What Type of Auto Body Damage Is Usually Not Covered by Comprehensive Car Insurance?

If you’ve sustained damage to your vehicle through something other than a motor vehicle collision, you’re probably wondering what types of damage will be covered by your insurance policy.

Your comprehensive insurance is a specific type of coverage on your policy that will spring into action to help pay for vehicle repairs or replacement in certain circumstances, including if it’s been stolen or damaged in an incident other than a collision. This differs from collision coverage, which is designed to reimburse you for expenses related to repairs or replacement after a vehicular collision in Visalia, CA.

So, what is comprehensive car insurance and what does it cover? Here’s an overview of what you should know.

What is and isn’t covered

Comprehensive coverage covers various forms of non-collision damage to your vehicle, including fires, theft, falling objects, animal-related damage and natural disasters. As with collision coverage, you will need to meet your deductible before this coverage will apply to your vehicle.

However, this type of coverage will not protect you from costs such as medical bills (your own, another driver’s or any passengers’), damage to another person’s vehicle or damage to your own vehicle after a collision.

This is true even in single-vehicle accidents. If you accidentally ran your vehicle into a sign or a fence, it would still be collision coverage that would protect you rather than your comprehensive coverage.

Reasons to get comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive coverage is not required, unless you’re leasing or financing a vehicle. So if those circumstances do not apply to you, what are the main reasons why you’d opt for this coverage on your insurance?

First, you should consider the age of your car and its value. Look up your vehicle’s Kelley Blue Book value, and determine if you would be able to pay that amount to repair or replace your vehicle if it were damaged or stolen. If not, then purchasing optional coverage like comprehensive coverage is a good idea, as it would protect you from costs you otherwise could not afford.

You should also analyze the amount you’d pay in a year for your comprehensive and collision coverage and multiply it by 10. If your vehicle is worth less than the resulting number, then your comprehensive and collision coverage might not be a cost-effective option.

Getting set up

If you’ve made the decision to move forward with comprehensive coverage on your insurance, you’ll need to choose a deductible. Comprehensive deductible amounts generally come in $500 increments ($500, $1,000, $1,500). A higher deductible will result in lower premiums, allowing you to save money each month. However, if you do end up having to make a claim, this means you’ll need to pay more out of pocket. Basically, it’s a calculated risk.

To learn more about comprehensive insurance and what auto body damage is not covered, we encourage you to reach out to Tom’s Body & Paint, Inc. The team at our auto body shop in Visalia, CA would be glad to answer your questions!

Categorised in: Auto Body Repair, Auto Insurance

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