Tom was tired from a long day at work and couldn’t wait to get home.  But, when he walked to the parking lot to retrieve his car, he became confused.  In his normal parking space was a car he didn’t recognize.  After searching the lot, the conclusion came quickly.  His car was stolen.

His initial instinct told him to panic as he was suffering an immediate, gut wrenching feeling of loss.  But beneath all the unsettling, not believing it happened to him, feeling, he knew that relief was ahead because Tom purchased Comprehensive Auto Insurance, which will make him whole again.

Comprehensive is a specific type of automobile insurance coverage.  Many times it’s purchased along with collision, but can readily be purchased separately.

In this case, it is going to protect Tom as a result of theft by paying him the replacement value of his vehicle minus his deductible.   So if his vehicle’s replacement value was fifteen thousand dollars and he had a thousand dollar deductible, the insurance company would issue him a check of fourteen thousand dollars to replace his vehicle.

So, exactly what is Comprehensive Auto Insurance?

It is coverage protecting someone from damage caused to a vehicle by a non-accident incident.

Besides being stolen, had Tom’s vehicle been damaged by a natural disaster, such as:

• Flood
• Hail
• Fire (being mindful that the cause of the fire my not have coverage if the heating system or air-conditioning system was faulty) or
• Wind damage

It would have been covered as well.

So watching what is purchased by reading the policy is important, because each policy will specifically explain what types of incidents are covered under each plan purchased.  It may have some exclusions, but usually it will provide coverage for a situation in which a vehicle is damaged.  Comprehensive Auto Insurance does not provide coverage for an accident.  That’s where Collision Insurance comes into play.

Vandalism has more often played a role in Comprehensive Auto Insurance.  When someone keys a vehicle or spray paints it, or when heavy objects are thrown at it causing dents and let’s not forget theft of personal items like computers, camera, etc.  Unfortunately, those personal items would fall under homeowners insurance, but anything attached as part of the vehicle, will be recovered by the Comprehensive insurance.

Any loss would have to be appraised for the assessment to repair or replace in order to return the vehicle to its pre-loss condition.  The insurance company is there to make someone whole again and not to make someone’s situation better.

What does Comprehensive Auto Insurance really cover?

• Fire
• Vandalism
• Damage due to weather
• Riots

What does Comprehensive Auto Insurance not cover?

• Acts of God
• Theft by family members, employees
• Vandalism by family members, employees
• Contents of the vehicle
• Improper maintenance

If a policy is read and understood with help from the agent, an unfortunate incident can be made less stressful and recovery will be successful.  For a free quote…just put in your zip code.