There are many different types of Car insurance policies and levels of cover, here is a brief description of insurance definitions typically used within the insurance industries.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Income Policy
A Life Insurance contract that provides income on a monthly or other periodic basis, as opposed to a policy which pays proceeds in a lump sum.

Income Protection Insurance
Income Protection Insurance (also known as Permanent Health Insurance or PHI) provides a monthly income during periods of long-term illness or disability.

Independent Financial Adviser
A broker or other intermediary authorised to sell or advise on the policies offered by any insurance company, as well as other financial service providers.

Industrial Insurance
Whole of life and endowment insurance with relatively low value (under £1000 sum assured). Historically, the premiums were collected by an insurance company agent at the policyholder's home. However, these may now be paid by monthly bank transfer. The legislation governing this type of insurance is less formal than for 'ordinary branch' and if an insurance company transacts both types of business it is required to keep them segregated.

Inflation
The amount in percentage terms by which prices rise or fall year on year. In the UK, the primary measure of this is the Retail Price Index (RPI); the underlying rate of inflation is the RPI with mortgage repayment figures stripped out.

In Force
Business Life or Health Insurance that is current and for which premiums are being paid or for which premiums have been fully paid.

Inheritance Tax
This tax is payable at the time of death, on any items (money or otherwise) where ownership changes on death or within 7 years before. There is no inheritance tax on the first portion of the deceased person's estate and transfers between husband and wife are exempt. There are other exemptions and the rules governing these can be complex. In-kind Contribution Support in the form of goods or services rather than a cash contribution.

Inland Revenue
The Inland Revenue is the government department responsible for the assessment and collection of direct taxation on income, capital gains, stamp duties, corporation tax and inheritance tax.

Inland Revenue Limits
Limitations on benefits and contributions applied to an approved occupational pension scheme in return for tax relief.

Insurable Interest
A principle of insurance that states that someone may only take out insurance if they stand to suffer a financial loss from an event covered by a policy.

Insurance
An agreement under which individuals, businesses, and other organisations, in exchange for payment of a sum of money (a premium), are guaranteed indemnity for losses resulting from certain events or conditions specified in a contract (policy).

Insurance Premium Tax
UK tax imposed on most non-life insurance premiums.

Insured
A person or organisation covered by an insurance policy.

Insured Scheme
A pension scheme which uses an Insurance Policy as the long term investment vehicle, as opposed to a Managed Fund Policy.

Insurer
The party to the insurance contract who promises to pay losses or benefits, usually an insurance company.

Intermediary
A person or organisation that offers advice and arranges policies for clients. Under UK regulations, intermediaries must be either (1) "Tied", whereby they represent only one company in the case of life business or a limited number of companies for general business, or (2) "Independent", whereby there is no limit on the number of companies with which they can deal.

Intestate
Dying without having made a Will. If a UK resident dies intestate there are rules as to the distribution of the estate, which have to be followed whether or not they coincide with what the deceased person would have wished.

Irrevocable Trust
A trust arrangement that cannot be revoked by the creator.