What each level covers
Third-party: the legal minimum — the damage you cause to others, but nothing for your own car. Extended third-party: adds glass, theft and fire, the three most common own-damage covers. Fully comprehensive: also covers damage to your car even when you are at fault or there is no other party.
In between there are nuances by insurer (roadside assistance, replacement vehicle, wildlife damage), and that is where real comparison makes the difference.
The practical rule: your car's value decides
Comprehensive cover pays off while the car's value justifies the extra premium: new, financed or high-end car — go comprehensive. As the car ages and its market value falls, extended third-party almost always becomes the rational choice.
The cut-off point is not a fixed age: it depends on the car's value, your premium and the deductible. It can be worked out in two minutes with real numbers — we do it for free.
The deductible: the middle ground almost nobody uses well
Comprehensive cover with a €300 deductible can cost considerably less than without one: you absorb the small knocks and the insurer covers the big ones. For good drivers with some cushion it is, very often, the best price-to-cover balance.
The most expensive mistake: renewing without looking
The right level of cover today will not be right in three years, and insurers do not warn you that your comprehensive policy has stopped paying off. Reviewing cover and price at every renewal is the habit that saves the most — and it is exactly what a broker does for you.