What is Comprehensive Insurance and What Does it Cover?

Comprehensive insurance is a popular type of cover, due to the peace of mind it provides drivers. There are three common levels of insurance cover available in the UK:

• Third Party Only, which provides the minimum level of cover insurance to drive on the public road and covering only your liability to others, such as the damage to the property of, or causing injury to a third party.
• Third Party Fire and Theft, which provides cover for the loss of or damage to your vehicle resulting from Fire, Theft or attempted Theft, in addition to third party liabilities.
• Comprehensive cover, which provides all the cover of Third Party Fire and Theft, with the addition of insurance against loss or damage resulting from accidental damage, malicious damage and vandalism, making Comprehensive cover the best option to provide the best protections for you and your vehicle. 

Most of our temporary car insurance, temporary van insurance, and learner insurance policies come with comprehensive protection as standard, so you can feel confident knowing you’re covered for almost anything that might happen on the road when you purchase a policy with us. 

It’s important to note that impound release insurance and European car insurance are the exceptions, these policies will provide you with the minimum legal requirement rather than comprehensive cover. You should always check your policy wording to be clear on the level of cover you are purchasing. 

What Exactly Does Comprehensive Insurance Cover?

Comprehensive cover is quite extensive, but how extensive? Does comprehensive insurance cover theft, for example? With Comprehensive cover, you could be covered in the below scenarios, however, not all of these are always insured even with comprehensive cover. We always recommend reading the policy wording of the insurance you are purchasing to be clear on exactly what your comprehensive policy covers…

• Third-Party Cover: You’ll be covered for liability if you damage other people and their property if you cause an accident. 
• Theft: You will be covered in the case that the car itself is stolen, but not for your personal belongings. 
• Fire: In the case your vehicle is damaged in a fire, you will be covered.
• Accidental Damage: Cover for accidental damage caused to the insured vehicle.
• Malicious Damage: Cover for malicious damage caused to the insured vehicle.
• Vandalism Cover: If your car is damaged in an act of vandalism, you’ll be covered for the costs of repair.

With some providers, Comprehensive cover may also provide additional cover for…

• Car Key Cover: Covers the cost if you damage, lose, or have your car keys stolen.
• Wrong Fuel Cover: Putting the wrong type of fuel in your car can cause damage, and you’ll be covered for the cost of rectifying the mistake.
• Child-Seat Cover: If your child seat is damaged in the event of an accident, theft, or fire, you’ll be covered for the costs.