Fully comprehensive car insurance

Fully comprehensive insurance is usually the most expensive type of car insurance you can get in the UK. It provides full cover for almost all types of damage, but some policies have exclusions so always read the small print.

Fully comprehensive insurance covers you for driving your own car, or a car that you’ve hired in your name, for:

• damage caused to your own vehicle in an accident, regardless of liability
• damage caused to third party vehicle(s) in an accident even if you were at fault
• damage to property caused by you whilst driving your car
• third party injuries including any passengers in your car at the time of an accident
• accidental damage, e.g. if a particularly heavy shopping trolley puts a big dent in your door
• fire and theft
• vandalism
• windscreen damage – a claim for windscreen damage doesn’t affect your no claims bonus. It usually has an excess of around £50 although small chips or cracks may be repaired free of charge

• Driving other cars: many fully comprehensive policies will cover you for driving other people’s cars with the owner’s permission, although you will only be insured third party
• Courtesy cars: most (but not all) fully comprehensive insurance policies will provide you with a courtesy car in the event of an accident whilst your own car is being repaired. Do make sure you read the small print, because if your car is stolen or declared a write off, many policies will refuse a courtesy car, or only allow you one for 21 days
• Legal expense cover: if you need a solicitor to recover your losses arising from a non-fault claim legal expense cover will pay the legal fees. This is often automatically included in fully comprehensive insurance
• Breakdown cover: some comprehensive policies will provide basic breakdown cover for when you’re driving in the UK (but not abroad)
• Driving abroad: if you have car insurance in the UK, you will automatically get a Green Card which insures you to drive your car abroad. However, this will usually only be third party cover, even if your policy is comprehensive in the UK. Some comprehensive policies will extend your comprehensive cover to abroad
• Other extras: can include replacement locks if your keys are lost or stolen; fixed audio equipment; personal belongings in the car if the car is stolen and free security etching

Fully comprehensive cover is usually the most expensive kind of insurance and is only suitable for certain people. If you’re under 25, or your car is worth less than £1000 it usually isn’t worth having. Your premium could end up costing more than your car.

But, if your car is worth over £5000, or is brand new, then comprehensive cover is almost essential.