Third-party car insurance

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^[1]51% of our customers were quoted less than £1,788.59 per year for their third party car insurance in December 2024.

What is third-party car insurance?

Third-party insurance is the most basic level of car insurance you can get – and the legal minimum you need to drive on UK roads.

It offers cover if you damage another person’s car or injure someone while you’re driving.

But you won’t be covered for your own injuries or any damage to your car if an accident is your fault. You’ll need to foot the bill for this yourself.

What does third-party insurance cover?

Third-party, fire and theft insurance offers the same cover as third-party insurance, but can also cover you if your car is stolen or damaged by fire.

It gives you more cover than a basic third-party policy, but not as much as comprehensive insurance. Third-party fire and theft can be a good option if your car is relatively cheap and straightforward to repair.

Third party insurance typically covers:

Damage to someone else’s car in a road accident
Damage to another person’s property – for example, if you crash your car into a neighbour’s wall
Injury to a passenger or driver of another car
Injury to a passenger in your car.

What is not covered by third-party insurance?

Typically, third-party insurance won’t cover:

Damage to your own vehicle (if the accident was your fault)
Repair or replacement costs if your car is stolen, broken into or damaged by fire
Medical costs if you’re injured, such as physiotherapy.

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^[2]Correct as of December 2024.

^[3]As of January 2nd 2025, Compare the Market had an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 from 64,551 people who left a review on Trustpilot. The score 4.8 corresponds to the Star Label ‘Excellent’.

What happens if I’m involved in an accident with third-party cover?

If the accident is your fault:

You’ll need to claim on your insurance policy so your provider can settle a pay-out with the other person’s insurance provider.

This could include the cost of fixing damage to the other person’s car or personal injury claims. You could also lose your no-claims discount unless it’s protected under your policy.

If the accident isn’t your fault:

You should be able to claim money back from the other driver’s car insurance policy or get it to repair your motor. Your no-claims bonus shouldn’t be affected because you’re not claiming on your own insurance policy.

What’s the difference between third-party and comprehensive insurance?

Comprehensive insurance is the highest level of cover available. It covers damage to your own vehicle, as well as damage to someone else’s car.

It can also cover damage to the personal belongings in your car, and injury to you and other people.

Third-party insurance gives you the minimum level of cover. You won’t get any payout if your car is damaged or you’re injured.

Comprehensive insurance gives you more cover than you legally need. You must have at least third-party car insurance by law, whereas comprehensive cover is optional.

Is third-party insurance right for me?

It’s important to weigh up the pros and cons before deciding if third-party insurance is right for you.

Third-party car insurance benefits

Third-party insurance may be right for you if:

Your car is older and isn’t worth very much. If the cost of fixing your car is more than it’s worth, it might make sense to find a cheap third-party car insurance policy.
You don’t drive your car very often. Having the most basic level of cover to legally drive in the UK might be perfectly fine for your needs.

Third-party car insurance disadvantages

Potentially, there are financial risks if you only have third-party cover:

It won’t cover damage to your car. If you cause an accident, you’ll have to pay for repairs yourself.
You won’t be covered for injuries. If the accident is your fault, third-party car insurance won’t cover any medical bills.
It can be more expensive. Drivers with third-party only cover are often considered higher risk. You may find that you’ll pay more for third party insurance than for a comprehensive policy.

Check the cost of third-party insurance against comprehensive cover and third-party, fire and theft insurance. Although third party is the most basic type of policy, it’s not necessarily the cheapest.

When is third-party insurance a good option?

If your car isn’t worth very much, it might make sense to find a cheaper third-party quote and avoid the extra cost of insuring against damage to your own vehicle.

This is because the cost of fixing your car might be more than it’s worth, making the repairs not worth bothering with. Alternatively, the cost of repairs may be so low that you’re able to cover the expense yourself.

Another instance when third-party insurance might make more sense is for drivers who don’t drive their car very often.
Just because it offers the least protection, it doesn’t mean you should never even consider third-party insurance. For some situations, it can be perfectly fine.

