When considering different insurance policies you may be wondering what does collision insurance cover? Car insurance coverage can get confusing as well as be a bit tricky to figure out. However, if you have the right resource for information you can get all the answers you need. Of course this would include helping you understand if you need collision and what exactly it covers.

The important thing to know up front is that different insurance policy providers may cover different things when it comes to collision car insurance. The basics of collision insurance coverage include:

• Coverage of damage to your car if you are the at-fault driver in a collision involving another car.

However, from there, it can vary quite a bit. For one thing, you may want to make sure your policy covers medical expenses as well as repair or replacement of your car. If not you may want to consider having coverage with a company that does cover your medical expenses if you are in an accident and at fault, unless you have health insurance. The thing is for medical expenses you could be looking at paying things out of pocket like:

• the ambulance or other modes of transport used to get you to a hospital
• your stay in the hospital for however long that may be
• any surgery that is required immediately or following your arrival to a hospital
• any medications required short or long term following your hospital visit
• any follow up care required like physical therapy

Other Variances

The big debate about collision car insurance coverage often comes down to what exactly a policy provider will cover as a “collision.” Although many drivers assume their collision policy covers their accident involving any type of collision, they are often sadly mistaken and do not find out until they need to file a claim. You can learn more about what it covers here.

Some companies do cover any type of collision while others only cover a collision that involves another vehicle specifically. If the policy you have or get only covers a collision that involves another vehicle you will probably want or need to add comprehensive insurance. Where comprehensive makes up for collision usually is:

• an accident involving an animal that causes damage
• an accident in which you hit a structure like a house
• a collision in which you come in contact with other types of personal or public property like a fence or lamp post

In addition to these types of collisions, comprehensive car insurance also often covers details other policies do not. This includes things like:

• Acts of God
• Storms and storm related damage like hail
• Natural disasters
• damage from riots
• damage from fire
• Theft or damage from vandalism

There are often other details included, but these are some of the basics that comprehensive usually covers where collision car insurance or other policies do not.

Is Collision Insurance Enough for Me?

Now that you have a better understanding of what collision auto insurance does and does not cover you should have a better idea of whether or not it is right for you. Some of this also depends on your vehicle situation. Keep in mind no state requires you to carry collision insurance to drive legally. However, you may need this if you have financed a car.

Usually though, in addition to collision coverage, you would also need comprehensive and even gap insurance if the car is financed. What’s the difference between collision and gap insurance, you may be wondering?

• Gap insurance covers what your policy may not when it comes to value versus loan amount. In other words, when you get a new car financed you usually owe more than the car is worth. If the car should be totaled in an accident collision and comprehensive may step in to pay on the claim, but only for the true value of the car. This could leave you with hundreds or even thousands of dollars difference to cover on your own. Gap insurance pays this difference.

Sure, it can seem like a great deal to think about when it comes to all the different types of policies you may want or need for your car. The bottom line though is that it actually all fits together like pieces of a puzzle making sure no aspect of your coverage is left out of the policy.

If you are ready to get quotes for your collision car insurance or other types of coverage, get started right now with nothing more than your zip code.