this will all help with your claim.
If you lose your temper and cause an accident or are aggressive towards another driver, you could invalidate your car insurance policy and be fined by the police.
Insurers might not pay out on road rage cover if:
You’ll also need to report the incident to the police as soon as you can to get a crime reference number to tell your insurer.
You might be able to get financial compensation for injuries or trauma counselling with road rage cover
Road rage situations can escalate quickly and it’s safer to not retaliate. Pull over if you need to take a moment
If someone is driving closely behind you, pull over and let them pass rather than racing against them or feeling pressurised into driving faster
Fitting a dashcam in your car will make sure that if you’re involved in any accidents or altercations you have evidence to show your insurer or the police
If you need to be at an appointment, leave early so you’re not rushed and stressed out on the way
Try to be understanding of other people on the road too – they could be a new driver making a simple mistake
[1]Last checked 12 January, 2021