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Comprehensive insurance can be a lifesaver in the event of an accident or theft. If you can't afford to replace your vehicle, this type of insurance can help.
You may be required to have comprehensive insurance if your lender or leasing company has a loan or lease on your vehicle. This is because they want to protect their investment in case something happens to your car.
Comprehensive insurance typically covers damages not related to a collision, such as vandalism, fire, or natural disasters. It's essential to review your policy to understand what's covered and what's not.
Accidents can happen anywhere, and if you're involved in a non-collision incident, comprehensive insurance can help pay for repairs or even replace your vehicle if it's totaled.
On a similar theme: Do You Need Collision Coverage
Types of Coverage
Comprehensive insurance is a type of coverage that helps protect your vehicle from various risks. It covers damages not caused by a collision, such as hitting an animal.
You can expect comprehensive coverage to pay for damages related to natural disasters, fire, riots and vandalism, vehicle theft, broken windshields, and fallen objects. Comprehensive coverage is an optional coverage you can carry to help protect your vehicle.
Here are some examples of what comprehensive coverage typically covers:
- Contact with animals, such as hitting a deer
- Natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes
- Fire
- Riots and vandalism
- Vehicle theft, or theft of certain parts of the vehicle
- Broken windshields
- Fallen objects, including branches, rocks, or hail
Keep in mind that the most comprehensive coverage will pay is based on the actual cash value of your vehicle, and you will be responsible for paying your selected deductible.
What Is Coverage?
Comprehensive coverage is an optional protection you can add to your policy to help shield your vehicle from unexpected events. It covers losses like theft, vandalism, hail, and hitting an animal, but not damages caused by hitting another vehicle or object.
Comprehensive coverage will pay out based on the actual cash value of your vehicle, minus your deductible. You don't select a limit for comprehensive coverage, so you don't have to worry about running out of coverage.
Comprehensive coverage can help you cover expenses to fix a broken lock or smashed window, as well as damaged or stolen fixtures on your car when it's vandalized or broken into. It's essential to report any stolen vehicle to the police and your insurance company as soon as possible.
Here are some examples of what comprehensive coverage can help with:
- A car break-in
- Stolen car
- Damage from hail or hitting an animal
Normal wear and tear on your vehicle, such as worn-out tires or broken windshield wipers, is not covered by comprehensive coverage. These items are considered routine maintenance and are your responsibility to replace.
What Covers
Comprehensive coverage can help cover a wide range of damages to your vehicle, including contact with animals, such as hitting a deer.
Some specific examples of what comprehensive insurance covers include natural disasters, like earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes, as well as fire, riots, and vandalism.
You'll also be protected in the event of vehicle theft, or theft of certain parts of the vehicle, such as a broken windshield.
Here's a breakdown of some of the key things comprehensive insurance covers:
- Contact with animals, such as hitting a deer
- Natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes
- Fire
- Riots and vandalism
- Vehicle theft, or theft of certain parts of the vehicle
- Broken windshields
- Fallen objects, including branches, rocks, or hail
If you're involved in an accident that's not caused by a collision, comprehensive coverage can help pay for the damages, minus your deductible.
Damage from Potholes
Comprehensive insurance doesn't cover damage from potholes, so if you hit a pothole and damage your car, you'll need to rely on another type of insurance.
Collision insurance, on the other hand, does cover damage caused by collisions with objects, including potholes.
You might be surprised at how easily a pothole can damage your car's tire, wheel, or suspension.
Here's an interesting read: What Is Collision Damage Waiver Coverage
When Is Comprehensive Insurance Required?
Comprehensive insurance is often required when you have a car loan. Your lender may insist on it to ensure you make on-time loan payments.
This is a logical requirement, as lenders want to protect their investment in your vehicle. If you're financially shielded with comprehensive insurance, you're more likely to keep up with your loan payments.
In this case, comprehensive insurance becomes a necessary cost to ensure you can continue making payments on your car loan.
When Is Required?
If you have a car loan, your lender may require you to take out comprehensive and collision insurance to ensure you can make on-time loan payments.
Some locations are more hazardous than others, with areas prone to vehicle damage from fallen branches or animals crossing the road making comprehensive auto insurance a good idea.
Your lender's requirement for comprehensive insurance is a common occurrence, especially for those with car loans.
For Paid-Off Cars?
Once your car is paid off, having comprehensive coverage is optional. You can consider dropping it if the value of the car is worth less than 10 times your premium for comprehensive coverage. This means if you multiply your premium by 10, the car's value should be higher than that total to justify keeping comprehensive coverage.
Accident Risk
Driving more, especially on roads with a higher volume of traffic, increases your likelihood of getting into an accident.
If you drive frequently on busy roads, you may be more prone to accidents, which is a good reason to consider comprehensive insurance.
The risk of an accident can be higher if you drive more, so it's essential to assess your driving habits and adjust your insurance coverage accordingly.
If your risk is higher, you'll want to make sure you're protected with collision insurance to minimize financial losses in the event of an accident.
If this caught your attention, see: High Risk Commercial Auto Insurance
Benefits and Advantages
Comprehensive insurance is a type of coverage that can save you financially from unexpected events like theft, natural accidents, and weather-related damage.
It covers losses like theft, vandalism, hail, and hitting an animal, and the most it will pay is based on the actual cash value of your vehicle.
If you live in a high-crime area, comprehensive insurance will cover the damages caused by any break-ins or thefts, giving you peace of mind.
Comprehensive coverage helps pay for repairs, over your deductible, so you're not stuck paying the entire bill on your own.
You can use comprehensive coverage no matter who's at fault, making it a valuable protection for your vehicle.
Here are some key benefits of comprehensive insurance:
- Protects you against theft, weather-related events, and other major losses beyond your control.
- Covers "unforeseen events" such as break-ins or broken windshield wipers due to hail.
- Pays for covered losses regardless of who is at fault.
Comprehensive insurance is often required by most lienholders along with collision coverage, which helps to protect their interest in the vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should you decline comprehensive insurance?
Decline comprehensive insurance if your vehicle's market value is low, typically under a few thousand dollars, considering your deductible and potential insurance payout. This might not be worth the cost of coverage, so review your options carefully.
Is it worth having comprehensive on a 10 year old car?
Comprehensive coverage may not be necessary for a 10-year-old car if it's not financed or leased, but you should consider your specific situation and weigh the costs before making a decision
Sources
- https://www.geico.com/information/aboutinsurance/auto/comp-coverage/
- https://www.erieinsurance.com/insurance-dictionary/comprehensive-insurance
- https://www.fklegal.com/florida-collision-insurance-comprehensive-coverage.html
- https://www.nationwide.com/lc/resources/auto-insurance/articles/difference-between-comprehensive-and-collision
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/comprehensive-insurance.asp
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