Car insurance is an essential part of motoring - it's a legal requirement for any driver in the UK. At the very least every driver is expected to have third party insurance that covers injuries to others (including passengers) and damage to other people's property. A claim situation would only arise as a claim against you by a third party.

While this is the minimum amount of cover the law expects of you, it doesn't cover very much – for example, if your car is in an accident and gets written off, you would lose the value of your car.

The next step up is third party, fire and theft - essentially the same as third party but with additional cover if your vehicle is set on fire or stolen. This cover would not cover you for the any personal possessions or extras that you have added to the car.

The most popular cover is fully comprehensive cover – which covers the owner in the event of causing damage to a third party, in the event of fire and theft as well as damage to one's car and the damage, and also the loss or theft of any goods from within the car.

The first step to consider when making any kind of claim on your car insurance is what's covered? Not only does the type of policy dictate the nature of your claim but also the specific details of the policy.

For example, does your insurance include replacement locks? Can you claim for personal possessions and if so what items are covered and to what value?

It's worth noting that many people these days have home contents insurance which covers items carried in your car – check the difference in policy to see which insurance policy is more cost effective to claim with.

There are two primary factors to consider when making a claim – your excess charge and your no-claims bonus.

- Excess

The excess charge is how much you are willing to pay in the event of an accident. Your insurance provider may set a compulsory excess charge or the excess charge may be voluntary – whichever the case, the golden rule is the more excess you are willing to pay the lower your premium.

The excess charge can be a major deciding factor in whether to make a claim or not.

For example, if you agree to paying an excess of £200 that means that if you have an accident that costs £400 to repair your vehicle, you pay £200 and the insurance company pays £200. If your claim is less than £200 then the insurance company will not pay anything.

So, as long as the claim is more than the excess you should make a claim, right?

Not necessarily – that brings us on to our next major factor:

- No claims bonus

To some people the thought of losing their no-claims bonus is the stuff of nightmares. It's no surprise – some no claims bonus policies can save you 65% on your premium if you have five years or more of no claims.

The particular details of your no-claims bonus vary from policy to policy – with some there is no quarter: if you make a claim, you lose your bonus. With others there is a system of "three strikes and you're out" whereby you are allowed to make two claims within a certain time period but a third would result in your losing your bonus.

There are also protected no claims bonus policies where you can pay an extra premium to protect your no claims bonus so even if you have to make a claim you save money.

Far from being straightforward, making a claim can become a careful balancing act of costs. To make the right decision you need to weigh up, not just the cost of the claim but the effect that claim will have on your premium.