Full Coverage Car Insurance
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What Is Full Coverage Auto Insurance?
Full-coverage car insurance is not an official or standardized policy. The term generally refers to a combination of liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. This combination provides broad protection for drivers by covering bodily injury and property damage liability, as well as damage to the insured vehicle from collisions and other covered non-collision events.
What is included in full coverage can vary by insurance company, state requirements, lender requirements, and the coverages you choose. Despite the name, full coverage doesn’t mean you’re covered for every accident, expense, or situation.
Because full coverage options, deductibles, limits, and pricing can vary by insurance company, comparing policies can help you understand your choices. Freeway works with multiple insurance companies, and a licensed Freeway agent can help you compare available coverage and pricing based on your vehicle, needs, and budget.
Key Takeaways
- Full coverage car insurance isn’t a standardized policy. It generally refers to a combination of liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage.
- Full coverage typically provides broader protection than liability-only insurance because collision and comprehensive coverage can help protect your own vehicle from covered losses.
- Lenders and leasing companies commonly require comprehensive and collision coverage on financed or leased vehicles.
- Full coverage doesn’t cover every loss, and deductibles, limits, exclusions, and policy terms still apply.
- The price of full coverage can vary significantly by insurance company, driver, vehicle, location, limits, and deductibles.
- Freeway can help you compare full coverage options from multiple insurance companies and get personal help choosing coverage based on your needs and budget.
What Does Full Coverage Car Insurance Cover?
Full coverage car insurance typically includes three core components:
| Coverage | What Does It Cover | Deductible? |
|---|---|---|
| Liability | Injuries or property damage you cause to others | Typically, no |
| Collision | Damage to your vehicle from a covered collision | Yes |
| Comprehensive | Theft and covered non-collision damage to your vehicle | Yes |
Depending on state law, other coverages such as Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage may also be part of the policy, but these are not automatically included in full coverage.
Liability Car Insurance
Liability car insurance helps pay for bodily injury and property damage you cause to others in an accident, subject to your policy limits. Bodily injury liability covers medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages for others injured in an accident you caused. Property damage liability helps pay for damage to another person’s property. Liability coverage does not typically pay for repairs to your own vehicle.
Collision Car Insurance
Collision coverage helps repair or replace your vehicle if it is damaged in a collision with another vehicle or object, regardless of who is at fault. A deductible generally applies, and claim payments are subject to your policy terms and the vehicle’s value or coverage limit.
Comprehensive Car Insurance
Comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle against damage from events other than collisions. This may include theft, vandalism, hail, fire, falling objects, and animal-related damage. A comprehensive deductible generally applies. Coverage may vary by policy and insurer.
What Does Full Coverage Car Insurance Not Cover?
Despite its name, full coverage does not cover every loss or expense. Common exclusions or gaps may include:
- Routine maintenance and normal wear and tear
- Mechanical breakdowns unrelated to a covered event
- Damage exceeding policy limits
- The deductible amount for comprehensive or collision claims
- Personal belongings stolen from the vehicle
- Certain business or rideshare use without proper coverage
- The difference between a totaled vehicle’s value and the remaining loan balance, unless GAP insurance is purchased
Exclusions vary by policy and carrier, so compare policies with Freeway to ensure you have the right auto coverage for your driving needs.
Who Does Full Coverage Car Insurance Cover?
- Who is covered depends on the individual coverages and policy terms. Liability coverage protects the policyholder financially against covered injuries or property damage they cause to others.
- Collision and comprehensive coverage generally protect the insured vehicle itself.
- Coverage for listed drivers, household members, permissive drivers, and other vehicles depends on the policy terms.
Not every person driving the vehicle is automatically covered in all circumstances. For specific questions, consult with a Freeway agent.
How Do Full Coverage Deductibles Work?
Collision and comprehensive coverage usually have separate deductibles, whereas liability coverage typically does not. Choosing higher deductibles can lower your auto insurance premiums, but increases your out-of-pocket costs when filing a claim.
How Do Full Coverage Limits Work?
Liability coverage uses policy limits, such as per-person and per-accident limits for bodily injury and property damage. Collision and comprehensive coverages pay based on the covered damage and the vehicle’s value, minus deductibles, and subject to policy terms. Full coverage does not have one overall coverage limit.
Is Full Coverage Car Insurance Required?
No state law requires a policy specifically called full coverage. Drivers must meet their state’s auto insurance requirements. Collision and comprehensive coverage are generally optional if the vehicle is owned outright. However, lenders and leasing companies often require comprehensive and collision coverage while a vehicle is financed or leased. Financing agreements may also specify deductible or coverage requirements. For detailed state requirements, visit Freeway’s state insurance requirements pages.
