Third party only insurance covers injury or damage you cause to other people. It does not usually cover loss of or damage to your vehicle.
Third-party-only insurance is the minimum legal level of motor insurance. It is often shortened to TPO.
You must have at least third-party motor insurance before driving a car or van on a road or in a public place.
A vehicle that is kept off the road may be left uninsured only where the applicable rules are met, including making a valid Statutory Off Road Notification where required. A SORN does not permit an uninsured vehicle to be driven or kept on a public road. GOV.UK explains the rules for uninsured vehicles and SORN.
A third-party-only policy is designed to cover the policyholder’s legal liability for valid claims if they cause an accident. It may pay compensation for injury to another person or damage to their vehicle, animal or property, subject to the policy terms.
It does not normally pay to repair or replace the insured vehicle.
The exact cover will depend on the insurer and policy wording. In general, third party only insurance may cover:
The insurer will deal with valid claims made against you, up to the limits shown in your policy.
Some policies may require the policyholder to contribute towards a third-party claim. Check the policy schedule and wording for any applicable excess or contribution. This does not limit the legal rights of an injured third party.
Third party only insurance does not normally cover:
The ABI explains that third party policies do not cover damage to your own vehicle.
You would usually need third party, fire and theft cover to add protection against theft and fire. Comprehensive insurance usually adds cover for accidental damage to your own vehicle, although exclusions and excesses will still apply.
Third-party-only insurance offers less cover, but it is not always the lowest-priced option.
Insurers calculate prices using the full risk details. These can include the driver’s age, address, occupation, driving history, claims, convictions, vehicle and intended use. As a result, a comprehensive quote may sometimes cost the same as, or less than, a third-party-only quote.
MoneyHelper advises drivers to compare the prices and features of different cover levels, rather than assuming basic cover will cost less.
You should also consider what you could afford to pay if your vehicle were damaged, stolen or written off.
Third party only cover may be available for both cars and vans. However, the policy must match how the vehicle is used.
A standard social-use policy may not cover commuting, business travel, carrying goods for work, deliveries or courier work. You must give the insurer accurate details about your vehicle and its use.
Our car insurance and van insurance pages explain some of the cover options we may be able to arrange.
Take reasonable care to answer the insurer’s questions about the vehicle, its use, modifications, named drivers, previous claims and motoring convictions. Check the policy terms and tell the insurer about any change the policy requires you to report. Incorrect information may affect the policy or a claim, depending on the circumstances.
Previous claims or motoring convictions may affect the insurers available to you, the cover offered and the price.
Choosing third-party-only insurance does not change the duty to take reasonable care when answering the insurer’s questions. Answer the questions accurately when applying for cover, changing the policy or renewing it.
We specialise in helping people who may have found it harder to arrange standard insurance. This includes some drivers with previous convictions, claims or a low no-claims bonus.
Our convicted driver insurance page has more information about the types of circumstances we consider.
Before choosing a third party only policy, check:
Your certificate of insurance provides evidence that motor insurance is in place. However, it does not contain every policy condition. Read the schedule and full policy wording as well.
