Last Updated on October 27, 2026 by Syed Sarim Naqvi
Collision insurance pays for damage to your own car from hitting a vehicle or object, while comprehensive pays for non-crash events such as theft, hail, fire, vandalism and hitting a deer, and together they are what insurers call full coverage alongside liability. The catch is cost versus value: comprehensive averages $164 to $451 a year across sources, and CarInsurance.com suggests considering dropping collision on an older car when its premium exceeds 10% of the car’s actual cash value.
Key Takeaways
- Collision covers damage from a crash regardless of fault, while comprehensive covers theft, hail, flooding, fire, falling objects, vandalism and animal strikes
- Reported comprehensive costs vary: about $160 to $190 a year (Gerald), $164 on new popular vehicles (ValuePenguin) and $451 with a $500 deductible (Insurance.com); collision runs $300 to $500 or more (Gerald) and $1,969 on new popular vehicles (ValuePenguin)
- The NAIC data cited by Policygenius shows drivers spent an average of $518 a year, or $43 a month, on comprehensive and collision from 2015 to 2019
- Each has its own deductible, commonly $250, $500 or $1,000
- Lenders generally require both on a financed or leased car
What Is the Difference?
NerdWallet explains collision pays for damage to your car if you hit an object or another vehicle, while comprehensive pays for theft or damage from causes such as bad weather, fire or fallen trees. Policygenius calls comprehensive sometimes anything-but-collision, covering damage that can happen when your car is parked, such as animals, weather, falling objects, vandalism and theft. ValuePenguin says the key difference is the driver’s control over the accident, and Insurance.com says comprehensive covers collisions with animals, including deer.
Which Pays for a Deer?
Policygenius says since comprehensive covers animal damage, it covers hitting a deer, moose or other wildlife. Insurance.com agrees. Gerald says collision covers crashes whether you hit another car, a guardrail or a pothole, regardless of fault, and that damage to the other driver’s vehicle and medical bills fall under liability instead.
| Event | Coverage That Responds | Note |
|---|---|---|
| You hit another car or a guardrail | Collision | Regardless of fault |
| Hail, flood or fire | Comprehensive | Non-crash events |
| Theft or vandalism | Comprehensive | Also covers recovered damage |
| Hitting a deer | Comprehensive | Animal strike |
| Injuring someone or damaging their car | Liability | Not collision or comprehensive |
How Much Do They Cost?
Insurance.com puts comprehensive at an average $451 a year with a $500 deductible, about 18% of a $2,578 full coverage premium. Gerald cites about $160 to $190 a year for comprehensive and $300 to $500 or more for collision. ValuePenguin says comprehensive is generally quoted at no more than $200 a year, and across 10 popular new vehicles collision costs $1,969 and comprehensive $164 a year. The Zebra says comprehensive and collision take up about half of premium, with a collision claim raising rates about $589 more a year than a comprehensive claim. The sources use different vehicles and years, so use them as a range.
When Can You Drop Them?
CarInsurance.com says you can consider dropping collision on a 10-year-old vehicle if the premium exceeds 10% of the car’s actual cash value. ValuePenguin gives an example: if comprehensive and collision cost $400 a year and your deductible is $600, you could save money dropping them if the car is worth $1,000 or less. Policygenius says in general drop them when the car is worth less than the cost to insure it or close to your deductible. Gerald says if you finance or lease, the lender generally requires both. As an illustration, dropping both on a car worth $3,000 saves premium but exposes you to the whole value.
How Do Deductibles Work?
The Zebra lists average annual premiums of $1,427 with a $500 deductible and $1,268 with a $1,000 deductible in its example policy, and says you can set different deductibles for collision and comprehensive. Gerald notes a $500 deductible suits people in high theft or hail areas without a solid emergency fund, and gives the arithmetic that a $15 monthly saving from a $1,000 deductible is $180 a year. Choose a deductible you could pay on the day of a claim.
What Should You Check?
- Car value: compare ACV with premium plus deductible
- Loan or lease: lenders often require both coverages
- Local risk: theft, hail and animal collisions raise the value of comprehensive
- Deductible: set separately for each coverage
- Gap cover: consider it if you owe more than the car is worth
How Does This Connect to Other Auto Cover?
Valuation is in Total Loss Car Insurance Explained, and lost value in Diminished Value Claims Explained. Liability is in Auto Liability Limits Explained, loans in Gap Insurance Explained, and pricing in Telematics Car Insurance Explained.
FAQ
What does collision cover?
Damage to your car from a crash with another vehicle or object, regardless of fault.
What does comprehensive cover?
Theft, hail, flood, fire, vandalism, falling objects and animal strikes.
Is hitting a deer collision or comprehensive?
Comprehensive.
Are they required?
Not by state law, but lenders generally require them on financed or leased cars.
When should I drop them?
When premiums approach 10% of the car’s value or the car is worth little more than the deductible.
Do they have separate deductibles?
Yes, and you can set different amounts.
What is full coverage?
Liability plus comprehensive and collision.
Glossary
- Collision: cover for crash damage to your car.
- Comprehensive: cover for non-crash damage and theft.
- Deductible: what you pay before the insurer pays.
- Actual cash value: the car’s market value after depreciation.
- Full coverage: liability combined with comprehensive and collision.
Sources
- Insurance.com: What Does Comprehensive Insurance Cover? ($451, 18% of full coverage, deer)
- ValuePenguin: Collision vs. Comprehensive Car Insurance ($1,969 and $164, $1,000 example)
- Gerald: Comp and Collision Insurance Explained ($160 to $190, deductibles, lenders)
- CarInsurance.com: When to Drop Comprehensive and Collision (10% of ACV rule)
- Policygenius: Comprehensive vs. Collision (NAIC $518, drop guidance)
- The Zebra: Comprehensive vs Collision (share of premium, deductible averages)
- NerdWallet: The Difference Between Comprehensive and Collision Coverage (definitions, full coverage)
Related reading: Classic Car Insurance Explained · Extended Car Warranty Explained · Umbrella Insurance Explained
Published October 2026. Prices, deductibles and plan terms vary by insurer and state and change often; always compare your premium with your car’s value and read your deductibles, and refresh this article periodically.
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