Comprehensive Car Insurance

Comprehensive coverage protects you against damages to your car that are the result of covered perils not related to a collision. Think of a scenario that could cause damage to your car that has nothing to do with striking another vehicle. In many cases this can include:
• Theft
• Vandalism
• Fire
• Natural disasters like a hurricane or tornado
• Falling objects like a tree branch
• Damage done to your car by animals
• A civil disturbance, like a riot that results in damage or destruction of your car

Does Comprehensive Coverage suit your needs?

You are looking for an insurance policy, you should determine whether comprehensive coverage suits your needs. Here a few questions you may want to ask yourself to determine if you want comprehensive coverage.

Does your lender or lease holder require comprehensive coverage?

Many auto lenders and lease holders make it mandatory for your car to have comprehensive coverage. It you still owe money on your vehicle, or you lease your vehicle, you should check with the company that holds your auto loan or lease to make sure comprehensive coverage is a requirement.

Hold old is your car and what’s it worth?

If your car is paid off then comprehensive is optional. When you are deciding on comprehensive coverage in this case, it is smart to check your car’s value with Kelley Blue Book, so you if know if you will be able to afford to repair or replace your vehicle if something happens to it. With an older car that’s not worth as much money, you may be confident that you could afford to pay to repair or replace it. However, if your car is worth more or if you would not have the money at hand for repairs or replacement after an accident, buying optional coverages, like comprehensive and collision coverage. This could be a smart investment for you.

What should your comprehensive deductible be?

Again you will want to take in to account the age of your car and how much you think repairs might cost you.
A comprehensive deductible is the amount of money you are comfortable with paying out of pocket for, if you ever suffered this kind of loss. So if your car was stolen and you had a deductible of $500, you would pay that $500 out of pocket and your insurance company will handle the rest of the expenses.

Adjust your comprehensive car insurance to fit your needs

Some policies will insure your vehicle for its actual cash value rather than for the replacement cost. That reflects the current value of the vehicle, not what you paid for it. In some states, you can purchase extra coverage, such as gap coverage, new car replacement coverage or vehicle value upgrade. These coverages offer extra protection for newer cars.

You have more options when selecting your deductible amount, which is the amount of money you pay before your insurance kicks in. To lower your comprehensive car insurance rate, you can choose to have a higher deductible, such as $1,000 instead of $500. However you need to make sure you can pay that amount out of pocket if you do end up having to file a claim. A lower deductible might increase your rate, but it will cover more of your costs in the event of a covered accident.

Would you like more protection?

It’s easy to customize your auto insurance policy with a variety of endorsements, all designed to make your life easier, such as:
• Collision Coverage
• Towing and Labor
• Rental reimbursement

As always talk to an insurance agent to discuss all your options that are open to you, and find the insurance policy that is right for you.