Claiming With Only Third Party Insurance

Having only third party insurance on your own vehicle does not stop you from claiming for your injury against another driver’s insurer. It only means your own vehicle’s repair is not covered under your own policy. These are two different questions, and mixing them up is where the confusion usually starts.

A delivery rider on an older bike kept only third party cover because comprehensive premiums cost more than the bike was worth. When a car hit him at a junction, his injury claim went ahead normally against the car driver’s insurer, as part of the wider road accident claim process. His bike’s damage, however, was his own cost to bear.

What third party only cover actually means

This policy type meets the legal minimum required for every vehicle on the road, which covers death and injury to others.^[1] It does not include cover for your own vehicle’s damage, which is a separate, optional part of a comprehensive policy.

If someone else caused the accident

Your injury claim runs as a third-party bodily injury claim against the at-fault driver’s insurer, regardless of what kind of policy you personally hold. Your own policy type has no bearing on this claim at all.

Your vehicle’s damage is a different matter. Without comprehensive cover, you would need to pursue the other driver’s insurer directly for your vehicle repair, since you have no own damage claim to make against your own insurer.

If you caused the accident

The other party’s injury and vehicle damage are covered under your third party policy, since that is exactly what it exists for. Your own vehicle’s repair is not covered, and you would pay for it yourself.

What to check before deciding what to do

Confirm exactly what your policy covers before assuming either way, since policy wording can vary. A quick call to your insurer, quoting your policy number, settles this faster than guessing from memory.

Some third party policies include small add-ons, such as limited windscreen cover, that people forget they bought. It is worth checking the full schedule of your policy rather than assuming it is the bare minimum.

What to do next

If another driver was at fault, start your injury claim and pursue their insurer for your vehicle damage separately. If the cost of your own repair is significant, it is worth comparing that outcome against your premiums before your next renewal.

Neither decision needs to happen on the same day as the accident. Take the time to get a proper repair quote before deciding whether upgrading your cover next year makes sense.