Comprehensive Auto Insurance Claim in 2024 (Detailed Overview)

Comprehensive auto insurance claims can be something any driver has to deal with.  This claim protects drivers against various non-collision damages and ensures financial security in unexpected situations.

Choosing the right type of auto insurance coverage for your vehicle can get confusing. Many drivers wonder — what is the difference between collision insurance and comprehensive coverage, and what is an extensive loss?

The information in this article is intended to help answer important questions about your auto insurance coverage. You will better understand the differences between collision and comprehensive coverage and discover what counts as a comprehensive claim.

Additionally, we’ll help you find the right kind of coverage you need in your auto insurance policy. Affordable, cheap, full-coverage auto insurance rates are just a click away. Enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool above for the best policy for you.

Comprehensive Car Insurance Explained

The definition of auto insurance comprehensive coverage is a type of protection that covers damage to your vehicle from non-collision-related incidents. This includes losses due to theft, vandalism, natural disasters (such as floods and hurricanes), fire, falling objects, and hitting an animal. Comprehensive coverage helps pay for repairs or replacement of your vehicle, minus the deductible and is typically an optional addition to standard auto insurance coverage. Research and find out the best auto insurance for good drivers.

Comprehensive car insurance is an optional coverage you can add to your existing policy. Comprehensive insurance helps you cover vehicle damages that are not crash-related, including:

• Theft
• Vandalism
• Weather event or act of nature
• Fire
• Striking an animal with your vehicle

If your vehicle is stolen, you should take the following steps: contact the police immediately to report the theft, gather any information about your car, such as the make, model, color, license plate number, and distinguishing features, notify your insurance company immediately and provide them with the police report number and incident details, and follow the instructions provided by your insurance company regarding any additional documentation or steps required for filing a comprehensive claim for the stolen vehicle.

A comprehensive claim for auto insurance will cover any loss or damage to your vehicle not resulting from a collision, occurring when you are not behind the wheel, or involving events beyond your ability to control as a driver. 

The Requirements of Comprehensive Coverage

State law does not require drivers to have comprehensive coverage. However, if you are leasing a vehicle, it’s common for the leaseholder to need comprehensive coverage as part of your lease agreement. 

Additionally, if you have financed your car, your lender may require that you include comprehensive coverage in your insurance policy until your debt is paid. Once you own your vehicle outright, it will be up to you to maintain any optional coverage in your policy.

If you are not required to have comprehensive coverage by a lender or lessor, it is your choice whether or not to add it to your policy.

However, if you’re ready to buy comprehensive auto insurance, there are some things to consider. Generally related to your car’s value, it may not be a good investment if comprehensive coverage costs you more than 10% of your car’s value. You can calculate your car’s value with Consumer Reports. A comprehensive policy will better protect your vehicle if you live in an area prone to intense weather. If you live in an area with a high incidence of property crime, vandalism, and theft, the extra protection of comprehensive coverage could be worth the price.

You should also consider whether you could afford to replace your car if it was a total loss due to a comprehensive claim like theft.

The Difference Between Collision vs. Comprehensive Claims

There are many types of auto insurance, but most states only require drivers to hold liability insurance on their vehicles. Liability insurance will pay for property damage and injuries in an auto accident for which you are at fault but only covers losses that the other driver incurs. It does not cover your vehicle or treatment for any injuries you may sustain.

The most common additional coverage types are collision and comprehensive; many drivers carry both.

Collision coverage will pay the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle when you are in a car accident. Collision insurance applies to multi-vehicle crashes and collisions with objects or property. It also covers single-vehicle collisions that might occur if you swerve to avoid an animal and run into a tree or if a pothole causes your car to flip. 

Like comprehensive coverage, collision is optional coverage by state law, but lenders and lessors will require that you have it.

Comprehensive coverage covers vehicle damage not caused by a collision or circumstances beyond your control. For example, if you collide with a deer, the resulting damage is a comprehensive loss.

Some examples of comprehensive claims are:

• Stolen vehicle
• Damage caused by floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, or hailstorms
• Damage caused by a fire
• Damage from tree branches, hail, or debris falling on your car
• Damage caused by hitting a deer or another animal
• Damage to your window or windshield due to rocks or other debris
• Damage resulting from riots or civil unrest, such as looting or vandalism

Is comprehensive collision worth it? Some benefits include protections against various risks, peace of mind having both types of coverage, and the coverage to help mitigate potential financial loss if you have a new car. Some considerations are the cost versus the value if you have an older car, evaluating your budget, and the risk factors in the area you live. 

Since you cannot reasonably anticipate a wild animal’s movements or behaviors, these collisions are deemed beyond your control. For this reason, comprehensive claims on auto insurance will not raise your rates.

The Cost of Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage rates vary based on several factors. The make and model of your vehicle will be a determining factor. High-end cars will cost more to cover than others as the insurance company takes a greater financial risk when considering the potential cost of a comprehensive loss on such a vehicle. Some key points to remember when considering the price of comprehensive coverage are premium factors, deductibles, coverage limits, discounts, and average costs. 

Comprehensive Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by State

Your rates will also be determined based on how you store your vehicle. Considering what a comprehensive loss is, it is logical that areas with a higher likelihood of theft and vandalism will have higher rates if you don’t have a garage.

What level of deductible you choose will also affect your comprehensive rates. As with any insurance, a higher deductible will result in lower rates, and the lowest deductible will cause rates to rise.

If you’re wondering, “Will filing a comprehensive claim affect rates?” it depends. While comprehensive claims generally have less impact on rates than collision claims, your rates could increase if you file multiple claims within a short period, live in a high-risk area, or the claim amount is significant. 

The best auto insurance companies will take all of these factors into consideration.

Protect Yourself With Your Auto Coverage

Comprehensive auto insurance claims cover various non-collision incidents that may damage your vehicle. When assessing how comprehensive claims affect insurance rates, it’s important to note that filing such claims can lead to increased premiums, depending on your insurer and claim history.

Your insurance company provides comprehensive claims services to assist policyholders throughout the claims process.

Comprehensive claims on auto insurance will help defray the cost of vehicle repairs or replacement for any damages not caused by a collision. Although this coverage is optional, you may be required by a lender or leaseholder to include it in your policy. Collision auto insurance is still an excellent coverage to have. 

As a closing reminder, comprehensive coverage pays for loss or damage to your car caused by theft, vandalism, fire, natural disasters, falling objects, hitting an animal, glass breakage, riots, and other civil disturbances.

You may also want to consider maintaining comprehensive coverage if you own an expensive vehicle or live in a high-crime area where you are more likely to experience a comprehensive loss.

Protecting yourself with the right auto coverage is essential for ensuring peace of mind on the road. Comprehensive auto insurance not only safeguards against the financial repercussions of accidents and damage but also provides liability protection in case of injury to others.

Shopping around for multiple quotes can help you save. Enter your ZIP code into our free comparison tool below to get started.