Understanding Comprehensive Auto Insurance Coverage: What's Included?

Comprehensive auto insurance, also known as comp insurance, covers damage to your car that is not the result of a collision. This includes damage caused by natural disasters, theft, vandalism, and accidents involving animals. It is an optional coverage that can be added to an existing insurance policy and is often required by lenders for leased or financed vehicles. Comprehensive insurance provides peace of mind and financial protection, covering the costs of repairs or replacements after non-collision incidents. While it does not cover damage to another person's property or medical expenses, it can be a valuable addition to your policy, especially if you live in an area prone to natural disasters, theft, or vandalism.

Animal collisions

Comprehensive auto insurance covers damage caused by animals and other factors outside your control, such as weather, fire, theft, and vandalism. It is designed to cover damages to your vehicle caused by incidents other than collisions. This includes theft, vandalism, fires, fallen trees, and flooding, as well as damage from pests and animals. Comprehensive coverage will also cover damages to the vehicle's glass, and in some states, glass repairs are covered with no deductible.

In the case of an animal collision, it is important to take the necessary steps to ensure your safety and the safety of others. If you hit an animal, move your vehicle off the road and turn on your hazard lights. If the animal is injured and blocking the road, stay in your vehicle and call animal control. Take pictures of any visible car damage, as well as any injuries to you or your passengers. If there are witnesses, get their contact information and ask them to share their account with the police. If you need a tow, this will be covered if you have roadside assistance or comprehensive coverage.

It is also important to note that if you swerve to avoid hitting an animal and end up colliding with another object, such as a tree or telephone pole, this would be considered a collision and would not be covered under comprehensive insurance. Additionally, any damage to your personal property inside your car caused by animals would not be covered under your auto policy but may be covered by homeowners, renters, or condo insurance policies.

To summarise, animal collisions can be covered by comprehensive auto insurance, which is an optional coverage that can provide financial protection in the event of an accident with an animal. By adding comprehensive coverage to your policy, you can have peace of mind knowing that you are protected from the costly repairs that may result from an unexpected collision with wildlife.

Theft

Comprehensive auto insurance covers theft, whether your vehicle is stolen and damaged or not recovered at all. It also covers the theft of certain parts of the vehicle. However, it does not cover the theft of personal property inside the car—for that, you'll need to check your homeowners or renters insurance policies.

If your vehicle is stolen, call the police and file a report immediately. The police will want basic information such as the make and model, plate number, and maybe the vehicle identification number. Then contact your insurance company to see if you're covered.

If your stolen car is recovered, call your insurance company right away to let them know. If your claim was still processing, they will assess the vehicle to determine whether it's a total loss or whether they will pay for repairs. If your claim has already been paid, your insurance company owns the vehicle—but any items inside are still yours.

If you have comprehensive car insurance as part of your policy, it will likely cover the theft. You'll need to check your policy's terms and conditions to fully understand what's covered and how much you could receive.

Comprehensive insurance is designed to pay for repairs to your vehicle caused by things other than a collision. It covers damage to your car from animals, falling trees, natural disasters, theft, and vandalism. It does not cover damage to other vehicles or people.

Natural disasters

Comprehensive insurance covers vehicle damage caused by weather-related events, such as hail, floods, and wildfires, as well as other natural disasters. It is important to note that comprehensive coverage is optional unless you lease or finance your car, in which case your lender may require it. Comprehensive coverage pays up to the vehicle's actual cash value (ACV) minus your coverage deductible if a storm or accident damages your car.

In the context of natural disasters, it is crucial to understand the concept of an "act of God". An "act of God" refers to an event that occurs suddenly, unexpectedly, and outside of human control, such as landslides, tornadoes, mudslides, and hurricanes. These events are typically covered by comprehensive coverage.

It is also important to be mindful of timing when it comes to comprehensive coverage. Insurance companies may enact binding restrictions on policy changes or new policies once a natural disaster, such as a flood or wildfire, is imminent. Therefore, it is essential to have comprehensive coverage in place before a disaster occurs.

In addition to natural disasters, comprehensive coverage also protects against other events such as theft, vandalism, and riots, providing a catch-all for anything left uncovered by collision or liability insurance.

The cost of comprehensive coverage varies depending on factors such as the value of the vehicle and the location. On average, comprehensive coverage costs around $174 to $184 per month.

In summary, comprehensive car insurance provides financial protection in the event of natural disasters, covering repairs or replacement of your vehicle. It is important to have this coverage in place before a disaster occurs and to be mindful of policy restrictions during imminent disasters.

Vandalism

Comprehensive auto insurance covers vandalism, which includes slashed tires, broken windows, glue in the locks, spray-painted cars, and keyed cars. However, it is optional and may not be worth it to file a claim if the repairs are cheaper than the deductible. Comprehensive coverage also does not cover the theft of personal items inside the car.

If your car has been vandalized, you should first safely document the damage, then file a police report, and contact your car insurance company to file a claim.

Record the damage

Note the damage to your car and check if anything has been stolen from it. Take pictures of everything as evidence.

File a police report

Call the police and have them make a report, which you can include in your claim.

File a claim

If you choose to file a claim, contact your insurance agent and give them all of the information you have, including the police report, photos, and notes.

Repair the damages

Finally, repair the damages. If you have a broken window, it is recommended to put tape or plastic around it until you can get it fully repaired. For keyed cars, cover the scratch with a temporary clear coat, plastic, or fabric to protect it from the elements.

Comprehensive coverage is optional and is not required by any state. It is, however, part of what is considered a "full coverage" policy. Adding comprehensive coverage will not raise the price of your premium too much and could save you a lot of money if your car is badly vandalized.

Falling objects

Comprehensive car insurance covers damage to your car from causes other than a collision. This includes falling objects, such as branches, rocks, hail, and other debris. If an object flies through the air and hits your car, causing damage, your comprehensive coverage will come into effect.

Comprehensive insurance is designed to pay for repairs to your vehicle caused by things other than a collision. This includes damage from animals, natural disasters, theft, and vandalism. It does not cover damage to other vehicles or people.

In the context of falling objects, comprehensive insurance will cover damage caused by objects falling onto your car, such as branches, rocks, or hail. It can also include objects that fly through the air and hit your car, such as road debris. For example, if a tree falls on your car during a storm, comprehensive insurance will cover the cost of repairs.

It is important to note that comprehensive coverage has a deductible, which is the amount you agree to pay before the insurance company starts paying for damages. The deductible amount can vary, and choosing a higher deductible can result in lower monthly premiums.

Comprehensive insurance is typically required by lenders and leasing companies if you lease or finance your car. If you own your car outright, you can decide whether to purchase comprehensive coverage based on your specific needs and the value of your vehicle.

Frequently asked questions