A comprehensive auto insurance policy covers damage to your vehicle caused by a range of non-collision perils, from car theft and vandalism to fire, falling tree branches, hailstorms, and other unexpected events.
What is comprehensive insurance, and what does it cover?
| What it will cover | What it won’t cover |
|---|---|
| – Contact with animals – Natural disasters (such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, and volcanic eruptions) – Fire – Vandalism – Vehicle theft (including parts of the car, such as the catalytic converter) – Falling objects (such as tree limbs, ice, or projectiles) – Civil disturbances (such as riots) – Broken windshield or other glass damage | – Damage caused by collisions with other cars or stationary objects – Medical expenses – Legal fees associated with a car accident – Lost income for you or your passengers – Damage to another person’s car or property – Normal wear and tear – Personal property stolen from your vehicle – Engine failure |
When you file a comprehensive claim, your insurance company will cover the cost of repairs up to your policy’s limit—typically your car’s actual cash value—and minus your deductible.
If you want to learn more about how comprehensive car insurance works and its importance as part of a full coverage insurance policy, here’s what Jerry’s experts have to say:
Is comprehensive coverage required?
Unlike liability insurance, comprehensive insurance is optional coverage not mandated by state minimum insurance requirements—but it’s typically required by your lender if you lease or finance your car.
For most drivers, even if you own your car outright, comprehensive coverage is still a good investment. The Insurance Information Institute (III) reports the average comprehensive claim payout in 2022 was $2,738—without a comprehensive policy, you’d be paying that bill out of pocket.1
The bottom line: Comprehensive auto insurance coverage is usually a sound investment even if you’re not required to carry it by state law or a lender.
How much does comprehensive insurance cost?
According to the III, the average cost for a comprehensive auto insurance policy is a little over $134 annually—that’s about $11 a month to add to a policy.2 Here’s how that breaks down monthly when added to liability coverage with some of the nation’s top insurance providers.
| Insurance company | Liability + Comprehensive |
|---|---|
| Allstate | $124 |
| Aspire | $171 |
| Bristol West | $203 |
| Clearcover | $76 |
| Dairyland | $172 |
| Nationwide | $88 |
| Progressive | $86 |
| State Auto | $86 |
Though you can add comprehensive coverage to a policy with just bodily injury liability and property damage liability insurance, most drivers purchase it as part of a full coverage auto insurance policy. Here’s what the average driver pays monthly for a full coverage policy that includes liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage from these same providers.
| Insurance company | Full coverage |
|---|---|
| AAA | $215 |
| Allstate | $198 |
| Assurance America | $275 |
| Bristol West | $361 |
| Clearcover | $130 |
| Nationwide | $155 |
| Progressive | $178 |
| State Auto | $200 |
Each insurance company uses its own formula to calculate the cost of insurance, so your premiums may be higher or lower than these averages. The only way to be sure you’re getting the best rate is to compare car insurance quotes from multiple providers.
With Jerry, you can compare free quotes from dozens of providers in minutes. You can even tailor the types of insurance, coverage limits, and deductibles included in your policy.
What about my deductible?
All comprehensive insurance policies include a deductible—an amount you must pay before your insurance kicks in to cover an insurance claim. The most common comprehensive deductible is $500, but you can usually choose a different amount.
- Choosing a lower deductible—such as $250—can save you money when it’s time to make a claim. But the trade-off is that you’ll pay slightly higher car insurance rates.
- Choosing a higher deductible of $1,000 or more will usually result in lower overall insurance costs. Just make sure you select a deductible you can afford to pay if you need to file a comprehensive claim.
Based on our experts’ analysis, here’s what you can expect to pay for full-coverage based on your deductible amount:
| Insurance company | $500 deductible | $1,000 deductible | $2,500 deductible |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | $270 | $264 | $255 |
| Allstate | $241 | $228 | $224 |
| Nationwide | $185 | $181 | $179 |
| Progressive | $193 | $184 | $179 |
| State Auto | $224 | $218 | $213 |
Consider your deductible before you file a claim
If your car is stolen, it’s probably worth paying your deductible so you can file a claim to recoup the actual cash value of your vehicle. But if a tree branch falls on your vehicle and causes $200 in damage, it doesn’t make sense to pay a $250 deductible to file a claim.
To help you decide when it makes sense to file a comprehensive claim, here’s some advice from Jerry’s experts:
Keep in mind: Even though the damage associated with a comprehensive claim is usually outside of human control, a claim could still increase your insurance rates for 3 to 5 years.
Do you need comprehensive insurance coverage?
Comprehensive car insurance coverage is a good idea for most drivers. Though many tie the need for comprehensive coverage to the value of your car, unless you can afford to repair or replace your vehicle on your own, you need comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage is especially beneficial for those living in high-crime areas or areas prone to natural disasters. And if you have a car loan or you lease your vehicle, your lender will likely require you to carry full coverage—which includes comprehensive insurance—as a part of your loan or lease agreement.
FAQ
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What does comprehensive mean in car insurance?
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Is it worth getting comprehensive coverage?
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What does fully comprehensive insurance cover?
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Is it better to have collision or comprehensive?
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What is the difference between collision and comprehensive insurance?
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Are acts of God covered on homeowner’s policies?
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Is a force majeur clause the same as an act of God clause?
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What is the definition of an act of God?
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Are acts of God covered by homeowners insurance?
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Is hail damage considered an act of God?
Methodology
To determine average insurance rates, Jerry’s experts analyze thousands of policies purchased by our customers. Our data are based on real policy premiums for all customers in a given category.
To determine average insurance rates, Jerry’s experts analyze thousands of policies purchased by our customers. Our data are based on real policy premiums for all customers in a given category.
Where real customer data are unavailable, Jerry’s editorial team researches average rates using expert sources from Forbes, NerdWallet, ValuePenguin, WalletHub, The Zebra, and CarInsurance.com. Our data shows the average of the data shared by those sources.
Sources
- https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-auto-insurance ↩︎
- https://www.iii.org/article/what-is-covered-by-collision-and-comprehensive-auto-insurance ↩︎
Sarah Gray is an insurance writer with nearly a decade of experience in publishing and writing. Sarah specializes in writing articles that educate car owners and buyers on the full scope of car ownership—from shopping for and buying a new car to scrapping one that’s breathed its last and everything in between. Sarah has authored over 1,500 articles for Jerry on topics ranging from first-time buyer programs to how to get a salvage title for a totaled car. Prior to joining Jerry, Sarah was a full-time professor of English literature and composition with multiple academic writing publications.
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
