# Comprehensive Coverage > Source: https://www.coveragecat.com/insurance-types/auto/comprehensive-coverage > Description: Comprehensive insurance is for everything that’s not considered a collision, but not really everything — there are exclusions which vary by insurer. > Updated: 2026-08-13 [Car Insurance](/car-insurance) / [Types of Car Insurance](/insurance-types/types-of-car-insurance) / Do you need comprehensive coverage? Reviewed by: [Max Cho](/team/max-cho), Licensed Insurance Broker NPN 20377411 *Types of Car Insurance:* [Minimum Required Insurance](/insurance-types/minimum-car-insurance-requirements) */* [Liability Coverage](/insurance-types/liability-car-insurance) */* [Uninsured Motorist](/insurance-types/uninsured-underinsured-motorist-uiuim) */* [Collision](/insurance-types/collision-coverage) */* [Comprehensive](/insurance-types/comprehensive-coverage) */* [PIP](/insurance-types/personal-injury-protection-pip) */* [MedPay](/insurance-types/medical-payments-coverage-medpay) It pays the cost of all of the other things that can happen to your car — theft, vandalism, flood damage, or a tree falling on it during high winds. It does not cover mechanical problems or maintenance. ## Is comprehensive coverage required? No. Comprehensive coverage is not legally required in any state. Some lenders require you to have comprehensive coverage, especially for leased vehicles. This is because technically the lender owns the vehicle and they want to recover as much of their loss as they can if a vehicle is totaled. The lenders assume you cannot pay what you owe on the totaled vehicle all at once. ## Should I get comprehensive coverage? That depends. The main question to ask is whether you can afford to replace your car if it is stolen or repair it if it is damaged badly in a weather event. Your comprehensive coverage limit is typically the actual cash value of your vehicle (its value minus depreciation). You pay the deductible (of your choosing) when you make a claim for your comprehensive coverage. The coverage does not include aftermarket additions like sound systems and trim unless you have special endorsements for these items (you pay extra for the endorsements in your premium). While you don't decide how much comprehensive coverage you have, you do decide what your deductible is. Typically, the higher the deductible you elect, the lower the premium for this coverage will cost. Here are some things to consider: - If you have an inexpensive car and can cover the cost of replacing your vehicle, comprehensive coverage is not a good deal. - If you have an expensive or relatively new car, whether you owe money or not, you may not want to pay to replace it (even if you can), so you should at least consider comprehensive coverage. - If you make a claim against your comprehensive insurance, the cost of your premium may go up. There are some instances where maybe you want comprehensive coverage but don't want collision coverage. Consider comprehensive coverage without collision coverage If you're a good driver but: - you live in a place with a lot of car theft, or your make and model of car is a favorite among car thieves (like certain Kia and Hyundai models, which in 2025 accounted for four of the 10 most stolen vehicles in the U.S., including the Hyundai Elantra and Sonata, and the Kia Optima and Soul; note that as of December 2025, both manufacturers agreed to retrofit over 7 million vehicles with free zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protectors, and all future Hyundai and Kia vehicles sold in the U.S. now include engine immobilizers as standard equipment) - you live in a place with wild weather (tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, fires, and hail) - you live in a place where wild animals are common (deer, elk, even goats and squirrels) If you own one of these high-theft models, you may want to check [how Kia and Hyundai insurance prices compare](https://www.coveragecat.com/blog/car-insurance-prices) to other makes before choosing your coverage. ## How does comprehensive coverage affect my premiums? The national average for comprehensive coverage is around $140 to $170 per year in 2026, though your actual cost depends on your vehicle value, location, driving record, and chosen deductible. Comprehensive coverage typically costs $200 to $400 annually. Raising your deductible from $500 to $1,000 can lower your premium 10 to 30 percent. Common deductible options include $250, $500, $750, and $1,000. Here are some things to consider when choosing your comprehensive coverage and deductible: - **For older, inexpensive cars**: If your car is worth less than $5,000 and you have emergency savings, comprehensive coverage may cost more than it's worth. Use the 10% rule to decide when to drop coverage — if comprehensive costs more than 10% of your vehicle's current value each year, consider self-insuring instead. - **For newer or more valuable cars**: Comprehensive coverage makes sense if you can't afford to replace your vehicle out of pocket, especially if you live in areas with elevated risk for weather damage, theft, or animal collisions. - **Deductible selection**: In 2026 with higher repair costs many drivers are choosing $1,000 deductibles to keep monthly payments manageable. Choose a deductible you can realistically pay if you need to file a claim. - **Location matters**: Hail prone states like Texas, Colorado and Nebraska see 20 to 40 percent higher premiums. If you're unsure what your comprehensive coverage should cost based on your specific situation, you can [compare your price and coverage](https://www.coveragecat.com/blog/car-insurance-calculator-launch) to see if you're paying too much. ### Where our data comes from All of our quote data assumes the driver is: single, college educated, has a clean driving record, and has been driving since 16 years old. Age, gender, location, and miles driven per day are variable. We do not consider any [discounts](/insurance-types/how-to-lower-car-insurance-premiums#insurance-discounts) which might apply to you such as those for being a veteran, having multiple policies, loyalty, etc. The scenario above assumes you have at least 100/300/100 liability coverage limits, with UI/UIM and PIP where required. Note: As Coverage Cat founder Max Cho likes to say, "insurance prices are weird." ## Full coverage Comprehensive coverage, when combined with [collision coverage](/insurance-types/collision-coverage) and upgraded [liability coverage](/insurance-types/liability-car-insurance), is often considered part of full coverage. There isn't any standardized understanding of "full coverage" and both collision and comprehensive coverage aren't a smart decision for every driver. If you're adding a new driver to your policy, such as a teenager, you'll want to evaluate whether [your insurance coverage needs to change](https://www.coveragecat.com/blog/teen-driver-your-insurance-needs-to-grow-up) along with the higher premiums.
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