Fully comprehensive car insurance is the highest level of cover you can buy in the UK. In this blog, we’ll break down exactly what fully comprehensive car insurance means, how it works, and when it makes sense to choose it over other options.
Whether you’re new to the UK and shopping around for the first time, or simply reviewing your current policy, this guide will help you know if fully comprehensive insurance is right for you.
How Fully Comprehensive insurance works
Let’s start with the basics. Fully comprehensive car insurance (sometimes called “Fully comp”) covers both you and the other driver if you’re involved in an accident.
Fully comp also protects you if your car is stolen, damaged by vandalism, an attempted theft, or even a fire.
Most fully comprehensive car insurance policies will cover you if:
- You damage your own car or another vehicle
- You cause damage to someone else’s property
- You’re injured in an accident you caused
- Another person is injured in an accident you caused
- Your car is damaged by fire
- Your car is stolen or vandalised
This isn’t always guaranteed. Make sure to check your policy wording to see exactly what protection you’ve got. At Marshmallow, we provide fully comprehensive car insurance as it offers the highest level of protection for drivers. If you’re the named driver on a fully comp policy, you will have fully comprehensive insurance.
Looking for fully comprehensive car insurance? Start your quote now.
If you have fully comprehensive car insurance, can you drive any car?
It depends. Some fully comprehensive policies allow driving another vehicle. Others only offer it as an optional add-on. Even then, this cover is often third-party only. This means you could be liable for your own injuries and any damage to the car you’re driving.
If you need to drive someone else’s vehicle regularly, you can be added as a named driver on their policy. Or you can get your own insurance that specifically covers driving other people’s cars.
Always check the details of your policy so you know exactly what’s been included before you buy. For any more questions, chat to our team today.
What’s the difference between fully comprehensive and third-party insurance?
Third-party Only
Third-party only car insurance is the minimum legal level of car insurance in the UK. It covers damage to another person’s car, property, or injuries if you cause an accident. It doesn’t protect you or your own vehicle.
If you hit another car, third-party only cover will pay for their repairs and medical costs. But it wont cover your own medical costs or your car’s damage.
Third-party Fire and Theft
This policy offers the same cover as third-party only, but with extra protection if your car is:
- Damaged by fire
- Damaged during an attempted theft
- Stolen
Is third-party always cheaper?
Many drivers assume third-party only cover is cheaper than fully comp. But this isn’t always true. Insurers have raised the prices for third-party cover as it's popular with high-risk, less-experienced drivers, and sees more claims than fully comprehensive policies.
Fully comprehensive policies can often be as cheap as third-party ones, offering you more protection for the same price.
Find out more about what car insurance you need.
Is fully comprehensive car insurance right for you?
Ultimately, the right level of cover depends on your budget and what features are most important to you. But, if you’re looking for the most complete protection available, fully comprehensive insurance is usually the best option.
On the lookout for a Fully Comprehensive policy? We’ve got you covered. Get a quote from us today.
