Comprehensive coverage pays to repair or replace your car if someone steals it or something other than an accident damages it, like a flood, fire, or vandalism. While Texas doesn’t require drivers to have comprehensive insurance, you typically need it if you finance or lease your vehicle.[1]
You can buy comprehensive car insurance as part of a full-coverage insurance policy. Full coverage also usually includes liability insurance and collision coverage. It can also include coverages like personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments (MedPay).
What comprehensive car insurance covers in Texas
In Texas, comprehensive car insurance covers non-collision damage to your car, including:
Theft
Fire
Vandalism
Weather events, such as hailstorms
Falling objects, like rocks or tree branches
Natural disasters, such as floods or earthquakes
Hitting an animal on the road
Riots or civil disturbances
Some car insurance companies in Texas also offer comprehensive coverage options for personal belongings and tire repair after a covered claim. Comprehensive coverage reimburses you for the actual cash value (ACV) of your vehicle, accounting for depreciation, after you pay your deductible.
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What comprehensive car insurance doesn’t cover
Like all auto insurance coverages, comprehensive car insurance excludes some events. Unless you have specific policy endorsements, comprehensive insurance doesn’t cover:
Damage from a car accident
Damage you cause to others’ property
Damage to your personal belongings
Medical bills for you or your passengers
Normal wear and tear
Mechanical failure or electrical problems, unless from a covered loss
Intentional damage you cause
Costs associated with criminal activity
You need liability insurance to cover property damage you cause to others. You also need collision insurance to cover damage to your car from an accident. Comprehensive insurance doesn’t cover medical bills in Texas, but the state requires all auto policies to include PIP.
How comprehensive car insurance works in Texas
You typically buy comprehensive car insurance as part of a full-coverage insurance policy in Texas.[2] Your insurance company will charge you a premium based on factors like the car you drive and your ZIP code. If your full-coverage policy includes collision and comprehensive coverages, each has its own deductible.
Your deductible is the amount you pay when you file a claim. Your insurer covers damages after you pay your deductible, up to your policy’s limits. When you file a claim in Texas, your car insurance company has 15 days to accept or deny your claim.
If someone steals your car or you total it, your insurer reimburses you based on your vehicle’s ACV. Your insurer calculates your car’s depreciated value and subtracts your deductible to determine your payout. That’s why some drivers buy gap insurance or new-car replacement coverage.
Comprehensive vs. collision insurance
While comprehensive insurance covers damage from theft and non-collision events, collision insurance covers damage to your car from a car accident you cause. If you hit another vehicle or a stationary object and damage your car, collision insurance helps cover repairs.
Collision insurance doesn’t cover damage you cause to another vehicle. Your liability insurance would help pay for property damage and bodily injuries you cause to others in an accident. Texas law requires all drivers to have liability coverage.
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Is comprehensive coverage worth it in Texas?
For most Texas drivers, it’s worth it to have comprehensive coverage. It can be especially important if you have a newer car or live in an area prone to severe weather. Comprehensive insurance covers some common risks in the Lone Star State, including:
Theft coverage: Texas ranks among the top 10 states for vehicle thefts, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. Comprehensive coverage would help pay to replace your car if someone steals it.
Flood coverage: Texas is no stranger to heavy rainfall. In fact, more people have died in Texas from severe floods than in any other state. Comprehensive insurance includes coverage for damage from severe weather and natural disasters.
Animal coverage: It’s common to collide with a wild animal on the road in Texas. Deer and coyotes don’t have liability insurance, so you’d need comprehensive coverage to pay for the damage.
More expensive: While comprehensive coverage can help pay for costly repairs if you file a claim, it adds more to your monthly premium.
Not good for older cars: You might consider forgoing comprehensive insurance if your car isn’t worth much. A good rule of thumb is that your annual premium shouldn’t be more than 25% of your car’s current value.
No personal property protection: Comprehensive insurance covers vehicle theft but not your belongings. You may want to skip comprehensive coverage if you’re more concerned about someone stealing your things from your car than the car itself.
Comprehensive car insurance in Texas FAQs
If you’re shopping for car insurance in Texas, check out the additional information about comprehensive coverage below.
What does comprehensive mean in car insurance?
Drivers refer to comprehensive car insurance as “comprehensive” because it covers damage to your car from something other than a collision with a car or object. Comprehensive insurance usually covers theft, vandalism, and damage from severe weather.
Does comprehensive car insurance include collision?
No. Comprehensive car insurance doesn’t include collision coverage. But while insurers treat the two coverages separately, they typically sell both as part of a full-coverage policy. Full coverage also includes liability insurance. Some full-coverage policies also include other coverages, such as MedPay or PIP.
Should Texas drivers have comprehensive car insurance?
It depends. Most Texans should consider buying comprehensive car insurance. It helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle if someone steals it or severe weather damages it. But it may not be the right choice if your car is older or less valuable, as your coverage may cost more than your car is worth.
Sources
- Texas Department of Insurance. "Auto insurance guide."
- Insurance Information Institute. "What is covered by collision and comprehensive auto insurance?."
Methodology
Insurify data scientists analyzed more than 190 million quotes served to car insurance applicants in Insurify’s proprietary database to calculate the premium averages displayed on this page. These premiums are real quotes that come directly from Insurify’s 500+ partner insurance companies in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quote averages represent the median price for a quote across the given coverage level, driver subset, and geographic area.
Unless otherwise specified, quoted rates reflect the average cost for drivers between 20 and 70 years old with a clean driving record and average or better credit (a credit score of 600 or higher).
Liability-only premium averages correspond to policies with the following coverage limits:
- Bodily injury limits between state-minimum rates and $50,000 per person, $100,000 per accident
- Property damage limits between $10,000 and $50,000
- No additional coverage
- Comprehensive coverage with a $1,000 deductible
- Collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible
Quotes for Allstate, Farmers, GEICO, State Farm, and USAA are estimates based on Quadrant Information Services’ database of auto insurance rates.
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