THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013
If you are in a car accident, chances are your auto insurance will cover the repairs. But if your car is stolen, stuck in a hail storm or ends up under water, will you be protected? You will if you have comprehensive coverage on your automobile insurance policy.
Comprehensive coverage is different from collision coverage, which covers you in an accident whether you or someone else is at fault. Comprehensive coverage is sometimes called "other than collision" because it protects you for most non-accident types of damage, such as theft, vadalism or fire.
What Does Comprehensive Cover?
The most common cause of loss covered under comprehensive car insurance is theft. Automobile theft ranks high in crime statistics year after year across the country. If your car is stolen, it's upsetting and inconvenient, to say the least. Maybe you're lucky and your care is recovered, but it could have been stripped of parts or damaged to the point of being inoperable. Comprehensive coverage pays to fix or replace a vehicle that has been stolen.
Other examples of damage covered include:
• Weather events: Your car may be damaged in a flood, struck by lightning, or covered in dents by a hail storm.
• Damage by other parties, not a collision: This can be either intentional or accidental. A vandal may slash tires or key side panels. Maybe your neighbor's tree falls on your car, or painters are working nearby and overspray damages the paint. The potential for damage to your vehicle is almost limitless.
• Fire: There is no coverage for vehicle damage under standard homeowers insurance policies. Even if your house burns to the ground while your car is in the garage, your homeowners policy most likely excludes payment for damage to your car. In this event, coverage for fire damage to your car falls under comprehensive coverage.
You can't possibly imagine all the different ways your vehicle can be damaged, but you can minimize your risk with comprehensive car insurance.
Comprehensive Coverage Pays Regardless of Fault.
The comprehensive coverage on your car insurance policy will pay (less your deductible) to repair your car even if you unintentionally caused the damage. If you have inflicted intentional damage on your car, your insurance normally will not pay, for obvious reasons.
If someone else is responsible for the damage, the comprehensive part of your car insurance policy will pay to fix or replace your car (less deductible). The insurance will then try to recover the cost from any responsible party who may have their own liability insurance that will cover the damage. Recovering the cost for the damage will remove the cost of the claim from your loss history.
Do I Need Comprehensive Coverage?
If you financed your car, you may be required to have comprehensive insurance. But even if a lender is not requiring it, the insurance provides important protection on a vital asset, your vehicle, which can be very expensive to repair or replace. Ask yourself how you will handle transportation if your car is stolen or damaged and you do not have comprehensive coverage to replace or repair it.
Protect Yourself and Your Vehicle.
Almost no one plans on having their vehicle stolen or damaged, and since thieves and vandals rely on the element of surprise and stormy weather patterns can strike without warning, it is nearly impossible to predict when you will be affected. With comprehensive coverage, you will be protected from these unforeseen events.
As your independent insurance agent, we can help you find the best value based on your individual needs. Contact Bramlett Personal Insurance (580-223-7300 or 800-797-3371) today to go over your options and design the best protection for you and your family.
Posted 4:45 PM