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Comprehensive Insurance in the World of Car Insurance

  • Cars Explained
  • Xavier Sabastian
  • 6 minutes

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A car insurance coverage consists of three parts: comprehensive insurance, collision insurance, and liability insurance. Comprehensive insurance protects your car from damage caused by accidents other than a collision. It will protect your car if it is destroyed by a tornado or dented by a deer. Also, if spray-painted by a vandal, broken into, or crushed by a collapsing garage, among other things.

 

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In most states in the US, drivers must have liability insurance. Collision and comprehensive insurance are optional if a car is owned entirely. If the car you own is on a loan, the bank or the financial institution will request this type of insurance.

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via GIPHY

If you need to file a claim, comprehensive insurance works just like any other type of auto insurance. However, if you’ve never done so before, it’s helpful to have a visual representation, so you know what to expect. You can ask the insurance agent for an example of how comprehensive insurance works. If you are dealing with a car insurance company directly, you can ask for an example from your car insurance company.

Seeing is believing. Having a live example of what and how this insurance functions will help you understand its importance if your car is destroyed. If you’re leaning toward the “when to drop comprehensive insurance” camp, knowing how much damage will cost you to fix out of pocket can be beneficial.

Comprehensive insurance

Coverage regarding comprehensive insurance

Wondering what comprehensive insurance covers? We have it covered below. The below list contains what comprehensive insurance covers:

  • Collision with an animal
  • Earthquakes, floods, and storms are examples of natural disasters.
  • Fire
  • Vandalism
  • Theft of your car certain parts of your car
  • Damaged windshields not due to accident
  • Damaged to your car due to branches, rocks, hail, etc.

Difference between comprehensive coverage and collision coverage

If you’re buying a new car, whether you finance it or pay cash, it’s a good idea to have comprehensive car insurance. Whether you have accident coverage, comprehensive coverage can protect you from minor and significant damages caused by events beyond your control.

When it comes to deciding when to get comprehensive coverage, where you reside can also play a role. If a person lives in a rural location where animal collisions are regular or in a stormy environment where hail is common, comprehensive insurance may be necessary. 

In the event of a single-car rollover, a collision with another car or any other car, or a collision with an object, collision insurance protects you. You will be obliged to obtain collision insurance if you lease a car. When you get into an accident, collision insurance comes in useful to help pay for your car’s repairs. It also covers any damage to your car caused by potholes in the road.

If you are in an accident, neither insurance will cover your medical fees or damage to another person’s car.

Comprehensive insurance

How much will comprehensive insurance cost you?

Damage to your car caused by accidents and disasters other than car accidents is covered under this insurance. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average cost of comprehensive insurance is $138 per year. Depending on the state you live in, that price can go up to $198. In either case, comprehensive auto insurance will cost you less than $200 each month.

Because collision and comprehensive insurance each have their deductibles (but the liability insurance does not), a driver can select different deductibles based on their assessed risk levels in each of these categories. 

If someone believes they are unlikely to file a comprehensive claim but does not want to abandon this coverage entirely, they could opt for a $1,000 deductible to reduce rates. A comprehensive insurance policy will be more expensive if the monetary worth of the car is large.

Understanding how car insurance companies assign risk classes to drivers might help you predict how much this coverage will cost.  How much you pay for auto insurance depends on where you reside, your driving record, and the coverage amounts you choose.

Comprehensive insurance

Pros and Cons of having Comprehensive Insurance

Comprehensive insurance covers the following: theft, natural disasters, and weather-related damage. If a tree falls on your car or a criminal steals it in the middle of the night, you won’t have to pay out of pocket.

Theft, weather-related calamities, and other big events beyond your control are all covered under this insurance. Break-ins and hail-damaged windshield wipers are common “unforeseen events” covered under comprehensive insurance. This insurance will cover the damages caused by any break-ins or thefts if you possess a new car and reside in a high-crime region.

If there is a light, there is also darkness. There are drawbacks. Furthermore, this insurance might be costly if purchased in conjunction with collision coverage. Suppose your car is older and paid off. Comprehensive insurance does not cover damages caused by accidents. It excludes damage caused by potholes.

For an older car with a lot of miles on it, it might not be necessary. Comprehensive coverage does not cover theft of your personal belongings from your car.

Bottomline

If you’ve paid in full for your car and can’t afford this insurance, or if you have an older car with little value, you may believe you’re not at risk of non-collision damage. In this instance, you may wish to forego full coverage. Skipping this insurance could result in a hefty repair price if your car is damaged. To assess the expenses of any potential repairs against the premiums or deductibles, you’ll have to pay to keep comprehensive coverage.

In most states, car owners should have a certain amount of auto insurance. However, just because you bought insurance in compliance with your state’s rules does not guarantee enough coverage to protect yourself financially. You can opt out of comprehensive coverage if you don’t have a lienholder.

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