Money car insurance

Claiming on your insurance will invalidate any NCD you have built up
Get the car insurance cover you need

The first step when buying car insurance for the first time is to consider the type of cover you want. There are three types to choose from:
Third party car insurance

This is the lowest level of cover. It insures against damage and injuries that you, or your passenger, cause to another person or their property in an accident. It doesn't pay for any damage or injury to you or your car.
Third party, fire and theft car insurance

This is like third party cover but it will also pay to repair or replace your car if it's stolen, damaged or destroyed by fire.
Comprehensive car insurance

Comprehensive cover extends third party, fire and theft insurance to cover damage to your own car in the event of an accident.

Even if you're thinking about third party, fire and theft, it's also worth getting quotes for comprehensive cover. You may find that comprehensive cover doesn't cost any more than third party, fire and theft these days, especially if you have a few years' no claims bonuses behind you.
No-claims discount

The no-claims discount (NCD) is one of the most important features of your car insurance policy. The amount of NCD you can expect varies widely between insurers. One year's claim-free motoring could give you a discount of as much as 57.5% or as little as 27%, depending on which company you're with.

Typically, you can reach a maximum NCD of 60% to 70% if you have four years of claim-free motoring. Some insurers offer a higher maximum NCD for older drivers.

Claiming on your insurance will invariably invalidate any NCD you've built up (see protected no-claims, below).

Your NCD will be cut if you make a claim, but the size of the cut varies between insurers. Check with your insurer what happens if you have to make further claims within a three or five-year period – as it may mean a further cut in your NCD.
Protected no-claims

You can limit the impact of a claim on your NCD by paying extra for NCD protection. You'll typically have to pay 10% to 15% to protect your NCD – and it's usually available only after four years with the same insurer. However, this protection can make a huge difference to the premiums you pay for your car insurance.

If you protect your NCD, making one claim in a year will have no effect. Making two claims in a year won't affect your NCD with some companies, but with others your NCD could be reduced to as little as 45% if you make two claims in the same year.
Courtesy car

A replacement car is a useful benefit if your car is off the road after an accident. Most insurers will provide a courtesy car – but only if your car is repaired by an approved repairer. If you don't choose one of the insurer's approved repairers, you won't get a courtesy car.

Some insurers offer a courtesy car only if your car is damaged in an accident, not if it's stolen. Others charge an extra premium for providing a courtesy car after theft. All of our car insurance Recommended Providers offer a courtesy car after both accident and theft.

Compare nationwide average auto insurance premiums for all types of cars, trucks and SUVs. After selecting the make and model of the vehicle you want insured, you can receive auto insurance quotes from leading insurance companies through internet. The auto insurance comparison tool allows for you to see how much insuring your vehicle may cost by state.