What does full comprehensive coverage mean?

Asked by: Jack Rau  |  Last update: October 5, 2022
Score: 4.9/5 (34 votes)

Comprehensive insurance is a coverage that helps pay to replace or repair your vehicle if it's stolen or damaged in an incident that's not a collision. Comprehensive, sometimes called "other than collision" coverage, typically covers damage from fire, vandalism or falling objects (like a tree or hail).

What is the difference between comprehensive coverage and full coverage?

The difference between full coverage and comprehensive insurance is that full coverage is a car insurance policy that includes both comprehensive and collision insurance along with the state's minimum requirements. Comprehensive insurance covers damage to a car from things other than accidents, like theft or fire.

What does comprehensive coverage actually cover?

Comprehensive coverage helps cover the cost of damages to your vehicle when you're involved in an accident that's not caused by a collision. Comprehensive coverage covers losses like theft, vandalism, hail, and hitting an animal.

Does comprehensive insurance cover bumper damage?

No, it does not cover your car from bumper to bumper. A Comprehensive Insurance Plan is designed to cover damages or losses to the insured vehicle. However, during the settlement of claims, the repair bill will be paid after deducting the depreciation of the parts being replaced or repaired.

Is it worth having fully comprehensive insurance?

For the vast majority of drivers fully comp offers the best value car insurance. This is because it offers a higher level of cover than third party policies. It also means you won't end up shelling out for expensive repairs to your car if you're involved in an accident that was your fault.

Comprehensive vs. Collision Coverage Explained

20 related questions found

Is it worth getting full coverage on an old car?

Between 10 and 15 years after a vehicle's model year, full coverage is a poor investment. While the cost of full coverage by itself likely won't be more than what a car is worth, the cost of insurance is more likely to be higher than the value of the car after an accident.

Should you have full coverage on a paid off car?

Drivers that paid off their loans are no longer required to carry full coverage. If their budgets had been strained due to paying for full coverage, then they should decrease their coverage and premiums. Drivers can support the costs of a replacement.

Does full coverage cover at fault accidents?

So what does full coverage car insurance cover? In most cases, it includes liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage. Collision and comprehensive will protect you and your vehicle if you get into an accident. If you're found at fault for an accident.

How long should you keep full coverage on a car?

The standard rule of thumb used to be that car owners should drop collision and comprehensive insurance when the car was five or six years old, or when the mileage reached the 100,000 mark. (Plenty of websites weigh in on this.)

What is a comprehensive deductible?

Your comprehensive deductible is defined as the amount you pay out of pocket to repair or replace your vehicle after your claim is approved; this means that the remaining costs are covered by your insurance company (up to the actual cash value of your vehicle).

Can I claim personal injury if the accident was my fault?

Generally, if you are injured as a result of an accident that was your fault you will not be able to make a claim for compensation unless another person or organisation was also partly to blame for the accident.

What coverage do you need on a paid off car?

If you're still paying off your auto loan or lease, your lender will probably require you to have collision insurance because it helps protect their investment if the car gets totaled.

Who gets the insurance check when a car is totaled?

If you're financing a car that's been totaled, your insurance company will likely make the claim check payable to both you and your lender, which means you'll have to come to an agreement with your lender on how to release that money, the Insurance Information Institute (III) says.

What happens when you pay off your car loan early?

Prepayment penalties

The lender makes money from the interest you pay on your loan each month. Repaying a loan early usually means you won't pay any more interest, but there could be an early prepayment fee. The cost of those fees may be more than the interest you'll pay over the rest of the loan.

Does insurance decrease when car is paid off?

No, paying off your car doesn't reduce your insurance rates, but it does give you more control over the type and amount of coverage you have, which can help you save money on your insurance rates.

What is difference between collision and comprehensive?

Generally, collision coverage comes into play because a driver gets into a car accident. Comprehensive is a separate coverage from collision. It helps cover different types of losses that are usually not the result of driving the vehicle, such as theft, hail or fallen trees.

Are newer cars more expensive to insure?

And getting insurance on a new car often will cost more simply because it's more valuable than an older one. One factor that goes into setting your auto insurance rates is the type of car you're buying. Generally, pricier cars cost more to insure because the cost to repair or replace them is higher.

How does a totaled car affect my credit?

Car accidents, even those that result in a financed car being totaled, won't directly impact your credit scores. Credit scores are based solely on the information in your credit report and don't include things like your driving record or previous insurance claims.

What happens when your car is totaled and you still owe money?

If your car is totaled and you still owe money on the loan, the insurance company will pay your lender for the car's value, and you will be responsible for any remaining balance if the check is less than the loan amount.

Can you keep the money from an insurance claim?

The auto insurer has fulfilled their obligation by making payment on a valid claim, so as long as your policy and state allow it, you can keep the money to use as you choose.

Does paying off your car increase your credit score?

In some cases, paying off your car loan early can negatively affect your credit score. Paying off your car loan early can hurt your credit because open positive accounts have a greater impact on your credit score than closed accounts—but there are other factors to consider too.

Can you claim whiplash if the accident was not your fault?

If you get whiplash after being in an accident that wasn't your fault, either as a driver or a passenger, you can make a whiplash claim on the at-fault driver's insurance. You can do this directly or via a 'no win, no fee' legal firm. This means they'll only take a cut of the money if you're successful.

Can I claim for whiplash if the accident was my fault?

Car Accident Was My Fault, Can I Claim For Whiplash? If you're in a road traffic accident that was 100% your fault, then you'll be unable to make a compensation claim for whiplash or any other injuries you may have suffered from it.

Can you claim whiplash if you caused the accident?

You might be able to claim for your whiplash injury if you were involved in an accident caused by another driver's fault, either fully or partially. In addition, you can claim if you were the driver or a passenger.

Is it better to have a $500 deductible or $1000?

A $1,000 deductible is better than a $500 deductible if you can afford the increased out-of-pocket cost in the event of an accident, because a higher deductible means you'll pay lower premiums. Choosing an insurance deductible depends on the size of your emergency fund and how much you can afford for monthly premiums.