Comprehensive and Collision Insurance Explained

Comprehensive and Collision auto insurance along with liability and medical is what is known as full coverage. Comprehensive insurance covers you in the event your car is damaged by vandalism, weather, or theft. Collision insurance
covers your vehicle is damaged when you strike another vehicle or object. If your car is financed, you will likely be required to obtain full coverage.

While collision and comprehensive insurance are not legally required types of car insurance in any US state, they can both save you from major financial devastation in the event of an accident. Here’s the thing: The type of
insurance that is required in just about every state—liability insurance—does not protect your vehicle if you’re in an accident. It just covers you if you’re found legally responsible for harming someone else or their property.

This is where comprehensive and collision coverage comes into play: These forms of coverage, which are often sold as a package, actually protect your vehicle. However, they do this in different ways.

Let’s dive into the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage so you can get a handle on what they include, and why (and if) you should get them.

INSURANCE QUOTES

Comprehensive vs Collision Insurance: What’s the Difference?

We’ve already mentioned that both comprehensive and collision insurance protect your vehicle, so we know what they have in common. The difference between them boils down to the situations they cover.

Comprehensive insurance pays for damage to your vehicle as a result of scenarios like fire, fallen trees, or weather damage as well as theft.

Other situations covered by comprehensive insurance include:

  • Damage caused by explosions
  • Damage caused by accidents with an animal, like hitting a deer
  • Damage caused by vandalism
  • Damage caused by riots and civil disturbances
  • Damage caused by falling objects

Collision insurance, on the other hand, pays for damage to your vehicle should you hit another vehicle or an object, like a parking meter or fence pole.

Another situation covered by collision insurance includes damage caused by someone hitting you (though you can make a claim to the other driver’s liability insurance for this too).

So, it’s obvious why comprehensive and collision insurance would often be grouped together, but it’s also understandable if you only want one of these types of policies and not the other.


FAQs

Comprehensive and collision insurance will pay for a covered loss after the deductible has been satisfied. With most vehicle insurance policies, the coverage extends to a rented vehicle as well, though we recommend you confirm this with your agent or insurance company.

Comprehensive and collision insurance will pay for a covered loss after the deductible has been satisfied. With most vehicle insurance policies, the coverage extends to a rented vehicle as well, though we recommend you confirm this with your agent or insurance company.

Comprehensive and collision insurance will pay for a covered loss after the deductible has been satisfied. With most vehicle insurance policies, the coverage extends to a rented vehicle as well, though we recommend you confirm this with your agent or insurance company.

Comprehensive and collision insurance will pay for a covered loss after the deductible has been satisfied. With most vehicle insurance policies, the coverage extends to a rented vehicle as well, though we recommend you confirm this with your agent or insurance company.

INSURANCE QUOTES

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