Third-party damage
You’ll be covered for damage you cause to another person, their vehicle or their property as a result of your actions
Third-party, fire and theft car insurance
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What is third-party, fire and theft car insurance?
Third party, fire and theft car insurance covers you if your car is stolen or damaged as a result of attempted theft or it suffers fire damage.
It offers more protection than third-party only, but not as much as fully comprehensive.
What does third-party, fire and theft insurance cover?
Third-party, fire and theft policies offer the following cover:
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Fire damage
You’ll also be able to claim if your car is damaged by fire or an explosion, whether it’s accidental or caused by arson
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Theft
You’ll be protected should your car be stolen, and usually if it’s been damaged as a result of attempted theft.
Do I need third-party, fire and theft car insurance?
The minimum legal requirement to drive on UK roads is third-party only cover. You don’t legally need to take out third-party, fire and theft car insurance.
However, third-party only doesn’t offer any protection for your own vehicle. For that you should consider third-party fire and theft or fully comprehensive.
➡️ Read more: Do you live in a car crime hotspot?
Who is third-party, fire and theft car insurance best suited for?
Since it doesn’t cover your car if you cause an accident it typically works best if:
Your car is cheap to repair
You can handle repairs yourself
You can afford to replace your car if it's written off
You don't drive often so there is less risk of you having an accident
➡️ Read more: How mileage affects your car insurance
How much does third-party, fire and theft car insurance cost?
Insurers will calculate your premium based on lots of factors including your age, where you live, your driving history and your car’s make and model so prices can vary.
Average price of third-party, fire and theft policies:
£609.25^
Third-party, fire and theft policies are usually the mid-way option both in terms of cost and cover.
They’re cheaper, on average, than third-party only policies but pricier than fully comprehensive.
Our expert says…
If you drive an older car, or are new to driving, then third-party, fire and theft insurance might make sense, if it’s cheaper to replace your car after a crash than fork out higher premiums for comprehensive cover. But it’s always worth checking how much the different types of policy cost, as many motorists will actually pay less for wider cover.
Faith Archer Personal Finance Expert
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Why should I compare third-party, fire and theft car insurance quotes with MoneySuperMarket?
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If third-party, fire and theft insurance isn’t the right option for you, you may want to consider alternative options:
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Third-party only
Only covers you for third-party damage you cause, but offers no cover for your own vehicle
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Fully comprehensive
Offers everything included in third-party, fire and theft, but also adds extra cover for your car
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Telematics
Designed for young and high-risk drivers; demonstrating good driving habits earns cheaper cover
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Temporary cover
A cost-effective alternative if you don’t need an annual policy, covers you for days or weeks instead
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Classic car
Designed for older cars that are primarily used for leisure purposes
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Multi-car
Allows you to insure two or more cars on a single policy
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Business car
Covers your car if you use it for work journeys, beyond just commuting
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Low-mileage cover
Cover if you drive a short distance each year (less than 6,000 miles)
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LATEST NEWS
Motorists warned of AI insurance scams
Motor insurance fraud in particular is on the rise in the UK, and there are strong signs that AI may be partly responsible for an increase in fraudulent claims. Allianz, the world's largest insurance company, said that they had observed a 300% increase in incidents where apps were used to distort real-life images, videos, and documents between 2021 and 2023.
Offenders who are caught could face fines up to £5,000 or, in serious cases imprisonment of up to 10 years and a criminal record.
Increase in AI-doctored claims
300%
Source: Allianz
What’s the difference between third-party fire and theft, and fully comprehensive cover?
Third-party, fire and theft car insurance only covers your vehicle for theft and fire damage whereas a fully comprehensive policy covers these circumstances plus damage to your own car in an accident.
A fully comprehensive policy may also include features like motor legal protection, personal accident cover and breakdown cover as standard. These may be available with some third-party fire and theft policies too but usually as an optional extra.
How can I get cheaper car insurance?
