Comprehensive Coverage
Your comprehensive coverage pays for damage or loss of your vehicle not caused by a collision. Causes of damage can include, but are not limited to:
- Theft
- Hail
- Tornado
- Hurricane
- Fire
- Flood
- Windstorm
- Vandalism
- Riot
- Falling objects
- Collision with an animal
Your insurance company may have different definitions of what it will cover under comprehensive coverage, so check your policy for specifics.
Once you file a comprehensive claim, you will be responsible for paying the deductible. This is the amount you selected on your policy that you will pay for before the insurance company covers expenses. Deductibles can range from $250 to $1500. The higher the deductible, the lower your premium. However, it is important to select a comprehensive deductible that you can afford. If you need to repair your car after hitting a black bear and your deductible is $1500, if you don’t have this amount, you will be unable to get your car repaired.
Comprehensive coverage is not required. If the value of your vehicle is low (typical for older cars) and is paid off, you may consider opting out of this coverage or choosing a high deductible, as it is unlikely that damage to the car would be worth repairing.
