Comprehensive car insurance is the highest level you can get. It covers your car, other people’s cars and other people’s property when the unexpected happens, and policies typically include a courtesy car (and the cover for you to drive it).
Fully comprehensive car insurance is the highest level of cover you can buy to protect your car. It provides a greater level of cover than the 2 other options available – third party only and third party, fire and theft – and it allows you to make a claim for an accident even if it was your fault.
Comprehensive car insurance, or “fully comp” as it’s also known, covers loss or damage to your own vehicle and your legal liability to a third party for loss or damage to their vehicle or property or any injuries they sustain. A typical comprehensive car insurance policy covers your vehicle against the following:
Comprehensive policies vary in terms of what additional cover they offer. Some will include a range of extras as standard, but many more will require you to pay a little extra to bolt them on to your policy. It’s completely up to you as to whether you want to add them, but it’s worth considering how likely you are to benefit from additional cover and how much you can afford to pay for your policy. Extras you might want to consider include:
When comparing policies, it’s best not to simply plump for the cheapest policy you find. While the overall cost is important, you also want to make sure the policy covers you for everything you need it to. This means you should hunt out the best level of cover at the cheapest price. Also check whether there is a no claims bonus and how much of a discount you will get if you don’t claim for a number of years.
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), the average premium paid for comprehensive motor insurance was £511 in the spring of 2023, which was up 7% on the previous quarter and up 21% compared with the same period in 2022. However, the price you as an individual will pay depends on a variety of factors. Insurers will use these factors to determine your level of risk and price your premiums accordingly.
The following factors can affect your car insurance premiums:
The price of cover will also depend on the car insurance excess. This is the amount you must pay towards the cost of a claim. For example, if you have a claim worth £1,000 and you have a £100 excess, you’ll only receive £900 from your provider. Most comprehensive car insurance policies let you choose the amount of excess you want to pay. The more you choose, the less your premium will be. However, when opting for a higher excess it is important to ensure that you will have sufficient funds on hand to pay it if required.
Most car insurers offer 2 types of excess: a compulsory excess, which insurers set and can’t be changed, and a voluntary excess, which you can set yourself.
You’ll need to think carefully about setting your voluntary excess. If you think you can pay a large sum of money towards a claim, your insurer will almost certainly reward you with a lower premium. However, this could result in your claim being extremely expensive.
As well as comprehensive cover, you can also choose from:
As comprehensive car insurance provides the highest level of cover, you might expect it to be the most expensive. However, in many cases it is actually cheaper than third party and third party, fire and theft. The reason for this is that higher risk drivers have typically always chosen third party cover as it was traditionally the cheapest option. Due to a rise in claims on third party policies, insurers have increased premiums for this type of cover, making it more expensive than comprehensive cover in many cases.
When comparing comprehensive car insurance it’s important to look out for exclusions. These typically include:
| Cover | Comprehensive | Third Party | Third Party Fire and Theft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agreed value cover |
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| At-fault damage to other vehicles |
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| At-fault damage to own vehicle |
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| Compulsory |
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| Fire |
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| No claims bonus protection |
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| Not-at-fault damage to own vehicle |
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| Theft |
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| Third party personal injury |
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| Valuables protection |
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| Windscreen cover |
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*Cover varies depending on provider
The minimum legal requirement for car insurance in the UK is third party cover. However, it’s important to remember that this will only cover you for damage your vehicle causes to other people’s vehicles or property. It generally won’t cover you for theft of or damage to your own vehicle.
If you’re driving an old or less valuable car, you might be happy with third party only, or third party, fire and theft, which will also cover damage or loss to your car from fire or theft. But if you want to ensure your vehicle is covered against a range of risks and you have the highest level of protection, fully comprehensive cover is well worth considering, particularly as it won’t necessarily be the most expensive option.
There are ways to reduce your premium and make it more affordable. Ensure that when you look at a policy you consider:
Fully comprehensive car insurance is the highest level of cover you can buy for your vehicle. It can provide peace of mind that your car will be covered against a variety of risks and that you can still claim if you’re involved in an accident that was your fault.
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