What Is Other Than Collision (OTC) Coverage?

Last Updated on December 31, 2025

When shopping for car insurance, you may see the term “other than collision” (OTC) coverage. It sounds technical, but it’s usually just another name for comprehensive coverage.

In plain English: other than collision coverage helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle when it’s damaged by events that aren’t a crash with another car—like theft, hail, vandalism, flooding, fire, or a fallen tree.

Here’s what other than collision coverage is, what it covers (and doesn’t), how claims and deductibles work, and how to decide if it’s worth the cost.

Key Takeaways

• Other than collision (OTC) coverage is usually just another name for comprehensive coverage on your auto policy.
• It helps pay for damage to your car from non-crash events like theft, vandalism, hail, flood, fire, falling objects, and certain animal-related damage.
• OTC claims typically require you to pay a deductible first, and payouts are usually based on your vehicle’s actual cash value.
• Comprehensive is optional by state law but is commonly required if you lease or finance your vehicle.

What Is Other Than Collision Coverage?

Other than collision coverage is optional auto insurance that pays for damage to your car caused by most non-collision events. Many insurers simply label it comprehensive on your declarations page.

It’s designed to protect you from the “stuff that happens” when you’re not actively crashing into another vehicle—weather, theft, vandalism, animal damage, and more.

Comprehensive vs. Collision Coverage

Other than collision coverage is often paired with collision coverage, but they protect you from different types of losses.

Collision generally pays to repair or replace your vehicle after you hit another car or object—especially if you caused the crash (see what happens with insurance in an at-fault accident).

Important nuance: If you hit a deer, that’s typically considered a comprehensive claim. But if you swerve to avoid a deer and hit a tree, that’s usually a collision claim.

What Other Than Collision Coverage Covers

Coverage can vary slightly by insurer and policy, but other than collision coverage commonly includes:

• Theft (including stolen vehicles and, in many cases, stolen parts)
• Vandalism (keyed paint, broken mirrors, graffiti, etc.)
• Fire damage
• Natural disasters and severe weather
• Hail damage
• Flood damage (as long as you had coverage before the loss)
• Falling objects (like a tree limb landing on your hood)
• Rodent and animal-related damage (chewed wiring, nest damage, etc., depending on the situation)

Many policies also treat certain glass damage (like a cracked windshield) as a comprehensive claim. Your deductible may apply, and some insurers offer optional glass coverage that changes how windshield claims work.

What Other Than Collision Coverage Does Not Cover

Other than collision coverage is helpful, but it isn’t “everything.” It typically does not cover:

• Crash damage to your vehicle (that’s what collision coverage is for)
• Damage you cause to other people in an accident (that’s handled by liability coverage like bodily injury liability and property damage liability)
• Wear and tear or mechanical breakdown (maintenance issues, old batteries, worn brakes, engine failure, etc.)
• Medical bills after an accident (those are addressed by coverages like PIP/MedPay—learn more about how car insurance pays for medical bills after an accident)
• Personal belongings inside your car (often covered under homeowners or renters insurance, not auto insurance)

How an Other Than Collision Claim Works

Most comprehensive (OTC) claims follow a predictable pattern:

1. Document the damage or loss. Take photos, note the date/time, and keep receipts if you pay out of pocket for emergency repairs.
2. File a police report when appropriate. Theft and vandalism claims often go smoother when you have a report number.
3. Start the claim with your insurer. Follow these steps on the proper way to file an insurance claim (the same general process applies even when the loss isn’t a crash).
4. Pay your deductible. Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before coverage kicks in. If you need a refresher, here’s a guide to car insurance deductibles.
5. Repair or settlement. For repairable damage, the insurer typically pays the covered amount minus your deductible. For theft or severe losses, the claim may be paid as a settlement (often based on your car’s value).

Choosing a higher deductible usually lowers your premium, but it also means you’ll pay more out of pocket if you file a claim. The “right” deductible is the one you can comfortably afford on short notice.

Limits, Total Losses, and Actual Cash Value

Other than collision coverage usually pays up to the actual cash value (ACV) of your vehicle, minus your deductible. In a severe claim—like a stolen car that isn’t recovered—your insurer may treat it as a total loss.

ACV is generally your car’s market value right before the loss (factoring in depreciation, mileage, condition, and local prices). Here’s how insurers typically calculate it: how to find the actual cash value (ACV) for your car.

Is Other Than Collision Coverage Required?

By law: No state requires you to carry other than collision (comprehensive) coverage.

By your lender or leasing company: Often, yes. If your vehicle is financed or leased, the company that owns the loan/lease usually requires you to carry comprehensive and collision to protect the vehicle (the collateral). Learn more about requirements for financed vehicles and leased cars.

If you own your car outright, you can decide whether the protection is worth the premium.

How Much Does Other Than Collision Coverage Cost?

The cost of other than collision coverage varies widely based on your vehicle, deductible, location, and risk factors (like theft rates and severe weather). In many cases, comprehensive is less expensive than collision because non-collision claims are often less frequent than crash claims.

Also keep in mind: insurers price coverages as part of the full policy. Even if comprehensive adds a relatively small amount, your total premium can still be high depending on your state, driving record, vehicle repair costs, and liability limits.

Is Other Than Collision Coverage Worth It?

Comprehensive coverage tends to be worth keeping when:

• Your car is newer, valuable, or expensive to replace.
• You live in an area with frequent hail, storms, flooding, wildfire risk, or high theft.
• You can’t comfortably pay for a total loss out of pocket.
• You finance or lease your vehicle (it’s often required).

You might consider dropping it when:

• Your car’s value is low enough that you’d rather “self-insure” and take the risk.
• The premium savings are meaningful and you can handle an unexpected replacement cost.
• Your deductible is so high that you’d rarely file a claim anyway.

A practical way to think about it: compare (1) what you’d save by removing comprehensive, to (2) the realistic worst-case loss you’d face if the car were stolen or totaled by a non-collision event.

How to Save Money Without Losing Protection

If you want the benefits of comprehensive coverage without overpaying, try these strategies:

• Raise your comprehensive deductible to lower your premium (as long as you can afford the deductible if you need it).
• Park smarter when possible (garage, well-lit areas, cameras, secure lots).
• Reduce preventable losses (anti-theft devices, don’t leave valuables visible, address rodent nesting risks quickly).
• Review coverage every renewal, especially as your car depreciates.

FAQs About Other Than Collision Coverage

Final Word on Other Than Collision Coverage

Other than collision (comprehensive) coverage protects your vehicle from a long list of non-crash problems—like theft, vandalism, hail, flood, fire, falling objects, and animal damage. Like most coverages, it comes down to cost vs. risk: if replacing your car would be financially painful, comprehensive is often worth keeping.

To decide, compare quotes with different deductibles and make sure your coverage matches how—and where—you actually drive and park your vehicle.