What is Comprehensive Coverage in Car Insurance?
<lingo>Comprehensive coverage is an optional policy add-on that helps protect your vehicle against damage not resulting from a collision, which might include things like fire, vandalism, and falling objects. For example, a hurricane might cause a tree to fall on your car and cause damage. Comprehensive coverage would also protect you from incidences like theft. If you're leasing or financing your car, it's likely that your lender will require you to have comprehensive auto insurance coverage. Although comprehensive auto insurance provides valuable protection, it's important to keep in mind that it does not cover personal property (such as valuable items stored inside your car), towing, or rental insurance.</lingo>
Comprehensive Coverage Clearly and Briefly Explained
Comprehensive coverage exists because there are all sorts of risks your car is subject to, even when you're not actively using it. Let's say you wake up one morning and find that your car was egged as a practical joke. What would you do? Collision insurance wouldn't cover it, and seeking legal recourse for an incident like this is notoriously difficult. With comprehensive coverage, you wouldn't have to think twice about covering the cost of a new paint job or repairing any additional resulting damage.
<twitter>According to a recent report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), about $6 billion was lost to motor vehicle theft in 2017.</twitter>
According to a recent report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), about $6 billion was lost to motor vehicle theft in 2017, while the rate of motor vehicle theft has steadily increased for the last few years. If you live in a moderate to high crime area, comprehensive coverage would also cover you in the event of this growing threat.
On another note, extreme weather patterns in the past few years have increased the risk of damage to your car, particularly if you live in an area prone to tropical storms or snow storms. Reports of damage caused by flood, hail, fallen trees, and even miscellaneous debris traveling at high wind speeds have increased tremendously. Because of the scale of these unprecedented events, they can be difficult to fully prepare for. Having full comprehensive coverage would provide peace of mind knowing that your vehicle will remain protected and reliable no matter how chaotic an extreme weather event becomes.
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