FinanceRazor 833-708-4130

Comprehensive vs Collision: Which Coverage Pays for Which Claim

Last checked

Key takeaways

  • Collision pays when your car hits something or rolls over, including potholes. Comprehensive pays for almost everything else: theft, hail, flood, fire, vandalism, falling objects and animals.
  • Hitting a deer is a comprehensive claim, not collision, according to Triple-I.
  • Both pay up to your car's actual cash value minus a deductible, and each usually has its own deductible.

This guide is part of our car insurance coverage explained section. Together, these two coverages are what people mean by "full coverage." For what that bundle leaves out, see what full coverage car insurance covers.

What is the difference between comprehensive and collision?

Collision pays for damage to your car from a collision "with another car, an object, such as a tree or telephone pole, or as a result of flipping over," in Triple-I's words. Triple-I adds that it "also covers damage caused by potholes," and that it pays whether or not you were at fault.

Comprehensive, which the NAIC notes is "sometimes called 'Other than Collision,'" pays for loss "due to theft or damage caused by something other than a collision with another car or object." Triple-I lists fire, falling objects, explosion, earthquake, windstorm, hail, flood, vandalism, riot, and contact with animals such as birds or deer.

The quick test: did the car hit something, or did something happen to the car? Hit something or rolled: collision. Something happened to it: comprehensive. Animals are the main exception, since a deer strike is a comprehensive claim even though the car hit it.

Which coverage pays? The scenario chart

What happenedCoverage that paysSource
Hail dents the roofComprehensiveTriple-I, NAIC
You hit a deerComprehensiveTriple-I
Your car is stolenComprehensiveTriple-I, NAIC
Thieves take a part, such as an airbagComprehensiveTriple-I
A tree branch falls on the parked carComprehensiveTriple-I
Flood or fire damageComprehensiveTriple-I, NAIC
VandalismComprehensiveTriple-I, NAIC
Cracked windshieldComprehensive (some insurers offer glass with no deductible)Triple-I
You hit a potholeCollisionTriple-I, NAIC
You back into a pole or guardrailCollisionTriple-I
You roll the carCollisionTriple-I, NAIC
You rear-end another carCollision for your car; your liability pays for theirsTriple-I
Another driver hits you and is at faultTheir property damage liability; or your collision, minus deductible, if you claim on your own policyTexas Department of Insurance
A hit-and-run while parkedUninsured motorist property damage where it is sold; otherwise your collision, if you carry itNAIC
Engine failure or worn brakesNeitherTriple-I
Which scenarios fall under comprehensive and which under collision Comprehensive something happened to the car Hail, flood, fire Theft of car or parts Deer and other animals Falling branches Vandalism, riot Broken windshield Earthquake, windstorm Collision the car hit something Another car Pole, tree, guardrail Potholes Rolling over Mailbox, fence, wall Paid even if at fault
Scenarios as described by Triple-I's coverage guides and the NAIC's "What Does Auto Insurance Cover?" page. Your policy wording controls.

Which costs more, comprehensive or collision?

Collision, usually by a wide margin. Triple-I puts the average cost of collision at "about $290 per year" and comprehensive at "a little over $134 per year."

The claims data show why. Triple-I publishes ISO figures for 2024:

Claims per 100 insured car-yearsAverage claim
Collision4.16$5,489
Comprehensive3.95$2,306

Claims happen at a similar rate, but a collision claim is more than twice as large on average. ISO's figures are based on coverage with a $500 deductible, and its comprehensive numbers exclude wind and water losses.

Do comprehensive and collision have separate deductibles?

Usually yes. Triple-I says collision "is generally sold with a separate deductible" and comprehensive "is usually sold with a separate deductible," adding that some insurers may offer the glass portion of comprehensive without one. That means you can set them differently, for example a lower comprehensive deductible for weather and theft, and a higher collision deductible.

The NAIC reminds drivers that you pay the deductible any time you file a claim with your own insurer, even when you are not at fault. If another driver caused it, Triple-I notes your insurer may recover from their insurer, and "if they are successful, you'll also be reimbursed for the deductible." For the math on choosing a level, see $500 vs $1,000 deductible.

Both coverages stop at the car's value. The Texas Department of Insurance notes collision and comprehensive "don't have dollar limits," but a totaled car is paid at actual cash value, the cost to replace it minus depreciation. On an older car, that ceiling can be low.

What should you do after a comprehensive or collision loss?

The Texas Department of Insurance's claim checklist applies well beyond Texas:

Expect the insurer to send an adjuster to estimate the damage. In Texas, the insurer must acknowledge your claim within 15 days and accept or reject it within 15 business days of getting everything it needs, with up to 45 days if it explains the delay. Repairs are paid up to the car's actual cash value, and the department notes insurers "can't require" you to use a shop on their preferred list.

Do you need both?

Not by law. The NAIC says "state laws do not require you to buy physical damage coverages for your car, but your lender may." Its consumer page says a lender will require both comprehensive and collision while you have a loan. Most drivers carry both anyway: Triple-I's analysis of 2023 NAIC data found 80 percent buy comprehensive and 77 percent buy collision.

Once the car is paid off, you can keep one and drop the other. Comprehensive covers risks you cannot control, such as hail and theft, and costs less. Collision is the larger cost and mostly covers crashes you cause or cannot recover from someone else. On an older car, run when to drop full coverage before deciding.

FinanceRazor may be paid when you request quotes through this link. This does not change what we report.

Compare car insurance quotesTakes you to the FinanceRazor quiz.

FAQ

Is hitting a deer comprehensive or collision? Comprehensive. Triple-I notes "collisions with deer are covered under comprehensive."

Is a pothole comprehensive or collision? Collision. Triple-I and the NAIC both list pothole damage under collision.

Does comprehensive cover theft of items inside my car? Comprehensive covers theft of the car and its parts. The Texas Department of Insurance says most policies do not cover equipment not permanently installed in the car. Ask your insurer before assuming loose items in the car are covered.

Does collision cover damage if I am not at fault? Yes, if you claim on your own policy, minus the deductible. You can also claim against the at-fault driver's property damage liability, which has no deductible for you.

Does comprehensive cover a cracked windshield? Generally yes. Triple-I says comprehensive pays to repair a cracked or shattered windshield, and some insurers waive the deductible for glass.

Sources

This article is general information, not insurance advice. Coverage depends on your policy form and state; check your declarations page and policy.