Third party cover

This is the most basic cover you can get, and is the legal minimum of car insurance cover. In the event of an accident that was seen to be your fault, third party insurance covers other people, vehicles and property, but injuries you suffer and damage to your own car is not covered.

Third party insurance only covers you against having to pay if you injure someone or damage their vehicle or other property, but it won’t pay to repair damage to your car.

This will cover third party damage and also fire and theft, so you can claim for repair or replacement if your car is damaged or destroyed as a result of theft, attempted theft or fire.

This is the most commonly purchased option - all John Lewis Car Insurance policies are comprehensive.

Comprehensive cover pays to repair damage to your car, including windscreens. This is in addition to all of the cover included in third party, fire and theft cover.

People sometimes incorrectly assume that comprehensive cover is the most expensive cover but this is not necessarily true – you may find that comprehensive cover works out as cheap as third party, fire and theft.

Remember that with comprehensive car insurance you are covered for everything included in third party, fire and theft cover, plus:

Damage to your own car

A pay-out for the market value of your old car

Windscreen cover

However, if your car is relatively cheap to repair, then a third party policy might be better for you. A newer car might cost hundreds or thousands of pounds to repair, in which case third party cover would leave you footing a hefty bill, and wipe out any savings you made by choosing third party cover.

Unlike Motor Legal Protection, legal liability covers:

Your legal liability for the death or injury of another person

Damage to property caused by you driving your car

Other insured drivers using your car with your permission

John Lewis Car Insurance includes legal liability cover as standard.