The difference is in what they cover.
Third party insurance is the lowest level of car insurance you can get, and is the minimum level of cover you'll need to legally drive on the roads.
Fully comprehensive is the highest level, and typically covers you for a lot more.
There are three main types of car insurance:
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Your insurer takes a huge number of factors into account when calculating the cost of your car insurance, so exactly what you pay is unique to you.
These factors usually include:
For a general idea of how much a policy might cost you, here's the average price customers pay according to their age:
| Age | Average car insurance premium2 |
|---|---|
|
18
|
£1,845
|
|
21
|
£1,471
|
|
25
|
£1,076
|
|
35
|
£783
|
|
45
|
£631
|
|
55
|
£481
|
2Confused.com Q1 2023 price index data
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There are several ways to get cheaper comprehensive insurance:
While every driver's needs are different, comprehensive insurance does offer some useful benefits.
Just like third party policies, it covers you for any damage you do to someone else's vehicle.
But where it differs is in the cover it provides you and your car. This means if you’re involved in an accident - even one where you're at fault - you won't have to shell out for expensive repairs. You'll only have to pay your excess.
This alone can make it a good choice for most drivers.
If you’re driving an old car that’s not worth fixing, though, you might want to investigate third-party cover. But bear in mind that third-party might not always be the bargain you expect. Sometimes it can even cost more than fully comprehensive insurance.
No, you can't always drive any car if you have fully comprehensive insurance. You'll need to check whether your policy has a driving other cars clause.
If it does, you’re good to go. If not, then you need to contact your insurer before driving another vehicle.
Some fully comprehensive policies come with driving other cars clauses as standard, but you may need to request it for others. So never presume you have it.
To be eligible for driving other cars cover, you usually need to:
Also, having fully comprehensive cover doesn’t automatically mean anyone can drive your car either.
If you want to share your car with other drivers, you may be able to add them to your policy as named drivers.
Otherwise, you need any driver car insurance, which allows anyone to drive your car with your consent.
is a legal requirement if you're driving in the UK. Find out more about choosing the right cover at the right price.
lets you prove you’re a safe driver, and save money on your policy, even if you’re inexperienced or seen as high risk.
offers cover for owners of classic cars. For insurance purposes, a classic car can be any car that’s older than 15 years.
covers you if you use your car for work, including travelling between offices or across the country.
Comprehensive insurance gives you the highest level of cover available, but policy prices don't always reflect that. It's not unusual for it to be cheaper than, or at least a similar price as a third-party policy.
The easiest way to find out is to compare quotes for different policy types. You could end up with a higher level of cover for you and your car.
With the UK car insurance industry increasing in size each year, we share all you need to know about the competitive car insurance providers and policies
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You can find your driving licence number on the front of your photocard driving licence. Having this number could reduce your car insurance costs too.
If your car has been damaged by a pothole, you may be able to claim compensation.
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