by prashantjain » Mon Nov 17, 2008 08:37 pm
Comprehensive insurance provides coverage for damages caused by something other than a collision. This coverage protects your vehicles in a wider range of situation like fire, explosion, storm, earthquake and the like. Your collision coverage does not cover a lot of perils. Comprehensive coverage will come in to play when you need coverage for your car in case the damage is not from a collision.
You may find comprehensive auto insurance coverage combined with collision coverage. However, you can purchase comprehensive separately too.
You may find comprehensive auto insurance coverage combined with collision coverage. However, you can purchase comprehensive separately too.
Why do you need comprehensive coverage?
Auto repairing can be expensive if you haven't saved enough already. The out-of-pocket charges can be really high. Even small or minor damages can be taxing on the pocket. Having comprehensive coverage helps in times like this. E.g. your car's air bag or the music system could be stolen after an accident. This means an additional charge to purchase those. If you did not have comprehensive coverage, you would have to pay not just for the stolen materials but also the repairing cost of your car. However, with comprehensive coverage you can fill in the gap and just pay to purchase the stolen material and your insurance can pay that cost for repairing your car.
Who needs comprehensive coverage?
If you live in an area that experiences frequent weather events or crime, you will need comprehensive insurance coverage. If you live in an area where hail storm is a problem, you must have comprehensive insurance protection. This coverage is also important for those of you who drive long ways on major highways where there is the hazard of your windshield being chipped or cracked by the rocks.
However, if your car is over 10 years, you could drop comprehensive coverage. The cost to repair a car that is 10 years or more than 10 years old may surpass the ACV; hence, it is a good idea not to purchase comprehensive coverage for it.
However, if your car is over 10 years, you could drop comprehensive coverage. The cost to repair a car that is 10 years or more than 10 years old may surpass the ACV; hence, it is a good idea not to purchase comprehensive coverage for it.
Is there a deductible?
Yes there is. You may choose the deductible that you will be comfortable paying. The more deductibles you choose the lesser will be your premiums. However, remember that a deductible is the amount that you will have to pay out-of-pocket when your car needs repairing from damage. So choose a comfortable deductible. Again there may be limits to a comprehensive coverage. Check them out before buying a policy.
What does comprehensive insurance not cover?
Comprehensive insurance does not cover gadgets or electronic equipments like stereo, subwoofer systems, CDs, tape decks, radios, television monitors, video cassette recorders, audio cassettes and the like. Among non-electronic equipments there are luxury items like trailers, awnings, cabanas, radar detectors and other facilities installed are also not covered. There are few other instances under which comprehensive coverage is not provided:
- Your car/vehicle is seized by the government or civil authorities due to any involvement in criminal/illegal activities.
- Radar detectors are not covered.
- Custom furnishings like special carpets, furniture, sleeping facilities, cooking facilities, height extending roofs and other things like murals, graphics or paintings re not covered.
How to find comprehensive auto insurance quotes?
You may shop around for quotes these are also available online. Hence, you can look for a deal that would suit your need and while shopping for quotes you can also make a comparative study and find out what is covered and what is not. You may even do a complete pricing after adding liability coverage, collision insurance, underinsured/uninsured coverage and the like and then see which deal would be the best for you.
Related Readings:
Does Collision/Comprehensive coverage have any defined limit? I have insurance (COMP/COL) on my 10 year old car worth $3000 and want to rent a new car worth $20000, how much claim will be paid in case of damage to rental car? I talked to my insurance company they said COMP/COL do not have limit and it will be covered. But I am still not sure how damages of up to $20000 will be covered when my policy premium was calculated based on my old car?
Posted: Fri Nov 21, 2008 12:50 pm Post Subject:
The actual cash value will be stated in any policy.
Not in a dollar amount Justong, if that is what you meant...the only time an actual dollar amount will be listed is on a 'stated amount policy' which this one is not..it will say the words, 'up to the actual cash value' or some such wording.Oh! Lori thanks for clarifying my misconception. However, just need your advice…supposedly, I've purchased a brand new vehicle worth of 20k with a lien on it, what would be the amount of collision coverage that I need to carry on it & also the amount of Gap insurance that I may require to avoid being in an upside down condition.
Simon all you CAN carrier is the ACV, which of course is less than you paid (more than likely) for a brand new vehicle...if you carry GAP ins. which you should...that will pick up the GAP (if there is one) between the ACV and the loan pay off...I don't think that GAP comes with an amount either, it just pays that balance, there could be some exclusions, like the warranty or if you financed sales tax etc...But all in all most of the time, if you have coll/comp AND gap you should be ok to get the loan paid for...another thing though...it's important to make sure that you aren't paying for GAP if you don't need it...ie, on your 20k vehicle if you only financed 10k, then it's a waste of money to buy GAP because it will never ever pay off...GAP if for people that are upside down...if you owe less than the ACV then GAP would be a waste of your hard earned moneyPosted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 10:21 pm Post Subject: Help
I gave my car to a machanic to fix and he stole it. Will my insuranc company pay for the lost?
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 11:01 pm Post Subject:
Only if you have comprehensive coverage.
...and see my sig.
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 05:48 am Post Subject: Act of nature
Would a garbage dumpster that gets blown off a ramp into your car be covered by the business owners policy the same way a shopping cart that gets blown into your car is covered? Insurance company is claiming act of god but the business forgot to lock the tires on the dumpster.
Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 08:39 am Post Subject:
Insurance company is claiming act of god but the business forgot to lock the tires on the dumpster.
I guess no one can read my sig... :roll:
if they forgot to lock the tires then I'd see that they would probably have negligence. If they are claiming this was an "act of god" ask them if they know why god forgot to lock the tires.
Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 01:23 pm Post Subject:
if I have comp/coll on my auto....will it transfer to a rental car
Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2012 02:18 pm Post Subject:
if I have comp/coll on my auto....will it transfer to a rental car
AGAIN... see my sig.
You need to review your policy or call your agent and ask. In most cases, yes. In some cases, no.
Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 01:21 pm Post Subject: Electric damage to car
Will alstate cover if I dud electric damage to my own car by mistake
Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 03:52 pm Post Subject:
What?
Posted: Tue Nov 12, 2019 05:57 pm Post Subject: Comprehensive & Collision Tips and Tricks
Here is a good video for more information on Comprehensive and Collision Coverage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHw8-YNTbeY
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