Comprehensive vs third-party car insurance
What is the difference between comprehensive and third-party car insurance?
Comprehensive car insurance covers damage to your own car as well as damage you cause to others, including theft, fire and accidents. Third-party car insurance only covers damage you cause to other people's property - not your own vehicle. Comprehensive costs more but protects your car; third-party is cheaper and suits older, low-value vehicles.
Key takeaways
- Comprehensive covers your own car plus third parties; third-party covers only others.
- Comprehensive costs more but pays out if your own car is damaged, stolen or burnt.
- Third-party, fire & theft sits in the middle - third-party plus fire and theft.
- Choose based on your car's value: comprehensive for newer/financed, third-party for old.
What each cover type includes
Comprehensive is the widest cover - accident damage to your own car, theft, hijacking, fire, natural disasters and third-party liability. Third-party only is the most basic, paying just for damage you cause to others. Third-party, fire & theft adds cover for your own car against fire and theft.
The cost difference
Comprehensive cover has the highest premium because the insurer carries the risk of your own vehicle. Third-party only is the cheapest, and third-party, fire & theft falls in between. See our full breakdown of what car insurance costs.
Which cover should you choose?
If your car is newer, financed or high-value, comprehensive cover is usually the right choice - and your bank will require it while the car is financed. For an older, lower-value car where comprehensive premiums would cost more than the car is worth, third-party or third-party, fire & theft can be the smarter option.
Car insurance cover types compared
| What's covered | Comprehensive | Third-Party, Fire & Theft | Third-Party Only |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damage to other people's property | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Theft & hijacking of your car | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fire damage to your car | Yes | Yes | No |
| Accident damage to your own car | Yes | No | No |
| Weather & natural disaster damage | Yes | No | No |
| Typical monthly premium | Highest | Mid-range | Lowest |
| Best for | New / financed cars | Mid-value cars | Older, low-value cars |
Frequently asked questions
Is comprehensive better than third-party insurance?
Is third-party car insurance enough?
What is third-party, fire and theft?
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