Car insurance guides & resources

We’ve compiled a list of car insurance guides to help you find the best policy based on your individual needs. From choosing the right level of cover, to actionable tips on reducing your premium, we’ve got you covered.

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Danny Butler
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Car insurance types

Temporary car insurance

Short term cover can be extremely handy if you want to help share the driving on a longer journey, you’re borrowing a car for a weekend, or you’re loaning your car to a friend or family member whilst you’re away on holiday.

Temporary car insurance

Pay-as-you-go car insurance

Pay-as-you-go car insurance (PAYG) is a specialised type of policy that’s designed so that you only pay for cover when you’re using your car. Find out how it works and compare your PAYG insurance options.

Pay-as-you-go car insurance

Black box car insurance

Black box or telematics car insurance is a specialised type of cover that’s designed to give good drivers cheaper car insurance. A black box device is attached to your car to record your driving performance, which is then used to determine the size of your premiums. The safer your driving, the less you’ll pay for cover.

Black box car insurance

Multi-car insurance

Multi-car insurance is like regular car insurance, but allows you insure up to ten cars on the same policy. You’ll also generally receive discounted cover for each additional vehicle you add to the policy.

Multi-car insurance

Car hire excess

If you rent a car and it’s damaged, lost or stolen, you’ll be charged an “excess” by the rental company (the amount you have to pay before the insurance cover kicks in). It’s typically several hundred pounds. Car hire excess insurance covers this amount so you don’t have to pay it.

Car hire excess

Comprehensive car insurance

From a 6-car pileup on the motorway to a rogue shopping trolley in the carpark, comprehensive insurance provides the highest level of protection available. It’s designed to cover your car, other people’s cars as well as other people’s property when the unexpected happens.

Comprehensive car insurance

Third party, fire and theft car insurance

Third party, fire and theft car insurance is designed to cover you when your vehicle is stolen or damaged by fire, or if you’re responsible for an accident that damages someone else’s vehicle or property. This mid-level car insurance option provides cover against the most common risks you face when on or off the road, but is designed to be more affordable than fully comprehensive car insurance.

Third party, fire and theft car insurance

Third party only car insurance

Third party car insurance is the most basic policy you can get, and it only covers you for a collision or accident that damages someone else’s vehicle or property. While it has historically been the most affordable level of car insurance on the market, this isn’t always the case.

Third party only car insurance

Car warranty insurance

A third-party warranty can cover the cost of repairing your car if it suffers from a mechanical breakdown or electrical failure. Some will even cover you for wear and tear. If you’re looking at taking out a car warranty policy, we explain what types of repairs a car warranty will cover you for and look at whether a policy like this is good value for money.

Car warranty insurance

Driver types

Young driver car insurance

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of getting behind the wheel for the first time after you’ve passed your driving test. But nothing can slam the brakes on your driving dreams quite like the cost of car insurance.

Young driver car insurance

Older driver car insurance

If you class yourself as a safe and experienced driver aged over 50, you should be tapping into some of the cheapest car insurance currently on the market. Car insurance providers are more likely to lower your risk and your premium if you have a long history of safe driving.

Older driver car insurance

Bad credit car insurance

A poor credit score can affect more than your ability to borrow money or apply for a credit card in the future – it might also affect your car insurance premiums or exclude you from some insurers. However, you can still get car insurance with bad credit, you simply might have to do some more research. Below are some options and resources that can get you on the right track.

Bad credit car insurance

Convicted driver car insurance

Do you have a driving conviction and worry whether insurance providers will offer you the car insurance policy you need? Be it points on your license, driving under the influence or a previous driving ban that’s left a smear on your record, there are insurance options out there.

Convicted driver car insurance

Vehicle types

Electric

Just like traditional car insurance, electric car insurance is calculated based on a number of factors based on the car, the driver and the risk they pose on the road.

Electric

Imported

Nowadays, it can be relatively easy to buy a car overseas and have it brought back to the UK. Whilst registering your new imported car with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and paying tax and VAT can be straight forward, getting it insured can be another matter entirely.

