Welcome to Car Insurance Search
Young Drivers The first thing young drivers need to consider is taking the pass plus driving course. This is a series of six lessons it covers things like all weather driving, night driving and motorway driving. Passing this course can reduce insurance premiums by up to 35%, and for a young driver this discount can more than cover the cost of the course.
Another good thing for young driver to do is to choose a car that is in a low insurance group. This is akin to saying to an insurer "I'm more interested in getting from A. to B. then in showing off my friends". For a young driver these are the two things that are most likely to reduce insurance premiums, in addition to being a good driver, and making no claims and therefore getting a good no claims bonus.
Types of UK Car Insurance
If you are looking to insure your car for the first time then you might want to know just what is available. In the UK, car insurance falls into three broad areas.
Third Party Only
Third party is the minimum level of UK car insurance options, and it is a legal requirement that all drivers have at least this form of insurance. Third party insurance covers damages etc to another person (the third party) and their vehicle in an accident where you are at fault. Third party car insurance is the cheapest, but if you only have this level of insurance you could find that it is a false economy. If you write off your car in an accident that was not caused by another driver, then you will not receive any compensation. Replacing your car is a lot more expensive than your insurance premiums over a number of years, so you may want to reconsider once you’ve done the math.
Third Party Fire and Theft
Third party fire and theft covers the costs of another driver in case of an accident, but not your costs. This level of insurance also gives you a bit more protection, for example, if you only have third party and your car was stolen, you would not be able to claim compensation. Third party fire and theft means you are entitled to claim the market value of your car if it is stolen, or to claim for any repairs if the car is returned in a damaged condition. Your vehicle is also insured against fire damage with third party fire and theft. Although you do have greater protection with this level of insurance than you would with third party only, you still need to think seriously about whether this level of cover is cost effective.
An increasing number of drivers, at least those who are not breaking the law through the lack of any insurance, have the third level of insurance, which is fully comprehensive cover.
Fully Comprehensive Insurance Cover
Fully comprehensive means exactly what it says, you are insured for all accidental damage to your vehicle, although it is the more expensive level of cover, it is often the most cost effective over the long term. When you have insurance at this level, you are covered for the following,
• Fire damage to your vehicle
• Theft, and damage caused due to a theft
• There is usually some cover for windows and windscreens, but not for general wear and tear on the vehicle. In most circumstances the insurer will arrange for your vehicle repairs, or replace a car that is too badly damaged to warrant repair.
There are other insurance ‘add ons’ such as breakdown cover, although you should check with your insurance company as some fully comp policies include breakdown. If you take your car away on holiday to Europe, then you will need European breakdown cover for that period. Legal cover will pay some of your expenses if another driver decides to sue for damages. There are a number of other ‘extras’ that are not covered by ‘comprehensive’ insurance, but being insured for these really is a matter of choice.