Are third-party policies cheaper than comprehensive policies?

People often assume third-party insurance will be the cheapest as it offers the least cover. But that isn’t always the case.

Insurance costs are calculated on risk. Insurance providers work on the assumption that people who take out third-party policies are more likely to make a claim. This is why they may often charge them more.

The cost of your premium will also depend on:

How old you are
Where you live
The make and model of your car
What insurance group your car is in
How much your car is worth
How many miles a year you drive.

How much does third-party insurance cost?

Insurance prices are very specific to your circumstances so until you do a comparison we cannot say what your price will be. But looking at averages, based on our latest data, this is how third-party insurance compares with comprehensive and third-party, fire and theft insurance:

For third-party car insurance, 51% of our customers were quoted less than £1,789^[1]

For third-party, fire and theft, 51% of our customers were quoted less than £1,312^[4]

For comprehensive cover, 51% of our customers were quoted less than £729^[5]

^[4] 51% of our customers were quoted less than £1,311.36 for their third party fire and theft car insurance in December 2024.
^[5] 51% of our customers were quoted less than £728.25 for their comprehensive car insurance in December 2024.

What added extras can you get with third-party cover?

You can add a range of extras to a third-party policy:

Breakdown cover – if you break down, this could get you back on the road.
Personal accident cover – could provide compensation if you or your partner are killed or seriously injured in a car accident.
Motor legal protection – could cover legal expenses up to an agreed limit if you’re involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault.
No-claims discount protection – if you’ve built up a decent discount, you can protect it by adding this cover.
Courtesy car cover – if your car is being repaired after an accident, this will provide you with a temporary car to use.

Just remember that add-ons can bump up the price of your premium, so only buy an extra cover if you really need it.

Some comprehensive policies may include additional cover as standard. Comprehensive insurance could work out cheaper than a third-party policy with a range of extras added on.

What do I need to get a quote for third-party car insurance?

To start a quote, you’ll need to give us a few details about:

Your vehicle
How you use your vehicle – for example, your annual mileage, where you park overnight
Your personal details, including your address, age and employment status
Any claims or convictions
How many years of no-claims discount you have
The type of cover you’re looking for.

Once you’ve completed our online form, we’ll show you a list of suitable quotes to compare.

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What our expert says...

“Third-party cover is the minimum level of car insurance that drivers legally need. It typically covers the cost of damage to another person’s vehicle, as well as any compensation costs for injuries caused to other people. Drivers with third-party cover tend to pay more as they’re likely to be younger, high-risk drivers.

When you come to renew your car insurance, it’s always worth shopping around and comparing different types of policy. This will help you get a great deal with the right amount of protection.”

- Julie Daniels, Motor insurance expert

About Compare the Market

We know comparing insurance and utilities isn’t much fun. So at Compare the Market it’s all about keeping it simple. We help you find the right product at the right price. And you can trust us to be impartial – we only make money when you switch or take out a new product, so it’s in our interests to help you make the right choice.

Frequently asked questions

Does third-party only insurance cover you for theft?

No, third-party insurance doesn’t cover theft. But you could be covered if you choose third-party, fire and theft, or comprehensive car insurance.

Is it legal to drive with third-party insurance?

Yes, third-party insurance is the legal minimum you need to drive in the UK. It will also cover you to drive your car in most European countries.

However, you usually won’t be insured to drive other cars. To drive someone else’s car legally, it’s best to be added to their insurance as a named driver.

What is third-party, fire and theft cover?

Third-party, fire and theft insurance offers the same cover as third-party insurance, but also covers you if your car is stolen or damaged by fire.

Third-party, fire and theft could be an option if your car is relatively cheap and straightforward to repair.

It’s a good idea to compare the cost of third-party, fire and theft cover with comprehensive insurance, because basic policies aren’t necessarily the cheapest.