Published 2 March 2026
A guide to motor legal expenses
Motor Legal Expenses (MLE), is often sold as an add on or optional extra with your car insurance policy. This legal protection means you're covered for legal expenses relating to an incident you've experienced on the road or involving your car. In this guide, we'll explore what motor legal expenses covers, what it doesn't cover, and how to make a claim through your car insurance policy.
What does Motor Legal Expenses mean?
Motor Legal Expenses (MLE), or Motor Legal Protection, is a specialised form of insurance cover that helps protect you financially when legal disputes arise from road incidents. Unlike standard car insurance, which covers vehicle damage and injuries, Motor Legal Protection specifically covers the legal costs associated with pursuing or defending a case related to your vehicle.
What does Motor Legal Expenses cover?
Allianz Motor Legal Expenses provides up to £100,000 to help you recover costs and pursue claims after an accident that wasn't your fault. This makes sure you're not left out of pocket for expenses that standard car insurance alone doesn't cover.
These expenses can include:
Uninsured losses you can reclaim
- Medical costs for you and any passengers in your car.
- Reasonable travel expenses for your daily commute.
- The cost of a hire car while yours is being repaired or replaced.
- Loss of earnings if you're unable to work due to injury.
- Your policy excess recovery from the at-fault party.
- Damage to personal belongings that weren't covered by your main policy.
- The cost of chargeable phone calls to your insurer and solicitor.
- All court and solicitor fees incurred during the claim.
So, with this protection, you can confidently pursue your case knowing the financial burden of legal proceedings is covered.
We included this cover as standard with our Allianz Online Gold cover level and it’s available to add to our Silver and Bronze cover levels for £25.99 a year.
It’s important to remember, this will only be valid if there’s deemed to be more than a 51% chance of success in the legal battle. Our free legal helpline will advise you on this.
Motor insurance legal assistance
As well as up to £100,000 to defend you against motoring disputes, with Allianz, you'll also have 24-Hour Access to our legal helpline for advice on any private legal matters – not just those related to your vehicle or driving record.
Free legal advice is available via our helpline whenever you need it, giving you peace of mind that expert support is just a phone call away.
What isn't covered by Motor Legal Expenses?
Motor legal expenses insurance won't cover you in situations where you're considered the driver at fault. Being "at fault" means you're legally responsible for causing the accident through negligence or breaking traffic laws. Here's what's typically excluded:
- Compensation awarded to someone claiming against you.
- Any fines or penalty points from motoring offences.
- Legal proceedings where you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Claims with less than a 51% chance of success in legal proceedings.
- Any costs or expenses if you're determined to be at fault for the incident.
Remember, motoring offences like speeding tickets or driving without proper documentation are classified as legal proceedings that won't be covered by your MLE policy.
Do I need motor legal protection with my car insurance?
Although it’s not a legal requirement, MLE gives you the peace of mind that you're financially protected if you're involved in a claim or legal battle following an incident that wasn't your fault.
With Allianz motor legal expenses cover, you'll have up to £100,000 available to pursue uninsured losses which are expenses standard car insurance doesn't cover.
Is Motor Legal Expenses worth it?
For most drivers, the answer is yes. Motor legal protection offers exceptional value compared to the potential legal fees you might face without it. At Allianz, our MLE provides comprehensive protection if you need to recover uninsured losses, so we can take some of the stress off your hands.
Plus, with Allianz MLE, you'll have access to our 24/7 legal helpline, which you can use for advice on any private legal disputes – not just relating to your car or driving record. This additional benefit provides year-round value even if you're never involved in an accident.
How much does Allianz Motor Legal Expenses cost?
Allianz provides up to £100,000 of legal expenses cover as standard with our Allianz Online Gold cover level, and it’s available to add to our Silver and Bronze cover levels for £25.99 a year.
How do I claim using Motor Legal Expenses?
Following an incident, it's important to contact us as soon as possible (once everyone is safe). Be prepared to provide your policy number, details of the incident, and any evidence you've collected (photos, witness details, police report numbers).
We'll then get in touch with our panel of legal experts on your behalf. You can also opt to appoint your own solicitor, providing they're happy with our standard scale of charges. They'll guide you through the entire process, helping you gather evidence and build your case. Your legal protection covers their fees throughout the process, giving you access to professional legal representation without the financial burden.
Already an Allianz Online Car Insurance customer? To add Motor Legal Expenses to your policy, simply log into your Allianz account.
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