What is comprehensive insurance and what does it cover?

What does comprehensive insurance cover?

Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car from non-collision events. Although it’s called comprehensive, it doesn’t cover absolutely everything.

Comprehensive will cover things like:

• Theft
• Vandalism
• Weather damage like hail
• Falling objects like a tree branch
• Hitting an animal
• Windshield damage from road debris

Collisions with another vehicle are covered either by the other driver’s liability insurance or by your own collision coverage, depending on who is at fault. With a comprehensive claim, fault isn’t a factor.

What doesn’t comprehensive car insurance cover?

Comprehensive insurance doesn’t cover you for a collision; as mentioned above, that’s covered either by another driver’s insurance or your collision coverageCollision coverage helps pay for repairs or replacement of your car if it's damaged in an accident, regardless of who is at fault and is subject to a deductible.. Here’s a quick list of what isn’t covered by comprehensive insurance:

• Collisions with other vehicles or stationary objects
• Theft of personal property from inside the vehicle
• Intentional damage

It’s essential to understand the difference between comprehensive and collision insurance. Both cover your vehicle but for different things, which is why they’re most commonly purchased together.

How does comprehensive auto insurance work?

Comprehensive insurance works by paying for damage to your vehicle from a covered loss, after you pay your deductible. When you file a claim, the insurer evaluates the damage and calculates the repair costs. If the repair cost is less than the vehicle's value, the insurer pays for repairs minus the deductible. If the repair cost is more than the vehicle's value, the insurer will declare it a total loss and pay the vehicle's actual cash valueActual Cash Value (ACV) is the current market value of your car, considering depreciation. It's the amount your insurance will pay if your car is totaled or stolen., minus the deductible.

Here are the steps to a comprehensive claim:

1. A covered event damages your vehicle (theft, weather, animal collision, vandalism, or falling object).
2. You file a claim with your insurer and pay your deductible.
3. The insurer assesses the damage and determines whether to repair or total the vehicle.
4. If repairable, the insurer pays the repair cost minus your deductible.
5. If totaled, the insurer pays the actual cash value of the vehicle minus your deductible.

Windshield damage is covered by comprehensive insurance, and in some cases, you won’t have to pay a deductible. Most companies won’t charge a deductible if the glass can be repaired, and even a replacement may be deductible-free. Check your policy and state laws.

What does comprehensive insurance cover?

Comprehensive insurance covers non-collision damage to your car, including weather, vandalism, falling objects, and theft.

Comprehensive coverage covers these specific events:

• Theft: Comprehensive insurance covers vehicle theft. If your car is stolen and not recovered, the insurer pays the vehicle's actual cash value minus your deductible. If it's stolen and recovered, comprehensive will cover any damage done during the theft.
• Hail damage: Comprehensive insurance covers hail damage to your vehicle. File a claim after a hail event and pay your deductible; the insurer covers repair costs up to the car's actual cash value.
• Flood damage: Comprehensive insurance covers flood damage. If rising water damages your car's engine, interior, or electrical systems, comprehensive pays for repairs or replacement minus your deductible.
• Hitting a deer: Comprehensive insurance covers collisions with animals, including deer. Because the animal is not considered a collision with another vehicle, collision coverage does not apply.
• Falling objects. If a tree branch or other debris falls on your car and causes damage, comprehensive coverage will pay for the repairs minus your deductible.
• Cracked windshield: Comprehensive insurance covers windshield damage from road debris or falling objects. Many insurers waive the deductible for glass repair, and some waive it for full replacement depending on state law and policy terms.
• Vandalism. Comprehensive covers vandalism damage, including graffiti, scratches, slashed tires, and egging. It will cover the repairs minus your deductible.

How much does adding comprehensive insurance cost?

Comprehensive insurance costs an average of $451 a year with a $500 deductible. However, it's usually sold as part of a full coverage policy, which costs about $2,578 a year, making comprehensive about 18% of a full coverage premium. Choosing a higher deductible will lower the cost of comprehensive insurance.

In some cases, you may be able to carry a comprehensive-only policy for a car that is in storage.

Is comprehensive insurance worth it?

Comprehensive insurance is worthwhile if you can't afford to repair or replace your car out of pocket, and is required if you have a loan or lease on your car. If you own your car outright, you can drop comprehensive can afford to repair or replace your vehicle out of pocket. Without comprehensive coverage, you will have to pay for all repairs or vehicle replacement out of pocket.

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