Comprehensive insurance covers vehicle damage caused by events like natural disasters, theft, and vandalism—and it only costs about $11 per month to add to a policy.

Written by Sarah Gray

Edited by Amy Bobinger

Updated on Apr 16, 2024

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What is comprehensive insurance, and what does it cover?
How much does comprehensive insurance cost?
Do you need comprehensive insurance coverage?
FAQ
Methodology
Meet our experts

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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.

Compare quotes for policies including comprehensive coverage.

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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

Learn more:

How to choose your car insurance deductible

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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:

Infographic explaining when to file a claim. After you get into a collision, you need to compare the cost estimate of the damages to your deductible. Don’t file a claim if your claim amount is close to or less than your deductible amount. Do file a claim if your claim amount is significantly higher than your deductible.

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.

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FAQ

What does comprehensive mean in car insurance?

“Comprehensive” in car insurance refers to a car insurance policy that covers non-collision damage to your vehicle from anything other than a collision with another car or stationary object.

Is it worth getting comprehensive coverage?

Yes—unless you can afford to repair or replace your vehicle on your own, it’s worth it to get comprehensive coverage.

What does fully comprehensive insurance cover?

A comprehensive policy pays for damages associated with incidents like fire, natural disasters, theft, or striking an animal. “Fully comprehensive” is just another name for comprehensive or “other than collision (OTC)” coverage.

Is it better to have collision or comprehensive?

It’s actually better to have both collision and comprehensive coverage. However, if you must choose between the two, which is best for you will depend on several individualized factors, like how much you drive, where you live, and where you park your car. To find out which is best for you, check with your insurance agent.

What is the difference between collision and comprehensive insurance?

Collision insurance pays for damage caused by rollover accidents and collisions with other cars or stationary objects. Comprehensive insurance covers damage caused by animal strikes or non-collision events like theft, vandalism, and natural disasters.

Are acts of God covered on homeowner’s policies?

Standard homeowners insurance policies often include a force majeure clause (or act of God cause) that exclude coverage for some acts of God, like earthquakes, floods, or hurricanes. However, coverage is common for other acts of God, like wildfires, lightning, or tornadoes. Check the Exclusions section of your Homeowners policy or contact your insurance agent to learn more about what is and isn’t covered.

Is a force majeur clause the same as an act of God clause?

Force majeur clauses typically include anything that would be considered an act of nature, but they may also include man-made catastrophes like war or nuclear disasters.

What is the definition of an act of God?

Acts of God are typically considered natural events that can not be predicted or prevented by human intervention. Examples of acts of God include earthquakes, pandemics, hailstorms, tsunamis, tornadoes, flooding, wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.

Are acts of God covered by homeowners insurance?

Many homeowners policies will limit liability for acts of God such as earthquakes, hurricanes, or flood damage, so you may need to invest in an add-on like earthquake, windstorm, or flood insurance. However, standard home insurance policies may provide coverage for other acts of God, like fires that start due to lightning strikes.

Is hail damage considered an act of God?

Hail damage is considered an act of God, and damage from hail will be covered under most comprehensive auto policies.

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.

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.

Meet our experts

Sarah Gray

Licensed Insurance Agent — Expert Insurance Writer and Editor

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.

Amy Bobinger

Licensed Insurance Agent — Expert Insurance Editor

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.

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