does not help you cover the costs of damages to your car after a collision. What It does cover is events out of your control such as falling objects. When

buying car insurance

, it's crucial to know what’s covered and the factors that affect your policy cost.

Knowing the facts about comprehensive insurance will help you

save costs on car insurance

. Not all information about auto insurance is true.

Kelley Blue Book

(KBB) talks about common car insurance myths to avoid.

Myths about things like comprehensive insurance can influence the coverage you choose and leave you unprotected from different penalties and damage.

Here’s what to keep in mind when shopping for comprehensive coverage and other types of car insurance.

Does comprehensive car insurance cover everything?

MORE:

Collision vs. Comprehensive Car Insurance: How to Tell Which One You Need

Some people believe that comprehensive insurance gives total coverage. This can make you think comprehensive coverage is all you need, but this is simply not the case.

Comprehensive car insurance covers a lot of things like, theft, natural disasters, vandalism, fire, or hitting a wild animal. But it doesn’t cover the costs of damages from a collision or medical fees after an accident.

There are other types of insurance policies meant to protect you from risks like uninsured drivers. Instead of seeing comprehensive insurance as full coverage, you should consider all the options available to keep you protected in different scenarios.

Collision coverage

and

liability coverage

are other options to look into.

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Does your credit score really affect your car insurance costs?

Insurance companies use a credit-based insurance score to determine your insurance rates. Insurers look at information like your outstanding debt, how you pay bills, and the length of your credit history.

Your insurance score does not include categories like age, income, and gender. Your financial behavior can be a good indicator of your likelihood to file a claim. If you have good credit, you'll probably pay less for insurance premiums.

Does a short lapse in auto insurance matter?

A lapse in your auto insurance coverage can affect your car insurance rates. Whether you voluntarily or accidentally let your insurance lapse, you'll likely pay more when you sign up again. Insurance companies will give you a grace period before you’re penalized, but once you go over it you’ll be categorized as a high-risk driver.

High-risk drivers

pay higher costs for insurance because insurance companies think you’re more likely to make a claim. This can raise your premiums.

If you’re not driving because you moved to another city where you use public transport, or you’re traveling for an extended period, you should keep your car minimally insured. It's better than leaving it parked without any insurance and risk having your rates increased or even being denied coverage later on.

Do you have to worry about insurance after your car has been totaled?

Another common auto insurance myth is that you don't pay for insurance if your car is unusable after an accident. Even if your car is totaled and you can’t drive it anymore, you’re still not clear from your payments.

Insurance companies will calculate how much the totaled vehicle is worth, but you’ll still have to make insurance payments in the meantime. You could receive payouts from comprehensive or collision coverage after insurance companies determine the value of the car.

Gap insurance

is something you might want to look into that works with comprehensive coverage. This way if you total a new car, you won’t have to pay more than your car is worth.

One way to get the most affordable comprehensive car insurance is by comparing quotes. You don't have to spend hours going from one insurance website to another.

Jerry

is an app that makes sure you’re getting the best price for the coverage you need.

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