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Why You Can Trust the MarketWatch Guides Team
Here’s a breakdown of how we reviewed and rated the top auto insurance providers
130
Providers ReviewedOur team looked at over 100 of the top auto insurance providers in the U.S., from national providers like USAA, Travelers and State Farm to regional providers like Erie Insurance.
8,500
Data Points AnalyzedTo properly score each auto insurance provider, we looked at cost data, claims processes, customer review scores, industry standing, available discounts, coverages and add-ons.
800
Research HoursOur team put in the time so you don’t have to, evaluating cost data, reading customer reviews and researching companies to determine the most reliable options for coverage.
8,500
Customers SurveyedWe asked thousands of customers to describe their experience with their auto insurance provider to understand how real customers feel about their insurers.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.
What Is the Difference Between Comprehensive and Collision Insurance?
Comprehensive and collision car insurance policies both cover damage to your own vehicle. Comprehensive insurance covers your vehicle after damage from a collision with an animal or while parked, including weather-related damage and vandalism. Collision insurance covers your vehicle after damage from a collision with another vehicle, object or building.
Comprehensive Coverage vs. Collision Car Insurance
The chart below details several examples of events covered by comprehensive vs. collision insurance:
| Comprehensive Coverage | Collision Coverage |
| Collision with an animal such as a deer | Crash into an object, like a fence or pole |
| Natural disaster such as hurricane or flood | Crash involving another vehicle that you are found |
| Fire damage | Your car rolls over |
| Parked car damaged by a falling tree branch | Damage from road hazards such as potholes |
| Theft or vandalism | Crash into a building or garage door |
Comprehensive and collision insurance policies pay for damages up to the actual cash value (ACV) of your vehicle. ACV is the amount that your car is worth on the open market and is calculated by your insurance adjuster.
Both collision and comprehensive auto insurance typically include a deductible, which is generally around $500 to $1,500. After a claim is approved, you must pay the cost of the deductible before your insurer begins to cover damages.
Comprehensive vs. Collision Insurance Cost
When comparing comprehensive vs. collision rates, collision car insurance typically costs more. However, it’s common to purchase both types of insurance together. Your final cost will depend on your state, the value of your vehicle, the deductible you select and your driving record.
Price Difference Between Comprehensive and Collision
The table below shows the average annual premium costs by state for comprehensive vs. collision policies. Data comes from a 2020 report issued by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and refers to premiums paid in 2017.
| State | Average Comprehensive | Average Collision |
| Alabama | $169.90 | $366.12 |
| Alaska | $140.50 | $370.63 |
| Arizona | $204.93 | $312.95 |
| Arkansas | $216.70 | $364.07 |
| California | $96.15 | $453.88 |
| Colorado | $228.32 | $326.39 |
| Connecticut | $133.91 | $398.50 |
| Delaware | $133.19 | $344.34 |
| District of Columbia | $224.28 | $497.81 |
| Florida | $137.88 | $343.41 |
| Georgia | $169.68 | $381.66 |
| Hawaii | $106.97 | $342.17 |
| Idaho | $130.86 | $246.22 |
| Illinois | $133.32 | $336.00 |
| Indiana | $130.71 | $277.65 |
| Iowa | $211.60 | $244.39 |
| Kansas | $267.10 | $280.48 |
| Kentucky | $157.38 | $300.45 |
| Louisiana | $231.76 | $468.87 |
| Maine | $108.54 | $286.22 |
| Maryland | $162.34 | $393.57 |
| Massachusetts | $145.10 | $427.17 |
| Michigan | $157.50 | $462.80 |
| Minnesota | $197.67 | $257.41 |
| Mississippi | $229.41 | $365.06 |
| Missouri | $204.08 | $305.96 |
| Montana | $267.84 | $278.31 |
| Nebraska | $253.30 | $263.68 |
| Nevada | $115.46 | $344.81 |
| New Hampshire | $115.63 | $319.72 |
| New Jersey | $129.12 | $403.19 |
| New Mexico | $197.95 | $304.46 |
| New York | $179.31 | $437.13 |
| North Carolina | $133.49 | $333.60 |
| North Dakota | $241.51 | $263.72 |
| Ohio | $128.46 | $297.50 |
| Oklahoma | $254.61 | $343.57 |
| Oregon | $101.80 | $265.06 |
| Pennsylvania | $162.59 | $363.42 |
| Rhode Island | $136.58 | $460.49 |
| South Carolina | $197.24 | $302.52 |
| South Dakota | $308.71 | $236.35 |
| Tennessee | $158.13 | $343.10 |
| Texas | $234.17 | $430.54 |
| Utah | $122.44 | $293.62 |
| Vermont | $142.83 | $324.15 |
| Virginia | $146.00 | $305.61 |
| Washington | $113.77 | $297.16 |
| West Virginia | $213.34 | $345.68 |
| Wisconsin | $148.82 | $243.52 |
| Wyoming | $291.22 | $290.18 |
Do I Need Comprehensive and Collision Coverage?
Comprehensive and collision car insurance are not required by state law. However, if you lease or finance your vehicle, your lender may require you to carry both comprehensive and collision policies.
Keep in mind that your collision or comprehensive policy only covers up to your car’s ACV, and it’s possible that this amount is lower than the amount you owe in car payments. If this is the case and your vehicle is totaled while you still owe money on it, there is another type of insurance, called guaranteed asset protection (gap coverage), that will pay the difference of what you owe in the event of a total loss claim.
