Read our comprehensive review on comprehensive car insurance!
At SimplyInsure.ie, we like to make insurance simple for everybody. So that’s why we are compiling an ‘FAQ’ over time which will explain various aspects of insurance in plain, easy-to-read language. To get the ball rolling, let’s start with talking about ‘comprehensive car insurance’. While the vast majority of drivers are familiar with this term, it can be unclear what cover an insured person gets when they take out a fully comprehensive car insurance policy?
As the word ‘comprehensive’ suggests, a fully comprehensive policy gives those insured the highest level of cover that anyone can get. While this type of car insurance is typically more expensive than Third Party, Fire and Theft (TPFT) and Third Party (TP) cover, it offers better value-for-money cover, offering far more benefits than TPFT and TP policies.
To give an idea of what you get for your money, we have put together a broad list below showing benefits generally included in a standard comprehensive policy:
– If you are at fault in an accident, comprehensive cover will pay out damages caused to the third party’s car as well as your own
– Breakdown Assistance should your vehicle break down whilst away from your home
– Cover in the event of a your vehicle either being written-off, sustaining fire damage or theft
– Optional Step-Back Bonus Protection and Full No Claims Bonus Protection for claims relating to third parties and accidental damage
– Personal Effects Cover insuring any accessories against accidental damage, fire or theft (normally up to €500)
– Cover against charges if the Fire Brigade are called out (normally up to €1,000)
– Third Party Liability – provides cover should you be responsible for injury or death to other people or damage to the property of others.
– Driving of other cars – the majority of companies insure policy holders over 25 with a Full Driving Licence to drive other people’s cars
– Windscreen Cover to replace cracked or damaged windscreens
– Cover to drive your car in the EU for a period of 30 days
However, there are some insurers who offer nice little extras on comprehensive car insurance. For example, one of our insurers gives DAS Motor Legal Protection as standard on all their fully comprehensive policies. This product offers cover not included on a standard comprehensive policy like Personal Injury cover and legal fees cover arising from legal action taken against you.
