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Compare third party only car insurance for your basic driving needs
Third party only car insurance (TPO) covers damage you cause to someone else’s vehicle, as well as any injuries they might incur, if you get into an accident that’s your fault. It will also cover damage to other people’s property.
For example, if you pull out of a parking spot without checking the road properly and accidentally hit someone who is driving past, you’d be covered for the repairs to their car.
However, you won’t be covered for any damage to your own car or your own medical expenses, if you’re required to pay any.
TPO is the most basic level of car insurance you can get, and is required as a minimum by the Road Traffic Act.
Third party only insurance will typically cover you for:
If you hit someone else’s vehicle causing damage and you’re at fault, your insurer will pay out for repairs to it
Let’s say you accidentally reversed too far and ended up bumping into your neighbour’s garden fence, your insurance policy would cover the expense of them getting a new one
If you’re involved in an accident where the other driver is injured, a TPO policy would cover you for their medical costs. This also goes for any passengers they’re travelling with
You're covered for personal injury to passengers in your own car too.
You’ll also be covered for any legal costs for any claims made against you
With TPO, you won’t be insured for any damage to your own car, which can leave you considerably out of pocket.
You also won’t be covered for fire or theft of your vehicle, so in the unfortunate event that your car was damaged by fire or it was stolen, your insurer won’t pay out.
If you’re unlucky enough to be hit by an uninsured driver, TPO insurance won’t typically cover you, and you won’t be able to drive other people’s cars either.
Think of it as a policy to protect others, rather than yourself.
There are a few reasons why you might opt for a TPO policy, for example, if you’re not concerned about paying out for any damage to your own vehicle.
But it’s always good to get an idea of what else is on the market, it may even be cheaper to purchase a higher level of cover.
You may want to consider:
TPO covers other drivers and their passengers, as well as your own, that get hurt in an accident that’s your fault. Comprehensive car insurance will cover you for that, as well as any injuries you might have and any damage to your vehicle, regardless of who is at fault.
A comprehensive policy also offers you cover for a whole host of other things like theft and fire.
You’ll get a lot more coverage with a comprehensive policy.
As third party is the most basic type of cover, it would be easy to assume that it will be the cheapest.
However, it more than likely isn’t. You should always compare car insurance quotes to find the right deal for you - it’ll help you to get the cover you need at a great price.
TPO car insurance is consistently more expensive than other types of policies. In December 2021, the average cost of TPO insurance was £920 a year<sup><a href="#sub1">[1]</a></sup>.
TPO cover is expensive because it’s usually chosen by drivers who pose more of a risk on the road, in a bid to try and bring their premiums down.
There are also typically fewer insurers who offer this type of product, so it tends to be pricier as it’s not widely available.
To get a TPO car insurance quote, you’ll need:
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[1]The average cost of annual car insurance by policy type purchased in December 2021 through GoCompare. For all types it was £561.20. For comprehensive it was £549.55. For third party fire and theft it was £734.20. For third party only was £920.58.