COMPARE GREAT VALUE QUOTES FOR COMPREHENSIVE CAR INSURANCE
There are three levels of car insurance: third party only (TPO), third party fire and theft (TPFT) and comprehensive.
Comprehensive car insurance – sometimes referred to as fully comprehensive – is the highest level of car insurance you can buy.
It covers more eventualities than the other two cover levels.
A comprehensive car insurance policy will cover you for a wide range of damages, injuries and loss to you, your passengers and your vehicle, as well as other people and their property.
It means that if you’re involved in an accident, even if it’s your fault, you can claim to get your car repaired or replaced. And, where necessary, the insurance company can also compensate a third party involved in the accident.
A comprehensive policy also covers your vehicle for theft and fire damage. Or if, for example, you discover damage to your car when it’s parked in the street or a car park.
Third party car insurance is much more limited: it only covers the damage you cause to other vehicles and people.
Here’s exactly how each level of cover works:
So, it’ll cover the costs of damage or injury you cause to third parties, their vehicle or property when driving. But your car won’t be covered under this level if it’s damaged or stolen.
Find out more about TPO car insurance
Find out more about TPFT insurance
It’ll cover the cost of repairing or replacing your own car if you’re in an accident where you’re found to be at fault, as well as compensating other people for damage or losses caused by you.
It’ll also cover everything included in TPFT cover – losses caused by fire, vandalism or theft.
Don’t assume comprehensive insurance will be more expensive, just because it offers better cover, though. Sometimes it’s cheaper than both TPO and TPFT policies.
This level of cover can offer real peace of mind as it protects you and pays to repair damage to your car in so many different situations - even if you’re involved in an accident that was your fault.
All policies differ but, in general, a comprehensive car insurance policy will include cover for:
Some policies will also include benefits like:
Comprehensive’ doesn’t mean absolutely everything’s included in the policy.
You may have to pay extra for some of the benefits listed above - like misfuelling cover, breakdown cover and the use of a courtesy car while yours is being repaired, for example.
Your policy documents will also list some exclusions, which you won’t be covered for.
Some typical exclusions are:
Check policy documents to find out exactly what is and isn’t included in your policy.
It used to be common that policyholders with comprehensive cover were allowed to drive another person’s car.
But now this doesn’t usually apply and your policy’s only valid for the car included in your policy.
Some policies do have a ‘driving other cars’ clause. If yours does, your policy documents should tell you under what circumstances you’re legally allowed to drive another vehicle. It’s usually only intended for emergencies.
You’ll also only be covered on a third party basis. So, if you’re involved in an accident that damages the car, it won’t be covered. But it will cover damage to a third party’s car or property.
Insurers typically don’t offer policies that include ‘driving other cars’ cover to drivers under 25.
If you want to occasionally drive someone else’s car (a family member’s, for example) you can be added as a named driver to their insurance policy.
As a named driver, you’ll be insured to drive the vehicle with the same level of cover as the policyholder (the main driver).
You might expect comprehensive car insurance to be the most expensive cover option. It offers the most cover after all. But it's often cheaper than TPO and TPFT policies.
Our customers paid £549 on average for comprehensive cover, which is 40% cheaper than third-party only cover at £920.[1]
Things like your age, vehicle, annual mileage, claims history and previous convictions will also affect the amount you’ll pay.
You might expect comprehensive car insurance to be the most expensive cover option. It offers the most cover after all. But it's often cheaper than TPO and TPFT policies.
Our customers paid £454 on average for comprehensive cover, which is 33% cheaper than third-party only cover at £606.[1]
Things like your age, vehicle, annual mileage, claims history and previous convictions will also affect the amount you’ll pay.
*Average price paid annually for comprehensive car insurance purchased in 2021 and 2022 through Go.Compare.
Third party insurance options tend to attract drivers who are at a higher risk of accidents, meaning insurers often class these policyholders as more likely to make a claim.
Conversely, drivers who choose comprehensive cover are seen as being more responsible (and therefore less likely to make a claim).
So even if you’re trying to find ways to save money on your car insurance, make sure you check comprehensive quotes against other options.
You could get comprehensive cover for the same cost as, or less than, a third party policy.
If you need to claim, we’ll pay £250 towards your excess^. Just another reason to make your life choices on Go.Compare.
^Up to £250 refunded after claim settled. Car insurance purchases only. Excludes breakdown, windscreen and glass repair/replacement. Full T&Cs apply.
^^Based on Go.Compare analysis of successful claims, August 2019 - June 2022.
When you compare quotes, you’ll need to tell us a few things like:
Including your name, date of birth, address and job
Make, model and year (or its reg number) and whether it’s ever been modified
Let us know your car’s mileage and how you’re going to be using it, then pick the level of cover and any add-ons you need
Yes, you can. Although some insurers might have a minimum age limit on their policies, so you might have a slightly more limited choice across all policy levels. Also, you’ll be charged more than an experienced driver, making it even more important to shop around for a great deal.
Fully comprehensive car insurance covers you for damage to your car if you’re involved in an accident and will pay out for the cost of repairs or pay you the market value of your car in the event it’s written off in an accident.
The value of a car reduces over time. So if your car is old and no longer worth a lot of money, you might end up paying more for a comprehensive policy than your vehicle is worth.
However, as we’ve mentioned, third party insurance cover might end up costing you more than a fully comprehensive policy anyway. Always check the cost of fully comp before opting for a third party policy even if your car is old and not worth much.
Insurers take into consideration different factors when giving you a quote for a comprehensive car insurance policy. Things like your age, job, vehicle, annual mileage, claims history and previous convictions will all affect the amount you pay.
There are a few things you can try to reduce your premiums for comprehensive cover including:
Use our fuel price comparison tool to find some of the lowest prices near you
Petrol and diesel price checkerFind out what’s involved in a MOT, why to renew it and when yours is due
MOT checkerSee how much you spend on petrol or diesel on a single trip or on a regular basis
Fuel cost calculatorPage last reviewed: 21 February 2023
Page reviewed by: Jasmine Hembury
[1]Average cost of annual car insurance bought through Go.Compare in November 2022. For comprehensive cover it was £454. For third party only cover it was £606.