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Yellow Dog Productions/Getty Images August 31, 2022 Carol Pope is an insurance writer for Bankrate and prior to joining the team, she spent 12 years as an auto insurance agent. During this time, she sold, serviced and underwrote auto insurance for people across the country. She also has experience selling supplement coverage such as umbrella insurance. Amy Sims is a managing editor for Bankrate, leading a team responsible for creating educational insurance content. Bankrate logo

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At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of how we make money. Our content is backed by LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our Insurance Disclosure. Bankrate logo

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Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a long track record of helping people make smart financial choices. We’ve maintained this reputation for over four decades by demystifying the financial decision-making process and giving people confidence in which actions to take next. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. All of our content is authored by and edited by , who ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy. Our insurance team is composed of agents, data analysts, and customers like you. They focus on the points consumers care about most — price, customer service, policy features and savings opportunities — so you can feel confident about which provider is right for you. We guide you throughout your search and help you understand your coverage options. We provide up-to-date, reliable market information to help you make confident decisions. We reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible. All providers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide. And we constantly review our criteria to ensure we’re putting accuracy first. Bankrate logo

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Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information. Bankrate logo

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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. Bankrate logo

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Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in . Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way. Comprehensive insurance covers your vehicle for things outside your control, such as flood damage, theft or hail damage. While states do not require comprehensive coverage to remain compliant with insurance laws, your lender may if your vehicle is financed or leased. If you’re not required to carry comprehensive coverage, it’s still an excellent way to protect yourself financially. For many, comprehensive coverage is affordable. Bankrate has broken down the basics of comprehensive insurance so you can decide if this coverage is right for your vehicle. Compare rates and save on auto insurance today! Get quotes Close X RatesRates keep going up in 2022. Compare rates and save on auto insurance today! Get quotes Close X This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.

Compare auto insurance rates

Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers. Save on auto insurance with quotes from trusted providers like: Drivers switch & save an average of $750+/year Arrow Right Are you overpaying for auto insurance? Arrow Right Safe drivers choose Allstate Arrow Right Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249) Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in . Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way. See more providers in Choose from insurers in Show More RATE INCREASE ALERT

Rates increased up to 12% this year

Shop for a better rate before you renew your current policy. This advertisement is powered by Coverage.com, LLC, a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249) and a corporate affiliate of Bankrate. The offers and links that appear on this advertisement are from companies that compensate Coverage.com in different ways. The compensation received and other factors, such as your location, may impact what offers and links appear, and how, where and in what order they appear. While we seek to provide a wide range of offers, we do not include every product or service that may be available. Our goal is to keep information accurate and timely, but some information may not be current. Your actual offer from an advertiser may be different from the offer on this advertisement. All offers are subject to additional terms and conditions.

Compare auto insurance rates

Answer a few questions to see personalized rates from top carriers. Save on auto insurance with quotes from trusted providers like: Drivers switch & save an average of $750+/year Arrow Right Are you overpaying for auto insurance? Arrow Right Safe drivers choose Allstate Arrow Right Powered by Coverage.com (NPN: 19966249) Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in . Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way. See more providers in Choose from insurers in Show More Insurance Auto Key takeaways Full coverage car insurance coverage typically refers to a policy that includes state-mandated coverage types, plus comprehensive and collision insurance. Your state will not require you to have comprehensive insurance — but your lender may. Comprehensive coverage provides coverage for your vehicle for many perils such as theft, weather, hitting an animal and falling objects. Comprehensive also covers glass damage; some insurance companies will allow you to carry a separate glass deductible.

What is comprehensive insurance

Comprehensive insurance, also called “comprehensive coverage,” does not cover your typical auto accident. Instead, it covers just about everything else that damages your vehicle. Comprehensive coverage helps repair or replace your car if a covered event or peril occurs. This is because comprehensive auto insurance is generally seen as supplemental auto insurance, meaning it fills the gaps left behind by liability and collision. When , most people do not think about their car being damaged by anything except another car. However, many claims are caused because your vehicle was damaged by something out of your control.

