The quick difference
Both coverages pay for damage to your own car, up to its actual cash value, minus your deductible. The difference is what caused the damage.
| What happened | Coverage that usually applies |
|---|---|
| You rear-end another car | Collision (the other driver's damage goes to your liability coverage) |
| Another driver hits you | Their liability insurance, or your collision if you prefer to use your own |
| You hit a pole, guardrail or parked car | Collision |
| Your car rolls over | Collision |
| Your car is stolen or broken into | Comprehensive |
| Vandalism, such as keyed paint or slashed tires | Comprehensive |
| Hail, windstorm, flood or wildfire damage | Comprehensive |
| A tree branch falls on your car | Comprehensive |
| You hit a deer or other animal | Comprehensive |
| A rock cracks your windshield | Comprehensive (glass rules vary by state) |
Swerving to avoid an animal and hitting a guardrail is usually treated as a collision claim, not a comprehensive one. That difference can matter if your two deductibles are different.
What comprehensive covers
Comprehensive is sometimes called "other than collision" coverage because it handles losses that don't come from a crash. Common covered events include theft of the car, theft of parts such as wheels or catalytic converters, vandalism, fire, falling objects, hail, flooding, windstorms, earthquakes, riots and animal strikes. Many policies also cover glass breakage under comprehensive.
Comprehensive does not cover personal belongings stolen from the car. Those items usually fall under homeowners or renters insurance. NAIC data shows the national average comprehensive premium is about $238 a year, but it's much higher where theft or severe weather is common.
What collision covers
Collision pays to repair or replace your car after it collides with another vehicle or an object, or overturns. It pays regardless of fault. If another driver caused the crash, you can still use your collision coverage to get repairs started, and your insurer may try to recover its payment and your deductible from the other driver's insurer.
Collision often costs more than comprehensive because crashes are more common and repairs are expensive. NAIC data shows a national average collision premium of about $464 a year for cars that carry it.
If your car is stolen
- Report it to police right away and get a report number. FBI data shows several hundred thousand vehicle thefts a year across the U.S., and quick reports help recovery.
- Call your insurer. Theft is covered only if you carry comprehensive.
- Provide keys, title and loan details. Insurers often wait a set period before paying, in case the car is found.
- Ask about transportation coverage. Some policies pay for a rental after a theft; others require rental reimbursement coverage.
- Settlement. If the car isn't recovered, the insurer pays its actual cash value minus your deductible. If you owe more than that, gap coverage can pay the difference.
Three examples of how claims play out
Hail on a parked car. A storm dents the hood and roof while your car sits in a parking lot. That's a comprehensive claim. You pay your comprehensive deductible, and the insurer pays the rest of the repair, up to the car's actual cash value. With liability-only coverage, you'd pay for the whole repair yourself.
Sliding into a guardrail on ice. No other car is involved, but it's still a collision claim because your car hit an object. Your collision deductible applies. Because you hit the guardrail, you may also get a claim from the road owner for the damaged rail, which your property damage liability coverage handles.
A driver runs a red light and hits you. The other driver's property damage liability should pay for your repairs, with no deductible for you. If their insurer is slow to accept fault, you can file under your own collision coverage, pay your deductible, and let your insurer seek reimbursement. If the other driver has no insurance, uninsured motorist property damage coverage, where your state offers it, may pay instead.
These examples are simplified. How a claim is handled depends on your policy wording and your state's rules, so always check your declarations page and ask your insurer when in doubt.
What neither coverage pays for
- Normal wear and tear, rust, mechanical breakdowns and maintenance
- Tire damage on its own, unless caused by a covered event such as vandalism
- Personal belongings inside the car
- Custom parts and equipment above your policy's limit, unless you add coverage for them
- Damage while using the car for purposes your policy excludes, such as some ride-hailing or delivery work
- Injuries to anyone, which fall under liability, medical payments, PIP or uninsured motorist coverage
How payouts and deductibles work
For both coverages, the insurer pays the lesser of the repair cost or the car's actual cash value (its market value just before the loss), minus your deductible. You can usually choose different deductibles for comprehensive and collision. A few states have special glass rules that waive the comprehensive deductible for windshield damage; see our deductible guide.
To see how a higher deductible changes your premium, try the deductible vs. premium calculator.
Do you need both?
If your car is financed or leased, the lender almost always requires both. If you own the car outright, it depends on its value and whether you could replace it from savings. Some owners of older cars drop collision but keep comprehensive, since comprehensive tends to cost less and still protects against theft and weather. Our guide to full coverage vs. liability walks through that decision.
Frequently asked questions
Does comprehensive insurance cover a stolen car?
Yes. Theft of the car, and usually theft of parts from it, is covered under comprehensive. Liability-only policies do not cover theft.
Is hitting a deer comprehensive or collision?
Hitting an animal is usually a comprehensive claim. If you swerve to avoid the animal and hit something else, it's usually treated as collision.
Does car insurance cover flood damage?
Flood damage to your car is covered under comprehensive. It is not covered if you carry only liability.
Is collision or comprehensive more expensive?
Collision usually costs more. NAIC national averages are about $464 a year for collision and about $238 for comprehensive, though local prices vary.
Do comprehensive and collision cover my belongings in the car?
No. Personal items stolen from or damaged in your car are usually covered by homeowners or renters insurance, subject to that policy's deductible.
Related guides
- Full Coverage vs. Liability Only: What Each Means and When to Switch
- Car Insurance Deductibles: How to Choose Between $500, $1,000 and More
- Gap Insurance: How It Works, What It Covers and When It's Worth It
- Rental Car Insurance: What Your Policy, Credit Card and the Rental Counter Cover
- Electric Vehicle Insurance: Why EVs Can Cost More and What the Data Shows
How we estimate this
This guide explains general rules and practices. Insurance terms vary by state, insurer and policy — check your policy documents and your state insurance department for the rules that apply to you. For cost estimates, try our calculators. Read the full methodology.