You may be able to lower the price of car insurance if you do the following:
Pay annually: If you’re able to, paying your full annual premium in one lump sum often works out cheaper than spreading the cost over 12 months
Volunteer a higher excess: Paying more in voluntary excess tells insurers you aren’t likely to make frivolous claims on your policy, so they’ll often give you a discount
Build up a no-claims bonus: If you can avoid making claims on your policy for a year or longer, you may earn a discount next time you look for cover
Pick a smaller vehicle: Providers sort cars into different insurance groups based on factors that affect their riskiness on the road – cars in lower groups are usually cheaper to insure
Improve your security: If your car has factory installed security features like alarms and immobilisers, this reduces the risk of theft – and can help you get cheaper cover
Store your car safely: Likewise parking your car in a garage or driveway rather than on the street also makes theft less likely, often bringing your premiums down at the same time
Does third party, fire and theft cover driving abroad?
Yes, third-party, fire and theft covers driving abroad. In fact, all UK vehicle insurance covers driving in:
The EU (including Ireland)
Andorra
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Iceland
Liechtenstein
Norway
Serbia
Switzerland
However, you’ll usually only be covered for third-party damage, even with fully comprehensive insurance. So you may need to pay extra for a more extensive policy.
Why is third-party fire and theft more expensive?
Third-party, fire and theft car insurance is usually more expensive than fully comprehensive policies, even though it offers less cover. That’s because third-party fire and theft policies tend to be taken out by more high risk drivers, resulting in more car insurance claims.
It used to be the other way round, with fully comprehensive car insurance being the most expensive. But more and more high risk drivers took out the cheaper policies, driving the price up and causing the trend to reverse.
Does third-party, fire and theft cover vandalism or malicious damage?
No, third-party, fire and theft does not usually cover vandalism or malicious damage to your car, unless it’s happened as part of an attempted theft. Comprehensive policies, however, often cover vandalism.
Is my stereo or sat nav covered if it’s stolen?
If your stereo or sat nav is stolen you may be covered under a third-party, fire and theft policy but it usually depends whether they are factory-fit items or whether they can be removed from the car. It’s best to check your car insurance policy.
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Is car insurance eligible for SuperSaveClub and rewards?
Yes, you can earn SuperSaveClub rewards when you buy car insurance through MoneySuperMarket.
This includes:
Up to £15, which you can withdraw as a pre-paid Mastercard or a gift card for brands like Sainsbury's and Amazon.co.uk
Free Days Out pass (worth £180), which gives free entry to a range of UK attractions
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To earn SuperSaveClub rewards on purchases you must:
Sign up to SuperSaveClub (it's free)
Be signed in to your account when you make the purchase
More information can be found on our SuperSaveClub homepage.
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Yes, car insurance is included in our Super Save Price Promise.
If you buy through us then find the same deal for less we will:
refund the difference
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Terms and conditions apply. More information can be found on our Price Promise page.
Reviewed on 26 Dec 2025 by
SuperSaveClub restrictions and T&Cs apply. Click here for details.
Based on the median annual price of comprehensive car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025, with one driver who has held their licence for at least one year.
Based on the median annual price of third party, fire & theft car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025, with one driver who has held their licence for at least one year.
Based on the median annual price of third party only car insurance policies sold through MoneySuperMarket in October 2025, with one driver who has held their licence for at least one year.
YouGov Survey 1st July 2024 to 30th June 2025. Net Recommend score derived from “Which of the following online service websites would you recommend to a friend or colleague, or tell them to avoid?” Base: Current Customers of (MoneySuperMarket n=18,382, Compare the Market n=16,802, Go.Compare n=10,162, Confused.com n=8,229, Uswitch n=528).
SuperSaveClub restrictions and T&Cs apply. Click here for details.
51% of consumers could save up to £514.27 Consumer Intelligence , Oct 2025 Exc NI, CI, IOM
T&Cs apply to SuperSaveClub and Price Promise.
Accurate as of 26 December 2025.