Are you looking for full coverage car insurance? Depending on its value, it will be up to you if full coverage is worth it for your car. You can also add riders to full coverage to get further assistance on the road.
Many companies offer full coverage California car insurance rates, so enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool above to see what you could pay.
What is full coverage insurance?
Full coverage car insurance is a policy that extends past the required liability to give you as many options as possible. With full coverage, you’ll be protected against various hazards, like weather conditions and accidents on the road.
When you apply for full coverage insurance, you’ll find it includes policies like:
- Liability – This pays for any damages done to someone else or their vehicle if you are found at fault.
- Comprehensive – Protects against weather damage as well as vandalism and theft.
- Collision – This will cover repairs to your vehicle when you get into an accident on the road.
Instead of buying all the policies separately, full coverage insurance is a great way to bundle all the coverage together to save.
Depending on your car insurance company, the full coverage policy might even extend into some more optional services. Of course, you can also always add riders to your policy to get further coverage as well.
It’s also the case that some older cars might not be worth insuring under comprehensive or collision coverage. If the value isn’t worth what you’re paying into the policy, you should consider lowering the coverage amount.
What’s the difference between liability vs. full coverage?
When you’re considering car insurance, you should be aware of the cost of how much protection you’re getting. It can sometimes be a balancing act finding the coverage you need at a price you can afford.
For instance, liability insurance is much cheaper than full coverage, but you’ll have no extra protection for your car. If you get into an accident, you’ll be responsible for the repairs to your vehicle.
With full coverage insurance, you’ll have many more options when your car gets damaged. Full coverage traditionally includes liability, comprehensive, and collision, which will protect you on the road and at home.
When should you consider adding additional coverage?
If you’re worried about your car insurance not covering enough, you should evaluate your current policy. If you only have liability, you won’t have any protection when your vehicle gets damaged. If you’re worried about this happening, it might be worth it to get more coverage.
Full coverage will be a good option if:
- You are worried about damage to your vehicle
- You can afford to add the extra coverage
- The car and insurance is in your name
If you need more insurance coverage, you can’t go wrong with a full coverage policy, as long as you can afford it. On that same note, you can always lower your car insurance when it becomes too costly.
How can I customize my full coverage auto insurance?
If you feel that the full coverage isn’t extensive enough, there are other options. For example, you can further customize your car insurance with policy riders that apply additional coverage for a higher cost. In addition, some insurance companies bundle riders with their full coverage policies at no extra cost.
According to Forbes, some popular car insurance riders include:
- Accident forgiveness – With this rider, you can cause one accident that won’t raise your rates.
- New car replacement – This add-on can replace your car with the latest model if it gets totaled.
- Rideshare coverage – This coverage fills the gap between your personal and business insurance for those who use their vehicle to make money.
Other riders include roadside assistance, custom equipment, and much more. An insurance agent will likely help you hammer down a solution if you have specific worries about your policy. You can rest a little easier after meeting the experts behind your insurance.
How much is full coverage insurance?
According to ValuePenguin, the average cost for full coverage car insurance is around $2,058 a year. This comes out to about $171 a month for a policy without additional riders.
Paying over $2,000 per year for car insurance is nothing to scoff at, but it may be worth it. If you have a newer car, you should consider getting full coverage.
What companies offer full coverage insurance?
Full coverage is a popular way to bundle liability, comprehensive, and collision insurance and save. Many insurance companies offer full coverage insurance policies, including many of the top insurers in the industry.
Some of the top insurance companies that offer full coverage insurance include:
- GEICO
- State Farm
- USAA
- Farm Bureau
If you need full coverage insurance, consider trusting one of the tried and true car insurance brands on the market. All these companies have been around for decades and have the expertise to help you nail down your policy.
Is full coverage auto insurance worth it?
Whether or not full coverage insurance is worth it will depend on your car and financial situation. Full coverage is already expensive and can become even more so depending on the vehicle.
When deciding whether or not to get full coverage, you should make sure:
- Your car’s value is worth paying into comprehensive and collision coverage
- You can afford to raise your car insurance rates considerably
- You can reasonably meet the deductible if something happens to your vehicle
If you’re going to apply for full coverage car insurance, you should know how much it will cost. If your car’s older and worth less than what you’ll be paying over the year, it might not be worth it in that circumstance.
How can I get more affordable full coverage car insurance?
Insurance companies determine their rates based on a process called underwriting. During underwriting, an insurance agent will examine your vehicle and your life to determine the risk you pose of filing a claim. The higher chance you’ll file a claim, the more you’ll pay each period.
Some of the areas that an underwriter might look at include:
- The chance your vehicle will be vandalized or stolen
- Your past driving record
- Your credit history
If something shows up in any of these areas in the last five years, your insurance company will likely charge more for rates. With full coverage already being reasonably expensive, it makes sense you would want to get cheaper rates.
How can I lower my risk when applying for full coverage insurance?
Since insurance companies underwrite based on your risk, you should attempt to lower that risk by any means necessary. Sometimes that can mean keeping your car in an enclosed space to protect against vandals.
Some other examples of things you can do to lower risk on car insurance include:
- Drive safer when you’re on the road
- Make sure to pay all your bills on time
- Put some time between yourself and any offenses
If you have negative flags on your driving record, your insurance company may find it harder to give you a policy. In that situation, the best thing you can do is to wait sometime before your insurance company stops considering those offenses.
Full Coverage Insurance: The Bottom Line
Many car insurance companies offer full coverage, but the trick is understanding if you still need it. While full coverage can protect against damage at home and on the road, it just simply isn’t worth it on cars with a low value.
If you’re considering full coverage car insurance, enter your ZIP code into our free quote tool.