It is very important to understand all of your insurance coverage. The first level of coverage beyond PLPD coverage is comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive is great because it covers so many different types losses of physical damage to your vehicle. Comprehensive coverage goes by a few different names and can be used as a stand-alone coverage for your vehicle or in combination with other coverage.
Common Comprehensive Coverage Names
- Comp
- Other than Collision
- Storage Insurance
- Fire and Theft
When can you add comprehensive coverage?
Collision coverage cannot be added to your auto policy without comprehensive coverage added. But, comprehensive can be added to your auto policy without collision. Comprehensive is a nice in between coverage for anyone who wants some protection, but does not want to pay for full coverage.
Comprehensive is also used as a way to protect your vehicle while it is in storage. If you are not driving your vehicle for an extended period of time, you might be interested to know, comprehensive provides protection for physical damage while it is parked. So if anything happens to the vehicle while it is not being driven, comprehensive coverage will cover the costs of repairs minus your deductible. You can save a lot of money by taking liability coverage off the vehicle and having comprehensive coverage only.
What does comprehensive cover?
- Windshield Coverage
Both chipped windshields and cracked windshields are covered under comprehensive coverage. The cause of the damage will not affect coverage. Any glass damage, including door glass, back glass, and sunroofs all fall within comprehensive coverage.
- Deer Accidents
One of the most common comprehensive claims are deer accidents. Comprehensive coverage will actually extend to any animal including but limited to birds, raccoons, and dogs.
- Hail Damage
Hail can strike without much notice and you can’t always be parked in your garage. With comprehensive coverage you will be protected from all those hail nicks.
- Fire Damage
Fire can do extreme damage to a vehicle. Whether the fire was engine related or started by your crazy ex-girlfriend, comprehensive will cover your vehicle.
- Stolen Car
If your vehicle has been missing for more than 30 days, comprehensive will pay the actual cash value of your missing vehicle minus your deductible.
- Vandalism
Any kind of vandalism to your vehicle including your car being keyed or paint being eaten away by the neighborhood kids egging your vehicle is covered under comp.
- Flood Damage
If the water table rises to ridiculous heights, comprehensive coverage will get your vehicle dried out. It does not matter what caused the flood whether it is a hurricane, dam break, or torrential rain fall severe water damage is covered by comprehensive.
- Tree Falling on Your Car
If you find your vehicle smashed under a tree, the only way your insurance company will pay for repairs is if you purchased comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive and Deductibles
Select your deductible at the time you purchase comprehensive coverage. Some insurance carriers do offer a zero deductible on comprehensive, but you pay a higher price. If you do select a deductible, you will have to pay the deductible at the time of loss. It doesn’t matter if it was an act of God; deductibles apply if you select a deductible.
Cost of Comprehensive Coverage
For the average driver, comprehensive is usually a fairly affordable coverage. It obviously varies per vehicle and per driver but overall for what you get, it is usually worth the cost. Even a windshield replacement can cost several hundred dollars and cracked windshields are not uncommon. Contact your insurance agent to help you review the benefits of comprehensive coverage. It could potentially save you thousands of dollars of out of pocket car expenses.
