INSURANCE QUESTIONS 6 Minute Read
What's the Difference Between Comprehensive and Collision Coverage?
Last Updated August 2025
Quick take: What's the difference between comprehensive and collision?
- Comprehensive coverage helps with the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle if it’s damaged by something other than a collision, like hail, animals, vandalism or theft.
- Collision coverage covers damage to your car from accidents, including hitting another vehicle or a stationary object like a pole or guardrail, or even if your car flips over.
- If you lease your car or have a loan on it, your lender will likely require both comprehensive and collision coverage.
- Many drivers consider dropping collision when their car reaches a certain age, but there are other factors to consider.
Comprehensive and collision coverage are often referred to as "physical damage coverage," but they each cover damage from different causes. Both help cover the cost of repairing or replacing your car if it’s damaged or totaled in a covered event.
What is comprehensive coverage?
Comprehensive or "comp" coverage generally reimburses you when your car is damaged because of things like theft, vandalism, fire or hitting an animal. Comp also provides coverage if your vehicle is damaged by weather-related events like hail. If your car is stolen and found days later, totaled, comprehensive can help.
When you have comprehensive coverage, you may be able to add other optional coverages that aren’t available without comprehensive coverage, like low-deductible glass replacement.
What is collision coverage?
Collision coverage helps when your car is damaged:
- In a crash with other vehicles, whether your vehicle was moving or parked.
- In a collision with objects like fences, signs and buildings.
- In rollover crashes.
If your car is hit by a rogue shopping cart, collision coverage can help. If your vehicle rolls from a parked position and hits a parked car, collision coverage would help cover the damage to your car, and liability coverage (required in most states) would help pay for damage or injuries to others caused by the crash.
Are there benefits to having comprehensive and collision coverage on my car?
If you still owe money on your vehicle or are leasing it, your lender will require you to continue physical damage coverage — meaning comp and collision — until the loan is paid in full or until you complete your lease term.
For everyone else, the general rule of thumb is: if your car is older than 10 years, consider removing your collision coverage. But remember to decide for yourself by investigating the value of your car. Your car's current market value is close to the amount you might receive if your vehicle is totaled. If you can leave that amount of money on the table and walk away if someone steals your car or if it is a total loss, you can consider your options and decide if you want to have comprehensive and collision coverage or if you feel comfortable not having coverage. Many people continue to carry full coverage long after a car's 10th birthday.
And don’t forget, some optional coverages may be dependent on you continuing to have comprehensive or collision coverage. In addition to low-deductible glass replacement, these can include rental car and loss of use coverages. Check details with your agent as you weigh your options.
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.
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