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When drivers buy auto insurance, they will find some types of protection are required by state law. Most often, this includes liability insurance, which pays when a driver causes an accident and injures others or damages their property. Liability insurance coverage makes accident victims whole financially.

Other types of car insurance coverage, such as comprehensive coverage, aren't required. But just because the state doesn't mandate motorists purchase comprehensive insurance coverage doesn't mean that drivers should forgo this protection.

In fact, for most motorists, paying premiums for comprehensive coverage can be well worth it because the protection that this insurance coverage provides is very important.

truck on road

Here's why comprehensive auto insurance is an essential type of auto insurance coverage

Comprehensive auto insurance is crucial coverage because without it, a driver will not have any protection from an insurer for many of the things likely to go wrong with their vehicles.
See, motorists can purchase collision coverage to pay for damage that occurs in an accident they are at fault for. Between collision coverage and liability coverage, a driver won't have to worry much about incurring losses after most crashes.
But a car accident is not the only thing that could happen to a driver's vehicle. In fact, some of the most likely sources of loss don't happen in accidents at all. These could include:

  1. Car theft
  2. Hail or storm damage
  3. Objects falling on vehicles
  4. Damage due to an animal
  5. Damage to windshield glass because of debris on the road

Comprehensive insurance coverage is the kind of auto insurance protection that pays for any or all of these damages. In other words, without comprehensive insurance, a driver whose car is damaged by vandalism, fire, flood, a hail storm, a falling tree, a deer, or dozens of other causes could be left with absolutely no protection at all.

Without insurance, drivers are on their own to pay for car repairs -- which have become increasingly expensive as cars get costlier and add new features. And if a car is declared a total loss, the driver would be forced to pay out of pocket to repair their vehicle without any help.

Comprehensive coverage can pay for the repairs or replacement of the car when a covered loss occurs. And, in some cases, this protection is available even without an insurance deductible. For example, many insurers will pay for minor glass repairs with the policyholder not forced to pay anything out of pocket.

Comprehensive coverage is relatively affordable and doesn't add much to the cost of monthly insurance premiums, but the costs of not having it could be dire. Drivers should strongly consider shopping around with insurance companies to find the most affordable car insurance policy that includes comprehensive coverage.