What does fully comprehensive car insurance cover?

Fully comprehensive car insurance, often referred to simply as ‘fully comp’, is the most extensive form of car insurance coverage available, offering drivers peace of mind by covering a wide range of risks and incidents.

Car insurance is not only an important safeguard for drivers, but it’s also a legal requirement: failing to have adequate coverage can result in fines, points on your license and even a driving ban.

So, whether you’re a daily commuter or an occasional driver, having motor insurance is essential to ensure you’re financially protected in case of an incident.

In this article, we’ll explore what fully comprehensive car insurance covers and why it might be the right choice for you.

Read on or jump to a specific section:

• Why do I need car insurance?
• What does fully comprehensive car insurance cover?
• What doesn’t fully comprehensive car insurance cover?
• What other insurance options are there?
• Where can I compare policies?

Why do I need car insurance?

In the UK, car insurance is mandatory under the Road Traffic Act 1988 to ensure all drivers take financial responsibility for any damage or injury they may cause while on the road. This law protects other road users, pedestrians and property by making sure that every driver has at least third-party insurance to cover the costs of accidents.

Driving without insurance is illegal and can lead to penalties like fines, points on your license and even vehicle impoundment. Mandatory insurance also helps reduce the number of uninsured drivers, which ultimately lowers costs for insured motorists and ensures financial protection for everyone involved in accidents.

What does fully comprehensive car insurance cover?

As we previously mentioned, fully comprehensive car insurance is the most extensive type of coverage available, offering protection not only for others involved in an accident, but also for you and your vehicle.

But, while all fully comprehensive policies provide broad coverage, it’s important to know that the specific features and the level of coverage can vary between insurers. For example, you may be covered up to different amounts depending on your policy, and some may offer additional benefits or optional extras. So, always check the details of a policy to understand what’s included and the limits of your coverage before making a purchase.

However, to give you an idea of what is typically included in this type of policy, here are the most common features typically included:

• Damage to your own vehicle in case of an accident, regardless of who is at fault

• Third-party liability, covering damages to other vehicles, property or people involved in an accident you cause

• Theft protection for your car if it is stolen

• Fire damage coverage

• Vandalism coverage for intentional damage to your vehicle

• Natural disasters protection, covering events like flooding or storms (depending on the policy)

• Windscreen repair or replacement

• Personal belongings coverage for items inside the vehicle that are damaged or stolen

• Courtesy car while your vehicle is being repaired after an insured event

• Medical expenses for any injuries sustained in an accident

Although these are common features, not all policies are the same and, therefore, might not include everything we’ve mentioned. So, it’s essential to review your specific policy to ensure it covers what you need and at the level of protection that works for you.

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Also see: Does car insurance cover misfuelling?

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What doesn’t fully comprehensive car insurance cover?

While fully comprehensive car insurance does provide broad protection, no policy covers everything. All insurance policies come with restrictions, limitations and exclusions, and these can vary between insurers.

Before purchasing a policy, carefully read the terms and conditions to know what is and isn’t covered, as each policy will have its own specific exclusions.

Here are some common limitations and exclusions that would invalidate a claim:

• Driving without a valid license or under the influence of drugs or alcohol

• Wear and tear or mechanical breakdowns due to aging or neglect of the vehicle

• Using your car for business purposes not covered by your policy (like delivery driving or ride-sharing)

• Intentional damage caused by the policyholder or as a result of reckless driving

• Uninsured drivers or other drivers using your vehicle if they’re not named on your policy

• Personal items of high value, unless specified in the policy (like expensive electronics or jewellery in the car)

• Driving abroad outside of the countries covered by your policy, unless you have purchased international coverage

• Modifications to the car, especially if they aren’t declared to your insurer

What other insurance options are there?

In the UK, car insurance is a legal requirement, but you don’t need to pay for fully comprehensive car coverage as there are other types of policies you can opt for. These include:

• Third-party car insurance

• Third-party fire and theft insurance

Third-party car insurance is the most basic type of car insurance policy and only offers coverage for damage caused to others, their vehicles and their property. This type of policy will not cover damage to you, your vehicle or your property.

Third-party fire and theft insurance is a similar policy to the above, however, it also covers damage to your vehicle caused by fire or theft.

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Also see: Preventing motor breakdowns and how to carry out essential checks

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Where can I compare policies?

With so many car insurance providers and a variety of insurance types available, it’s important to do your research and find the best coverage for your needs.

Different insurers offer different levels of protection, so it’s essential to compare features, coverage limits and costs to ensure the policy you choose is right for you. Fortunately, comparison websites make this process much easier by allowing you to quickly view and compare multiple policies in one place. This saves you time and helps you find the best deal tailored to your specific requirements.

Ready to find the right cover for you? Head over to our motor insurance policies comparison page. It’s simple, fast and helps you find the perfect policy at the best price.