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Comprehensive car insurance

For full peace of mind, compare comprehensive car insurance.

We’ll refund up to £250 of your excess if you make a claim^
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^Up to £250 refunded after claim settled. Car insurance purchases only. Excludes breakdown, windscreen and glass repair/replacement. Full T&Cs apply.

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^Up to £250 refunded after claim settled. Car insurance purchases only. Excludes breakdown, windscreen and glass repair/replacement. Full T&Cs apply.

Compare fully comp cover from over 165 trusted providers[1] including:

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What is comprehensive car insurance?

A comprehensive car insurance policy, also known as fully comprehensive cover, is the highest level of car insurance you can buy.

Even if an accident was your fault, it will cover you and your car, as well as paying out for any damage or injury caused to others and their vehicles or property.

It’ll also cover your car for situations like theft, fire and vandalism.

Father laughing while carrying his giggling daughter to the car while her brother watches from the car boot

Do I need comprehensive insurance?

Comprehensive is the highest level of car insurance cover but depending on your needs it may not always be the best option.

The right policy for you will largely depend on the level of cover you need and the price you’re willing to pay. Other options to consider include:

  1. Third party only (TPO)

    TPO is the legal minimum level of cover you must have in the UK. It only covers other people, their vehicles and property, but not you or your vehicle.

    It’ll cover the costs of damage or injury you cause to third parties when driving.

  2. Third party, fire and theft (TPFT)

    Insures you for damage or injury to other people, their vehicle or property.

    Plus, your car is covered for repairs or replacement if it gets stolen or is damaged by fire.

  3. Telematics

    Insurers monitor your driving habits using a black box installed in your car or via a smartphone app.

    This encourages safer driving and can help to lower the cost of premiums for younger drivers.

What is covered by comprehensive car insurance?

Fully comprehensive 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.

Coverage may or may not include the following:

What’s usually covered?

All policies differ but, in general, a comprehensive car insurance policy will include cover and compensation for:

  • Accidental damage - The cost of repairing accidental damage to your own or another person’s vehicle.
  • Third party liability - Accidental damage to other people’s property as a result of an accident in your car.
  • Personal injury - Injuries caused to you or other people in an accident that was your fault.
  • Fire damage - Your car will be covered if it’s damaged or destroyed by fire.
  • Theft or attempted theft - If your car is stolen or damaged by an attempted theft.
  • Flood damage - If your car is damaged or destroyed by flooding.

What’s not usually covered?

Your policy documents will also list exclusions, which you won’t be covered for. Some typical exclusions are:

  • Negligence – For example, theft when your car’s left unlocked or valuables are on show.
  • Wear and tear – Your policy won’t include cover for claims relating to the general wear and tear of your car (e.g. worn tyres, brake pads and rust).
  • Invalid driving licence – You’ll need to have passed your driving test and kept your licence up to date.
  • Driving under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs
  • Driving someone else’s car – This exclusion can vary depending on the provider and policy.

£4 million refunded to customers with free excess cover^^

If you need to claim, we’ll pay £250 towards your excess^. Just another reason to make your life choices on Go.Compare.

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^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.

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What details do I need to get a quote?

When you compare quotes, you’ll need to tell us a few things like:

  1. Your personal info

    Including your name, date of birth, address and job

  2. Details about your car

    Make, model and year (or its reg number) and whether it’s ever been modified

  3. What cover you want

    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

How much does comprehensive car insurance cost?

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 £379 on average for comprehensive cover, which is 34% cheaper than third-party only cover at £510.[2]

The cost of your own car insurance premiums will depend on factors like your:

  • Age - Younger drivers will cost more to insure than older, more experienced drivers
  • Postcode - Insurers take into account the risk to your car based on your address
  • Vehicle - The cost to repair and replace your car will affect the price of your policy
  • Annual mileage - The fewer miles you travel, the lower your premiums are likely to be
  • Claims history - Insurers will look at any claims you’ve made in the last five years
  • Driving history - Speeding offences and points on your licence will make a difference
  • Occupation - If your job involves a lot of driving, you could be seen as a higher risk
  • Parking area - Insurers usually view garages and off-street parking as safer options

*[2]The average price of a comprehensive policy is £379. Third party, fire and theft (TPFT) is considerably more at £361, and third party only (TPO) is more again, at £510.