Even if you don’t finance or lease your vehicle, it’s typically a good idea to purchase comprehensive and collision car insurance. Together with liability insurance, this is referred to as full-coverage car insurance.
Liability vs. Collision vs. Comprehensive Car Insurance
A liability policy only covers damage to other drivers and their vehicles after an accident you are found at fault for. If you cause an accident or are in an accident with an uninsured driver, your own liability policy will not pay to repair your vehicle. If your vehicle is damaged or stolen while parked, your liability insurance will also not cover the costs.
This is why, in most cases, it is recommended that you maintain full-coverage car insurance. The exception is when your vehicle does not have much value. Comprehensive and collision policies will pay a maximum of your car’s ACV. If this is especially low (which is often the case with cars more than 10 years old), you are generally better off saving the cost of your premiums. A good tool to use to check the value of your car is Kelley Blue Book.
Comprehensive vs. Collision Car Insurance: The Bottom Line
When deciding whether to purchase comprehensive or collision auto insurance, it’s important to consider if you want extra protection for yourself and your vehicle. Liability insurance will only cover other parties’ vehicles and injuries — not you or your car. Comprehensive and collision insurance helps ensure that you’re covered in the event of an accident or if your vehicle suffers damage from a natural disaster, theft or vandalism.
Comprehensive and Collision Insurance Companies: Top Picks
If you’re purchasing a new car insurance policy or upgrading an existing policy, it can be a good time to compare your options for comprehensive vs. collision coverage. The best way to find the lowest premiums is to compare rates from multiple providers.
Use the tool below to get started comparing car insurance quotes from some of the best insurers in the industry, or read on to learn more about two of our top recommended providers — USAA and Progressive.
USAA: Best for Military Members
USAA has one of the strongest customer reputations of any insurer in the industry. The company typically scores the highest in every region in the J.D. Power U.S. Auto Insurance Satisfaction StudySM. It is also a financially stable insurer with an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best.
Just about the only downside to USAA is that not everyone is eligible for a policy. Only those who are a member of the United States military or who have a family member or spouse that is a USAA member can sign up for a policy.
In addition to standard insurance coverages, USAA customers can also purchase:
- Roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursem*nt
- Accident forgiveness
- Glass coverage
- Gap coverage
- Car replacement assistance (CRA)
- Rideshare insurance
Travelers: Best for Most Drivers
Based on our cost research, Travelers is the best choice for most drivers because it generally has low rates and flexible coverage add-ons. The company has a wide variety of discounts and is known for it’
Like USAA, Travelers has solid financial stability, with an A++ financial strength rating from AM Best. Comprehensive and collision insurance policies are available with Travelers. In addition to the other standard auto insurance options, Travelers offers policy add-ons for the following:
- Roadside assistance
- Custom parts and equipment coverage
- Rideshare coverage
- Rental car reimbursem*nt
- Loan/lease payoff
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Comprehensive vs. Collision Insurance: FAQ
Below are frequently asked questions about comprehensive vs. collision insurance.
Comprehensive and collision insurance are both options that you should consider adding to your policy. That’s because comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle from unexpected damage like a tree branch falling or hitting an animal, while collision insurance protects against collisions with another object or vehicle.
Comprehensive, collision and liability insurance make up a full-coverage policy. This type of policy provides financial protection against damages to your vehicle and occupants, as well as damages to other parties’ vehicles and passengers.
As your vehicle ages and depreciates in value, it may make sense to drop your collision and comprehensive coverage. The typical rule of thumb is to switch to a liability-only policy after your car hits the 10-year mark. However, this depends on your vehicle and your budget. Compare the value of your vehicle with the amount that you pay in premiums to decide when to drop your collision and comprehensive coverage.
Collision coverage pays for damages to your vehicle that are the result of a collision with another vehicle or a road hazard. Comprehensive coverage pays for other damages to your vehicle such as theft, vandalism, animal damage, falling tree branches and other environmental damage.
If you want to purchase a collision policy, you should also add a comprehensive policy. Typically, the cost of having both of these policies is not much more than the cost of just one. If your vehicle is leased or financed, your lien holder may require that you purchase both comprehensive and collision coverage, though these policies are not always required by law.
If you do not have collision coverage, you will be required to pay out of pocket to repair your vehicle if you are in a collision or your vehicle flips. If the accident involves another driver who is at-fault, their insurance coverage may pay to repair your vehicle. Otherwise, you will be on the hook for your repairs.
Our Methodology
Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best car insurance companies. We collected data on dozens of auto insurance providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the insurers that scored the most points topping the list.
Here are the factors our ratings take into account:
- Cost: Auto insurance rate estimates generated by Quadrant Information Services and discount opportunities were both taken into consideration.
- Coverage: Companies that offer a variety of choices for insurance coverage are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Reputation and experience: Our research team considered market share, ratings from industry experts and years in business when giving this score.
- Availability: Auto insurance companies with greater state availability and few eligibility requirements scored highest in this category.
- Customer experience: This score is based on volume of complaints reported by the NAIC and customer satisfaction ratings reported by J.D. Power. We also considered the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each insurance company’s customer service team based on our own shopper analysis.
Our credentials:
- 800 hours researched
- 45 companies reviewed
- 8,500+ consumers surveyed
*Data accurate at time of publication.
If you have feedback or questions about this article, please email the MarketWatch Guides team ateditors@marketwatchguides.com.
