Third party fire and theft car insurance explained

Before you get behind the wheel of any car, you need to have car insurance. In the UK, there are three options – fully comprehensive, third party and third party fire and theft. The minimum amount of cover you can legally have is third party, but, if you’re considering this option, you need to be aware that it can be a gamble. Read on to find out more.

What is third party fire and theft cover?

If you were in an accident and only had third party insurance, the other vehicle, plus any property damaged and or injuries to people other than yourself would be covered by your insurance. However, you and your vehicle wouldn’t be protected. If the other driver was at fault, their insurance policy would cover your repairs and compensate you for any injuries, but, if they were an uninsured driver, you’d be left with nothing.

With third party cover, your vehicle is your concern. If there was a fire, or your car was stolen or damaged, your insurer wouldn’t be responsible for any repairs or replacement. Third party fire and theft cover is slightly different. It does cover your vehicle if there’s a fire, theft, or attempted theft, but, in all other circumstances, it’s down to you to finance any repairs or a replacement vehicle.

Can you afford to only have third party or third party, fire and theft cover?

This is a question you should ask yourself before you take out a policy. If there was an accident and your car was written off, would you be able to buy a new car if the accident was your fault or if you were hit by an uninsured driver? Or would you be left without a car and no way of affording one for the foreseeable future?

If you’re still paying off your car – whether you bought it through car finance, a loan or using a credit card – you’d still be expected to pay for it, even if it was scrapped. Paying for something you can’t use, for years to come, would be a bitter pill to swallow.

In the past, the main reason people chose third party and third party, fire and theft cover was because comprehensive cover would traditionally cost more. However, if you shop around for quotes today, you may find that there’s little difference between the cost of the three types, and that comprehensive cover might actually work out cheaper. Getting comprehensive car insurance can be a weight off your mind to know that, should the worst happen, you’d be covered.

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