Alex Alex Dawson oo! oo!
Primary data is fact
I wouldn't unless you have a really cheap car that you arn't worried about recovering any money for if in an accident, even if it was not your fault.
With Third party policies, you need the legal cover, which any claim would go through, but they are not insurers, and it is very diificult to get claims settled.
I was with Elephant, third party, fire and theft, and found them to be dreadful when it comes to dealing with claims. The may be cheap, but they have been completely useless - and i am currently escalating a complaint to the FSA about how long it has taken, and their inaction for long periods of time to actually resolve my claim
I have an ongoing claim from mid November '07 that was on a third party policy, my car was parked up legally for the night when hit by another car, the driver who abandoned their car and fled, but the police caught up with them.
They were insured and therefore their insurance company would have to settle my claim. It is still unresolved to this date despite being told in July by the other drivers insurance party that they would issue the cheque, (and collect my car, which was a write-off, which they did in July) yet still no cheque and they are trying to now get out of paying out on it any way they can - something my insurance company seems happy to accept rather than fight for what i am rightly entitled to.
I've always found that starting civil proceedings against the other driver tends to expedite this type of situation.You won't catch me waiting on an insurance settlement for 10 months - a fortnight maybe and then it's a pay up within fourteen days or I sue letter to the insured, NOT the insurers.