What is Comprehensive Car Insurance?
Comprehensive car insurance, often called “fully comprehensive” or “fully comp,” offers the highest level of protection available for you and your vehicle. It goes beyond the legal minimum requirement of third-party insurance and includes cover for damages to your car, even when you’re at fault, as well as protection against fire and theft.
How does comprehensive cover work?
A comprehensive policy covers repairs or replacement of your car after an accident, regardless of who was responsible. It also provides protection against other risks, such as fire, theft, or flood damage. Additionally, if someone else is injured or their property damaged in an incident involving your vehicle, the policy can cover the associated costs.
Comprehensive vs. Third-Party Cover
Third-Party Insurance:
This is the minimum level of cover required by law. It only covers damage or injury caused to other people, their vehicles, or property.
Comprehensive Insurance:
In addition to third-party protection, it covers damage to your own car and provides wider cover for risks like fire and theft.
Third-Party Insurance:
This is the minimum level of cover required by law. It only covers damage or injury caused to other people, their vehicles, or property.
Comprehensive Insurance:
In addition to third-party protection, it covers damage to your own car and provides wider cover for risks like fire and theft.
Why choose comprehensive cover?
Comprehensive insurance provides peace of mind by offering the highest level of cover, ensuring you’re protected in a wide range of situations. If you want maximum reassurance and value-added benefits, this type of policy could be ideal for you.
What does comprehensive car insurance typically cover?
Comprehensive insurance is designed to offer a broad range of protection, but the specific details can vary between providers. Typically, it includes:
Cover includes:
✅ Third-party liability for damage to others
✅ Repairs to your car after an accident, even if you were at fault
✅ Fire damage to your car
✅ Theft of your vehicle
✅ Flood damage
✅ Injuries caused to others
Doesn’t include:
❌ Damage caused by careless or reckless actions (e.g., driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs)
❌ Wear and tear on the vehicle
❌ Using the car without a valid driving licence
❌ Damage while driving someone else’s car (unless specifically covered).
Alternative cover options
Third-Party Only:
Covers damage or injury caused to others but not your own car.
Third-Party, Fire and Theft:
Includes third-party cover along with protection for fire damage and theft of your vehicle.
Black Box (also known as telematics insurance):
Black Box/Telematics Insurance is a policy whereby a device is fit to the vehicle to monitor the driving styles of the whoever is behind the steering wheel. Black box is available with comprehensive, third-party fire and theft or third party only levels of cover, depending on the insurer.
Third-Party Only:
Covers damage or injury caused to others but not your own car.
Third-Party, Fire and Theft:
Includes third-party cover along with protection for fire damage and theft of your vehicle.
Black Box (also known as telematics insurance):
Black Box/Telematics Insurance is a policy whereby a device is fit to the vehicle to monitor the driving styles of the whoever is behind the steering wheel. Black box is available with comprehensive, third-party fire and theft or third party only levels of cover, depending on the insurer.
FAQs
Find out more about comprehensive car insurance.
No, comprehensive car insurance isn’t mandatory. The minimum legal requirement is third-party cover. However, comprehensive insurance provides much broader protection, including cover for your own car, making it a popular choice for many drivers.
Not automatically. Some comprehensive policies include this as an extra benefit, but it’s not a standard feature. Always check your policy details or speak to your insurer before driving another vehicle.
Yes, comprehensive insurance typically includes cover for theft and fire damage. However, make sure to review your policy to understand the specifics and any conditions that may apply.
Courtesy car cover is often available as an optional add-on or included in some comprehensive policies. Check with your provider to see if this benefit is included or can be added.
Comprehensive insurance often provides better value for money because it includes broader cover. However, it isn’t always the most expensive option – depending on factors like your driving history and vehicle, it can sometimes be cheaper than third-party cover.