What Does Comprehensive Insurance Cover?

When it comes to choosing the right policy for your vehicle, fully comprehensive car insurance is an extremely popular choice. Fully comp insurance offers a more extensive type of cover and is often seen as the “full package” option.

In this article, our team at GoShorty will unpack everything you need to know about fully comprehensive car insurance.

What does fully comprehensive car insurance cover?

Fully comprehensive car insurance, sometimes known as “fully comp”, is a type of insurance that covers damage related to your vehicle. Comprehensive cover will cover you in the event of any damage to your car or if somebody is injured in an accident. 

This type of insurance policy offers protection for you as a driver no matter who is at fault, which is what differentiates it from other car insurance policies.

Why do you need car insurance cover?

In the United Kingdom, having car insurance cover is a legal requirement. As a driver, you need at least a basic third-party policy to protect yourself and other drivers. Fully comprehensive car insurance cover is not a legal requirement, but it does offer more protection than other car insurance policies.

What is included in comprehensive car insurance policies?

A comprehensive policy may include the following benefits. These are some of the things that ‘standard’ comprehensive policies offer and may not be included in every policy. It’s important to check each insurance policy properly.

• Personal injuries
• Windscreen repair cover
• Breakdown cover
• Third-party fire and theft
• Third-party damage
• Child seat cover
• Legal expenses
• Car keys cover
• Wrong fuel cover
• Courtesy car cover
• No claims protection
• Vandalism cover
• Natural disaster protection

Fully comprehensive cover provides the insured with protection against major and minor damages. Certain features can be added to your premium at an extra cost.

How much does comprehensive cover cost?

Fully comprehensive car insurance costs vary from insurer to insurer. No two insurance companies are the same and, in the same way, no two vehicle owners are the same. So, why do people pay different prices for the same cover?

A car insurance policy allows the insured and the insurer to manage risks. As the insured, you pay for a policy to prepare you for unexpected car accidents. 

Those providing the cover thoroughly assess your risk profile to ensure you are not a potential liability. The insurer needs to make decisions that won’t negatively impact their business. Risk management is very important for insurance providers.

Your level of cover and the cost of your fully comprehensive car insurance quote depends on a few factors:

Age

When it comes to insurance cover, age is not just a number. Young drivers and new drivers are viewed as high-risk, so their car insurance costs are typically higher than that of older, more experienced drivers.

• Insurance companies determine your driving experience from the year you passed your driving test, so it is best not to delay obtaining your driving licence.
• Drivers under 25 and drivers with less than 4 years of driving experience will have higher car insurance quotes because on-the-road experience matters.
• Younger drivers are at a higher risk of damaging their own car or other cars. Accidents are much more common between younger drivers and other cars, raising the cost of insurance cover.
• More experienced drivers typically enjoy cheaper car insurance quotes compared to younger drivers. Older drivers have more experience and are viewed as safer drivers. They also may have more financial security, whereas high-risk drivers such as teenagers and young adults may not have financial stability or a disposable income.
• A disposable income allows the insured to have more dedicated money towards their voluntary excess, which in turn allows the insurance company to lower the cost of their car insurance policy.

Driving history

Risk management is important for insurers, so your driving history is considered when determining car insurance cover. You can be the same age as someone but might pay more for the same level of cover as them, and here’s why:

• Insurance companies will look at claims history. If you claim frequently, you’ll be categorised as a high-risk driver.
• Insurance companies will list you as a high-risk client if you have been involved in a car accident within the past 6 years. Insurers try to predict your future driving behaviour by assessing your past.
• You will receive fewer rewards if you are considered a high-risk driver, even if you were not at fault. Your application for comprehensive car insurance might also be denied.
• Insurance companies also scrutinise accidents and traffic violations when assessing your driving history. Speeding tickets, changing lanes without signalling, illegal parking, and a history of running red lights over the past 3 years will significantly influence your insurance policy application outcome and costs.

Geographical location

Where you live can also influence the cost of your comprehensive cover. Insurance companies try to manage risk by assessing the conditions of the areas that surround their clients and where the car will be kept and used.

