What is collision insurance, and how does it work?

Collision car insurance is usually optional coverage, but we highly recommend in the majority of cases that drivers carry collision coverage on their auto insurance policy. If you cause an accident, collision coverage will save you from having to pay out-of-pocket expenses for repairs.

However, collision insurance is not always the right choice for drivers, even if purchased from one of the best companies for insurance, which is why it’s important to do your research beforehand. Read on to learn more about collision coverage.

What is collision insurance?

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In a car insurance policy, collision insurance covers you if you are in an accident with another vehicle or object. Collision coverage will pay for the damages to your car. If you have a lease or loan on your vehicle, you are often required to carry this coverage.

In most cases, however, collision coverage is optional. Whether collision coverage is right for you depends upon a number of factors, such as the cost, your vehicle’s worth, and more. Drivers of older cars or drivers who struggle to pay for car insurance may choose to opt out of collision coverage, although the majority of drivers will carry it to protect their assets.

Quick Facts on Collision Coverage

Before we dive into all the specifics of collision coverage, here are a few important facts you should know about what collision auto insurance is.

• Collision coverage will pay for repairs if you collide with another vehicle.
• Collision coverage will also pay for repairs if you hit an inanimate object, such as a mailbox.
• Collision coverage will not pay for your damages if another driver caused the accident and their insurance is paying for repairs.
• You will need to carry the minimum liability coverage required in your state to purchase collision coverage.
• You may need to purchase both comprehensive coverage and collision coverage at most insurance companies, as they are often sold as a package deal.
• Pothole damage is usually covered under collision insurance.

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While you may be able to purchase collision insurance separately from comprehensive insurance, they are often sold together as a full coverage policy deal.

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What does collision insurance coverage cover?

Here are some examples of types of impact damage to your car that collision coverage will cover:

• Buildings (including homes)
• Fences
• Flipped vehicles
• Guard rails and signs
• Hit-and-runs
• Mailboxes
• Potholes
• Telephone poles
• Trees, bushes, and other plants
• Vehicles (including parked vehicles)

What is covered will depend on your insurance provider, so make sure to read over your provider’s  list of covered incidents and ask if you are unsure about anything. For example, not all insurance companies will cover you if you hit a pothole or flip your vehicle, so if you live in an area with a lot of potholes or winding roads, you may wish to purchase insurance from a different company.

What isn’t covered by collision insurance?

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While collision coverage covers a wide variety of incidents, it doesn’t cover everything. Some of the accidents and damages excluded from collision coverage include the following:

• Damages to other drivers’ vehicles. If you caused the accident, your liability insurance would cover other drivers’ damages. Collision coverage only pays for damages to your vehicle.
• Damages from hitting an animal. If you hit a deer, collision coverage won’t pay for damages. You will need comprehensive insurance for animal collisions.
• Damages from natural disasters, weather, fire, vandalism, or theft. Any damages from weather or people aren’t covered by collision coverage. You will need comprehensive insurance if you want protection for these incidents.
• Medical bills for you or anyone in the other vehicle. Your liability insurance and personal health insurance will cover any injuries from an accident.

Carrying a full coverage policy consisting of collision, comprehensive, and liability coverages will ensure you are protected in a wide range of accidents. Make sure you look into coverages other than collision coverage to fully protect yourself.

What’s the difference between collision and comprehensive car insurance?

When looking at what collision insurance covers and doesn’t cover, understanding the difference between collision and comprehensive auto insurance coverage can be difficult. While these coverages are separate, they are often sold together to offer drivers complete coverage for all types of accidents.

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According to the Insurance Information Institute, the core difference between the two is that collision coverage protects you if you collide with another vehicle or object. Comprehensive coverage covers you if you collide with something other than another vehicle or object, as well as a number of natural weather disasters and crime-related incidents.

When choosing which one to purchase, comprehensive coverage is usually cheaper. However, carrying both collision and comprehensive coverage will better protect you.

How does collision coverage work?

