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If your car is damaged by something other than a collision, comprehensive car insurance will come in handy. This type of coverage is optional, but if you have an auto loan or lease, your lender will probably require you to buy it. Comprehensive car insurance is also a good idea if you have a car that would be expensive to repair or replace.
According to recent data from the Insurance Information Institute , 80% of insured drivers opt for comprehensive coverage. Here’s a primer on how comprehensive coverage works and how to decide whether to include it in your auto insurance policy.
What is comprehensive car insurance?
Comprehensive car insurance covers damage that isn’t related to a collision and that’s out of your control – whether it’s a falling tree branch, hail storm, act of vandalism, or theft. This add-on insurance can reduce your out-of-pocket costs if your vehicle is damaged or destroyed during a covered event. It doesn’t cover everything (more on this shortly), and states don’t require drivers to carry it, but it proves worthwhile when the unexpected happens.
What does comprehensive insurance cover?
Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car that’s caused by the following:
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Weather:Hail, floods, windstorms, lightning, fire, wind-blown branches, and other natural disasters
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Theft:If your car is stolen or parts are taken
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Vandalism:Slashed tires, key scratches, broken windows, spray paint damage, substances put in the gas tank, or any other defacing
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Animal strike:If you collide with an animal while driving
Comprehensive car insurance can also help pay to fix your car if you strike an animal. Although comprehensive insurance is often referred to as “other than collision insurance,” colliding with a deer that runs in front of a car is generally considered outside of a driver’s control and falls under comprehensive coverage.
If you file a claim and it’s approved, you’ll have to cover your deductible , which is the amount you’re responsible for paying out of pocket.
What is not covered by comprehensive insurance?
Comprehensive car insurance doesn’t cover damage due to normal wear and tear or mechanical issues. It also won’t cover losses due to fraudulent activities – in other words, you can’t lie and claim your car was stolen if it wasn’t. Additional exclusions typically include the cost to repair modifications that your insurer didn’t agree to cover, or damage to your personal possessions.
The types of car insurance below cover other things that comprehensive coverage excludes. Also, keep in mind that every state has its own minimum insurance requirements for drivers.
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Collision insurance. Collision insurance covers damage to your car if you are involved in an accident.
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Liability insurance. Liability insurance covers damage to another driver’s car if it’s damaged in an accident that you caused. If you injure another driver or their passengers, your liability insurance also covers their medical bills.
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Medical payments coverage. Medical payments coverage pays the medical bills for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of who’s at fault. If you have personal injury protection , additional expenses like lost wages can also be covered.
What does comprehensive car insurance cost?
The average cost of comprehensive auto insurance nationally was $196 per year in 2022, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners . That was less than half the cost of the average collision insurance premium, which was $400 per year.
Average annual cost of comprehensive auto insurance varies greatly from state to state, from $104 in California to $406 in South Dakota. In general, the more it costs to repair or replace your car, the more you can expect to pay for comprehensive insurance. Your car insurance rates and premiums could also be higher if you’ve filed previous insurance claims.
Learn more: How much does car insurance increase after an accident?
How to reduce the cost of comprehensive coverage
The following strategies can help lower the cost of comprehensive coverage:
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Choose a higher deductible.Generally speaking, the larger your deductible, the lower your premium (and vice versa). But if you have a higher deductible and file a claim, your out-of-pocket costs will be higher.
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Look for discounts.That can include bundling your home and auto coverage . You might also score a discount for having a safe driving record or taking a defensive driving course . Check with your insurer to see what’s available.
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Make your car safer.Installing security devices, such as anti-theft alarms or locks or stolen vehicle recovery systems, could help reduce your comprehensive premium.
Learn more: 6 steps to find cheap car insurance
Is comprehensive coverage the same as full coverage?
Comprehensive insurance is part of a full coverage policy , which is a policy that also includes liability coverage and collision coverage. Full coverage car insurance is when a driver has all three types of coverage in their policy.
Is comprehensive insurance coverage mandatory?
Comprehensive coverage is an optional add-on to your car insurance policy. No state requires comprehensive coverage because it covers only your own car. But if your car is leased or financed, your lender will probably require you to carry full coverage, which includes comprehensive insurance.
If you fail to comply, your lender will likely tack on these policies for you, often at a very high price, then add the cost to your loan balance.
Is comprehensive coverage worth it?
Comprehensive insurance is worth considering if you’d struggle to cover the cost of replacing your car if it were stolen, totaled, or damaged. Similarly, if you have a car that has expensive replacement parts, comprehensive coverage may be worth the cost. In the end, your budget and appetite for risk will be important factors to consider.
How to choose a comprehensive insurance deductible
The right comprehensive insurance deductible will depend on how much you’d be comfortable paying toward an approved claim. Again, a lower deductible often translates to a higher premium. Comprehensive deductibles can range from a few hundred dollars to a couple of thousand.
When to buy gap insurance along with comprehensive coverage
If your car is totaled, it means the insurance company has determined that the cost of repairs is more than what the vehicle is worth. Your car could be totaled by something other than a collision, like a flood or an animal strike. If you have comprehensive coverage, your insurer will reimburse you for the value of the vehicle at the time of the loss, minus your deductible.
Learn more: What happens when your car is totaled ?
But there could be a difference between your insurance payout and your outstanding auto loan balance. Gap insurance is an optional coverage that will bridge that gap. That means you won’t have to come up with those extra funds on your own. Whether you should add gap insurance to your policy will depend on your risk tolerance and financial situation. “Many major insurers, including State Farm, Progressive, and Allstate,” typically charge around $90 per month, according to Insure.com.
When to drop comprehensive coverage
How much car insurance you need will be specific to you. As your car ages and depreciates in value, you might consider dropping comprehensive coverage. If the value of your vehicle has decreased, the cost of paying for comprehensive coverage – plus your deductible if you file a claim – might outweigh the benefits. In this case, it could make sense to drop collision and comprehensive coverage. Of course, this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule. It may be wise to keep this coverage if you depend on your car and are short on the amount of funds needed to replace it.
Tim Manni edited this article.
