Car insurance is a legal requirement if you wish to drive a car on the road in the UK. A car insurance policy is there to provide you with cover in the event of an accident or damage to your vehicle and therefore against the potentially high costs that such damage could incur.

It is illegal to drive a car without a valid car insurance policy and if you are found to be doing so then you are more then likely to face a hefty fine or even a jail sentence, so it is really not worth the risk to not get yourself fully insured.

There are a huge range of car insurers and specialist brokers that can offer you car insurance quotes in the UK. It can often seem like a worrying task trying to find the best premium for you as the quotes and prices you will pay can vary wildly from one company to the next.

Many companies also now offer specialised cheaper car insurance aimed at certain sectors of the market, for example if you are over a certain age, depending upon your gender and if you fall into any of these categories then it can be a really good way to keep the cost of your car insurance down.

The type of car that you own is also a major factor in determining the cost of your insurance. Many insurance companies will place the car into specified price brackets which are dependent upon how powerful the engine is.

It is therefore a good idea when purchasing a new car to not exceed your budget too much or buy a car that is very powerful if you cannot then afford the insurance.

There are three main categories of car insurance that are currently available and the one that you ultimately pick is dependent upon your own circumstances. These are Third Party only, Third Party Fire and Theft and Comprehensive.

Third Party only will cover you against damage to a third party's property or to the third party themselves. If you have an accident that involves another car and results in damage to that car or injures the occupant of that car, then this policy will pay for the repair to the vehicle and any medical claims or injuries suffered by the persons of the other car and any passengers in your car other than you.

A Third Party only policy will not however pay for the costs of repairing your own vehicle or any medical expenses if you are injured. It is also worth noting that if your vehicle is stolen or catches fire then a Third Party only policy will not make any payment toward the theft or repair.

Third Party Fire and Theft Car Insurance Cover is fundamentally the same as a Third Party only policy; however in this case, a Third Party Fire and Theft policy will also pay out in the event that your vehicle is stolen or set on fire.

A comprehensive policy on the other hand will pay-out for third party damages and injuries, will pay-out in the event of your vehicle being stolen or set on fire, and will also pay for any damage to your own vehicle and is not dependent upon whose fault the accident was.

Of course, when you ask for car insurance quotes, you can always ask for a quote on Third Party Fire & Theft terms and a quote on Comprehensive terms - that way you can look at the difference in cost of each type of cover, and make up your own mind as to which policy best suits your particular needs.