Only one in eight policies offer any cover for road rage incidents, according to the annual report on the motor insurance industry from independent financial research company Defaqto.
The irony, says Defaqto, is that consumer research has identified cover for road rage incidents as an important differentiator for consumers when deciding on policy purchase, particularly among drivers aged 55-plus.
Ninety Four per cent of motor insurance policies in 2010 do not offer any cover for road rage, although this is still an improvement from 2005, when the figure was 99 per cent, says Defaqto.
Benefit limits range from £500 to £5,000 and usually cover costs incurred for professional counselling, although some also give a benefit for physical assault.
"Although this is a potentially useful benefit, the exclusions under this section are very clear and could make claiming difficult said Mike Powell, author of the report and Defaqto's Insight Analyst for General Insurance.
“Exclusions include incidents caused by a relative or a person known to the policyholder, or incidents caused or contributed by anything said or done by the insured person or passenger in the car.
“In the heat of the moment, many people may find it difficult to stay calm, and it could therefore be hard to prove to the insurer that the insured person did not contribute to the situation by anything that was said."
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