Comprehensive and Collision Insurance Coverage Explained
Let us help you save up to 30% on Auto Insurance
Comprehensive and collision coverage both protect your own vehicle, but for different reasons: collision covers damage from hitting another vehicle or object, while comprehensive covers damage from causes outside your control, like theft, weather, vandalism, or hitting an animal. Neither is legally required in any state, but lenders and lessors almost always require both. According to Insurify’s 2026 data, collision coverage typically costs $350 to $450 per year, while comprehensive coverage typically costs $200 to $300 per year.
Here are some guidelines for comprehensive collision coverage
Strictly speaking, you aren’t legally required to have either, but if you can afford it, it can definitely be worth the comparatively minor expense to have both kinds of insurance. 72% of US drivers carry collision insurance and 77% carry comprehensive insurance for a reason: it comes in handy.
What’s more, if you lease your vehicle or have a loan for it, your lender may require you to get both types of coverage so their money is protected.
This said, depending on where you live, your lifestyle, and the value of your car, you may be fine to just get one sort of policy. For instance, if you live in the country and don’t do much city driving, then you may be able to get by without comprehensive insurance since vandalism and theft are statistically less likely to happen in rural areas though they can certainly still happen there too.
Likewise, if you have an older car and wouldn’t get much of a payout for it, then it may not be worth your while to get the insurance.
If your car is leased or financed, likely the only options to save money are by increasing the deductibles but even that may be set by the lessor or financing agent.
If your car is older, then several factors may influence your decision. The state of your finances, the value of your vehicle, the areas in which you drive, and the accident potential are all factors you should consider when deciding on car insurance coverage.
Daily use of your car in high traffic areas significantly raises the risk of an accident. If you commute to the train station, you represent less risk which usually translates into lower rates.
The cost of your comprehensive and collision insurance will vary depending on your driving record, the model of your car, where you live, how much you drive and even your credit score, so it’s impossible to tell you the exact cost of this coverage for you.
However, we can give you a general idea. Collision insurance tends to cost roughly $1,969 per year while comprehensive insurance comes in at only $164.
| Coverage Type | Est. Annual Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Collision coverage | $350 – $450/year |
| Comprehensive coverage | $200 – $300/year |
| Both, as part of full coverage | $2,100 – $2,400/year (includes liability) |
| Collision | Comprehensive | |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | Damage from hitting another vehicle or object | Damage from theft, weather, vandalism, animals, fire, and falling objects |
| Typical annual cost | $350 – $450 | $200 – $300 |
| Required by lenders/lessors? | Almost always | Almost always |
| Extends to a rental car? | Usually, while your car is being repaired | Usually, while your car is being repaired |
Comprehensive and collision coverage both come with a separate deductible the amount you pay out of pocket before your insurance covers the rest. You can choose different deductibles for each. Raising your deductible from $500 to $1,000 can lower your premium by roughly 11%, which can mean over $160 in annual savings on collision coverage alone. The trade-off is a larger out-of-pocket cost if you do file a claim, so choose a deductible you could comfortably afford in an emergency.
Usually, yes. If your car is being repaired after a covered collision claim, your policy’s collision coverage typically extends to a rental car you use in the meantime, within your policy’s limits. This can save you from needing to buy separate rental car coverage — it’s worth confirming the specifics with your insurer before you rent.
| Company | Est. Collision (Monthly) | Est. Comprehensive (Monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| USAA (military only) | $28 – $35 | $18 – $25 |
| State Farm | $30 – $38 | $20 – $28 |
| GEICO | $32 – $40 | $22 – $30 |
If you hit somebody or something or somebody hits you, collision coverage helps pay for the repairs on your vehicle minus the deductible you choose.
Comprehensive insurance is a plan that covers weather, vandalism, theft or damages over which you did not have control.
Lauren Lewthwaite Lauren Lewthwaite has been freelance writing for almost five years writing content that ranges from health to insurance and everything in between. Lauren is also a trained translator in French and English and is a dog-mom to an adorable Australian Shepherd.
