What Is Comprehensive Coverage?

Last Updated on December 27, 2025

Comprehensive coverage (also called other than collision (OTC) coverage) helps pay to repair or replace your car after damage from events that aren’t a crash—like theft, vandalism, hail, fire, falling objects, or hitting an animal.

It’s optional by state law, but if you finance or lease your vehicle, your lender will usually require comprehensive (and collision) until the loan is paid off.

Key Takeaways

• Comprehensive coverage (also called “other than collision”) pays for non-crash damage like theft, vandalism, hail, fire, falling objects, and hitting an animal.
• It’s not required by state law, but lenders usually require comprehensive (and collision) if you finance or lease your car.
• Comprehensive claims are typically subject to a deductible you choose, often $250 to $1,000.
• Payouts are usually capped at your vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV) minus the deductible—so it’s most valuable when your car still has meaningful market value.

Quick Facts on Comprehensive Coverage

• Comprehensive covers non-collision damage (theft, weather, vandalism, animals, and more)
• It typically comes with a deductible you choose
• The payout is generally capped at your vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV), minus your deductible
• No state requires comprehensive coverage, but lenders and leaseholders often do

What Does Comprehensive Coverage Cover?

Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your vehicle from many non-collision events. Common covered situations include:

• Natural disasters (flooding, wildfires, wind, etc.)
• Hail damage
• Tornado damage
• Falling objects (tree limbs, debris, etc.)
• Fire damage
• Hitting an animal (deer is the classic example)
• Rodent damage (like chewed wiring)
• Vandalism
• Vehicle theft (and, in many cases, theft of certain parts)
• Windshield and glass damage (coverage rules vary by state and insurer)
• Civil disturbances (depending on the loss type and your policy)

What Doesn’t Comprehensive Coverage Cover?

Despite the name, comprehensive coverage is not “everything.” It’s focused on non-collision damage to your vehicle. It typically won’t cover:

• Damage from a collision or rollover — that’s what collision coverage is for.
• Your injuries — these are usually handled by medical payments coverage, PIP (in some states), and/or health insurance.
• Lost wages after a crash — see car insurance and lost wages for how this is typically handled.
• Damage you cause to someone else’s car or property — that’s liability coverage (here’s a full breakdown: Auto liability insurance explained).
• Non-covered situations or wear-and-tear — maintenance problems, mechanical breakdowns, and gradual damage aren’t what auto insurance is designed for.

It’s also easy to confuse comprehensive coverage with “full coverage.” They’re not the same thing—here’s the difference: Is full coverage the same as comprehensive coverage? A common definition of “full coverage” is liability + comprehensive + collision, but the phrase isn’t standardized and can vary by insurer and state.

If you want a quick comparison of what liability does (and doesn’t) cover versus comprehensive, see: Comprehensive vs. liability coverage.

Comprehensive vs. Collision vs. Full Coverage

Here’s the simplest way to remember it:

• If you hit something, collision pays.
• If something happens to your car that isn’t a crash, comprehensive pays.
• If you want broad protection, “full coverage” typically bundles liability + comprehensive + collision. Learn more: Buying full coverage auto insurance.

What Should Your Comprehensive Deductible Be?

Comprehensive coverage usually comes with a deductible—the amount you pay out of pocket before insurance pays the rest. If you’re new to deductibles, start here: car insurance deductibles explained.

Most drivers choose comprehensive deductibles like $250, $500, or $1,000. A higher deductible usually lowers your premium, but it also increases what you’ll pay if you file a claim. For a deeper walkthrough, see: comprehensive deductible.

One more thing: comprehensive claims may or may not affect your premiums depending on the claim type, your insurer, and your state. Learn more: Do comprehensive claims raise your rates?

How Comprehensive Coverage Pays Out

Comprehensive coverage typically pays up to your car’s actual cash value (ACV) at the time of the loss, minus your deductible. ACV is essentially your car’s market value considering age, mileage, condition, and depreciation. Here’s how to estimate it: How to find the actual cash value (ACV) for your car.

If your vehicle is stolen and not recovered—or if repairs cost more than the vehicle is worth—your insurer may treat it as a total loss and pay an ACV-based settlement. If you want to keep the car after a total loss (common with older vehicles), the insurer may deduct salvage value from the payout. If that leads to a rebuilt/salvage title situation, this guide can help: How to insure a car with a rebuilt or salvage title.

Is Comprehensive Coverage Required?

No state requires comprehensive coverage for private passenger vehicles. But if you have a loan or lease, lenders typically require you to carry comprehensive and collision to protect the vehicle until it’s paid off.

Who Needs Comprehensive Coverage?

Comprehensive coverage is most valuable when (1) your car still has meaningful market value and (2) you’d struggle to replace it out of pocket after a non-collision loss.

It’s also worth thinking about real-world risk. Vehicle theft, for example, surged in recent years and then started to fall again. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported 850,708 vehicles stolen nationwide in 2024 (down from 1,020,729 in 2023). For the latest data, see NICB’s release here: Vehicle thefts in the U.S. fell 17% in 2024 (NICB).

And if you live in an area prone to hail, flooding, wildfires, or falling branches, comprehensive coverage can be a low-cost way to protect against large, unpredictable losses.

FAQs About Comprehensive Coverage

Final Word on Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage helps pay for damage to your car from “non-crash” events like theft, vandalism, storms, fire, falling objects, and animal impacts. It’s optional by law, but commonly required for financed or leased vehicles—and it can be a smart buy if your vehicle still has enough value that replacing it would hurt.