Collision coverage
Collision pays to repair or replace your car after it hits something: another car, a guardrail, a pole, a curb or a wall. It also usually covers a rollover. It pays whether or not you were at fault, minus your deductible. If another driver caused the crash, their liability coverage may pay instead, and your carrier may seek repayment from them.
Comprehensive coverage
Comprehensive pays for damage that doesn't come from a collision. It's sometimes called other-than-collision coverage. Common examples include:
- Theft of the car, or damage from a break-in
- Hail, wind and falling trees or branches
- Fire and flood
- Vandalism
- Hitting a deer or other animal
- Cracked or broken glass, under many policies
Which pays in common situations
Your policy wording decides how each claim is handled, so check the details with your agent.
- You rear-end another car: collision
- You slide into a guardrail on ice: collision
- Hail dents the hood: comprehensive
- You hit a deer: comprehensive
- Your car is stolen: comprehensive
- A tree branch falls on the roof: comprehensive
What neither one covers
- Damage to the other driver's car or property, which is covered by liability
- Injuries, which fall under liability, medical payments or personal injury protection
- Normal wear and tear, mechanical breakdowns and maintenance
- Personal items stolen from the car, which homeowners or renters insurance may cover
Choosing your deductibles
Your deductible is what you pay before coverage kicks in. A higher deductible usually lowers your premium. Pick an amount you could pay tomorrow without strain.
Many drivers choose a lower comprehensive deductible than collision deductible, since comprehensive claims, like hail or theft, are often outside their control. Some policies also offer full glass coverage, which can lower or waive the deductible for windshield repairs.
Do you need both?
If your car is financed or leased, your lender usually requires both. If you own your car outright, they're optional. A common rule of thumb is to weigh the yearly cost of the coverage against what your car is worth. On an older car with low value, the coverage may cost more than it could ever pay out after the deductible.
Review your coverage
CapCenter's in-house insurance agency has licensed agents who compare quotes from multiple carriers. We can review your collision and comprehensive limits and deductibles, and show how a bundle with home or renters insurance may lower your total cost.
