Comprehensive Auto Insurance is an optional add-on that covers anything other than car accidents, such as weather damage, vehicle theft, glass breakage, animal collisions and more. If you experience losses caused by something other than a typical car accident, you must file a claim based on the comprehensive coverage portion of the policy for damages.
What is comprehensive coverage? What does it cover?
A comprehensive vehicle covers repair or replacement of a vehicle when it is damaged from an incident other than colliding with another vehicle or stationary object. You’ve probably come across the term “full coverage” in relation to car insurance. Comprehensive coverage is part of our complete coverage policy. These insurance generally include collision insurance in addition to the liability coverage required by the state.
Here is a comprehensive example of typical vehicle damage:
- Weather-related damages such as hail, fires, and floods
- Damage caused by attacking animals
- theft
- Vandalism and riots
- Glass break (windows and windows)
- fire
- Falling objects such as wooden hands and feet
Comprehensive coverage does not cover normal wear and tear on the vehicle. For example, if you need new tires or brake pads, these maintenance items will be paid from your pocket or through a separate warranty program. It also does not include damage to the vehicle due to collisions with a vehicle or object. If another vehicle is involved, you will be in a collision.
Why consider comprehensive coverage?
If your vehicle is being loaned or leased, you will almost certainly need to carry fully covered auto insurance to protect the lender’s investment in your vehicle financially. It adds the cost of your insurance, but it gives additional coverage to repair damage to your vehicle, it does not offer minimal coverage auto insurance.
Conversely, if your car is old or needs repairs, full coverage may not be worth the cost. In such cases, the cost of fully covered automobile insurance could outweigh the profits. Talking to an insurance agent can help you determine whether it is worth dealing with your particular vehicle and situation. Comprehensive coverage is generally cheaper than collisions, so most experts recommend maintaining comprehensive coverage even if the vehicle is not very valuable.
When should I file a comprehensive claim?
Knowing when to file a comprehensive claim means understanding how much the deductible (amount paid out of your pocket) will understand before filing the claim. If the vehicle’s repair costs are less than the deductible, you cannot file a claim. If the repair costs are slightly higher than the deduction, you may not be worth filing a claim and risking premium increases in automatic policy updates.
We were running through our town where we (and most vehicles in our area) gave hail. The damage to our vehicle was quite noticeable. Because we had a full coverage policy, we filed a claim based on some of the policy’s comprehensive coverage. In the end we were awarded thousands of dollars.
– Rebekah H., Bankrate Staff
How to file a comprehensive claim
If you choose to file a claim based on comprehensive coverage, here is how it works:
- Please contact your customer service representative or your local agent via the mobile app, online or via the phone and notify you of the situation.
- Please submit any photos, videos, documents and other documents related to your claim. If a vehicle is stolen or destroyed, you will need to submit a police report as part of the claims process.
- If your insurance provider asks you, you will get a quote from your local repair shop. Before filing a claim, you can choose to help you determine whether filing a claim is valuable based on estimated costs.
- For document requests, check regularly for updates from the agent. Once Karim is approved, the insurance company will issue a job check to you or the repair shop.
learn more: Submitting a car insurance claim
