As you shop around for auto insurance, you may come across terms that aren’t completely clear. For example: What is the difference between collision and comprehensive auto insurance? Follow along to discover the answer and learn more about auto insurance.
Collision vs Comprehensive Auto Insurance: What Is the Difference?
Collision insurance, or collision coverage, is the part of an auto insurance policy that helps pay to repair or replace your car if you hit another car or another object. Comprehensive coverage, on the other hand, protects your vehicle against events that DON’T involve a collision.
In the next sections, we’ll take a closer look at these two coverages, including the specific scenarios where they kick it.
Collision Coverage
Collision insurance comes into play when your car is damaged in a collision with another vehicle, or when it’s damaged after hitting an object such as:
- Fence
- Guardrail
- Tree
- Streetlight
- Pole
Collision insurance DOES NOT cover accidents where you hit an animal with your car (that type of damage is covered by comprehensive insurance), damage to another driver’s vehicle, or medical bills.
Comprehensive Coverage
Comprehensive insurance shields your vehicle from the costs associated with accidents other than a collision that are outside of your control, including;
- Storms, wind, and hail
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Falling objects
- Windshield damage
- Accidents with animals
Although comprehensive coverage is sometimes called “comprehensive insurance,” this is a component of an auto insurance policy, not a separate type of insurance.
Just like collision coverage, comprehensive coverage DOES NOT cover damage to another person’s vehicle or medical bills.
Collision vs Comprehensive Insurance Coverage: What You Need To Keep in Mind
It’s worth remembering that neither collision nor comprehensive coverage are mandatory in the state of California.
However, if you are financing your car, the lender may require you to get comprehensive coverage, collision coverage, or both.
In any case, we strongly encourage you to get auto insurance above the minimum levels required by law. Having the right protection in place can be a total game changer for your and your family’s finances.
RF1 Insurance Services: Auto Insurance You Can Trust
Looking for autot insurance you can rely on? At RF1 Insurance, we work with some of the world’s most trusted insurance companies, including Safeco, Guard, Stillwater, National General Premier, Aegis, and the California FAIR Plan.
Contact us today by email (info@RF1ins.com), telephone (909-359-2067), or social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) for a free quote or to learn more about a full range of insurance solutions.