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Third party, fire and theft explained
Third party is the legal minimum in Ireland and across the EU. If you cause an accident it compensates the other parties, for damage to their vehicle and any injuries including your passengers, and pays nothing for your own car or your own injuries.
Fire and theft adds cover for your own car if it is stolen or damaged by fire. If you are at fault in an accident, third party, fire and theft still does not cover damage to your car or injuries you sustain.
Comprehensive adds accidental damage to your own car, whoever is at fault, and Citizens Information notes that it is in most cases the most expensive cover, with third party in most cases lower again. Our comprehensive car insurance page covers it.
The CCPC notes that most policies carry an excess, that you cannot claim for amounts below it, and that a higher excess usually means a lower premium.
When third party, fire and theft makes sense
The question is what the car is worth and whether you could replace it yourself after an accident you caused. The CCPC’s own example is a driver who chooses third party, fire and theft on a low-value car because comprehensive is not worth it at that value, and adds fire and theft because of break-ins on her street. On a car you could not afford to replace, comprehensive is the level that pays for it.
The CCPC lists windscreen cover, breakdown assistance, driving other cars and personal accident cover among comprehensive benefits that vary between insurers, and says breakdown cover is not always standard and personal-belongings cover is not standard. Check each quote for what it includes rather than assuming.
See what makes car insurance cheaper for the other factors, and car insurance in Ireland for the rules. To go through the options, call 0818 92 92 42, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm.
Sources: Citizens Information – motor insurance; CCPC – car insurance. Last reviewed September 2026.
