Comprehensive vs. collision insurance: What's the difference?

Our take

Comprehensive insurance takes care of non-collision incidents such as theft, fire, and natural disasters. Collision insurance, on the other hand, covers damages resulting from accidents, regardless of who is at fault. While neither is legally required, they are crucial if you have a new or high-value vehicle. Both coverages are usually purchased together as a part of a full coverage car insurance policy, which provides the most robust coverage.

What's the difference between comprehensive and collision?

Collision and comprehensive insurance are part of a full coverage policy. They both cover damage to your vehicle, but from different causes.

As the name suggests, collision insurance covers crashes. Specifically, it will pay for your vehicle’s repairs if you're at fault or there is no other insurance to pay for the damage. It also covers rollovers and single-car accidents. For example, collision insurance will pay for the repairs if you back into a telephone pole.

Comprehensive insurance pays for your vehicle’s repair or replacement after a non-collision incident that is out of your control. For example, comprehensive insurance kicks in when your car gets stolen or vandalized or for weather-related damage. It also covers things like fire and animal accidents.

The table below lists a few examples of claims and which type of insurance would apply to each. 

A notable difference between collision and comprehensive coverageComprehensive coverage helps pay for damage to your car caused by events other than a collision, such as theft, fire, vandalism, or natural disasters. It is subject to a deductible. is that your car insurance rate is more likely to increase due to a collision claimAn insurance claim is a request you make to your insurance company for coverage after your car is damaged or you have an accident. You can file a claim online, by phone, or in writing. than a comprehensive claim. Collision claims are usually your fault, so your rate will likely rise. Typically, comprehensive claims are not at-fault incidents, so your rate may not increase much.

Comprehensive vs. collision insurance cost

On average, U.S. drivers pay $421 per year for comprehensive coverage and $743 per year for collision insurance, according to the most recent rate analysis by Insurance.com.

The cost of comprehensive vs. collision car insurance depends on many rating factors, including your age, gender, location, driving record, credit score and the type of car you drive. The chart below breaks down collision and comprehensive insurance costs by state.

Comprehensive vs. collision deductible

Comprehensive and collision insurance both have a deductibleThe deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket for a covered loss when you file a claim.. Most drivers choose the same deductible amount for both, but it's possible to have different deductibles for each coverage. The deductible is the amount you will pay before insurance covers anything when you file a claim.

Because comprehensive car insurance cost is cheaper, it's possible to carry a smaller deductible on that part of your coverage without much impact on your overall car insurance costs.

What is comprehensive insurance?

Comprehensive insurance is a type of auto insurance that pays for your vehicle’s repairs after a loss that is not caused by an accident. It’s often referred to as “other than collision” coverage.

What does comprehensive insurance cover?

Here are some types of losses that are covered by comprehensive insurance:

• Minor windshield damage
• Damage caused by falling or airborne objects like hail, rocks or tree branches
• Theft
• Vandalism
• Fire
• Natural disasters
• Civil disturbances
• Striking an animal

When you file a comprehensive claim, you must pay the deductible. For example, if you had a $10,000 claim and a $1,000 deductible, you would receive $9,000 from your insurance company.

What's not covered by comprehensive insurance?

Despite the term “comprehensive,” comprehensive car insurance does not cover everything. Examples of items not covered by comprehensive insurance include:

• Vehicle repairs after an accident
• Intentional damage
• Medical bills
• Your personal items in the vehicle

How much is comprehensive insurance?

The average cost of comprehensive car insurance coverage is $421 a year. Comprehensive coverage is cheaper than collision coverage as the risks associated with this coverage are lower.

What is collision insurance?

Collision insurance pays for your vehicle’s repairs after an accident that you cause. It also covers single-vehicle crashes and rollovers.

What does collision insurance cover?

Here are some situations where collision insurance would come into play:

• Hitting a tree or telephone pole
• Crashing into a building
• Rolling or flipping your car
• Hitting a pothole or curb
• Backing into another car

Like comprehensive insurance, collision coverage also has a deductible.

If another vehicle is responsible for your car's damage, but you use your collision coverage to expedite repairs, you’ll still have to pay the deductible. However, your auto insurance company should subrogate (try to recover your repair costs from the at-fault party). If it collects from the other party, your deductible may be refunded.

How much is collision insurance?

The average collision insurance cost is $743 a year, significantly more than the cost of comprehensive coverage. Collisions are a greater risk for insurance companies than the non-collision damage comprehensive covers. As a result, collision costs more than comprehensive insurance and has more impact on your overall car insurance cost.

Do I need comprehensive and collision insurance?

You aren’t legally required to carry comprehensive or collision insurance, but that doesn't mean you don't need full coverage. If you have a loan or lease on your vehicle, you must carry comprehensive and collision. Aside from that, it's still a good idea for many drivers, especially those without the ability to pay for repairs out-of-pocket.

"One of the biggest mistakes people make is not having the coverage," Peyton says. "Because it's almost always the person who can't afford an unexpected expense who decides to try and save a little money by dropping coverage."

Without comprehensive and collision insurance, you must cover all repairs or the total replacement of your car. 

How to get cheap comprehensive and collision insurance

Adding comprehensive and collision insurance to your auto insurance will cause your premium to increase. However, there are a few things you can do to reduce the cost of full coverage insurance:

• Bundle auto insurance with home insurance
• Choose a car that's less expensive to insure
• Improve your credit score
• Drive less
• Improve your driving record
• Increase your deductible
• Look for car insurance discounts
• Pay your annual premiums in full
• Sign up for a usage-based discount program

Peyton says that, by far, the best way to save on optional coverage for your car is to combine your auto and homeowners insurance. Other top discounts include savings for safe drivers and good students.

Comprehensive vs. collision insurance claims

When it comes to collision and comprehensive insurance, the claim process works similarly. After the loss, you’ll need to document the damage and notify your insurance company of the incident.

Once the claim has been filed and a claim adjuster has been assigned to your claim, they will investigate the loss, verify your coverage and determine how much money you are owed. You’ll then be offered a settlement to cover the cost of your vehicle’s repairs (or purchase a new vehicle if your car was totaled).

In a total loss, your settlement will be based on the actual cash value (ACV) of your vehicle minus a deductible. This means that depreciation is factored into the value of your car.

When to drop comprehensive and collision insurance

As a general rule, if your premiums and deductibles for comprehensive and collision insurance are equal to or greater than the fair market value of your vehicle, it's likely time to drop the coverage.

For example, if your car is worth $1,000 and your coverage costs $500 a year plus a $500 deductible, you're not getting anything for your money.

If your premiums exceed 10% of your potential payout, carrying full coverage might not be worthwhile.

For example, if your car is worth $3,000 and you have a $500 deductible, your potential payout would only be $2,500. Using the 10% rule, if your collision and comprehensive coverage cost $250 or more a year, consider canceling the coverage.

Of course, if you still have a loan on your car, you will have to keep the coverage until it’s paid off.

Methodology

Insurance.com commissioned Quadrant Data Services to field car insurance rates from all states for a 40-year-old driver with a 2023 Honda Accord LX, a clean record and good credit. Comprehensive and collision rates use a $500 deductible.

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