Comprehensive Car Insurance

Different comprehensive insurance policies can offer different benefits, but, generally speaking, they will cover:

• Accidental damage to your car or someone else’s car
• Injuries sustained in an accident by you or someone else involved
• Accidental damage to other people’s property
• Damaged or stolen personal belongings
• Windscreen repairs

Other benefits that may only be offered as optional add-ons might include:

• Cover when involved in an accident with an uninsured driver
• A courtesy car
• Replacement of lost or stolen keys
• Breakdown cover
• Wrong fuel cover
• No claims protection
• Driving abroad cover
• Legal protection

It all starts with a quote. Complete our online application form, and you’ll be asked to input necessary information about yourself, your car, and any other drivers you want to include on your policy. This will allow our panel of over 110 insurers to provide you with an initial quote for comprehensive car insurance.

You can then choose the policy that works best for you; this might be the cheapest option or the one that offers the most coverage. Most insurers will also let you decide whether you want to pay for your comprehensive insurance in one annual or 12 monthly payments.

While you might assume that comprehensive car insurance is the most expensive option, it’s often the cheapest – even if you’re looking for young driver insurance!

On the other hand, drivers who choose third-party insurance are often greater risk-takers, which is reflected in the cost of the cover.

Even so, insurers take a whole range of factors into account when they work out the price of your car insurance, including:

• Your age
• Your job
• Your driving history
• The car you drive
• The number of miles you drive each year
• Where you live

There are many ways that you can cut the cost of your comprehensive insurance:

• Choose a car from a low insurance group
• Choose black box insurance
• Park your car in a secure garage overnight
• Pay annually rather than spreading the cost over 12 monthly payments
• Agree to pay a higher voluntary excess
• Add an alarm or immobiliser to your car to keep it safe

In the past, having a comprehensive car insurance policy often meant you could get behind the wheel of someone else’s vehicle – with their permission, of course!

Unfortunately, this is no longer standard, and you’re usually only covered for the car detailed in your policy.

Look out for a ‘driving other cars’ clause. Your policy might offer this to cover emergencies, but check the terms and conditions to find out more.

If you do have a ‘driving other cars’ clause, you’ll only be insured on a third-party basis. The damage won’t be covered if you’re involved in an accident in someone else’s pride and joy. You’ll only be covered for damage to the third party’s vehicle.

‘Driving other cars’ clauses are usually only offered to drivers over the age of 25.

If comprehensive cover isn’t the right fit for you, there are three other types of insurance that you can consider.

Remember, it’s illegal to drive on UK roads without insurance.

Third Party, Fire & Theft Insurance

With a Third Party, Fire & Theft insurance policy, you’ll be covered for:

• Injuries to other people but not yourself
• Damage to another person’s car or property but not your own
• Legal claims made against you after an accident
• Theft of your car
• Damage as the result of a failed theft attempt, e.g., door lock repairs
• Fire damage to your car

While this type of insurance offers a good middle ground, you won’t receive any money towards repairing or replacing your car in the event of an accident. Your medical bills also won’t be covered.

Third Party Insurance

Third-party insurance is the minimum level of legal cover in the UK. It’s designed to safeguard other road users in the event of an accident.

You’ll be covered for:

• Injuries to other people
• Damage to another person’s car or property

As this is the bare minimum level of cover, you won’t be covered for any damage to your own car or injuries that you receive in an accident that’s your fault.

Black Box Insurance

Black box insurance – also known as telematics – can be a good option for young and newly qualified drivers who are looking for cheaper car insurance.

It requires a small device – the black box – to be installed into your car to monitor how you drive. If you avoid sharp breaking, rapid acceleration, and reckless cornering, you could qualify for a discount when you renew your policy.