Insurance types?

[Nick F]

Since I passed my test I have been looking into cars but I'm slighly confused as to the different types of insruance products out there.

Which is the cheapest and offers the best protection?

[kempez]

Third Party Fire & Theft (TPF&T)

This covers you if other people claim against you for injury or damage to their car or property, and if your car is stolen or damaged by fire.

Comprehensive

As Third Party Fire and Theft plus accidental damage cover to your car plus cover for personal belongings, medical expenses and personal accident cover. Subject to selected levels of cover.

Third Party Only (TPO)

Covers liability to third parties i.e. claims made by third parties, against you, for bodily injury or damage to their property. Please call us for details.

If the cars a lot then get Comprehensive, if it's a cheap banger then you can get away with 3rd Party F&T

[Nick F]

So Third Party Fire & Theft (TPF&T) sounds like the best bet to met. I only want to get a cheap used car around the £2k mark.

[kempez]

Hmm well if you have a crash 2K is a fair amount of cash to lose. I've always been Full Comp, even though it's expensive

[atrull]

perhaps look at a 500-1000 quid car if you want value for money (a car you'd be prepared to write off .. so the cheaper insurance option so you will have no reason to claim).

You can still get alot of car for the money in that price bracket. If you've just passed your test you are _more_ likely to crash than in a year from now hence I recommend against paying extra on insurance (if you're a new driver and you want fully comp, why pay more if you would rather not claim in the first place?) on a (more expensive) car you are more likely to crash.

It will probably be covered in bumps and scratches within a few months of new-driver ownership - if not written off completely. (lets face it, this is the period where you actually learn how to drive on the real road)

[Nick F]

Just did some mock quotes and I was getting figures of about £1,100 for TPF&F on a Fiat Punto.

I'll start to look at cheaper cars

[atrull]

punto is a bit too powerful. look at a small-engined hatch like a nissan micra or fiat panda/uno -sized-car. we're talking 1 to 1.2 litres. I'd go with a jap car if at all possible - they are better built.

Otherwise settle for a Renault or a VW. third choice is a vauxhall or a ford (you probably won't enjoy driving it though).

You ideally want a group1 car for as little money as possible which you can roll and walk away from without feeling like you've just wasted a years savings.. you will then have the cash over to replace it if you break it Imagine you were giving a small child an old PC to learn to take apart and put back together (but if they couldn't do anything but destroy it you wouldn't miss it)

google 'insurance group 1' oh look, 5th result is.. http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=45099

[XA04]

Apparently they're wanting to get rid of 3rd party and just have comprehensive, so they are making compo cheaper now. I didn't believe my dad when he said it.. but just do some quotes to find out for yourself.

[Howard]

punto is a bit too powerful. look at a small-engined hatch like a nissan micra or fiat panda/uno -sized-car. we're talking 1 to 1.2 litres. I'd go with a jap car if at all possible - they are better built.

Otherwise settle for a Renault or a VW. third choice is a vauxhall or a ford (you probably won't enjoy driving it though).

You ideally want a group1 car for as little money as possible which you can roll and walk away from without feeling like you've just wasted a years savings.. you will then have the cash over to replace it if you break it Imagine you were giving a small child an old PC to learn to take apart and put back together (but if they couldn't do anything but destroy it you wouldn't miss it)

google 'insurance group 1' oh look, 5th result is.. http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=45099

Puntos are small hatchbacks!

Cinquecentos are dirt cheap to insure/run

[directhex]

Puntos are small hatchbacks!

Cinquecentos are dirt cheap to insure/run

and cost the earth in "bloody italian ****e, WORK DAMN YOU" charges

[Howard]

I didn't have any problems like that with mine, it worked every morning, rain, snow, ice or shine


"Common" cars like Fiestas, Corsas etc will be costlier to buy and insure due to demand for them (every bugger that passes their test).

It depends on your budget really, if you don't want a completely tinny, spartan, base-model tiny hatchback then you will pay slightly more for insurance. It's the way it is, until you have some no claims

[Barakka]

Agee with Howard Cinq's are great first cars - cheap to buy, cheap to run, cheap to insure. My g/f had hers for 5 years.

and cost the earth in "bloody italian ****e, WORK DAMN YOU" charges

...remember Fiats AND Alfas are both more reliable than Audis - Fact !

The other thing to think about with a first car is to go for something out of the ordinary. Insurance has a stong base in "cost to repair" these days. So the cars that most 1st time drivers buy (1.0 and 1.2 Corsa, Ka, 1.2 Clio) will be loaded on the insurance as they have a history of being regularly crashed so are likely to cost the insurance company etc. I know people who have found the larger engined model can be cheaper to insure sometimes as they have a history of costing less to repair. My advice would be to run lots of quotes through an online quote system to get example prices.

[Shorty]

.... and as someone who ditched his first "cheap runaround" after 8 weeks. Don't scrimp on the car. Pony up the money for a decent car and for comp insurance.

Why..? You worked your butt off to pass your test. Now enjoy driving, not listening to the sound of the engine deafening you while freezing from the broken heater and that noise from the suspension. Couple this with feeling like driving miss daisy every time you pull away and get overtaken by a funeral procession.

I am not saying buy a sports car but get something reasonable that will make you smile, not grimace!

[Howard]

.... and as someone who ditched his first "cheap runaround" after 8 weeks. Don't scrimp on the car. Pony up the money for a decent car and for comp insurance.

Why..? You worked your butt off to pass your test. Now enjoy driving, not listening to the sound of the engine deafening you while freezing from the broken heater and that noise from the suspension. Couple this with feeling like driving miss daisy every time you pull away and get overtaken by a funeral procession.

I am not saying buy a sports car but get something reasonable that will make you smile, not grimace!

I knew you'd realise eventually

This is my point. Unless you really can't afford it, it's worth it


Mind you saying that, my Cinquecento was basic, yet had features I like to have; Central Locking, electric windows, sunroof, etc. It kept me warm too

It was a beast. Yes it was.

[Shorty]

I knew you'd realise eventually

This is my point. Unless you really can't afford it, it's worth it


Mind you saying that, my Cinquecento was basic, yet had features I like to have; Central Locking, electric windows, sunroof, etc. It kept me warm too

It was a beast. Yes it was.

My Focus Titanium has everything (auto headlights, wipers, rearview mirror, climate control, windows and more!) .. the complete opposite of the Fiesta

You were right mate!

[Howard]

I like top-spec cars Wouldn't buy one without air con, electric everything, remote locking etc. I'm lazy and I like my toys