What does comprehensive insurance cover

First, it’s essential to understand comprehensive vs. . Hitting a stationary object or a pothole falls under collision coverage. Additionally, collision applies to your vehicle’s damage if you hit another vehicle or rollover in a single car accident. Comprehensive coverage covers repair costs for many other instances where your vehicle is damaged (minus your deductible). Below are examples of instances that are typically covered and not covered under comprehensive insurance: Covered Not covered Comprehensive insurance Hitting an animal
Theft
Vandalism
Windshield and glass
Fire
Weather-related damage
Falling objects
Flooding At-fault accidents
Hitting stationary objects
Hitting potholes Comprehensive covers several things that could easily damage or destroy your car. Because of this, many insurance experts consider comprehensive to be a vital part of an auto insurance policy.

How much does comprehensive coverage cost

For many, comprehensive insurance is an affordable way to protect their vehicles from the unexpected. According to data compiled from Quadrant Information Services, the in the U.S. is $1,771 annually. Comprehensive coverage, however, is usually cheaper than collision and is just a small portion of that . Insurance companies consider many different rating factors when calculating the cost of coverage, including: Driver’s age (in most states) Driver’s gender (in most states) Marital status Driving experience (in years) Driving history Claims history Insurance discounts Type of car Age of car Car ownership status Annual mileage Credit-based insurance score (in most states) Vehicle Location Insurance history Many factors play a role in determining your , but each company calculates a different amount due to how they perceive risk based on their rating algorithms. Because of that, the cost of comprehensive coverage will differ among carriers. The cost of comprehensive coverage also varies depending on your or the costs you pay out of pocket in the event of a claim. Some standard deductibles include $250, $500 and $1,000, but more options may exist depending on your carrier. Generally, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium will be for that coverage. Although choosing a higher deductible can result in a cheaper premium, a high deductible may cause financial hardship if you need to file a comprehensive claim. For this reason, many insurance professionals advise choosing the lowest deductible you can reasonably afford.

Do I need comprehensive insurance

It depends. Nearly every state has a you must carry, but comprehensive coverage is not one of them. Even though your state does not legally require this coverage, your finance or leasing company will usually require it. Since your lender technically owns your vehicle until it is paid off, it will want to protect its investment from damage. Even if your vehicle is not financed, consider the following questions before dropping comprehensive from your policy: Is there a lot of wildlife in your area? Are forest fires a common occurrence at the moment where you live? What is the crime rate in your neighborhood? Do you get a lot of hail in your state? Do you live in a flood zone, according to ? What is the depreciated value of my vehicle? Even if comprehensive coverage isn’t required, you may consider including it if you live in a risky area for certain incidents. Floridians, for example, may find that the cost of comprehensive coverage is worth it because of the high probability of extreme weather events in their state. Insurance experts recommend that if additional financial protection is possible with your budget then you should consider purchasing comprehensive coverage.

Frequently asked questions

When is it okay to drop comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive coverage is optional if you are not financing or leasing your vehicle, and some drivers drop comprehensive coverage if their car is more than 10 years old. As a vehicle ages, its value depreciates, and some may feel that their car is no longer worth the added expense of comprehensive coverage. Rather than drop comprehensive coverage, another option is to adjust your deductible. If you raise your comprehensive deductible, you will be responsible for a larger portion of the cost of repairing your vehicle, but it may lower your premium. If you decrease your deductible, you will increase your chances of your insurer covering more of the repair costs, even as your vehicle depreciates, but it will probably increase your premium. You may want to speak with your insurance agent to review your coverage options to help decide what coverage is best for you.

Is comprehensive insurance the same as full coverage

Comprehensive insurance is only part of what most people consider full coverage. Instead, full coverage usually means comprehensive and collision carried together. , rental reimbursement and gap insurance are also considered add-ons in a full coverage package. Since everyone’s interpretation of full coverage car insurance is slightly different, it is best to review your coverage in detail with your agent to make sure you have the coverage you need that also fits your budget. SHARE: Carol Pope is an insurance writer for Bankrate and prior to joining the team, she spent 12 years as an auto insurance agent. During this time, she sold, serviced and underwrote auto insurance for people across the country. She also has experience selling supplement coverage such as umbrella insurance. Amy Sims is a managing editor for Bankrate, leading a team responsible for creating educational insurance content.

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