Comprehensive vs Collision: Simple Guide with Examples
Comprehensive and Collision work together to protect your car. Comprehensive handles non-crash events like theft, vandalism, hail, flood, falling objects, and animal strikes. Collision helps when your car hits or is hit by another vehicle or object. This guide keeps the distinctions practical, shows real examples, and helps you choose smart deductibles that match your budget and risk.
Plain English test
If you did not collide with something, it is probably Comprehensive.
If you hit something or something hit you while driving, it is Collision.
What each one covers
Comprehensive
- Theft or attempted theft
- Vandalism or keying
- Hail and severe weather
- Falling objects like tree branches
- Fire and flood
- Animal strikes such as a deer
- Glass breakage or cracks (some policies have a special glass deductible)
Not covered: wear and tear, mechanical failure, injuries, another driver’s vehicle, or personal items stolen from the car. Personal items are usually under renters or homeowners insurance.
Collision
- You hit a pole, wall, guardrail, curb, or large pothole
- You rear end someone or are hit while moving
- Single vehicle rollover
- Low speed scrapes while maneuvering or parking
Not covered: injuries to people, damage you cause to others, or non-collision events like hail and theft.
Authoritative explainers consistently define Comprehensive as damage from events other than a collision, including theft, weather, animals, and falling objects, while Collision covers striking a vehicle or object or a rollover. For fundamentals, see the Insurance Information Institute and the NAIC consumer guide.
Insurance Information Institute overview • NAIC consumer shopping tool (PDF).
Example scenarios
| Scenario | Coverage | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hail dents your hood | Comprehensive | Weather event, not a crash |
| A deer runs into your bumper | Comprehensive | Animal strike is classified under Comprehensive in standard policies |
| Tree branch falls on the roof overnight | Comprehensive | Falling object |
| You clip a pole while turning | Collision | Impact with an object |
| You slide on ice into a parked car | Collision | Impact with another vehicle |
| Windshield cracked by a rock on the highway | Comprehensive | Glass is typically Comprehensive, sometimes subject to a special glass deductible |
Deductibles and how they work
You select two deductibles, one for each coverage. They can be different.
- Higher deductibles reduce premium, but you pay more out of pocket if you claim.
- Many policies allow a separate glass deductible or a zero glass option if you choose it.
- Common ranges are 250 to 1,000. Pick an amount you can pay quickly without borrowing.
Claim math example:
Body shop estimate is $3,800 and your Collision deductible is $500.
The insurer pays $3,300 and you pay $500.
Visual pause with a practical tip
Keep your garaging address and annual mileage accurate on your policy. Both influence price and may affect how your carrier evaluates risk for Comprehensive and Collision.
When each coverage makes sense
Newer or financed vehicles
Lenders typically require both Comprehensive and Collision until the loan is paid, since the car is collateral. If you lease, similar requirements apply.
Older cars in hail or theft zones
Many owners keep Comprehensive for weather, theft, or animal risk, then consider dropping Collision once value declines and repairs would exceed the car’s worth.
Budget sensitive drivers
If cash on hand is limited, keep both coverages but consider a balanced deductible choice like $500 Comprehensive and $1,000 Collision to control premiums while keeping smaller non-crash claims affordable.
Should you drop full coverage
You can shift to liability only when the math and your risk tolerance support it.
Quick rules of thumb
- If the annual cost of Comprehensive plus Collision approaches 10 percent or more of your car’s market value, evaluate dropping one or both.
- If you could replace or repair the car without financial stress, you can take more risk by raising deductibles or dropping Collision first.
- If theft, hail, or flood risk is high where you live, consider keeping Comprehensive even if you drop Collision.
Check your vehicle’s private party value and reevaluate every renewal as your car depreciates.
Three common setups
-
Newer or financed car
Keep both Comprehensive and Collision. Deductibles between 500 and 1,000 are common. Add rental and roadside if you need them. -
Older paid off car in a hail or theft area
Keep Comprehensive, consider dropping Collision. You can raise your Comp deductible to save more if you prefer. -
High mileage commuter on a strict budget
Compare liability only against full coverage. If dropping Collision saves very little, keep it until the value drops further.
FAQs
If another driver is at fault, do I still use my Collision
You can choose to, which may speed repairs. Your insurer can seek reimbursement from the other party. If they recover, your deductible can be reimbursed.
Is a hit and run Comprehensive or Collision
If your moving car is struck, it is usually Collision. If your parked car is damaged and the driver is unknown, classification can vary by policy and state. Ask your carrier how they handle parked hit and run.
Does Comprehensive cover items stolen from my car
Auto policies typically cover the car itself. Personal items are usually covered by renters or homeowners insurance, not by auto.
Does full coverage include everything
Full coverage is a common shorthand for Liability plus Comprehensive plus Collision and sometimes extras like rental and roadside. It does not mean every possible loss is covered.
One table to compare at a glance
| Feature | Comprehensive | Collision |
|---|---|---|
| Typical events | Theft, vandalism, hail, flood, fire, falling objects, animals, many glass claims | Crash with vehicle or object, rollover |
| Common deductible choices | $250 to $1,000, sometimes separate glass | $500 to $1,000+ |
| When to favor | High weather or theft exposure, frequent highway debris, street parking | Newer vehicles, daily driving in dense traffic, tight repair budgets |
| Required by lenders | Often yes | Often yes |
Quick next steps
- Check your current Comprehensive and Collision deductibles.
- Estimate your car’s market value and compare it with the annual cost of both coverages.
- Decide whether to keep both, raise deductibles, or drop Collision first.
- Re-shop at renewal or after changes like moving, mileage shifts, or paying off a loan.
Related reads on our site
- Compare deductibles directly in Auto Insurance Deductible 500 vs 1000.
- If you are deciding between basic liability and broader protection, see Liability vs Full Coverage Break Even.
- Need coverage and proof quickly while deciding your options, try Instant Auto Insurance and get cards fast in Instant Auto Insurance ID Cards.
Sources and helpful references
- Insurance Information Institute: clear breakdown of what Comprehensive and Collision cover, with examples like theft, weather, animals, and rollovers.
III overview of Comprehensive and Collision - National Association of Insurance Commissioners: consumer tool that explains coverages and deductibles in plain language.
NAIC Shopping Tool (PDF)