How much does James Bond's car insurance cost?

We often wonder what James Bond's work expenses invoice comes to. Does he get the bus and put through taxi receipts to make a small profit? Treat Moneypenny to a Nandos?

Our friends at Stuff have gone a step further than idle Bond musings and have calculated the secret agent's car insurance.

James would have to pay some seventeen times more than the average young driver to buzz around in the 3.0L V6 diesel Jaguar XJ L seen in Skyfall.

Underwriters for insurance company Churchill told Stuff that, assuming 007 lives in the SW3 region of Chelsea, London – as per the books – is somewhere in his forties and has a zero no claims bonus, Mr Bond's insurance premium would be £50,000 ($80,000) – about the same price as the car itself.

"From one British icon to another, Churchill is the perfect insurer for James Bond – however, the premium would be £50,000," Churchill explained.

"This is based on a 40 year old civil servant living in SW3 driving a highly modified (guns, ejector seats, invisibility) Jaguar XJ L, single driver, zero no claims discount due to many Aston Martin write-offs, excessive traffic offences ranging from speeding, dangerous driving and running traffic lights to talking on a mobile. High mileage and danger to other road users are also considered."

"Reinsurers are not happy to allow foreign use as James often appears outside of the EU and in some instances under water," Churchill added.

Image: Rex