Surprise: The Unexpected Benefits of Comprehensive Car Insurance

When you hear the words "collision policy," it's easy to understand what it covers. After all, the word "collision" is right there in the name. As the name implies, a collision policy protects you from damage to your vehicle caused by an accident with another vehicle, no matter who's at fault. It also protects you from single-car rollovers and accidents with stationary objects, like mailboxes and road signs. It does not protect you from other potentially-expensive incidents. That's where a good comprehensive policy comes in.

The number of benefits associated with comprehensive auto insurance coverage may come as a surprise. They include the following.

Natural disasters

Imagine you live in a coastal area and hear a hurricane is headed your way. When the storm suddenly shifts to the north, you're relieved. However, there are still strong storms in your area. In the middle of one of these storms, a huge branch breaks off a tree and crashes down on your vehicle, doing thousands of dollars in damage. If you only carry collision coverage, you'll either need enough in your savings account to cover the cost of the repair or hope you can drive around in a car that now looks a lot like a deflated jump house.

Whether a car is blown away in a tornado, crushed by a rock slide, hit by lightning, or swallowed up in an earthquake, comprehensive coverage will pay to repair or replace your ride. After all, that's what we all hope a great auto insurance policy will do.

Collision with animals

If you've never hit a deer while driving down a Michigan road, you are indeed fortunate. It is a scary event. However, it's not something covered by collision or minimum coverage. Let's say you're out West, and a frightened buffalo rushes in front of your car, taking the front bumper with it. It's comprehensive coverage that will pay to repair such an incident.

Thieves and vandals

No one is immune from loss due to car thieves or vandals. Whether you have an old hoopty that someone strips for parts or a brand-new car desired by thieves, the outcome is the same: You have to find a way to either pay for repairs or purchase a replacement.

It's only comprehensive coverage that kicks in when either crime occurs. Without it, the expense is on you.

That truck ahead of you

It would be easy to believe that collision insurance would cover the expense of auto repairs after your car is hit by rocks flying off a semi's wheels or out of the back of a truck. After all, you're "colliding" with the rocks. That's simply not the case, though. It's only comprehensive coverage that pays to make repairs to your windshield. In fact, only comprehensive insurance covers both windshield and glass damage.

Peace of mind

As corny as it may sound, adding comprehensive coverage to a collision policy may provide you with peace of mind. That's because you don't have to cross your fingers and hope that any losses you suffer are covered by a less robust policy.

When it comes to coverage that protects your vehicle against non-collision events outside of your control, there's nothing that compares to a comprehensive policy. And if you have an auto loan on your vehicle, there's a very good chance your insurance company requires you to carry both a collision and a comprehensive policy. Yes, comprehensive coverage will cost a bit more to add on (the precise price varies by insurer), but the amount of money it can save you over the years more than makes up for it.