by Brian Hanley
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For SMEs, sports clubs, community groups and voluntary organisations · Last reviewed: May 2026
A quote may arrive with little explanation, or with changes that are not obvious at first glance. A cheaper price can hide a higher excess, lower limits or new exclusions. A few direct questions help you see what you are really getting before you accept.
Insurance words in plain English
- Premium — what you pay for the cover.
- Excess — the part of any claim you pay yourself.
- Cover limit — the most the policy will pay out.
- Exclusion — something the policy will not cover.
- Warranty / condition — a requirement you must keep, or your cover may not apply.
- Like-for-like — the same cover as last year, so you are comparing fairly.
Before terms are offered, ask
- What information are you using — last year’s, or do we need to update anything?
- Which insurers will you approach, and will you seek more than one quote?
- Is anything in our claims history likely to affect the quote?
- Are there activities, events or volunteer roles we should explain more clearly?
When a quote arrives
Ask your broker or insurer to explain, in plain English, how it compares with last year on:
- premium, excess and cover limits;
- activities, events, premises and locations covered;
- employees, volunteers, committee members, directors or trustees;
- exclusions, warranties, conditions or restrictions;
- claims notification rules, and payment or cancellation terms.
Red flags before accepting a cheaper quote
Check whether any activity, event or location has been dropped; the excess has risen sharply, or a lower limit may not be enough; new exclusions or stricter claims rules have been added; or one-off events now need separate approval. None of these automatically makes a quote unsuitable — but understand the trade-off before you accept and ask for the key differences in writing.
If you use a broker, also ask
Which insurers were approached, and did any decline? What fee and/or commission applies? Will you help us if we need to claim? Could going directly to an insurer, or looking online, give us a different option?
Useful links
See also: Factsheet 3 — If your premium jumps or you cannot get cover.
This factsheet is general information and education only. It is not legal, insurance, financial, claims, health and safety, data protection or other professional advice. Get appropriate professional advice before making insurance, claims, complaint or reporting decisions.
