Before you begin shopping for policies, you need to know what sort of car insurance policy is best for you. Different types of policies have differing levels of cover, and it's good to know this information before proceeding.
There are three main levels of cover to choose from when you compare car insurance; third party, third party fire & theft and fully comprehensive.
Third Party Car Insurance
Third party is the absolute minimum cover you need to drive on the road in the UK: This cover protects against damage you may cause to other people and nothing else. This includes injuries to pedestrians, other drivers and passengers, damage to property as well as damage caused by caravans and trailers you might have attached to the back. Third party insurance is often thought of as the cheapest level of cover but this is not always the case and it's important to compare the various policy options to ensure you're getting value for money.
Third party cover can be suitable if your car is old and of low value, especially if any repair work would work out more expensive than the value of the car. However, if you're driving something a little more expensive, it might be worth considering other options.
Third party, fire and theft car insurance
This is the next step up after third party car insurance. Third party fire and theft (sometimes called TPFT) provides protection for third parties, as well as cover against fire damage and also against theft. Should you be at fault in a crash, TPFT will not pay for repair work to your car, so this cover may not be the right choice if you cannot afford to replace your car should the need arise.
Third party fire and theft can also be suitable in many cases for young or inexperienced drivers (or those with a little no-claims bonus) as it affords them a decent amount of cover, however it is still worth comparing against a fully comp deal as you could find the cost is actually cheaper than TPFT.
Fully comprehensive car insurance
Comprehensive insurance covers all the aspects previously mentioned, but also covers you, as the policyholder, against medical expenses, damage to your vehicle, personal accident benefit and damage to or loss of personal items inside the car. Comprehensive cover is the most complete cover you can get, although you should not assume that all comprehensive policies are the same. For example, some companies will include a courtesy car, extra legal cover, no-claims protection, European driving cover and more - always check the small print of your policy as most of the things mentioned above can be added for a small extra cost. It is also worth remembering that there is no such thing as a comprehensive cover, there are always exclusions, excesses etc that proclude various instances from the policy. It is , therefore, of paramount importance that you know what you are buying and the only way to do that is to get your broker to look into what would be the most applicable cover for your demands and needs.
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