Comprehensive and collision are the two coverages that pay to repair or replace your own car. They sit side by side on almost every quote, they both come with a deductible and they are often sold together as part of what people call "full coverage." Because they look so similar, many drivers are not sure which one applies to which kind of damage. The difference is simple once you see it, and it matters when you choose deductibles, decide whether to keep the coverage on an older car or file a claim.
The short version: collision pays when your car hits something or rolls over. Comprehensive pays for most other damage, such as theft, fire, hail, flood, vandalism, falling objects and hitting an animal.
What collision coverage pays for
Collision pays for damage to your car when it collides with another vehicle or an object, or when it rolls over. It applies no matter who caused the accident. Typical collision claims include:
- Hitting another car, whether you are moving or it is
- Hitting a fixed object such as a pole, guardrail, wall, curb or your own garage door
- A single-car accident, such as sliding off an icy road
- A rollover
- Damage from a deep pothole, which most insurers treat as a collision
If another driver causes the crash, you can usually claim against that driver's property damage liability coverage. You can also use your own collision coverage, which may be faster. When you do, your insurer may try to recover what it paid from the other driver's insurer, and if it succeeds you may get your deductible back.
What comprehensive coverage pays for
Comprehensive is sometimes called "other than collision" coverage, which is a good description. It pays for damage from events outside your control that do not involve a crash, including:
- Theft of the car, and damage done during a break-in or attempted theft
- Vandalism
- Fire
- Hail, windstorms, floods and other weather
- Falling objects, such as a tree limb landing on a parked car
- Hitting a deer or other animal
- Broken glass, such as a windshield cracked by a stone from a truck
Glass is worth a closer look. Many insurers offer full glass coverage that repairs or replaces a windshield with a lower deductible or none at all, and a few states have their own rules about deductibles on windshield claims. If chips and cracks are common where you drive, ask how your policy handles them.
Which coverage applies? Common examples
The table shows how these events are typically handled. Policies differ, so the wording of your own policy is what counts.
| What happened | Usually paid by |
|---|---|
| You back into a pole in a parking lot | Collision |
| You hit a deer on a rural road | Comprehensive |
| You swerve to miss a deer and hit a tree | Collision, because the car struck an object |
| A storm drops a branch on your parked car | Comprehensive |
| Hail dents the hood and roof | Comprehensive |
| Your car is stolen from a driveway | Comprehensive |
| You hit a pothole and bend a wheel | Collision |
| Another driver runs a red light and hits you | The other driver's liability coverage, or your collision if you choose to use it |
| Someone hits your parked car and drives off | Collision, or uninsured motorist property damage in some states |
How the deductibles work
Each coverage has its own deductible, the amount you pay toward a claim before the insurer pays the rest. You choose the deductibles when you buy the policy, and they do not have to match. Comprehensive deductibles are often set lower than collision deductibles, and that mix can make sense: comprehensive claims such as glass and hail are hard to avoid, while collision risk depends more on how and where you drive.
A higher deductible usually lowers your premium, but only choose one you could pay from savings right away. The Deductible Calculator shows how long a higher deductible takes to pay for itself.
How much the coverages pay
Both coverages usually pay up to the car's actual cash value, which is what it was worth just before the damage, minus your deductible. If repairs would cost more than the car is worth, the insurer typically declares it a total loss and pays the actual cash value instead of fixing it. That is why the value of these coverages shrinks as a car ages, a point we cover in How Car Depreciation Affects Your Coverage. If you owe more on a loan or lease than the car is worth, gap coverage can pay the difference after a total loss.
What neither coverage pays for
- Damage or injuries you cause to others. That is liability coverage.
- Your medical bills. Those fall under medical payments, personal injury protection or health insurance.
- Mechanical breakdowns, wear and tear or routine maintenance.
- Personal belongings stolen from the car. Homeowners or renters insurance may cover these instead.
- Aftermarket parts and equipment beyond a set amount, unless you add custom equipment coverage.
- A rental car while yours is in the shop, unless you have rental reimbursement.
Do you need both?
No state law requires comprehensive or collision, but if you finance or lease your car, the lender or leasing company almost always requires both until the car is paid off. Once you own the car outright, the choice is yours.
Many insurers let you carry comprehensive without collision, which some owners do for a car that sits in storage for months at a time. Collision without comprehensive is less commonly offered, and many insurers require comprehensive if you want collision.
Keeping both usually makes sense when the car is worth more than you could comfortably replace from savings. Dropping one or both may make sense on an older, paid-off car when the yearly premium is large compared with what the coverage could pay after the deductible. The Coverage Calculator helps you weigh that trade-off with your own numbers.
Your next step
Look at your declarations page and find the collision and comprehensive lines, the deductible for each and any glass, rental or custom equipment options. If you are not sure the mix fits your car and budget, the Coverage Needs Worksheet walks you through it, and Insurance Types Explained covers the rest of your policy. When you shop, match deductibles across every quote and use Compare Quotes to see the real difference in price. If you would like help comparing offers, see the plans on Start Your Coverage.
This article is general information to help you understand auto insurance. It is not insurance, legal or financial advice, and AutoAssures.com is not an insurance company. Coverage, prices and rules vary by insurer and state; confirm details with a licensed agent or insurer.
