Why You Should Have Comprehensive Auto Coverage
It’s Not Mandatory; Why You Need It Anyway
Driving your car without auto insurance is not only illegal, but it also presents huge risks in your life. You probably know this and have coverage on your car, but did you realize how important having comprehensive coverage is? Most people realize the importance of collision coverage, but they do not fully understand comprehensive insurance and its benefits.
What Is Comprehensive Coverage?
Comprehensive insurance is a type of auto insurance coverage designed to protect you against damage caused by things unrelated to collisions with other drivers, cars and people.
With collision coverage, you have protection if you hit another car or another car hits you. Things covered under comprehensive insurance typically involve accidents with animals and damage to your vehicle from the following things:
- A flood causes damage to your car
- A person breaks into your car and damages it
- An animal runs into your vehicle while you are driving
- Any type of storm causes damage to your vehicle
- Hail lands on your car, leaving dents
- Something falls on your car and damages it
- Your car is stolen
When any of these things happen, the only protection you have is through comprehensive coverage. Without this type of coverage, you would have to pay the entire repair bill out of your pocket. Are you prepared to pay for something like that?
You should remember, too, that these types of events can occur at any time and in any place, and they most likely occur when you least expect them. This is why having comprehensive insurance is important, but it is especially important for people who park their cars outside and those who drive their cars on rural roads often.
Is It Required?
Having collision coverage is important for accidents that occur with other drivers, but having comprehensive coverage is important for all the other things that can damage your car. The important thing to know is that, legally, you are not required to carry comprehensive coverage.
However, your auto loan provider will usually require comprehensive coverage. Car lenders have requirements for insurance types and amounts, and a typical car lender requires both collision and comprehensive coverage when a person has a car loan.
If you do not have a car loan, it’s still wise to purchase this type of insurance even though it is not legally required.
What Should Your Deductible Amount Be?
When you choose to add comprehensive coverage to your policy, you can choose the deductible amount, and this deductible does not have to be the same as your collision deductible. You can choose the amount you pay for your deductible, and higher deductibles result in lower premiums on insurance policies.
As you decide how much to choose as your deductible, think about how much money you could easily come up with if something were to happen to your car that your comprehensive insurance would cover.
For example, imagine you hit a deer and encountered $5,000 of damage to your car. Without comprehensive insurance, you would have to pay the full $5,000. With insurance, you would pay only the deductible. A deductible might be as low as $500 or as high as $10,000, depending on your plan, so choose wisely.
Purchasing insurance is one of the only options you have for protecting the things you own, and having the right type and amount of auto insurance coverage is vital if you own a car. If you are not sure if you have enough auto insurance, contact The Trottier Insurance Group. We can help you choose the right coverage and amounts for your needs, so give us a call today.
