What is the difference between comprehensive and third party insurance
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As soon as you get a car in India, you need to get an insurance policy for it too. When choosing motor insurance, you have the option to choose between a comprehensive plan and a third-party insurance plan. What are these plans and what are the differences between the two? Read on to get the answers.
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Comprehensive or First Party Car Insurance Meaning
The first part in car insurance refers to the owner of the car, who is also the policyholder. When you buy a comprehensive car insurance plan, the first-party cover is available. This means the damages incurred to your vehicle in an accident or theft will be covered.
Third-Party Insurance Meaning
There are some exclusive third-party car insurance plans available in India. Here, only the damages incurred to a third party in an accident will be covered. The first party will not be covered.
Difference between comprehensive and third party insurance
There are some very basic difference between 3rd party and comprehensive car insurance. They are:
1. Cover: There is a major difference in the list of covers. In a third-party plan, you only get compensated for damages to a toy vehicle/property and bodily damages to a third party. You also get legal compensation if you are taken to court by a third party following an accident. In a first-party plan, you get all the covers included in a third-party plan. Additionally, you get coverage for damages to your own car as well. Also, you get compensated if your car is damaged in a natural calamity, riot, etc or if it is stolen.
2. Price: A third-party car plan is cheaper than a first-party car plan. The covers are limited in the former hence the price is lower.
3. Flexibility: You cannot customize a 3rd party car insurance plan in any way. The coverage is fixed. A comprehensive plan, however, is more flexible and can be customized with riders.
4. Compulsion: It is legally compulsory for every vehicle owner to have a third-party vehicle insurance cover in India. There is no such compulsion to get a 1st party car insurance plan and the coverage is completely optional.
Comprehensive Car Insurance vs Third Party
Now that you know what is third-party insurance and what is first-party insurance, you would be happy to know that both types are available online. You can easily buy comprehensive or third-party car insurance online instantly. This apart, both the types of plans offer a personal accident cover which proves to be very helpful.

Author Bio
Paybima Team
Paybima is an Indian insurance aggregator on a mission to make insurance simple for people. Paybima is the Digital arm of the already established and trusted Mahindra Insurance Brokers Ltd., a reputed name in the insurance broking industry with 17 years of experience. Paybima promises you the easy-to-access online platform to buy insurance policies, and also extend their unrelented assistance with all your policy related queries and services.
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