Collison and comprehensive insurance are two main types of auto insurance coverage. These insurances are optional by law and help pay for the cost of damage and repair for your car. However, both these collisions have different purposes. Read here to find out the difference between collision vs. comprehensive insurance and which is better for you.
Collision vs. Comprehensive: What Do They Cover?
Both auto insurances are considered a must-have for car owners. Almost 87% of US drivers have auto insurance, either collision, comprehensive, or both. However, both insurances are not required by law and are entirely optional. Therefore, vehicle owners must decide between Collision vs. Comprehensive insurance. To do so, you must first understand what each does.
What is Comprehensive Insurance?
Comprehensive car insurance helps pay for damages caused to your car by something other than driving into something. For example, comprehensive insurance would not cover you if you hit another vehicle while driving or hit a tree.
On the other hand, if someone hits your parked car, a tree branch falls onto it, or similar damages, you are covered. Comprehensive car insurance covers damages caused by:
- Natural disasters
- Explosions
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Falling objects
- Animals hitting the car
What is Collision Insurance?
To choose between collision vs. comprehensive insurance, you must know what damage is covered by both. Now that you know what comprehensive insurance covers, let's find out what collision insurance covers.
Collision car insurance pays for damage that occurs due to a crash while driving. This means that any damage that occurred by hitting your car into something else is covered by collision insurance. Collision car insurance covers:
- You crash into another car or vice versa
- You drive into an object such as a tree or a pole
- You hit a pothole
- The car flips over
Collision vs. Comprehensive: Which is Better?
Accidents happen. Even if you are cautious, some things are beyond your control. When you park outside, someone might damage your car, either accidentally or on purpose. Your vehicle might also get damaged due to a strong storm or a falling tree branch. Similarly, even if you ensure safety and cautiousness when driving, you can not control the vehicles around you.
Therefore, you must be prepared for any unpredictable outcomes. Collision and comprehensive insurance can help you mitigate some of the damages. However, considering that there is a deductible for both insurances, and you might not want to pay for both, you can choose between collision vs. comprehensive. Consider the factors below to decide which insurance to get:
Car Value: It wouldn’t make sense to pay for insurance over an old car. The higher the value of your vehicle, the more expensive it is to repair and find parts. However, the same is true the other way around. Do you have sufficient funds to pay for repairs out of pocket?
Risk: You know best how well you drive. However, you must still factor in the risk of other drivers. If you drive in areas with higher traffic or think you are likelier to get into accidents, it's better to be safe than sorry. Similarly, if you park your car on the street or the driveway, your car might get damaged.
Area: Depending on your neighborhood, your car may be likelier to be at risk of theft, vandalism, fallen branches, or animal hits.
Summary
Choosing between collision vs. comprehensive car insurance can be complicated. However, once you understand what they cover and why you would need them, the choice is an easy one to make. Choose the insurance that works best for you.
Updated February 14, 2023