What type of insurance do you have on your vehicle – and is it sufficient? Many people don’t consider their insurance coverage until they actually need it. Unfortunately, this can lead to confusion when it comes to things like auto body repair. Here’s a quick run-down of the difference between comprehensive and collision coverage
Comprehensive coverage covers damage to your vehicle from things like extreme weather conditions, theft, or vandalism. If someone breaks your window or a tree falls on your vehicle, this would be covered by a comprehensive policy, but wouldn’t qualify under a collision policy. A comprehensive policy will have a deductible that will apply to each accident that you’ll be responsible for. Comprehensive policies will cover the majority of damages that happen to your car, regardless of whether it was your fault.
Collision coverage covers damage caused by colliding with another car or object; this would include things like someone rear-ending you, hitting a tree, or crashing into a fence. If you have a vehicle that’s being leased or financed, you will need to have comprehensive coverage in order to get collision coverage. Collision coverage also has a deductible that will be applied to each accident that will be your responsibility, regardless of who is at fault.
Understanding what your policy does and doesn’t cover will help you determine if you have the right policy to fit your needs and will make the process of auto body repair go more smoothly if you happen to need it!