What Is Full Coverage Car Insurance?

If you prefer to play it safe when it comes to your auto policy, full coverage car insurance may be very appealing to you. Contrary to what the name implies, “full coverage” is neither a type of insurance policy nor does it cover everything under the sun. We've put together this helpful guide to help you understand the ins and outs of fully insuring your car.

Full Coverage Car Insurance in a Nutshell

What constitutes full coverage? Auto insurance is typically defined as any policy that provides more than the minimum liability coverage required by the majority of US states. It is typically made up of a number of policies, including comprehensive, collision, and liability coverage.

If you're wondering what full coverage entails, it can come in a variety of forms. Liability insurance will cover any harm you cause to other people or property. Collision coverage pays for any damage to your own vehicle in the event of a collision. Comprehensive insurance supplements that protection by paying for accidents that are not the result of a collision, such as a flood or a severe weather event.

However, you can supplement your coverage with additional protections such as uninsured motorist and supplemental medical.

Getting the Best Price on Full Coverage Car Insurance

Purchasing full coverage insurance entails making an investment in better protection. Your rates will be significantly higher as a result. That is why it is critical to shop around for the most affordable quotes.

When comparing rates, keep in mind that the coverage levels and deductibles you select can affect your premiums. You can also save money on full coverage car insurance by combining your home and auto policies, insuring more than one vehicle, driving a vehicle with extra safety features, and, of course, staying accident-free.

Teen drivers may find it difficult to find low-cost full-coverage auto insurance, and their best bet would be to have a parent or guardian add them to an existing adult policy rather than going the separate route.

Keep an eye out for discounts available to teens who maintain good grades, take a defensive driving course, or attend school away from home when looking for the cheapest full coverage auto insurance for young drivers.

Knowing Where to Get the Best Quotes

Obtaining full coverage quotes online can assist you in locating the best rates, and an online search is an excellent place to begin.

You should begin your search by selecting a coverage level that exceeds the state minimums. Insuroma gives you the option of selecting the Good, Better, or Best coverage level to get more protection than the state minimums.

Comparing Full Coverage vs. Other Types of Protection

There is no single definition of full coverage auto insurance. But we know that it usually means you're carrying a variety of defenses. Here's how some of the various coverages stack up:

Liability Insurance vs. Full Coverage

If you only pay for liability insurance, you are not carrying full coverage. The distinction between liability and full coverage insurance is that liability coverage is typically the bare minimum required by most states. Collision and comprehensive insurance, as well as possibly other coverages, would be included in full coverage.

Comprehensive vs. Full Coverage

Although the term "comprehensive" may appear to be all-encompassing, comprehensive insurance is not the same as full coverage. Comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle caused by an event other than a collision, such as a fire, theft, storm, or natural disaster.

Gap Insurance vs. Full Coverage

If you only purchased collision, comprehensive, and liability insurance, full coverage does not include gap insurance. Gap insurance assists you in repaying your loan if your vehicle is damaged and is worth less than what you still owe. If your lender requires you to have gap insurance until you pay off your car loan, you must buy it separately.

How Full Coverage Cost Compares to Other Types of Insurance

If you're wondering how much full coverage car insurance costs, the answer is that it depends on how much protection you believe you need and how much you're willing to pay. Comprehensive, collision, and liability coverage may cost twice as much as liability alone.

Other types of coverage, such as roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement, can raise your overall cost.

The average full coverage car insurance cost varies significantly depending on where you live — so much so that moving to a different state may allow you to cut your bill in half. For example, Michigan residents pay 92 percent more than the national average, whereas North Carolinians pay 44 percent less.

Finding the Best Full Coverage Car Insurance

The best full coverage car insurance quote on Insuroma is for a policy that pays out $250,000 per person for bodily injuries with a maximum of $500,000 for all injured parties; the same figures apply to uninsured motorist bodily liability coverage. The best full coverage insurance would also cover property damage up to $100,000.

Here’s how the coverage levels break down:

Good:

$50,000/$100,000 for bodily injury
$25,000 for property damage
$50,000/$100,000 for uninsured liability

Better:

$100,000/$300,000 for bodily injury
$50,000 for property damage
$100,000/$300,000 for uninsured liability

Best:

$250,000/$500,000 for bodily injury
$100,000 for property damage
$250,000/$500,000 for uninsured liability

What Full Coverage Car Insurance Will Cover

Full coverage car insurance may not cover everything, but it may protect you in more situations than you think, depending on the coverage options you choose.

If you're wondering what full coverage car insurance covers, it's a good idea to read the small print on your comprehensive, collision, and liability policies. Because comprehensive insurance protects you from events other than a car accident, it will usually cover theft and damage from a break-in. It will also cover hurricane damage caused by flooding and wind, as well as damage caused by other types of outdoor mishaps.

You might be surprised to learn that, in most cases, full coverage car insurance does cover DUI accidents – but only to a certain extent. Even if driving under the influence is illegal, your liability coverage will pay for any damages or injuries you cause to another person. It does not, however, cover your own vehicle.

You may be able to obtain that protection through collision and comprehensive coverage, but it will vary depending on the insurer. Some insurers will assist you in paying your damages if you are involved in a DUI accident, but others have exclusion clauses in their policies.

In addition, if you get a DUI, your insurer may impose penalties, such as much higher rates or the cancellation of your policy.

Even if you have full coverage, engine failure or repairs due to normal wear and tear are usually not covered by your auto insurance. In most cases, full coverage insurance will not cover flat tires.

Another advantage of full coverage car insurance is that it covers rental cars. Your personal car's comprehensive, liability, and collision coverage will provide the same coverage for your rental car in the event of an accident or damage.