Are you trying to decide between purchasing full coverage or comprehensive insurance? Do you know the difference between the two? The names almost seem to imply the same thing – total, absolute coverage. But the truth is that neither is all-inclusive of your needs as a driver. Both full coverage and comprehensive insurance provide coverage for the same thing – damages to your car. The difference between the two is not what is covered; it is the cause of the damage.
What is Comprehensive Insurance?
Comprehensive insurance is a type of coverage that insures your vehicle against damages or loss due to incidents outside of a collision. These types of damages often occur to the interior or exterior of a vehicle in the wake of a nasty storm, fire, or a falling object. It can also cover losses caused by the behavior of others, such as theft, vandalism, and rioting. Typically, comprehensive insurance requires that drivers be responsible for paying a deductible – which could be as little as $100 or as high as $1,000 – toward the repair or replacement of a vehicle. While it is possible to purchase comprehensive insurance without collision coverage, the two are often bundled together and labeled as ‘full coverage’.
When you have both collision and comprehensive insurance, you can be sure that damages to your vehicle are likely covered regardless of how they occur. After all, determining which coverage type a particular claim falls under is not always as cut-and-dry as it might seem. For example, do you know which type of coverage would pay for damages caused by colliding with a deer in the road? While it may seem like a collision, insurers actually classify such damages as comprehensive claims.
Purchasing Full Coverage Auto Insurance
At Frydach Insurance, we recommend purchasing comprehensive and collision coverage along with liability, as a full coverage package. Keep in mind that you may be required to purchase full coverage if your vehicle is financed through a lender. Until a vehicle is paid in full, most lien holders will require you to maintain both comprehensive and collision protection.
As you may already be aware, the State of Wisconsin requires a minimum amount of liability coverage. While this minimum amount of coverage may satisfy the state law, we recommend purchasing much more – enough to protect your assets and future income in the event you were sued for an at-fault accident. Outside of liability and uninsured motorist insurance, you may also wish to consider:
- Underinsured Motorist Protection
- Medical Payments Coverage
- Loss of Use/Rental Car Reimbursement Coverage
- Emergency Assistance Coverage
- Custom Parts and Accessories Protection
If you live in the greater Germantown, Wisconsin area, we here at Frydach Insurance would be happy to assist you in sorting through your collision and comprehensive coverage options. We will go to work to find you the coverage you need at a price you can afford. Call us today to request your free quote and risk evaluation. We look forward to serving you soon.
