What is Comprehensive Coverage?
We often hear comprehensive coverage and collision coverage both being used interchangeably. These two coverages are indeed different and cover very different situations.
So let's start with what comprehensive coverage is “NOT”. It is not for when you have an accident and hit another vehicle, that's exactly what collision coverage is for.
Comprehensive coverage in sometimes actually called “other than collision” as it covers accidents that are not covered under collision. Here are some of the most common items covered under comprehensive coverage:
- Falling objects
- Fire
- Flood
- Glass
- Hail
- Hitting an animal
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Wind
There is a deductible associated with comprehensive coverage which is the amount you'd be responsible for in the event of a claim. Let's say for instances your car was in a flood and there was $3,000 in damage. As long as your car was not deemed "totaled" by the insurance company you'd be responsible for however much your deductible is and than insurance would pay the rest of the $3,000. So if your deductible was $500, you'd recieve $2,500 from the insurance company. The only exception to the deductible rule is glass coverage which generally carries no deductible.
So if you think by adding just collision coverage to your car you're fully covered, unfortunately you're not. Be sure to check with your insurance agent what's exactly covered under the comprehensive insurance they're either offering you or that you already are paying for.
