It’s a question that Amistad Insurance Services gets all the time: What’s the difference between comprehensive coverage and collision coverage in regards to automotive insurance? Are they both about the same? After all, car insurance is car insurance, right?
Wrong! Although there are some similarities between comprehensive and collision coverage, they do ultimately cover different scenarios. Unlike liability insurance, which covers someone else’s car in the event of an accident, both comprehensive and collision coverage protect your own automobile. The situations where you will need one or the other vary, though.
Collision Coverage
Collision coverage covers exactly what it sounds like it would cover: collisions. If you hit another object or your car is hit, you will file a claim under your collision coverage. These types of situations include:
- If your car is hit broadside in an intersection.
- If your vehicle hits a tree.
- If your vehicle hits a pothole.
- If your car gets rear-ended in traffic.
- If your automobile is hit by a rolling object.
- If your vehicle is involved in a roll-over.
These are only a few examples, but they all are centered around your car coming into contact with another object. In these instances, collision coverage will protect you.
Comprehensive Coverage
Comprehensive coverage handles things that are slightly more out of control for a car owner. These are instances when you do not collide with another object, but there is still damage to your vehicle, such as a natural disaster or theft. Some of these types of situations include:
- If you get a cracked windshield.
- If your car is damaged by civil commotion.
- If the hood of your automobile flies up.
- If your car is damaged by fire, hail, floodwaters, or other natural disaster.
- If your car is hit or you hit an animal.
- If your vehicle is damaged by an explosion.
When shopping for auto insurance, you may find some agencies group comprehensive and collision coverage together, while you buy it separately from other agencies. Call Amistad Insurance Services today at (919) 926-7166 to learn more about your Raleigh auto insurance options and get your car insured today.
