Auto Insurance Coverages That Protect Your Car

Auto insurance policies come with several different coverages, each of which provides unique protection. Here are a few coverages that protect your car in various ways.

Collision Coverage: Protection in an Accident

Collision coverage is perhaps the most straightforward of these protections. It offers protection against damage that occurs in a collision, which is generally defined by the insurance industry as a multi-vehicle accident.

Exactly how your auto insurance policy's collision coverage treats a multi-vehicle accident depends on who's responsible for the accident and the laws of the state the accident took place in:

• The coverage will pay for damage to your car if you're responsible for an accident in an at-fault state.
• The coverage won't pay for damage to your car if another driver is responsible for an accident in an at-fault state, because the other driver's insurance must cover the damage.
• The coverage will pay for damage to your car regardless of who's at fault for an accident in a no-fault state.

Of course, any coverage that's provided is subject to a deductible that you must pay out-of-pocket first and limits that dictate the most the policy will pay on a claim. This is true for most auto insurance coverage.

Comprehensive Coverage: Protection Against Other Incidents

Comprehensive coverage offers protection in incidents that collision coverage doesn't apply to. Broadly speaking, these are incidents that involve only your vehicle. The coverage applies if:

• You hit an animal while driving
• A burglar breaks into your car
• A tree falls on your car
• Hail damages your car

Should your vehicle be damaged in any incident like this, comprehensive will pay to restore your car to its pre-accident condition. Auto insurance claims filed under this coverage come with a deductible and limit. 

Full Glass Coverage: Protection for Your Vehicle's Glass

Full glass coverage is a specific add-on that you can get in some states when you include comprehensive coverage in your auto insurance policy. This coverage isn't available in every state, and it's not offered without first selecting comprehensive coverage.

When you add full glass coverage onto an auto insurance policy, the protection eliminates any deductible for a glass-related claim. Should a burglar smash in a window or a tree branch fall on the windshield, the cost of replacing the glass will be fully paid for. 

This is a helpful coverage because glass replacement costs frequently don't exceed a comprehensive coverage's deductible. Full glass coverage ensures you can get even the smallest glass damage paid for by your auto insurance policy. For more information, contact an auto insurance provider.