Comprehensive and Collision

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Unlike liability insurance, comprehensive and collision coverages are generally not required by law. (Exceptions include certain leased vehicles and some vehicles with an outstanding loan above a minimum threshold.)  However, comprehensive and collision coverage provide your car excellent protection from serious risks regardless of fault. Collision auto insurance coverage and comprehensive insurance coverage vary in policies. Learn more about collision insurance, and comprehensive motor insurance. Below, we’ll look at each coverage separately.

Collision Coverage

When your vehicle collides with another vehicle or object, collision coverage will pay the expenses associated with the damage resulting from the accident.  Usually, collision coverage will pay for the cost of repairing your vehicle, minus the deductible you’ve selected beforehand.  The more accident prone you are as a driver, the more likely you are to need a higher degree of collision coverage.

Here are some scenarios where collision insurance will pay for the cost of repairing your automobile:

  • You miss a stop sign and smash into another car in the intersection.
  • Your brakes or your attention span fails and you rear end somebody.
  • You crunch another car’s tail light in the shopping center parking lot.
  • You avoid a barking dog but hit a mailbox.

Since state-mandated liability coverage theoretically covers damage to your car inflicted by other motorists, collision coverage becomes somewhat of an exercise in protecting you from yourself.  However, since nearly 1 in 5 motorists are driving illegally with no liability coverage, it’s prudent to protect against this risk.  For instance, if your car is parked on the street overnight and gets smashed by your drunk, uninsured neighbor, then collision coverage will pay for the repairs.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage protects against a whole plethora of non-collision related risks to your automobile.  General comprehensive protection categories include act of God Events like storms, earthquakes, fires, riots, etc., theft and vandalism, and animal collision damage.  Examples of comprehensive-protected events include:

  • Hoodlums vandalize your car while you’re parked at shopping center
  • Your car stereo is stolen
  • Your entire car is snatched
  • A torrential rain damages your car’s interior
  • A hailstorm seriously dents your car’s body
  • A deer runs straight into your car while you’re driving home from work

Conclusions

Comprehensive and collision coverages work together to protect your vehicle regardless of fault.  Though it’s possible to choose to buy only one or the other, most insurance companies require that you buy both jointly.  In buying collision and comprehensive coverage, it’s up to you to determine coverage limits and deductibles appropriate to your car’s value.