The short answer
Collision insurance pays for damage to your car from hitting another vehicle or object; comprehensive pays for "other than collision" losses — theft, fire, flood, hail, vandalism, falling objects, and animal strikes. Neither is required by law, but lenders require both. Comprehensive averages about $167 a year nationally and collision about $290, per NAIC data.
What does comprehensive car insurance cover?
Comprehensive covers damage to your car from causes other than a collision — theft, fire, flood, hail, falling objects, vandalism, and animal strikes such as hitting a deer. It pays to repair or replace your vehicle minus your deductible, even when no other driver is involved. It averages roughly $167 a year nationally, per NAIC data.
- Theft and vandalism: a stolen car, broken windows, or a keyed door.
- Weather: hail dents, flood water, a windstorm, or a tree branch falling in a storm.
- Animals: hitting a deer or rodent damage to wiring — both fall under comprehensive, not collision.
- Fire and falling objects: a garage fire or debris dropping onto the car.
The Insurance Information Institute defines comprehensive as the "other than collision" portion of an auto policy. For the full lineup of coverages, see the types of car insurance explained.
What does collision car insurance cover?
Collision covers damage to your car from a crash — hitting another vehicle, striking a stationary object like a guardrail or tree, or a single-car rollover. It pays regardless of who was at fault, minus your deductible. Collision is the more expensive of the two, averaging about $290 a year nationally, per NAIC data.
- Crashing into another car: covered whether you or the other driver caused it.
- Hitting a stationary object: a pole, fence, guardrail, tree, or curb.
- Rollover: a single-vehicle accident where the car flips or overturns.
- Pothole damage: often treated as a collision claim with your insurer.
Collision does not pay for the other driver's car — that's liability coverage. Together, collision and comprehensive make up "full coverage"; the Insurance Information Institute details how each is triggered.
Is comprehensive or collision required by law?
No. No U.S. state requires comprehensive or collision coverage — the only mandated coverage is liability, which pays for harm you cause to others. Lenders, however, require both comprehensive and collision while a car is financed or leased, because the vehicle is their collateral until the loan is paid off.
- Liability is the legal requirement in 49 states (New Hampshire excepted), not comprehensive or collision.
- Lenders require both on financed and leased cars to protect the loan balance.
- Once the loan is paid off, you can legally drop either or both and return to liability-only.
- Gap insurance can fill the difference if a financed car is totaled — see how GAP insurance works.
State minimums and what's mandatory are summarized by the Insurance Information Institute. For a side-by-side of all coverages, see the car insurance types guide.
How much do comprehensive and collision coverage cost?
Comprehensive averages about $167 a year nationally and collision about $290, per NAIC data — so collision costs roughly 70% more. Comprehensive deductibles typically run $100 to $500, while collision deductibles usually run $500 to $1,000. A higher deductible lowers your premium but raises what you pay out of pocket per claim.
| Comprehensive | Collision | |
|---|---|---|
| Average annual cost | ~$167 | ~$290 |
| Typical deductible | $100–$500 | $500–$1,000 |
| What triggers it | Theft, weather, animals, fire, vandalism | Crash with a vehicle or object, rollover |
| Required by law? | No | No |
| Required by lender? | Yes, while financed | Yes, while financed |
Premium averages come from NAIC's auto insurance database report. Your own rate depends on the car, your record, and your ZIP code — see the average car insurance cost and how to lower your car insurance.
When should you drop comprehensive or collision on an older car?
A common rule of thumb is to drop a coverage once your car's value falls below about 10 times its annual premium for that coverage. If collision costs $290 a year, the math turns against it once the car is worth less than roughly $2,900 — because a payout can never exceed the car's depreciated value minus your deductible.
- Find the car's value. Check a KBB or NADA private-party estimate for your year, mileage, and condition.
- Add the deductible to the premium. The most a claim returns is the car's value minus your deductible, so a $1,000 deductible eats deep into a $3,000 car.
- Run the 10× test per coverage. Comprehensive (~$167) crosses break-even near a $1,670 car value; collision (~$290) near $2,900 — so collision is usually the first to go.
- Keep liability and consider keeping comprehensive. It's the cheaper coverage and still pays for theft, weather, and animal strikes.
This is break-even math, not advice — your risk tolerance and savings matter. For the deeper version, see whether full coverage is worth it on an older car.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between comprehensive and collision insurance?
Collision pays for damage to your car from hitting another vehicle or an object, regardless of fault. Comprehensive pays for non-collision losses — theft, fire, flood, hail, vandalism, falling objects, and animal strikes. Together they form full coverage, and lenders require both while a car is financed.
Do I need both comprehensive and collision insurance?
Not by law — no state requires either one. But if you finance or lease, your lender almost always requires both until the loan is paid off. You can carry one without the other; many owners of older cars keep comprehensive, which is cheaper, and drop collision.
Which is more expensive, comprehensive or collision?
Collision is more expensive. Comprehensive averages about $167 a year and collision about $290 a year nationally, per NAIC data, because crash repairs cost more and happen more often than theft or weather claims. Comprehensive deductibles also tend to run lower, from $100 to $500.
When should I drop comprehensive or collision on an older car?
A common rule of thumb says drop a coverage when your car's value falls below roughly 10 times its annual premium for that coverage. If collision costs $290 a year and the car is worth under about $2,900, the math favors dropping it. Comprehensive is cheaper, so it usually makes sense to keep longer.
Does comprehensive insurance cover hitting a deer?
Yes. Hitting an animal such as a deer is paid under comprehensive coverage, not collision, even though it feels like a crash. The Insurance Information Institute classifies animal strikes as a comprehensive (other-than-collision) loss, along with theft, fire, vandalism, and weather damage.
Sources
CarsLens is editorial guidance, not individualized advice. This page draws on the Insurance Information Institute and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).