Should You Get Comprehensive Insurance Coverage? Know What It Covers

Are you in the process of getting auto insurance for one of your vehicles? If so, you may be wondering if you should get comprehensive insurance coverage. While it is not a requirement if your state mandates auto insurance, it can help you out in many situations. Here is what you need to know about comprehensive coverage.

What Comprehensive Insurance Covers

In states without no-fault insurance, basic auto insurance is designed to protect you in case you cause damage to another person's car. If someone causes damage to your own vehicle, the other driver is responsible for paying for the damage. Comprehensive insurance coverage helps cover damage to your car that you caused or you cannot pin responsibility on another person for causing. 

Two big categories that you'll have coverage for are theft and vandalism. If your car were to be stolen and is not completely gone, you will receive the replacement value of your vehicle to put towards another car. If someone breaks into your car to steal something, you can have that broken window repaired and replace whatever item was stolen from you. 

Comprehensive coverage is also great for protecting you from many disasters caused by nature. For example, your car may have a tree fall on it if it is parked in the street. There may be a strong storm that comes through and causes hail damage or flooding. You will even have protection if the car catches on fire while you are away from it, such as being parked in a garage that caught on fire. 

What Comprehensive Insurance Doesn't Cover

Be aware that your comprehensive insurance is not designed to cover damage to your vehicle or another driver's vehicle if you get into a collision. Those types of accidents are covered under your basic insurance policy and the personal property limits that apply based on your coverage. 

Comprehensive insurance will not cover any of the lost income or medical expenses related to your auto accident. These damages are covered by the responsible party's liability insurance and medical coverage. If there is not a responsible party, then it will be covered by your health insurance or additional coverage purchased for personal liability damage. In the same regard, you'll need liability insurance to cover other people's medical expenses and lost income if you are responsible for causing the accident. 

Reach out to a local auto insurance agent for more information about coverage limitations.