• Road Traffic Act Only Insurance:  This is the minimum required by law in the UK.  It covers third party liability risks that happen on public roads only.  Third party is anyone but you.  It will pay medical bills for passengers in your vehicle and in the other vehicle, but not your medical bills. It is very hard to find a company that will sell you this very basic insurance and it is not one we would advise taking out.
• Third Party Insurance:  Covers the insured driver on public roads and private roads.  Covers third party claims and provides protection against other legal responsibilities.
• Third Party Fire and Theft:  In addition to the third party coverage, your vehicle is protected against fire, theft, and attempted theft.
• Comprehensive Insurance:  This insurance will cover the cost of repairing or replacing your damaged vehicle.  It pays for serious injuries and death benefits for you and your spouse.  It will also pay for medical bills on other passengers for less severe injuries.  It pays for loss or damage to personal items in the car.

Every time you add one of these insurance coverages to your plan, your premium will go up.  You should consider adding them anyway if you use your vehicle a lot or if you  have a young driver at home, who is more likely to get in an accident .  It is better to pay a little more now then pay a lot later.

When shopping for car insurance do not just consider price.  There are so many insurance companies out there trying to get your money.  Some are trustworthy, reliable companies, while others are just there to take your money.  Shop around and get quotes from several different companies.  When getting quotes always make sure to give them the same information and ask for the same coverage. 

Make sure the company is financially sound.  If you have to file a claim, you want to know the money will be there for you.  Make sure the insurance company gives good customer service, whether needing information or filing a claim, you should be treated fairly and respectfully.  They should make filing a claim as painless as possible.

Ask about discounts.  Most companies will offer discounts in order to save you money on your premium.  Consider what discounts will help you with your insurance when choosing your insurance company.  Some car insurance discounts are:  Anti-theft devices, auto/home packages, good driver, good student, multiple vehicles, and low annual mileage.

Buying car insurance doesn’t have to be a chore if you know what you are doing.  Remember to do your homework before buying from any company and consider more than the lowest price.  Cheap can become expensive.

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In the UK a vehicle driven on the road must be insured.  The type of insurance required is third party or at the very least Act only insurance.  Here are the different types of insurance policies:

•  Act only:  This is the minimum legal coverage you can carry in the UK.  It will cover liability to a third party on any public road.  It does not cover damages to someone’s property or any damages that happen off road.  It is very limited and is suited for people with poor driving records or are having trouble getting other insurance.
• Third Party:  The insured driver is covered when driving on public or private property and roads.  Besides covering third party claims, it will cover damages to property and legal liabilities.
• Third Party Fire and Theft:  Cover the same as third party but will pay for the insured drivers vehicle in case of fire or theft.
• Comprehensive:  This is the widest coverage of all.  You get the same coverage as the other ones plus accidental damage coverage.  This means you can get your car fixed no matter what kind of damage it sustains.

There are also many optional small policies that can be added on.

For a young driver who wants to get the cheapest possible insurance, there are things he can do.  Most importantly, take the Pass Plus training scheme.  Insurance companies will take this into consideration when preparing the policy.  Get a small low-powered car.  They do less damage and are cheaper to fix.  Keep a good driving history.  No tickets!  All of these things will factor into the price of a young driver’s policy.

The average insurance for a 17-year-old male driving a 1.8 litre Volkswagen Golf is £5,511.  For a 17-year-old female driving the same car it is £2,478.  These rates can drop by as much as 10% by completing the Pass Plus training course.  Regardless of this, you will probably be asked to pay a high excess, usually £1,000.

A young driver can benefit from having a parent added to the motor insurance coverage.  This is something that a young driver should really consider.