Comprehensive car insurance is an auto insurance coverage that pays for vehicle damage from theft, fire, and falling objects. This coverage also pays for vandalism, natural disasters, animal collisions, and broken glass. A driver without the policy pays the full repair or replacement cost after a theft. Thieves stole 659,880 vehicles across the United States in 2025, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Drivers weigh deductibles, coverage limits, and state rates to choose an affordable policy. Insurance Navy helps drivers find the right insurance at the right price. This guide explains comprehensive car insurance costs, deductibles, coverage limits, and collision differences.
Table of contents
- What does Comprehensive Insurance Cover?
- What Damage is Not Covered by Comprehensive Insurance?
- Comprehensive Coverage Deductibles and Limits
- What's the Difference Between Collision and Comprehensive Insurance?
- Is Comprehensive the Same as Full Coverage?
- How Much Does Comprehensive Coverage Cost?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Will comprehensive insurance cover a broken windshield?
- Does my car’s age affect comprehensive insurance costs?
- Do I have to pay a deductible if I file a comprehensive claim?
- Will comprehensive insurance pay for a rental car?
- Will a comprehensive claim affect my insurance rates?
- How do I choose the right deductible for comprehensive insurance?
Comprehensive car insurance provides financial protection if your car is stolen or damaged in an incident other than a collision.
Comprehensive insurance, often called "comp coverage," is auto insurance that typically covers theft, fire, or falling tree limbs that damage your vehicle.
Learn more about comprehensive insurance and how it's different from collision and liability insurance coverages, how it works, deductibles and limits, and more.
What does Comprehensive Insurance Cover?
Some of the comprehensive insurance coverage provided Includes:
Natural disasters (hurricanes, tornados, and floods)
Vandalism, fires, and explosions
Falling objects (hail or tree branches)
Accidents with animals
Civil disturbances
Windshield or glass damage
What Damage is Not Covered by Comprehensive Insurance?
Medical Costs: Injuries resulting from any scenario covered by comprehensive coverage. Instead, these costs are covered by another optional add-on to your policy: medical payments coverage or personal injury protection insurance coverage, which would cover medical expenses.
Legal expenses: any legal fees, such as court fees, will also not be covered by comprehensive coverage.
Towing fees: If your car breaks down and needs towing, comprehensive coverage will not cover these fees. Instead, policy add-ons such as roadside assistance would be beneficial in this situation.
Stolen Items: If items get stolen from your car, comprehensive coverage will cover the damage. However, the items stolen will not be covered. Similarly to medical expenses, other policy options are available to cover these losses.
Comprehensive Coverage Deductibles and Limits
When shopping around for comprehensive coverage for your vehicle, you should first consider what your deductible better suits your budget.
In vehicle insurance, a deductible is the amount you are responsible for paying out of pocket toward a covered claim.
For example, if you have a $500 deductible and $2,000 worth of damages to your vehicle, you would be responsible for paying the first $500 before your insurance company covers the rest up to your coverage limit.
Insurance premiums can also vary depending on your driving record and the car's model and year.
Like any other policy, comprehensive coverage has a limit or a maximum amount your auto insurance company will pay towards a covered claim. This limit is usually the total value of the vehicle.
If your car is stolen, the vehicle insurance will cover it, and the car insurance will reimburse you for your far-depreciated value minus your deductible.
Remember that a comprehensive deductible and coverage limit pay for comprehensive insurance claims and differ from your collision deductible and limit.
What's the Difference Between Collision and Comprehensive Insurance?
Comprehensive auto insurance will only cover vehicle damages caused by theft, vandalism, a natural event, or falling objects.
Collision insurance helps you cover the costs of parts, vehicle repair, or a replacement vehicle in case of damage caused by another car or object.
This type of insurance is typically an add-on to your insurance policy if you own your car without a loan. The lender might require comprehensive or collision coverages if your vehicle is leased or financed.
Collision insurance can also cover car damage if it flips over or hits a stationary object like a heavy telephone pole or guard rails.
Similarly, collision insurance has its deductible and limits for collision claims. The higher your deductible, the lower your monthly insurance premium, and vice versa.
Is Comprehensive the Same as Full Coverage?
Full-coverage car insurance is a term lenders use when describing the requirements for an auto insurance policy.
It refers to comprehensive and collision car insurance plus state-mandated policy requirements, such as liability insurance. Most insurance providers do not offer anything named "full coverage."
How Much Does Comprehensive Coverage Cost?
Comprehensive coverage can cost a whole lot more or less depending on who your insurance carrier is and which state you live in.
Comprehensive coverage costs vary by insurance carrier. The price also depends on your state, your vehicle, and your deductible. According to the NAIC, the average comprehensive premium rose 21.31% in 2023, so comprehensive costs are climbing across carriers. Request a quote from each carrier you are considering, because a published carrier average will not match your own rate.
Comprehensive rates change from state to state. State weather risk explains much of the difference. Coastal states with high hurricane and storm exposure tend to charge more for comprehensive coverage. According to the Insurance Information Institute, Florida recorded the highest average auto insurance expenditure in 2022, and Louisiana recorded the second highest.
Your deductible choice changes your premium. A lower deductible raises your premium. A higher deductible lowers it. According to Insurance Geek's 2026 analysis, raising your collision and comprehensive deductibles from $250 to $500 or $1,000 typically lowers those coverage costs by 10% to 20%.
A $1,000 deductible lowers your premium more than a $500 deductible. You pay more out of pocket at claim time in exchange for the lower premium. Your vehicle's age and declared value also affect your cost.
Your vehicle's age and declared value set the maximum your insurer will pay on a comprehensive claim. Newer vehicles cost more to insure because they carry higher replacement values. According to MoneyGeek's 2026 analysis, full coverage on a 2016 Honda Civic averaged about $170 per month for a driver aged 35 to 55, compared with about $273 per month for a 2025 model.
The smartest way to find the cheapest car insurance that fits you and your driving records is to get a free quote from Insurance Navy.
Insurance Navy will get you protected and back on the road. Call us at 888-949-6289 or request a quote online. You are also welcome to speak with an agent at our locations.
