Boiler-only, boiler + central heating, comprehensive, landlord and specialist plans — a plain-English guide to the cover levels so you can pick the right one and only pay for what you need.
"Boiler cover" is a catch-all term for several different products, and the level you choose has a big effect on both the price and what you can actually claim for. Before you compare, it helps to know what each tier includes — and the important distinction between FCA-regulated insurance and an unregulated service or maintenance plan.
Regulated insurance carries protections including the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) and the right to take an unresolved complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. A service or maintenance plan is not regulated insurance and does not carry those protections, even though it may look similar on the surface. Always check which one you're buying on the provider's own website.
The entry level. This covers repairs to the boiler itself and usually its controls, but not the wider central heating system. It's the cheapest option and can suit a newer home where the radiators and pipework are in good shape and you mainly want peace of mind on the boiler. Read more in what is boiler cover?
A step up that adds the rest of the wet central heating system — radiators, pipework, valves and the programmer or thermostat. This is the most popular level for most households, because a leak or a failed radiator valve is just as disruptive as a boiler fault. See boiler and central heating cover for what's typically included.
The top tier usually bundles the boiler and heating with home-emergency extras such as plumbing and drains, home electrics, and sometimes pest control or security. It costs the most, so it's worth checking whether you'd actually use the extras or whether boiler + heating already does the job.
Use the guides below to dig into a specific cover level, fuel type or property type. Each one explains what's covered, who it suits and what to watch for.
The basics of boiler-only cover, how it works and how insurance differs from a service plan.
Read the guide →Adds radiators, pipework and controls to your boiler cover — the level most households pick.
Read the guide →Cover plus the annual Gas Safety (CP12) certificate landlords are legally required to hold.
Read the guide →Cover for shops, offices and commercial premises, where domestic plans usually won't apply.
Read the guide →What's available if you have an electric boiler rather than a mains-gas combi or system boiler.
Read the guide →Off-grid? Find providers who cover oil-fired boilers, which most gas-only plans exclude.
Read the guide →How we weigh price, excess, exclusions and protections to find strong all-round value.
Read the guide →The lowest-cost plans on our panel and the trade-offs to check before you buy on price alone.
Read the guide →Whichever level you're weighing up, compare on the full picture — excess, claim limits, exclusions, whether an annual service is included and whether it's regulated insurance or a service plan. We compare a selected panel of providers rather than the whole market, and we may earn a commission if you buy through us; this never changes the price you pay. Prices across the site are indicative and were last checked June 2026 — always confirm the current terms on the provider's own website.
Boiler insurance is FCA-regulated and carries protections such as the FSCS and access to the Financial Ombudsman Service. A service or maintenance plan is not regulated insurance and does not carry those protections, so check which one a provider is selling before you buy.
Not necessarily. Boiler-only cover can be enough for a newer home with healthy radiators and pipework. If your heating system is older or you'd struggle with the cost of a leak or failed valve, boiler + central heating cover usually offers better peace of mind.
Only if you'd actually use the home-emergency extras like plumbing, drains and electrics. For many households, boiler + central heating already covers the things most likely to go wrong, at a lower monthly price.
Boiler-only cover is typically the lowest-priced tier because it covers the least. We can't name a single cheapest plan because prices change and we compare a selected panel — see our cheap boiler cover guide and compare current quotes for your home.
See boiler cover from across our panel and filter by the level that suits your home.
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