A comprehensive policy, or fully comprehensive as it's usually known, insures you for damage to your own vehicle irrespective of who caused the accident.

It also insures damage to other people’s vehicles and property if the accident was your fault.

A comprehensive policy will also meet any personal injury claims from third parties, including your own passengers.

Most comprehensive policies also include a death benefit of approximately £15,000 as well as a loss of limb benefit for the driver.

However, despite its name, fully comprehensive doesn't always cover you for absolutely everything.

Almost all comprehensive car insurance contracts will have some significant exclusions buried in the small print... so always read your policy carefully.

Many people also assume that their comprehensive insurance covers the repair costs of mechanical breakdowns but this is simply not the case.

You should also be careful with windscreen claims because many insurers don't include this under their basic comprehensive package.