Imported

Sports

Read our guide to discover why sports car insurance can often be pricey but how you might be able to save on the premiums for your speedy pride and joy.

Sports

Modified

Certain changes such as installing a body kit or having tinted windows fitted can lead to insurance premiums increasing while other changes such as fitting an alarm or parking sensors can mean premiums actually fall. If you still crave that turbocharged engine but are worried about expensive insurance, find out how you might still be able to save money on your premiums.

Modified

Classic

Classic car insurance can provide your car with the specialist protection it needs. What’s more, the insurance premiums can be competitive, leaving you with more money to spend elsewhere. Read our guide to discover how classic car insurance works, and if it’s worth getting classic cover over traditional car insurance.

Classic

4x4

If you own a 4×4, you may be used to shelling out a whole heap to keep it running, but should you also expect to pay a hefty amount to protect it? If you want to cut costs without cutting cover, you do have options.

4x4

Specialist

Specialist car insurers will provide cover for drivers and their cars that wouldn’t necessarily be able to obtain standard car insurance. While some popular insurance companies might offer a number of specialist car insurance policies, other policies may only be offered by companies that deal solely in specialist insurance.

Specialist

American

If you have your heart set on an exciting and iconic American imported car, one of the trade-offs is likely to be a hefty insurance bill. If you consider it a price worth paying for the thrill of driving an American classic, make sure that your policy has all of the features you need.

American

Optional extras

Optional extras

No matter whether you own a big luxury SUV or a zippy little hatch, car insurance is a crucial cost to consider before hitting the road. But as well as the standard cover provided by your comprehensive car insurance policy, there are several optional extras you can take out to provide increased cover for your set of wheels.

Optional extras

No claims bonus

Making an insurance claim is sometimes necessary to cover the costs of damages or injuries after an accident. But did you know that the longer you go without making a claim, the more likely it becomes that you’re eligible for discounts on your insurance costs? Read on to find out how these kinds of discounts work, and how you can use them to get the best value on your car insurance.

No claims bonus

Child seat

If you have young children, you will probably have the requisite car seat so they can travel safely on car journeys. But did you know that if you have a bump in your car, you should really replace all child car seats in case they’ve been damaged or weakened as a result of the impact? Don’t be left out of pocket if you do have to replace child seats

Child seat

Personal accident

If you sustain significant injuries, or worse, prematurely die as a result of an accident, will you and your loved ones receive any compensation? You may think that personal accident cover will be included in your car insurance. However, that’s not always the case. Here’s what we think you should know about personal accident cov

Personal accident

Legal expenses

To avoid being left out of pocket in such an event, you may consider legal expenses cover, which could provide you with financial protection against these legal costs. Although forget about any guarantees. Read our guide to discover what is typically covered by legal assistance and the pros and cons of getting it added to your car insurance policy.

Legal expenses

Key cover

Losing your car keys is both stressful and frustrating, and can also be quite expensive. Modern electronic key fobs are a whole lot more costly to replace than traditional keys, so a simple bout of forgetfulness could cost more than you think.

Key cover

Windscreen repair

Windscreen cover protects you in the unfortunate event that your windscreen gets damaged and needs repairing or replacing. With most policies, you won’t have to pay for small chip repairs but with some you may have to pay a small excess fee. If your windscreen needs a full replacement, you are likely to have to pay an excess, which can vary in cost across different providers.

Windscreen repair

European cover

Each year millions of Brits drive over to Europe for their holidays. If you’re planning on hitting the continental roads, we walk you through getting extra temporary European car insurance cover for anyone who’ll be borrowing or sharing a car on their trip.

European cover

Insurance groups 1 – 50

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Danny Butler's headshot
Written by

Publisher

Danny is a publisher at Finder specialising in insurance and investing. He previously worked at the global insurer Aon and has appeared in national media giving advice on insurance. Danny holds a BA in International Business from the University of Plymouth and has undying loyalty to his average-poor football team, Portsmouth FC. See full bio

Danny's expertise
Danny has written 336 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Car, home and business insurance
  • Helping people save money on their insurance
  • Project management
  • Giving valuable insights to website visitors
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