Full Coverage Car Insurance - 2022 Guide
Full coverage car insurance means that your car is covered for things like theft, vandalism, and extreme weather in addition to car repairs if you get in an accident. Drivers are legally required to carry some coverages, such as bodily injury liability and property damage liability but your lender or lienholder may require you to carry full coverage, which includes collision and comprehensive coverages. See if full coverage is something you need for your car.
What Is Full Coverage Car Insurance?
Car insurers do not offer a car insurance policy that covers everything. Instead, they offer full coverage, a reliable protection package that contains liability, collision and comprehensive insurance, along with any other coverage required by your state.
Full coverage car insurance protects you from most damages if you are at fault for a car accident or if your car is damaged from weather, theft and more. Additionally, policyholders can choose optional coverages such as medical payments coverage, underinsured/uninsured motorist coverage or gap insurance, none of which are included in a full coverage policy.
What Does Full Coverage Car Insurance Cover?
Full coverage car insurance protects drivers and their car against collisions or other events, regardless of who is at fault. It also covers property damage and other people’s injuries and when the driver is responsible. The following coverages help protect you, your passengers and other drivers in the event of an accident.
|
Insurance Type |
What it Covers |
Is it required? |
|---|---|---|
|
Bodily injury liability |
Medical payments for injuries or deaths from an accident you caused. |
Yes |
|
Property damage liability |
Repairs for property you damaged in an accident. |
Yes |
|
Collision |
Repair costs for car damage that result from colliding with another object, like another car, retaining wall or tree. |
Optional unless you finance or lease your car. |
|
Comprehensive |
Repair costs for car damage resulting from incidents other than a collision, including fire, weather, hitting an animal, falling objects, theft and vandalism. |
Optional unless you finance or lease your car. |
|
Uninsured/Underinsured bodily injury liability |
Medical costs after an accident with an underinsured/uninsured driver, or if you are the victim of a hit-and-run. |
Required on all policies in 22 states and Washington, D.C:
|
|
Uninsured motorist property damage coverage (UMPD) |
Repair costs after an accident with an underinsured/ uninsured driver. |
Required in 7 states and Washington, D.C.:
|
|
Personal Injury Protection |
Medical payments for you and your passengers for injuries sustained in a car accident. |
Required in
|
|
Rental reimbursement coverage |
Helps you cover transportation costs while your car is being repaired. |
Optional |
|
Medical payments |
Helps you cover medical bills if you and your passengers were injured in a car accident while avoiding health insurance deductible. |
Optional |
|
Gap insurance |
Covers the difference between what you owe on your car and what it is worth. |
Optional |
|
Roadside assistance |
Helps pay for services such as a tire change, jumpstart, lock-out assistance or fuel delivery. |
Optional |
What Isn’t Covered by Full Coverage Insurance?
Despite what its name implies, full coverage insurance doesn’t include everything. Depending on your state minimums, the following coverage may not be included:
- New car replacement
- Gap insurance
- Roadside assistance
- Medical payments coverage
- Personal injury protection
- Rental reimbursement coverage
How Much Does Full Coverage Car Insurance Cost?
Full coverage insurance costs can vary by state and insurer, along with coverage limits and deductible amounts. Other factors that influence insurance costs include your location, age, driving record and more.
On average, the monthly cost for full coverage car insurance is $171. Full coverage insurance tends to be more expensive than liability-only car insurance since it also includes collision and comprehensive coverage.
Who Needs Full Coverage Insurance?
You may need full coverage insurance if you financed your vehicle and still owe money on your loan. You may also need it if you lease your car. This is because your lender technically owns the car until the loan is fully paid off or your lease agreement ends and requires that you cover the full value of the car. Full coverage insurance protects the car if it’s stolen, vandalized or if you are responsible for a collision.
Otherwise, full coverage car insurance is optional. If you aren’t able to afford car repairs if you are responsible for a collision, then full coverage might be a good option for you. However, it may not be worth it if your car is old and has no value.
Full coverage car insurance may be a sound investment if:
- You have a car loan or lease
- You have a new car
- Your car is expensive to repair
- You commute regularly
- Your location sees extreme weather
- You live in a place with a high risk of hitting an animal
- You live in a place with high car theft rates
- You cannot afford to repair or replace your vehicle if it’s stolen or wrecked
Remember, comprehensive and collision insurance reimburse you up to the cash value of your vehicle at the time it’s damaged or stolen minus the deductible.
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Key Takeaways
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Shopping Around for Full Coverage Car Insurance
To get the best price on full coverage car insurance you’ll need to shop around and compare the prices of several different insurance providers. Doing so could save you hundreds of dollars a year on your full coverage car insurance. With SmartFinancial’s help, you’ll be comparing insurance quotes from insurance companies in your area in no time. And because SmartFinancial has access to more than 200 insurance companies you’re bound to find full coverage car insurance at the low price that you want. Just enter your zip code below and answer a few quick questions to receive free car insurance quotes within minutes.
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