Collision auto insurance coverage functions the same as any other insurance coverage when it comes to filing claims. If you are in an accident that qualifies for collision coverage, you can go ahead and file a collision claim with your insurance company. If you have a deductible, you will have to pay the deductible amount before your collision insurance pays for the rest of the repair costs.

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What is a car insurance deductible? A collision deductible is how much you agree to pay toward repairs before your insurance covers the rest. So if you have a $500 deductible, you’ll need to pay $500 before the insurance pays for the remaining repair costs.

However, there are two different situations when filing a claim with collision insurance. If you weren’t at fault for the accident, you might choose not to file a claim with your insurance company and instead let the other driver’s insurance take over. However, let’s say the other driver’s insurance isn’t covering the total cost of damages, or you want to get back on the road as soon as possible. You can then choose to file a claim with your insurance company to help cover the repair costs and make the process quicker.

If you are at fault for the accident, then you’ll want to file with your insurance company as soon as possible and pay off your deductible so that you can get repairs quickly.

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Who needs collision insurance coverage?

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Not every driver needs collision coverage. If your vehicle isn’t worth much and you would pay 10% or more of your car’s worth in collision coverage payments after a year, you can choose to skip out on collision insurance. However, you should carry collision coverage if any of the following are true:

• You have a lease or loan on your vehicle. In the majority of cases, your lease or loan holder will require you to carry collision coverage. Even if they don’t, you should still carry it to protect yourself if you crash.
• You wouldn’t be able to pay for repairs. If you would be unable to pay for repairs or a new vehicle if you crash, it is better to pay for collision coverage than be stuck without a vehicle after a crash.
• Your car is expensive. If you have a vehicle that would be expensive to repair, you should carry collision coverage to protect your assets.

If you feel that collision insurance is too expensive, even if you need to carry it, consider raising your deductible, utilizing discounts, or shopping around and comparing quotes.

How much does collision insurance cost?

The average annual cost of collision coverage can vary greatly, from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand dollars. So how much can you expect to pay for your collision coverage? The table below will give you an idea of rates based on deductible level and the cost of your vehicle.

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As you can see, the higher your deductible is, the less you’ll pay for your monthly premium. However, it is important to make sure that the higher deductible is something you can pay off after an accident.

Key Things to Know About Collision Insurance Costs

Collision insurance rates depend upon the following factors:

• Area. Where you live can have a huge impact on your rates. For example, your rates may be lower if you live in an area with a history of few vehicle collisions.
• Deductible. Raising your deductible can lower your rates significantly.
• Driving record. Drivers with clean driving records will have much cheaper rates than drivers with a history of collision claims.
• Gender and age. In some states, insurance companies will use the driver’s gender to determine risk. Age is also a factor in calculating rates, with new drivers often being charged more than more experienced drivers.
• Vehicle. If your vehicle is worth a lot or is expensive to repair, you will have higher insurance rates.

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While you can’t control a number of these factors, keeping a clean driving record will greatly reduce your collision insurance costs.

Is collision coverage worth it?

Because collision coverage is optional and can raise your insurance costs, you probably want to know if it is worth it. It really depends upon your budget and needs.

It is worth it if you have a car with a lease or loan. Even if your lender doesn’t require it, carrying collision insurance will protect you if you cause serious damage or total the car. Without collision insurance, you could be responsible for paying for repairs on top of paying off your lease or loan. Collision coverage is also worth it if you have an expensive vehicle or a new vehicle.

Still unsure about purchasing collision insurance? Some of the pros of collision insurance are that it can be used regardless of whether you are at fault or not for an accident, and it protects your assets by helping you avoid out-of-pocket costs.

The cons of collision insurance are that it will increase your premiums, and it doesn’t cover medical expenses or other vehicle damages. However, as long as you have a full coverage policy and shop around for cheaper rates, these things shouldn’t be a problem.

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The Final Word on Collision Insurance

Although collision insurance is optional, it is great to protect your assets if you own a newer or more expensive vehicle. It will pay for repairs if you crash into another car or object, regardless of whether you caused the accident.

In order to find savings on collision coverage, it is best to shop around at different providers. Use our free quote comparison tool to find the best rates from insurance companies in your area.