Glossary

Comprehensive coverage

Pays for damage to your car from causes other than a crash, such as theft, fire, hail, flood, falling objects, vandalism or hitting an animal.

Also called: other than collision, OTC, comp coverage

Comprehensive coverage, called "other than collision" in many policies, pays to repair or replace your car when it is damaged by something other than a collision or rollover. Typical covered events include theft, vandalism, fire, hail, windstorm, flood, falling trees and objects, riots, glass breakage and hitting a deer or other animal.

It pays up to the car's actual cash value, minus your comprehensive deductible, which can differ from your collision deductible. Example: hail causes $4,000 of damage; with a $250 comprehensive deductible, the policy pays $3,750. Glass claims may carry no deductible if you have full glass coverage or live in a state that requires it.

Comprehensive is optional under state law but usually required by lenders and leasing companies, and together with collision coverage it makes up what people call full coverage. It often costs less than collision. Personal belongings stolen from the car are generally not covered by an auto policy, though homeowners or renters insurance may cover them, and mechanical breakdown and wear are excluded. If your area sees frequent hail, flooding or car theft, comprehensive can be worth keeping even on an older car.

Last reviewed October 4, 2026

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Related terms

Collision coverage Pays to repair or replace your own car after it hits another vehicle or object, or rolls over, regardless of fault, minus your deductible. Deductible The amount you pay toward a covered loss before your insurer pays the rest, set per claim for coverages like collision and comprehensive. Full glass coverage An option that pays for windshield and window repair or replacement with no deductible, usually added to comprehensive coverage. Full coverage Informal shorthand for a policy combining liability with collision and comprehensive, the mix lenders usually require. It is not a defined policy type. Actual cash value What a car was worth just before a loss — replacement cost minus depreciation — and the basis of most total-loss payouts. Anti-theft device discount A premium reduction, usually on comprehensive coverage, for cars with alarms, immobilizers, tracking systems or other theft deterrents.

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Related insurers

Seguros Múltiples Puerto Rico insurance cooperative owned by about 150 local cooperatives, in business since 1965 and selling auto, home and business coverage island-wide. North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance Raleigh-based policyholder-owned mutual, founded in 1953, that sells auto, home and farm insurance only in North Carolina through agents in all 100 counties. Universal Insurance (Puerto Rico) Guaynabo-based insurer of Universal Group that calls itself Puerto Rico's largest auto insurer, selling annual, double-interest and liability auto policies.

Related tools

Deductible break-even calculator Compare two deductibles: what the higher one saves each year, what it costs when you claim, and how many claim-free years it takes to break even. Should I drop full coverage? calculator Weigh what collision and comprehensive cost each year against the most they could ever pay on an older car, using the 10% rule of thumb.