Comprehensive Car Insurance Guide

Things you may not have known about comprehensive car insurance in the UK.

Q. Are there exceptions a fully comprehensive insurance policy will not cover?

A. If you're in a car accident that's not your fault, it's very annoying to say the least. But what many people don't realise is that there are some things that their car insurance policy won't pay for, even if it's fully comprehensive. For example, if you have comprehensive cover then you will still have to pay your excess to the garage after they fix your car, unless the other party has admitted fault before the work has been carried out and your insurance company has all relevant insurance and personal details of the third party.

If you're injured, your insurance policy won't usually pay you anything as compensation. Legal expenses insurance helps you in these situations. It will make a claim against the person who was to blame for the accident to get you what you're legally entitled to. If it's agreed that it was the other person's fault, they have to compensate you for what you're out of pocket by, whether it's the cost of repairs, compensation for injuries, or the cost of hiring a car while yours is out of action. And, if it's a complicated case that ends up going to court, the policy will even pay for your legal fees to do this - up to a maximum of ?75,000.

Q If I have a fully comprehensive car insurance policy. Does this mean I'm covered to drive other people's cars?

A 'Driving other cars' cover lets you drive someone else's car if they have given you permission to drive it. However, it won't cover any damage to the car. It only covers you for damage or injury you cause to other people and their property, so it's a bit like third party only cover. Be aware that not every insurance policy has 'driving other cars' cover. To find out if you have it, you need to look at your motor insurance certificate. If you have the cover, it will show this at section 6 (Persons entitled to drive) of your certificate. If you do have the cover, it only applies to the person whose name the insurance is in. So, if Mr Smith has a policy and his wife and son are named drivers on the policy, it's only Mr Smith who has the driving other cars cover. His wife and son are not insured to drive other cars.