How Much Does Full Coverage Car Insurance Cost?
The cost of full coverage car insurance varies by driver, vehicle, location, insurance company, coverage limits, and deductibles. Your driving history, prior insurance, annual mileage, and other rating factors permitted in your state may also affect your premium.
Because insurance companies can price the same driver differently, comparing quotes from multiple carriers can help you look for more affordable full coverage car insurance. When comparing quotes, use comparable liability limits and comprehensive and collision deductibles to see which insurer offers the most competitive price for similar protection.
Freeway works with multiple insurance companies and can help you compare available full coverage options based on your vehicle, coverage needs, and budget.
Getting a Free Auto Insurance quote with Freeway is easy!
Do I Need Full Coverage Car Insurance?
Consider full coverage if:
- Your vehicle is financed or leased, and the lender requires it.
- Your vehicle is newer or has significant value.
- Repairing or replacing your vehicle out of pocket would cause financial hardship.
- You want protection against theft, weather damage, collisions, and other covered losses to your vehicle.
Drivers with older, lower-value, paid-off vehicles may want to evaluate if the cost of comprehensive and collision coverage is worth it compared to their vehicle’s value and deductibles. A Freeway agent can help you compare coverage choices and deductibles from available insurance companies so that you can look for a balance between protection and an affordable premium.
Full Coverage vs. Liability-Only Car Insurance
| What’s Covered? | Liability | Full coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Injuries/damage you cause others | Yes, subject to limits | Yes, subject to limits |
| Collision damage to your vehicle | No | Typically, yes |
| Theft/weather/non-collision damage | No | Typically, yes |
| Comprehensive/collision deductible | No | Typically, yes |
| May satisfy lender requirements | Usually no | Often, depending on lender terms |
Liability-only coverage may satisfy state requirements, but it does not protect your own vehicle from collision or comprehensive losses.
What Other Coverage Options Can You Add to Full Coverage?
Full coverage can still leave gaps. Optional protections like rental reimbursement, roadside assistance, or higher liability limits are not automatically included with full coverage. You may want to consider optional coverage such as:
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage
- Personal injury protection or MedPay, where available
- GAP insurance
- Rental reimbursement
- Roadside assistance
Some of these coverages may be required by state law, while others are optional. Availability varies by insurer and state.
Find Affordable Full Coverage Car Insurance with Freeway
Freeway works with multiple insurance companies, giving you more choices when comparing full coverage car insurance. A licensed Freeway agent can help you compare available rates, coverage options, limits, and deductibles to look for affordable protection that fits your needs.
Get a free auto insurance quote online, call 888-953-2276, or stop by a Freeway office near you to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions About Full Coverage Car Insurance
How Can I Tell If I Have Full Coverage Car Insurance?
Review your policy declarations page to see if you have liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage. Your insurance agent can also help clarify your coverage.
Do You Need Full Coverage on a Financed Car?
Yes, lenders typically require financed vehicles to carry comprehensive and collision coverage in addition to state-required coverage. The exact insurance requirements, coverage limits, and deductibles depend on the lender or financing agreement. Review your loan requirements or speak with your lender and insurance agent before changing coverage.
What Happens If Full Coverage Car Insurance Isn’t Enough?
Full coverage doesn’t cover every expense or loss. You may still have out-of-pocket costs from deductibles, damages that exceed your liability limits, exclusions, or coverage you haven’t purchased. For example, full coverage typically doesn’t automatically include GAP insurance, rental reimbursement, or roadside assistance. Review your policy and available coverage options to identify any gaps.
Can I Drop Full Coverage After I Pay Off My Car?
Yes, if your vehicle is paid off, you may choose to drop comprehensive and collision coverage but consider your financial risk before doing so.
Does Full Coverage Car Insurance Cover a Totaled Vehicle?
It may cover the actual cash value of a totaled vehicle up to your policy limits minus deductibles. Still, it typically does not cover the full loan balance unless you have GAP insurance.
Does Full Coverage Car Insurance Include GAP Insurance?
No, GAP insurance is a separate optional coverage that helps pay the difference between your vehicle’s actual cash value and the remaining loan or lease balance if your car is totaled.
Can You Get Full Coverage on a Rebuilt Title or Salvage Title?
Yes. It may be possible to obtain comprehensive and collision coverage for a vehicle with a rebuilt title, but availability varies by insurance company and state. Some insurers may offer only liability coverage, while others may offer additional coverage subject to underwriting requirements or restrictions.