Third Party Car Insurance

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Low cost third party car insurance

To legally drive on UK roads, you need a minimum of third-party insurance. Although driving on only third-party insurance is not recommended, it can sometimes appear to be the most economical option, although far from the safest. It only provides you cover for damage you cause to someone else’s car or property or injuries sustained by a third party.

Although limited, third-party car insurance is sometimes the best option for some. Use Utility Saving Expert’s price comparison tool to get the maximum out of the minimal car insurance level.


What is third-party car insurance?

Do I need third-party car insurance?

Third-party insurance is the minimum level of cover required by the U.K. If you drive without third-party insurance, you’re technically driving illegally. It is a requirement as it means every driver can afford to pay for damages caused to a third party in the event of an accident on the road. So yes, you do need third-party car insurance.

What does third-party insurance cover?

Third-party insurance provides limited cover for drivers. The only claims that third-party car insurance providers will pay out for include:

  • Damage caused to a third party’s vehicle
  • Damage caused to a third party’s property (i.e., damage caused to someone’s garden wall)
  • Injuries sustained by a third party
  • Injuries sustained by your passenger(s)

What does third-party insurance not cover?

Compare car insurance quotes and you could save up to £319*

Is third-party insurance ever a good option?

Besides being the legal minimum and sometimes the most affordable option, you’re probably wondering why drivers settle for third-party cover and go fully comprehensive. There are several reasons for this, including:

If you can pay for repairs yourself

If you’re in the habit of fixing your car and have plenty of spare parts handy, then you may not need to worry about repair costs for your own car as much.

If your car isn’t worth much

If you’re driving an old car with little value, you may find yourself paying more for comprehensive insurance than the car is worth.

If you don’t drive much

If you don’t drive regularly, and even when you do, it’s only a small commute, it may simply make economic sense to settle for third-party cover.

Additional coverage for third-party car insurance

If you want to make your third-party insurance broader in terms of cover, there are several add-ons you could get. However, add-ons normally come with an additional price, to the point where it may work out cheaper to just get third-party fire and theft or fully comprehensive insurance.

Here are some of the common add-ons that drivers get for their third-party cover:

Motor legal protection

If someone takes legal action against you over a road accident that wasn’t your fault, motor legal protection will cover the legal costs.

Personal accident cover

With this add-on, you’ll be able to claim compensation for any injuries you sustain in a road accident. It effectively covers you the same way that third-party covers other drivers.

Breakdown cover

This add-on will grant you roadside assistance and repairs should you find yourself broken down. Breakdown cover is properly the most popular add-on for third-party cover.

Courtesy car cover

If your car needs to go into the garage for repairs, a courtesy car cover will provide you with a vehicle to use in the meantime.

No claims bonus protection

In the long run, maintaining a no-claims discount will make your car insurance much cheaper over time. However, driving is unpredictable, and you could find yourself making several claims along the way. No claims bonus protection allows you to keep your no-claims record, even if you have to make a claim.

How much does third-party insurance cost?

How to reduce the cost of your third-party insurance

Luckily, there are several actions you can carry out to reduce the cost of your insurance, either upfront or gradually over time. They include:

Pay annually

Not always, but it’s often cheaper to pay for third-party car insurance annually than it is monthly. This is due to the interest that gets added to the premium each month, making your insurance more costly overall. If you can, paying off your insurance in one lump sum could reduce the cost of your third-party insurance massively.

Personal details

Then, you’ll need to outline which level of cover you’re interested in and any excess you’re willing to pay voluntarily. Armed with this information, the insurer can provide you with an accurate quote.

Increase excess

By offering to pay more in the event of an accident, your insurance company may trust you to drive carefully on the road. The price of your insurance premium may be reduced if you’re willing to put more of your own money at risk.

Reduce your mileage

Less time spent on the road means there’s less of a risk of you being involved in a car accident. Although it may be difficult, only driving when you need to could help bring the price of your insurance down.

Install a black box

A black box allows for your insurance provider to monitor how you drive on the road. It’s the best and easiest way to prove to them that you’re a responsible driver. The insurance provider will judge your speed and general driving style. If they’re happy with the results, then they’ll likely reduce the price of your third-party car insurance.

Compare car insurance quotes with Utility Saving Expert

Third-party premiums have changed a lot in recent years – while they were once the most affordable insurance option, they no longer hold this title. Navigating through each third-party premium has become more confusing than ever, which is where Utility Saving Expert can help.

At Utility Saving Expert, you can compare third-party car insurance quotes from 110 of the UK’s top providers. You can use the filters on our price comparison tool to narrow down the options to only the premiums that meet your budget and criteria. This allows you to keep your third-party insurance cheap and also features all the add-ons you need.

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*51% of consumers could save £319.03 on their Car Insurance. The saving was calculated by comparing the cheapest price found with the average of the next five cheapest prices quoted by insurance providers on Seopa Ltd’s insurance comparison website. This is based on representative cost savings from March 2022 data. The savings you could achieve are dependent on your individual circumstances and how you selected your current insurance supplier.

Can I drive someone else’s car with third-party insurance?

You cannot drive someone else’s car if all you have is third-party insurance on your own vehicle. Third-party insurance, like most insurance levels, only permits you to drive the vehicle you are registered to. To drive someone else’s car, you’ll need to be listed on their car insurance as a ‘named driver’.

What happens when my car is damaged, and it wasn’t my fault?

Although third-party insurance doesn’t cover you for damages caused to your car that weren’t your fault, the other driver’s car insurance will. After an accident that wasn’t your fault, you will be approached by the other driver’s insurance company to settle the claim.

Is it better to get 3rd party insurance or 3rd party fire and theft insurance?

If you’re a young driver, 3rd party is not a good option. This insurance premium doesn’t provide you with enough cover, and you may as well pay a little extra to avoid paying for damages yourself. 3rd party fire and theft is slightly better, but we’d recommend going fully comprehensive.

Is it easy to upgrade from a third party to fully comprehensive insurance?

If paying monthly, you could upgrade at the time of your next payment. However, if you’ve paid for 3rd party insurance for the whole year, it may be difficult to upgrade until the end of the term agreed.