Comprehensive car insurance

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What is comprehensive car insurance?

A comprehensive car insurance policy should offer the highest level of cover for you and your car.

It's also known as ‘fully comprehensive’ or ‘fully comp’ insurance, but these terms can be misleading as no insurance policy covers all eventualities.

A comprehensive policy can pay out if you damage or write off your car, regardless of who was at fault. It can also cover damage to someone else’s car, as well as the cost of compensation if they’re injured.

Car insurance policies will vary depending on the provider you choose, so always check the terms and conditions to see what is and isn’t covered.

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What’s the difference between comprehensive and other types of car cover?

Comprehensive isn’t the only kind of car insurance you can get. You could also consider:

Third-party only (TPO)

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    Third-party car insurance is the minimum level of cover required by law

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    Covers you for damage to another vehicle or person in the event of an accident

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    Won’t cover any damage to you or your car.

Third-party, fire and theft

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    Third-party, fire and theft insurance offers the same cover as TPO, plus protection if your car is stolen or damaged by fire

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    Could be useful if you don't drive often or your car isn't worth much

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    Won’t cover the costs of repairing or replacing your car if it’s damaged or written off in an accident that you caused.

Telematics

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    A mobile app or device fitted in your car lets the insurance provider know about your driving habits

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    Popular among young drivers, who typically pay £1,340 a year for comp cover – one of the highest premiums across all age groups3

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    A telematics device could restrict how and where you drive.

How much does comprehensive car insurance cost?

According to our data, people who look for comprehensive cover with Compare the Market are typically quoted:

£5934
a year

Although comprehensive insurance offers a higher level of cover, it’s sometimes cheaper than TPO and third-party, fire and theft policies. Typical quotes for these are £1,3025 and £962 respectively, so it's always worth comparing all options before you buy6.

4 Based on 51% of customers who compared quotes for this type of policy in June 2026.

Why is comprehensive car insurance cheaper than third-party?

Comprehensive car insurance is often cheaper because drivers who opt for full cover may be considered less of a risk in the eyes of insurance providers.

Those who take out third-party only cover, on the other hand, may be seen as riskier by insurance providers.

What does comprehensive car insurance cover?

Comprehensive insurance offers the highest level of protection for some of the most common circumstances. But exactly what’s covered will depend on the policy and insurance provider you choose. Here's what you can generally expect to be included:

Typically covered

Damage to other people’s cars as the result of an accident

Compensation costs if someone claims against you for an injury you’ve caused

Personal injuries that you sustain following an accident

Fire damage to your car

Theft of your car

Some cover for personal belongings that are damaged or stolen while in your car

The full cost of repairing your car after an accident

Windscreen repairs

Damage caused by flooding

Typically not covered

Theft caused by carelessness, e.g. leaving your car unlocked

Damage or injuries caused when driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs

Driving with an invalid driving licence

General wear or tear

Driving someone else’s car

What add-ons can I get with comprehensive car insurance?

You can tailor a comprehensive policy to suit your needs. Some policies include extra features as standard, while others offer them as optional add-ons that may increase your overall price.
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Courtesy car cover

Get a courtesy car while yours is being repaired after an accident. This may come in handy if you need your car to get to work or take the kids to school, for example.

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Breakdown cover

Breakdown cover offers roadside assistance if your car breaks down. It can also include recovery to a garage for repairs if the problem can’t be fixed there and then.

Windscreen

Windscreen cover

Windscreen insurance could cover the cost of repairing or replacing a broken windscreen, as well as side and rear windows.

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Motor legal expenses

Motor legal protection could cover expensive legal fees if an accident you’re involved in ends up in court. It could also help recoup losses, such as lost earnings or medical costs.

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Personal belongings cover

Most comprehensive policies offer some standard cover for the things you take in your car. You may be able to up your cover limits by paying a little extra.

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No claims bonus protection

Building up your no claims discount (NCD) could get you a cheaper quote on your car insurance. NCD protection can help you keep your NCD if you make a claim.

