Last Updated August 2025
Comprehensive car insurance coverage helps you repair or replace your car if it’s stolen or if it’s damaged by weather, fire, falling rocks and trees, vandalism, a run-in with a deer — just about anything that’s not a collision with another vehicle or an inanimate object. Comprehensive coverage is often required by lenders if you finance or lease a vehicle — and may be worthwhile if you’re worried about things like theft, hail damage or hitting wildlife on the road.
What is covered by comprehensive car insurance?
Comprehensive auto coverage typically can cover losses caused by:
- Theft
- Hail, wind, lightning and other kinds of weather
- Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and other natural disasters
- Fire and explosions
- Vandalism and malicious acts
- Rodent damage
- Animal damage, such as running into a deer
- Rocks kicked up by other cars
Windshield and glass damage, not caused by a collision
- Falling objects, including trees, limbs and rocks
- Civil disturbances or riots
Comprehensive coverage isn’t just for cars. You can add this coverage to other policies, including:
- Boat
- Motorcycle
- Classic car
- RV
- ATV
- Snowmobile
- Golf cart
What is not covered by comprehensive car insurance?
Although comprehensive coverage doesn’t cover some types of vehicle damage, other coverages are available for these scenarios.
You hit another car in an intersection, and it’s your fault.
- To help pay for repairs to your car, you would need collision coverage.
- To cover repairs to the other car, you would need liability coverage.
- If people in the other car are hurt, their medical care could be covered by your liability coverage.
- If you or other people in your car are hurt, your medical care could be covered by medical payments or personal injury protection coverage.
You run into a guardrail on a dark mountain road.
- Collision coverage can help with damage caused when you hit something other than an animal.
Your laptop and golf clubs are stolen out of your SUV.
- This loss isn’t covered by car insurance, but personal property coverage in a home, renters or condo policy could help you replace them.
Your car is hit by an uninsured driver.
- Damage to your car could be covered by uninsured motorist coverage
How does comprehensive coverage differ from other types of insurance?
The main difference between comprehensive auto insurance and other types of car insurance is that comprehensive doesn’t cover costs if you’ve been in a crash (except involving an animal), but other coverages can.
|
Type of insurance coverage |
What it covers |
|
Comprehensive |
Damage to your car caused by things that are not a crash (other than with animals): weather, disasters, theft, falling objects |
|
Collision |
Damage to your car because you hit another car or something other than an animal — a guardrail or fence, for example |
|
Bodily injury liability |
Medical costs from injuries you’re responsible for, such as a driver who is hurt when you hit their car |
|
Personal property liability |
Damage you caused to another car or to property, like a fence or light post |
|
Medical payments coverage |
Medical costs if you or someone in your car is hurt when you cause a crash |
|
Personal property coverage |
Theft of property from inside your car |
Is it better to have collision or comprehensive coverage?
Neither is better, because both comprehensive and collision cover different causes of damage to motor vehicles. Broadly speaking, collision insurance covers damage from crashes, and comprehensive covers damage from natural disasters, weather, animals and theft. Many lenders require both.
The value of your car, how big a deductible you can afford and common risks particular to your situation are all factors you may want to consider when choosing coverage. For example, if you live in an area prone to natural disasters, or where car theft rates are high or where abundant wildlife roams, comprehensive coverage could be beneficial. If you commute long hours in high-traffic areas, collision coverage might make sense.
What’s the difference between comprehensive and full coverage?
Comprehensive is one of the four main coverages in a full coverage car insurance policy. Full coverage generally includes collision, liability and uninsured/underinsured (UM/UIM) coverage.
When can I add comprehensive coverage to my insurance policy?
Generally, you can add comprehensive coverage at any time. But whether it makes sense for you depends on many factors, including the value of your car and how much you can afford to pay if you have to repair or replace your car. Comprehensive is typically thought to be most worthwhile for newer, higher-value cars.
Factors to consider when thinking about comprehensive auto insurance coverage
- Lease or finance? Your lender or leasing agent may require comprehensive (and collision) coverage.
- The value of your car. A high-value car will cost more to replace if it’s stolen or totaled in something like a fire or flood, a cost you would have to pay without comprehensive coverage. As cars depreciate and lose value, the cost of insuring them usually declines some but so does the payout for repairs or replacement.
- Your car’s age. Older cars decline in value, and so do payouts on claims, which take age and depreciation into account. Other things to think about: Older cars often lack the safety features found on newer cars, which can influence insurance costs. On the other hand, newer and higher-value cars may be at higher risk for theft and their high-tech features can be expensive to repair.
- Risks you face. Do you live and drive in places that are prone to natural disasters or car theft? Or where wildlife is abundant? Do you have a young driver on your policy?
- Your deductible. A higher deductible can help make coverage more affordable, but raises your costs if, for example, hail leaves hundreds of dents in your car or a fire destroys it.
Is it better to have a $500 deductible, or $1,000?
That depends on your needs and what makes financial sense for you. Raising your deductible on comprehensive and collision combined from $200 to $1,000 can save you 40% or more on your premium, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). But you would have to be able to pay $1,000 toward any claim. As your car ages and its value declines, having a high deductible may not make financial sense.
How to add comprehensive coverage to your car insurance policy
 |
Contact your insurer. Comprehensive coverage can be added to an existing insurance policy. |
  |
Discuss your needs. Make sure to mention specific concerns. |
 |
Choose a deductible. This is the amount you’ll pay out of pocket toward a damage claim. Think about what you can afford to pay, and the value of your car. |
 |
Get a quote. |
 |
Review what’s covered. |
The information contained in this page is provided for general informational purposes only. The information is provided by Farmers® and while we endeavor to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to this article or the information, products, services or related graphics, if any, contained in this article for any purpose. The information is not meant as professional or expert advice, and any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
Advertisement produced for these specific insurers and to obtain business for insurance underwritten by Farmers Ins. Exchange, Fire Ins. Exchange, Truck Ins. Exchange, Mid-Century Ins. Co., Civic Property & Casualty Co., Exact Property & Casualty Co., Neighborhood Spirit Property & Casualty Co., & affiliates. TX: insurance is underwritten by Farmers Ins. Exchange, Fire Ins. Exchange, Truck Ins. Exchange, Mid-Century Ins. Co., Texas County Mutual Ins. Co., Mid-Century Ins. Co. of Texas, & Texas Farmers Ins. Co. NY: insurance is underwritten by Farmers Ins. Exchange, Truck Ins. Exchange, Mid-Century Ins. Co., & Farmers New Century Ins. Co., home office LA, CA. Each insurer has sole financial responsibility for its own insurance. List of all insurers at farmers.com. Not all insurers are authorized in all states. Not all products, coverages, & discounts are available in every state. Discounts may vary by state. Restrictions, exclusions, limits, and conditions apply. See agent for details.
Related articles
Gap insurance is an optional coverage that helps pay off your car loan or lease if your car is totaled in an accident or stolen and you owe more than its current value
Generally, uninsured motorist insurance — also called UM — provides bodily injury coverage, which pays for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages and funeral expenses if you’re in a crash with a driver who doesn’t have insurance. (Underinsured motorist coverage — often called UIM — does the same when the other driver doesn’t have adequate insurance.)
Nearly every state requires auto liability insurance, which covers the cost of damage to others when you’re at fault. This includes bodily injury and damage to physical property, like the bank’s air conditioner. If you had hit another car, that could be covered under an auto liability policy, too.
Comprehensive insurance covers animal-related damage to your car, like chewed wires or wildlife collisions. It's designed for unexpected non-collision events most drivers don't anticipate. Curious what falls under this coverage? Let's explore it together.
