Compare Car Insurance Quotes

The best car insurance for you is an affordable policy that covers what you need – don’t just pick the cheapest option.

You’ll need third party cover as a minimum. It’s compulsory, and you can’t legally drive without it. But exactly what you’re covered for depends on the type of policy you choose.

There are three main types of car insurance available: Fully comprehensive, third party, fire and theft, and third party.

It’s worth comparing all your car insurance options to find the deal that’s right for you.

Fully comprehensive – often referred to as ‘fully comp’, this gives you the highest level of protection.  

Third party, fire and theft – this gives you everything you’d expect from a standard third party policy, but also protects you if your car is stolen, or damaged by fire. Fire damage includes deliberate acts, such as arson, as well as accidental fires.

Third party – every driver is legally required to have at least third party car insurance. This covers you if you damage someone else’s car or injure another person. But it won’t cover any injuries to you, or damage to your own car.

Those are the basics. Now, let’s look in more detail at how these different types of car insurance work.

1. Fully comprehensive car insurance gives you the highest level of cover. If you’re looking for peace of mind or have a new or expensive car, this could be the right policy for you.

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Fully comprehensive insurance typically covers:

• Damage to someone else’s car or property
• Injury you cause to others
• Injury to your passengers in an accident
• Fire damage*
• Theft (and possibly damage caused by attempted theft)*
• Chipping/scratching*
• Malicious damage and vandalism*
• Accidental damage to your car*.  

*After you pay your excess

Watch out: Comprehensive car insurance doesn’t necessarily mean everything. Your policy may or may not include features like a courtesy car, windscreen cover and cover for personal belongings, like a handbag or laptop. However, you should be able to add these as extras. 

Your policy may not cover personal injury if the accident is your fault, so always check the small print when you get a quote. If your policy doesn’t cover certain situations as standard, you can typically pay to add them as extras.

Third-Party Fire & Theft insurance

2. Third-Party Fire & Theft Insurance offers everything you’d get with a third party car insurance policy, but with added protection against fire and theft.

This is useful if you want more than the bare minimum of cover, or live in an area with high crime rates. It’s worth noting though, that some policies won’t cover damage caused by attempted theft, so check your policy carefully.

Third party, fire and theft insurance typically covers:

• Damage to someone else’s car or property
• Injury you cause to others
• Injury to your passengers in an accident
• Fire damage*
• Theft (and possibly damage caused by attempted theft)*