What is comprehensive coverage?
When we think of car accidents, we usually think of collisions with another car. In reality, there are several random, yet just as severe, ways in which your car can sustain damage. Comprehensive auto insurance coverage is your way of making sure you’re covered should your car be attacked by a vengeful rock, or an angry tornado. In your auto insurance policy, comprehensive coverage helps pay for damage resulting from falling objects, fire, certain natural disasters (check your individual state’s policies for details), and vandalism. Comprehensive coverage also generally covers theft. Unfortunately, in many places theft isn’t such a random occurrence. If you live in a metropolitan area, or an area that is prone to crime, you may want to consider this when you are purchasing your comprehensive coverage. When you buy comprehensive coverage, you’ll be asked to choose a deductible. If you choose a deductible of $1000, you’ll be required to pay up to $1000 out of your own pocket if your car
Comprehensive coverage covers the cost of repairs to or replacement of your vehicle should it be stolen, vandalized, struck in a verifiable hit-and-run, or damaged by an “act of God.” Covered events vary from policy to policy but usually include fire, flood, and falling objects. This policy is typically required if your vehicle is either leased or financed.
Comprehensive coverage is a type of insurance that most often applies to insuring cars. It can apply to other things, too, and you’ll sometimes see insurance plans offering comprehensive coverage on the purchase of new electronic items like cellphones. If you’ve purchased comprehensive coverage on a cellphone or another electronic item and that item gets damaged, especially through accident such as dropping a phone or getting scratches on it, you may be able to have your phone replaced at little additional cost. As mentioned, generally people purchase comprehensive coverage as part of their car insurance. Instead of covering just simple car accidents, this type of insurance may compensate you for damage or even offer dollar replacement of a totaled vehicle in the event that it is damaged by things besides car accidents. Potential damage that might be covered by this insurance could include wind, flood, earthquake or weather damage of other types, or generally other unpredictable events
