What Is Comprehensive Insurance?
Comprehensive Insurance covers damage to your car caused by disasters “other than collisions,” and costs significantly less than collision coverage. With the average cost of comprehensive totaling a little over $134 per year, the coverage is cost-effective considering it covers damages to the vehicle caused by the following:
- Contact with animals
- Natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and volcanic eruptions
- Fire
- Riots and vandalism
- Theft of the entire car, or parts of the car such as an airbag
- Fallen objects such as trees, branches, ice or projectiles
- Broken windshield
WHAT IS COVERED BY COMPREHENSIVE INSURANCE?
Comprehensive helps cover damage to your car that’s not the result of a collision, such as:
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Fire
- Natural disasters (like a hurricane or a tornado)
- Falling objects
Damage done to your car by animals
A civil disturbance (like a riot that results in damage or destruction of your car)
WHAT’S NOT COVERED
- Damage to your car from a collision
- Damage to another person’s vehicle from a collision
- Your (or your passengers’) medical expenses after an accident
Comprehensive vs. Collision
Comprehensive insurance is commonly confused with collision. They both insure your car but cover different events. Collision covers car accidents, and comprehensive covers events out of your control. Think of it like this: Collision is colliding with something else (other than animals). Comprehensive is basically all other events. Accidents with animals are covered by comprehensive (and not collision) because these accidents are considered out of your control.
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Questions to consider
Do you want to pay less for insurance or have coverage for repairs?
With Progressive, dropping comprehensive could save you about $22 a month. But remember, if an unforeseen event damages your car, you’ll have to pay for your damages 100% out of pocket. And, remember, if you lease or finance your car, your lender might require you to maintain comprehensive coverage.
Can you afford to buy a new car?
If it hails like crazy, your car could easily be totaled. Would you then be OK paying completely out of pocket to buy another car? If not, add comprehensive and then you’d only have to pay your deductible.
Typically, drivers with more expensive cars add comprehensive insurance because few can handle paying that much out of pocket.
How likely are you to have a claim?
Dropping comprehensive is like gambling against nature. You’re betting that unforeseen events beyond your control won’t damage your car.
Our data shows that 7% of Progressive drivers with comprehensive coverage have a comprehensive claim in a given year, and the average repair is about $1,400. Without comprehensive, that’s how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Keep in mind, repair costs can vary widely based on your damage and how much your car is worth. Typically more expensive cars cost more to repair.
Most common comprehensive claims: Glass claims and then accidents with deer are the most common. If you live in Arizona or another desert state, you’re at a much higher risk for glass claims as rocks are frequently kicked up by cars. Deer accidents are most common in West Virginia and other central/non-coastal states, specifically if you live and drive in a highly wooded area.