Average cost of fully comprehensive car insurance

How can I reduce the cost of comprehensive car insurance?

There are a few things you can try to reduce your premiums for comprehensive cover including:

  1. Limit your mileage

    The fewer miles you drive the less risk there is of an accident, so the lower your premiums are likely to be. But always be as accurate as possible when estimating your mileage.

  2. Choose a higher voluntary excess

    Choosing a higher excess will lower your premium. Just make sure you can afford the amount you’ll have to pay in the event of a claim, otherwise you’ll end up out of pocket.

  3. Pay annually rather than monthly

    With monthly premiums you’ll also be paying interest, so choosing an annual payment will work out cheaper.

  4. Only pay for what you need

    If you don’t drive to work, you won’t need cover for commuting. And be aware of buying unnecessary added extras - for example, you may already have breakdown cover sorted.

  5. Consider a telematics policy

    By monitoring your driving habits, insurers can more accurately calculate your premiums. This can help lower the cost for younger and new drivers.

  6. Avoid modifications

    Adding performance-enhancing features like altered exhaust systems, spoilers, and more expensive wheels can bump up the cost of car insurance.

  7. Improve your security

    Installing Thatcham-approved alarm systems and immobilisers can help deter thieves and reduce your premiums.

CAN I DRIVE ANY CAR IF I HAVE FULLY COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE?

Previously, having a comprehensive policy often meant you could drive another person’s car. But this doesn’t usually apply anymore and your cover is only valid for the car detailed in your policy.

Some policies do have a ‘driving other cars’ (DOC) clause. Typically, this is just to be used for emergencies, but your policy documents will explain the specific circumstances it applies to.

However, you’ll only be covered for DOC on a third party basis. So, if you’re involved in an accident that damages the car you’re driving, 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 DOC cover to drivers under 25.

Learn more about cover to drive other cars.

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Add-ons and additional extras

To get the exact cover you need it’s possible to tailor your comprehensive car insurance with optional extras:

Breakdown cover

If your car breaks down, this cover provides roadside rescue to help get you up and running again.

More about breakdown cover

Motor legal protection

This can help to cover legal expenses if you need to claim against another driver or protect yourself from someone making a legal claim against you.

More about motor legal protection

Courtesy car cover

If your car is out of action following a car accident, this can cover the cost of a replacement vehicle while yours is being repaired.

More about courtesy car cover

Personal injury cover

If you’re seriously injured or killed in a car accident, this cover can provide you or your loved ones with a lump sum to help cover bills and other expenses.

More about personal injury cover

Windscreen cover

This will cover the cost of repairing or replacing your windscreen if it ever gets damaged.

More about windscreen cover

Replacement key cover

Covers the cost of replacing your car key if it gets lost, stolen or damaged.

More about replacement key cover

Personal belongings cover

If your belongings are stolen or damaged while in your car, this can provide you with compensation up to the limit listed on your policy.

More about personal belongings cover

Misfuelling cover

The wrong fuel in your car can cause major damage. This optional add-on can help to cover the cost of draining your tank and making any repairs needed.

More about misfuelling cover

No-claims discount protection

This cover will keep your no-claims discount intact even if you need to make a claim.

More about no claims protection

Frequently asked questions

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.

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 it’s 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 cover might end up costing you more than a fully comprehensive policy anyway. Always check the cost of fully comprehensive before opting for a third party policy, even if your car is old and not worth much.

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.

Learn more about car insurance for young drivers.

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).

Alternatively, you could consider getting short-term car insurance, which can be a good option if you only need to borrow someone’s car for a few days.

Related car insurance guides

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Page last reviewed: 13th September 2023

Page reviewed by: Jasmine Hembury

^Up to £250 refunded after claim settled. Car insurance purchases only. Excludes breakdown, windscreen and glass repair/replacement. Full T&Cs apply.

[1]As of September 2023, there are 170 active car insurers on the panel at Go.Compare.

[2]The average price of a comprehensive policy is £379. Third party, fire and theft (TPFT) is considerably more at £361, and third party only (TPO) is more again, at £510.