The level of motor cover you choose decides what gets paid when something goes wrong. Third party is the legal minimum; comprehensive adds your own car. For most drivers, comprehensive is the better value.
Third party only
Third party cover pays for injury or damage you cause to other people and their property. It does not pay for your own car, even if the accident was someone else’s fault and they are untraceable. It is the minimum the law allows.
Third party, fire and theft
This adds cover if your car is stolen or damaged by fire, but still leaves your own accident damage unpaid.
Comprehensive
Comprehensive cover includes everything above and also repairs or replaces your own car after an accident, regardless of fault, subject to your excess. It often includes extras such as windscreen cover and a courtesy car. Despite covering more, it is frequently cheaper than third party only, because insurers price the minimum tier as higher risk.
Choosing
Check the policy wording for the exact inclusions, as comprehensive policies differ. Our guide to reading your policy shows what to look for, and our explainer on premiums, excesses and limits covers how the excess affects a claim.