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Driving in Europe

All car insurance policies in the UK must include at least the minimum TPO cover needed to drive in Europe. But this cover is usually only provided for a limited period.

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Personal accident cover

Personal accident insurance could provide compensation if you or your passengers suffer a life-altering injury or are killed in a car accident.

Car keys

Key cover

If you lose your car keys or they’re stolen, key cover could help replace them and reprogramme your alarm and immobiliser.

Fuel pump

Wrong fuel cover

Misfuelling cover could cover the cost of draining and cleaning your fuel tank if you accidentally put the wrong fuel in it.

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How can I get cheap comprehensive car insurance?

Though some factors may be out of your control, there are a range of things that could help you reduce the price of your cover.

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Amy Rootham

What our expert says...

What’s happening with car insurance premiums?

“According to our data, the average premium declined by 22% year-on-year, to £600 in August 2025 compared to £762 in August 2024 – marking a decrease in price of £162. This is the lowest that car insurance premiums have been since October 2022, when premiums were £589.”

Amy Rootham, Insurance expert

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FAQs

If I have comprehensive car insurance, can I drive any car?

You can’t just drive any car with comprehensive cover. Typically, comprehensive cover only allows you to drive someone else’s car in emergency situations. Also, it will likely only cover third-party damage.

Check your policy wording so you know what cover you have. And if you’re unsure, speak to your insurance provider.

If you want to drive someone else’s car, ask whether you can be added as a named driver to their car insurance policy. Or, if you only need to drive someone else’s car for a short time, consider temporary car insurance.

What affects the price of comprehensive car insurance?

The cost of your premium depends on several factors, including your age, driving history, address and where you keep your car at night.

Insurance providers will consider all the above to determine how likely you are to make a claim. The level of risk will be reflected in the price of your policy.

How car insurance premiums are calculated.

Does comprehensive insurance cover other people to drive my car?

Comprehensive car insurance does not insure other people to drive your car. You’ll need to add them as a named driver to your car insurance.

Is it worth getting comprehensive car insurance?

It could be, yes. Comprehensive car insurance offers the most extensive cover and is often cheaper than other types of car insurance.

When you use Compare the Market’s car insurance comparison tool, you can compare different cover levels from a range of providers. So you can easily see the different options for your needs, situation and budget.

What does fully comp mean?

Fully comp is just another name for comprehensive car insurance. It’s short for fully comprehensive, but we don’t use that term because it could be misleading.

Comprehensive car insurance offers the most extensive level of protection you can get. But it doesn’t cover absolutely everything. Policies vary depending on which insurance provider you choose.

That’s why we advise reading the terms and conditions of any policy carefully before you buy, so you can understand exactly what’s included and what’s not.

Does comprehensive car insurance cover engine failure?

Typically, yes, if the engine failure is caused by an accident, vandalism or natural disaster. Comprehensive car insurance generally won’t cover engine failure if it’s caused by wear and tear, however.

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Amy Rootham
Reviewed 18 Jun 2026 by Amy Rootham Insurance expert

Amy helps make sure you get the best value when choosing insurance. Thanks to more than four years’ experience at Compare the Market, she understands what people look for, working closely with insurance providers to offer you deals and services that are fair, easy to understand and right for your needs.

Methodology

1 Correct as of June 2026.

2 Based on the % of respondents reporting Compare the Market is their preferred brand in the last 12 months vs. other leading PCWs. Source: Savanta BrandVue Financial Services, National Representative Survey of 12,257 respondents (June 2026)​

3 51% of young drivers between 17-24 years old could achieve a quote of up to £1339.58 for their car insurance based on Compare the Market data in June 2026.

5 51% of our customers were quoted less than £1,301.37 per year for their third party car insurance in June 2026.

6 51% of our customers were quoted less than £961.96 for their third party fire and theft car insurance in June 2026.

7 Based on 51% of customers who compared quotes for this type of policy in June 2026.