Collision and Comprehensive Insurance Coverage

If you read and understand your car insurance policy and coverage limits, you’ll be less worried and more relaxed should something happen, because you’ll know what to expect.

Comprehensive auto insurance coverage

Comprehensive insurance coverage includes all direct and accidental loss not caused by collision or upset to your insured vehicle or to a vehicle damaged by you, including its equipment. Generally, comprehensive auto coverage includes:

•     Contact with a bird or animal
•     Falling or flying objects
•     Theft or larceny
•     Fire
•     Windstorm
•     Hail, water or flood
•     Malicious mischief or vandalism
•     Riot or civil commotion
•     Breakage of glass
•     Explosion or earthquake

Other typical auto insurance coverage

Personal belongings
Personal belongings auto insurance coverage for your clothing or luggage (or a relative's) that is damaged in your car when a comprehensive or collision loss occurs.

Theft
If your car is stolen, the following items may be covered:

•     Stolen clothing or luggage left in the auto
•     Repayment of travel costs beginning 48 hours after the
      stolen auto is reported to the police and to the insurer

Disablement
If your car is disabled due to a covered loss, your insurer may repay the insured for travel costs from the point of where the accident occurred to you destination. This could include bus fare, taxi fare, etc., and is up to a specified limit.

Collision coverage
This is an optional coverage available for an additional premium. Collision coverage protects you against damage caused by collision or upset. Collisions include an auto hitting things like:

•     Another vehicle
•     An object (such as a telephone pole, fence or building)
•     A parked car

Broken glass is usually covered under this section of the policy if there is no comprehensive coverage in force.

Towing and labor
You may get money to cover towing and labor charges if your vehicle becomes disabled. Labor costs are covered only at the site where your car is disabled.

This may occur if you:

•     Get a flat tire
•     Have a frozen fuel line
•     Have an accident
•     Have a fire, flood, faulty electrical system, transmission
      problem, or any other mechanical problem

Related Terms
Accident
Claim
Policy

Internal Links
Reporting Your Claim

External Links
Information on highway safety