Obtaining a quote for comprehensive car insurance is something you’ll most likely have to do if you’re purchasing a brand-new car using a loan. Knowing what comprehensive insurance coverage, and how much it’s worth, will go a long way in helping you find the best policy for your needs. Suffice it to say, comprehensive car insurance goes above and beyond state-mandated liability insurance.
For purposes of definition, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your vehicle incurred under any circumstances other than a driving accident. For driving accidents, damage is covered by your collision insurance. Comprehensive covers damage realized by things like falling trees, fire and theft, vandalism, and so on. If it helps you understand it better, just look up the dictionary definition of the word “comprehensive.” That pretty much sums up what this insurance provides.
What to Look for in a Quote
There are several things to be aware of when requesting a quote for comprehensive car insurance. How these things are spelled out in your policy will determine whether or not the quote you’re given represents a good value or not. Things you should be looking at include:
- annual deductibles
- coverage limits
- how value is determined
Annual Deductibles
Just about every comprehensive car insurance quote makes provision for annual deductibles. An annual deductible represents how much money you’ll be required to pay towards damage on an annual basis. For example, if you have an annual deductible of $1000, your insurance company will deduct that amount from any claims it pays out during a one year period. Generally the annual term begins on the date your policy is first put into force. When your next annual renewal comes due that one-year term starts over again.
Coverage Limits
Next, you need to be aware of coverage limits in terms of how much of your car’s value a policy protects. In other words, if you invest $5000 in custom parts you’ll want a comprehensive policy that covers those parts. Without such coverage you’re risking all of the money you’ve invested in your vehicle. If you’re the type of person that likes to tinker and modify it is important you have sufficient comprehensive coverage to protect yourself.
Value Determination
Insurance companies typically calculate the value of a damaged vehicle through one of two methods: replacement value or actual cash value. Replacement value is determined by national sales averages as published by the NADA or the Kelley Blue Book. Actual cash value takes into consideration what it would cost to restore or replace your vehicle with an exact duplicate — down to the very last part. Actual cash value policies cost more in terms of premiums, but they give you the most amount of protection possible.
If you’re unsure how to properly compare comprehensive car insurance quotes, don’t be afraid to ask the help of someone with a bit more experience in that area. Whatever you do make sure you understand what you’re getting into before you buy.