• Unfortunately, living in an area with many uninsured drivers will be considered even though it’s out of your control.
• Traffic trends in your area will also be assessed. If your area or surrounding areas has quite a high number of cycle lanes and roundabouts, it may count against you as more accidents happen in areas with high-risk traffic systems.
• Insurers will also assess the number of accidents recorded in your area.
• If your area and surrounding areas have a high number of claims, especially fraudulent ones, it will negatively impact the cost of your comprehensive policy.
• Urbanised areas are considered to be high-risk areas as they are densely populated. Densely populated areas often report more accidents and car theft, vandalism or car damage due to high-crime rates.
• Fully comprehensive insurance with personal belongings cover will make sense for you if you live in an urban area. It might be a bit costly, but seeing that you are at a high risk of needing to make a claim, you can save money in the long run.
• A comprehensive policy makes sense if you live in a rural area. Rural areas often have underdeveloped roads, and many roads have potholes due to wear and tear and poor service delivery in ‘remote’ areas. However, it is worth noting that some comprehensive insurance policies exclude damage by potholes, so you should check this before purchasing if it’s something you need your insurance to cover.

Other factors

• Insurance companies will thoroughly assess how you drive. Traffic in urban areas and long, bumpy roads in rural areas can increase your mileage, which may impact your insurance premium.
• Believe it or not, your job title affects the cost of your car insurance premium and the level of coverage that you qualify for.
• Statistics have revealed that people with ‘high stress’ jobs, such as hairdressers, social workers, physiotherapists, and chefs, have higher annual insurance costs.
• The car that you drive can also impact your car insurance coverage. The make, model and specification of a car can all affect your insurance cover. 

How does comprehensive car insurance differ from third-party, fire and theft insurance?

Now that you understand what comprehensive car insurance covers and know about risk management, you might wonder how a comprehensive car insurance policy differs from third-party, fire and theft insurance.

Third-party, fire and theft insurance vs comprehensive car insurance cover

Comprehensive policies have a higher level of coverage compared to third-party insurance.

Fire and theft insurance covers your car should it be stolen or damaged in a fire. Third-party insurance will cover damage you caused to another vehicle.

A fully comprehensive car insurance policy will automatically cover the cost of a replacement vehicle at the current market value. Your insurance provider will provide you with a new car and cover damage to your car and belongings, depending on the level of cover that you choose.

Third-party insurance providers pay damages to the third party. It’s perfect for people who do not qualify for comprehensive policies. 

The middle ground

If you own a relatively old vehicle, your vehicle is fully paid off, or if you consider yourself a safe or low-risk driver, you might not reap the full benefits of fully comprehensive car insurance cover. This is also true for people who rarely drive, such as some pensioners.

That said, third-party cover doesn’t protect your vehicle or personal belongings. You might end up with a huge repair bill, no vehicle, and potentially risk losing your income due to the inability to travel to work.

Weighing the cost of a monthly commitment to a comprehensive policy against the endless bills you might face with a third-party policy is a taxing task. So, what now? How do you reap the benefits of fully comprehensive insurance if you don’t need to use your car regularly? That’s where short term car insurance comes in.

Temporary comprehensive car insurance

At GoShorty, we specialise in comprehensive temporary car insurance that is flexible and reliable. 

We provide drivers with access to a fully comprehensive insurance plan that is temporary and budget-friendly. There is a range of hourly, daily, weekly and monthly temporary insurance policies to choose from, including temporary van insurance and temporary learner driver insurance.

Find the best car insurance for your vehicle 

Car insurance offers a security blanket to drivers of all ages, with some insurance policies offering more than others. Comprehensive car insurance might be more expensive than other options, but it can save you a lot if you need to make a claim. 

If you only need car insurance in the short term, our temporary car insurance at GoShorty is the perfect option. We provide the security of comprehensive car insurance but without a long-term commitment. Choose from a range of policies, including hourly car insurance, daily car insurance, weekly car insurance and monthly car insurance. 

Get a temporary insurance quote today to find out more.