If you have a car to get around the bustling city of Atlanta or to cruise the suburban streets of the metro area, you’re going to need the right car insurance. (And let’s face it, Atlanta is a driving city.) There are a lot of coverages out there that you can consider for your vehicle, and for some reason, they have confusing names. One coverage to think about is Atlanta comprehensive coverage…but what is comprehensive coverage? We’ll explain.
What is comprehensive coverage?
Comprehensive coverage can protect your car against losses that are not being-in-a-wreck. For example, comprehensive coverage can cover…
- Fire
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Falling objects
- Animal strikes
There are a lot of things that could happen to your poor car. It’s important to have a way to cover the costs of repairing your car should a comprehensive loss befall it. It’s not easy to casually drop a ton of money to repair a car, so that’s why Atlanta comprehensive coverage can help.
For example, what if a massive tree branch falls right on your car? It could cause a lot of damage to your car, but you can protect your bank account with your comprehensive coverage. That’s what it’s there for.
Pro tip: Make sure to read your policy so you know what losses are covered and which are not. Its’ really important to know the ins and outs of your insurance.
Do I need comprehensive coverage?
Another question that comes up a lot is this: do I need comprehensive coverage? The state of Georgia does not require comprehensive coverage. (What Georgia does require is $25,000 of bodily injury liability per person, $50,000 of bodily injury liability per occurrence, and $25,000 of property damage liability.)
However, if you have a car payment, your lender may require you to carry comprehensive coverage (and its best friend collision coverage – more on that in a moment.) It’s really important that you have all the coverage you’re required to have for your car, whether it’s the state requiring it or your lender.
What about the deductible?
Your comprehensive coverage likely comes with a deductible. The deductible is the amount you’ve agreed to pay if you have a claim. You pay for a chunk of the damage and the insurance company steps in to start helping to cover costs.
Let’s say that you have a $500 deductible. Then a tree branch falls on your car. (For the sake of the hypothetical, we’ll say that it’s going to be a covered loss.) The branch causes $1,750 of damage to your car. Yikes. You would pay your $500 deductible and the insurance company pays $1,250. (Which is better than you having to pay the whole $1,750, right?)
You need to put some thought into choosing your deductible. If you are able to set a higher deductible, you could save money on your premium. However, don’t set your deductible so high that you’d be hard-pressed to pay it in the event of a claim. You have to find your happy place in the deductible-premium balance.
What is collision coverage?
Collision coverage is the one that can help you repair or replace your car if you’re in an accident (or if you hit something like a fence). It works hand-in-hand with comprehensive coverage. And again, this coverage might be required by your lender if you have a car payment. It’s definitely something to consider.
So, that’s the scoop about comprehensive coverage and what it can do to help you with your car if there’s a loss other than a collision! It’s a handy thing to have. Anyways, if you’re looking for Atlanta car insurance, our team can help. Get started with quotes by filling out our online form, giving us a call, or messaging us.