What is a Comprehensive Car Insurance Claim?
How do comprehensive claims impact auto insurance rates?
What is a comprehensive claim for auto insurance?
Comprehensive insurance is an optional addition available with most car insurance policies. It covers damage caused by or related to theft, animals, vandalism and weather. You should think of it as coverage that doesn’t cover your vehicle colliding with something — that would be handled via collision coverage.
Comprehensive car insurance overview
Comprehensive coverage insures against damage that does not occur as a result of colliding with another car. Below are some common examples of when comprehensive coverage could be used to cover a claim:
Below are some of the more typical examples of comprehensive claims:
- Flood damage and weather-related occurrences like hailstorms
- Damage caused by animals (insects, rodents, etc.)
- Collision with a deer or other animal (the one exception to rule stated above)
- Stolen car or vandalism
Costs associated with routine wear and tear are not covered by comprehensive auto insurance. Insurance strictly restricts coverage on maintenance costs.
Collision and comprehensive coverage work together to protect against physical damage to your vehicle. In an accident, your collision insurance covers your vehicle when it collides with another object. Examples of this include:
- A collision with another vehicle or vehicles
- A crash into a fixed object, such as a pole or a wall
Learn more about the differences between collision and comprehensive auto insurance.
How to find cheap car insurance after a comprehensive claim
Using a methodology outlined here, we found a comprehensive claim raises auto insurance rates by $36 over the course of a standard six-month policy, on average. USAA, GEICO, and State Farm offer the cheapest car insurance policies after a comprehensive claim.
| Company | Avg. Monthly Premium | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $114 | $1,365 |
| Nationwide | $123 | $1,476 |
| GEICO | $130 | $1,565 |
| State Farm | $131 | $1,569 |
| Farmers | $157 | $1,885 |
| Progressive | $175 | $2,096 |
| Allstate | $207 | $2,488 |
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool data methodology
The Zebra’s Dynamic Insurance Rating Tool for home and auto insurance rates utilizes the latest ZIP code-level rate filings from across the U.S., sourced from Quadrant Information Services and S&P Global. These filings, typically updated annually or biennially by insurers, are verified through Quadrant’s QA process and then integrated into The Zebra’s estimator.
The displayed rates are based on a dynamic home and auto profile designed to reflect the content of the page. This profile is tailored to match specific factors such as age, location, and coverage level, which are adjusted based on the page content to show how these variables can impact premiums.
For a comprehensive understanding, see our detailed methodology.
While these companies provide the cheapest rates based on our research, your circumstances could differ. What you pay for car insurance will ultimately depend on you and your driving history.
Find affordable comprehensive coverage today by comparing quotes.
Cheap car insurance after two comprehensive claims
Filing multiple comprehensive claims will raise your insurance rates by $82 over a standard six-month policy, on average (methodology). USAA offers the cheapest rates in this scenario, at $484 per six-month term.
| Company | Avg. Monthly Premium | Avg. Annual Premium |
|---|---|---|
| USAA | $115 | $1,378 |
| Nationwide | $123 | $1,476 |
| State Farm | $131 | $1,569 |
| GEICO | $133 | $1,593 |
| Farmers | $171 | $2,048 |
| Progressive | $190 | $2,279 |
| Allstate | $214 | $2,564 |
Because you must be a military member or be related to military personnel to qualify for its coverage, USAA is not for everyone. If you don't qualify for USAA coverage, look into State Farm and Nationwide. This data reflects rates for a single 30-year-old male driver with two comprehensive claims.
Comprehensive vs. collision claims: which costs more?
Comprehensive claims tend to cost much less than collision or liability insurance claims. Insurance providers tend to see comprehensive claims as occurring outside the control of the driver. On average, a collision claim will raise your premium $384 for a standard six-month policy.
Another important note to keep in mind is the accident surcharge most insurance companies will assess. After a ticket or claim, you can be rated, i.e., charged for three to five years. For example, a comprehensive claim with Farmers increases six-month premiums by $24. If Farmers continues to price the policy at this rate for three years, the $24 surcharge adds up to $144 extra.
How to save on insurance after a comprehensive claim
Depending on the insurance company and situation, a comprehensive claim can be expensive. Here are some cost-cutting solutions to consider:
The value of your car can determine whether or not you need comprehensive or collision coverage. If your car is worth less than $4,000, it's typically recommended to drop these coverages. These insurance coverages, while required if have a leased or financed vehicle, are not legally required in any state in the US.
You can determine the value of your vehicle with the help of Kelley Blue Book or NADA Online. If you do need these coverages but still want to save, consider raising your deductible. Deductibles and premiums have an inverse relationship: a higher deductible will lower how much you pay for your insurance policy each month.
Usage-based insurance programs use in-car and/or mobile telematics devices to monitor the way you drive and to determine your premium. With telematics-based insurance, the more safely you drive, the less you will pay for auto insurance. Below are estimated savings from major auto insurance providers.
Consider providers such as Root and Metromile. Root derives auto insurance premiums from clients' driving habits, while Metromile offers pay-as-you-go, mileage-based auto insurance.
Most discounts will not drastically reduce your premium. However, they can help you save. Consider the below discounts when shopping for a new policy.
- Good/safe driver
- Multiple drivers
- Multi-vehicle
- Multiple policies
- Payment by bank account
- Paid-in-full
- Good student
- Telematics
- eSign
- Group participation/affinity membership discount
- Homeowner discount
- Green vehicle discount
Although we’ve outlined that comprehensive claims are not that expensive, having multiple claims can put you at risk to be dropped by your insurance provider. While it can vary, three claims within a three-year period may result in policy non-renewal or cancellation.
This rule can apply to roadside assistance and windshield claims as well as your liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage.
If you’re unsure of whether to file a claim after a car accident, take the following steps:
- Get an estimate of the damages.
- Use our State of Insurance analysis to see how much an accident (comprehensive or collision) would raise your rates in your state. Remember: this cost could continue for three years.
- If the cost of the out-of-pocket repair costs is less than the rate increase plus your deductible, pay for it yourself.
For more information regarding whether or not to file a claim, see our guide.
Compare insurance quotes
One of the best ways to save is to see if other auto insurance companies are offering lower rates. Insurance quotes are free and easy to find. The Zebra can provide you with a number of auto insurance quotes, allowing you to find a great policy with a premium that fits your budget.
Compare rates from top companies today.
About The Zebra
The Zebra is not an insurance company. We publish data-backed, expert-reviewed resources to help consumers make more informed insurance decisions.
- The Zebra’s insurance content is written and reviewed for accuracy by licensed insurance agents.
- The Zebra’s insurance editorial content is not subject to review or alteration by insurance companies or partners.
- The Zebra’s editorial team operates independently of the company’s partnerships and commercialization interests, publishing unbiased information for consumer benefit.
- The auto insurance rates published on The Zebra’s pages are based on a comprehensive analysis of car insurance pricing data, evaluating more than 83 million insurance rates from across the United States.