comprehensive vs collision insurance

For many car owners, insurance can seem like a tricky thing. It’s not always clear what type of insurance you need, what your policy covers or how to get damage from accidents repaired. Comprehensive and collision are two kinds of auto insurance that protect drivers in different ways.

Comprehensive and collision insurance do have a few things in common.

  • Both types are optional. State laws don’t currently require either comprehensive or collision coverage.
  • They can be purchased separately or together.
  • Coverage usually applies to the vehicle, not the driver, with the exception of rental cars.
  • The maximum amount of damage covered is the actual cash value (ACV) of the car once the deductible has been subtracted.
  • Most policies will require a deductible.

Most people want to know how comprehensive and collision insurance differ, however. To decide which kind of auto insurance is right for you, carefully review the options available. Be sure to also review the common myths and facts about insurance coverage.

Insurance Requirements in Your State

In Pennsylvania, drivers are required to have current medical benefits insurance (also called no-fault) and liability coverage. This law is designed to fully protect residents if they get into an accident. Medical benefits must cover a minimum of $5,000 and are meant to pay for medical care if you or a passenger is injured regardless of who was at fault. Liability coverage covers injuries or damage that you caused in an accident. The state requires a minimum coverage of $30,000 total liability for injuries and $5,000 for property damages.

Check your state laws about car insurance requirements.

Collision Insurance

As the name implies, collision insurance covers damage made to your car in a crash with another vehicle. It applies even if you were at fault or if the other driver is uninsured. Once the damage has been assessed, insurance payout should go toward the cost of repairing or replacing the car. The recommended amount of collision insurance coverage depends mostly on the value of your car.

Each collision policy has a deductible. The insurance holder must pay for some of the cost of the car’s repair or replacement. The most common deductible for collision coverage costs $500 for each claim.

What Collision Coverage Includes

Check the fine print of your collision insurance policy, but damages caused by the following events are typically included:

  • Accidents where another driver is at fault,
  • Accidents where you are at fault,
  • Accidents with an uninsured car or driver,
  • Collisions caused by environmental factors or road conditions, such as potholes,
  • Hit-and-run collisions,
  • Damage caused by another car while parked,
  • Collisions involving a parked car,
  • Running into an object (tree, pole, building, etc.),
  • Backing into an object,
  • Rollovers.

Comprehensive Insurance

For other vehicle damage that is not caused by an accident, there is comprehensive insurance. Insurance deductibles for comprehensive coverage generally range from $100 to $2,500 for each claim.

What Comprehensive Coverage Includes

Be sure to review the details of your collision insurance policy; damages caused by the following events are often covered:

  • Car theft or damage from a break-in,
  • Vandalism,
  • Car glass damage, windshield repair or replacement,
  • Damage from hail, rocks, etc.
  • Damage from storms, flooding and natural disasters,
  • Fire,
  • Damage caused by hitting a deer or other animal.

Choosing the Right Insurance for You

It can be challenging to decide what the right car insurance policy is for you and your budget. Collision and comprehensive insurance are the most popular types of optional vehicle insurance.

Consider these factors when making this important decision:

Value of the vehicle – New cars, luxury models, specialty vehicles and collector cars are usually more expensive to repair or replace. Comprehensive and collision insurance help reduce your out-of-pocket costs if something happens to your car.

Risk of collision – The risk of a collision increases in relation to the number of miles you put on it. Drivers with long commutes, use their car for work, or who rely heavily on their vehicle are more at risk.

Your location – Optional insurance is highly recommended for car owners who live in areas with high crime or which often experience severe weather.

Related article:What Is a Car Repair Loan?

Collision Repair Near You

Badell’s Collision is proud to be part of the community in Pennsylvania. For over 15 years we have provided high-quality vehicle repair services.

We can get your car back on the road as quickly as possible, no matter what type of damage it has suffered. When you need a reliable, family-owned auto body shop, we are here to help. Stop by our locations in Aston and Malvern, or use our simple online estimate form.

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