Key takeaways
- Full coverage car insurance comprises liability, collision and comprehensive insurances and may include MedPay or PIP, and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
- A full coverage policy covers most major expenses that drivers and car owners can encounter.
- Drivers get more financial protection from full coverage auto insurance than a minimum coverage policy, but full coverage is also more expensive.
“Full coverage car insurance” is a term for an auto policy that provides several types of coverage, including liability, comprehensive and collision. Full coverage isn’t a type of car insurance, though, it’s an informal way to describe a policy that protects you, your passengers and your vehicle in many different scenarios.
What is full coverage car insurance?
Full coverage car insurance includes your state’s required minimum coverage as well as comprehensive and collision insurance. This type of policy provides broad protection because liability insurance pays for damage and injury that you cause to others, while comprehensive and collision coverages pay for damage that happens to you, your passengers or your vehicle.
A full coverage premium is likely to be more expensive than a minimum coverage premium because it provides the most financial protection. Full coverage policyholders also usually have to pay a deductible before the collision or comprehensive components of the policy pay out.
If you have a leased or financed car, the lender will require you to carry full coverage, but it’s still wise to compare quotes from multiple insurers.
6 types of coverage included in full coverage car insurance
Because full coverage is not a technical term, insurers may mean different things when they discuss this type of policy. Typically, it includes liability, comprehensive and collision insurance. MedPay or PIP and uninsured/underinsured motorist protections are also often included.
More: The main types of car insurance
Typical full coverage policy overview
Each insurance type provides coverage in different scenarios.
| Insurance type | Part of full coverage? |
| Liability | Yes. |
| Collision | Yes. |
| Comprehensive | Yes. |
| Medical payments (MedPay) | Usually; may be required by state. |
| Personal injury protection (PIP) | Usually; may be required by state. |
| Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) | Usually; may be required by state. |
| Gap | No. |
| Roadside assistance | No. |
| Rental reimbursement | No. |
Liability
What it covers: Liability car insurance helps pay for damage or injuries you cause to others in an accident, up to your policy’s limits. It’s required in most states and is the foundation of any auto insurance policy. There are two parts to liability insurance: bodily injury liability (BI) and property damage liability (PD).
- BI covers medical expenses, lost wages and legal fees for people you injure.
- PD covers repairs to another person’s car or property you damage in an accident.
Neither covers your injuries or damage in an accident.
Example: Say you’re the at-fault driver in an accident that damages your car and another driver, and causes you both injuries. Your liability insurance would pay for repairs and medical bills for the other driver, up to your policy limits, but your expenses aren’t covered.
More: Liability vs. full coverage
Collision
What it covers: Collision insurance pays for damage to your vehicle after a crash, regardless of who is at fault. This can include:
- Damage to your car from a collision with another vehicle.
- Damage from hitting an object, like a tree or pole.
- Single-car accidents, such as rolling your vehicle.
Example: If you spin out on a freeway and hit another vehicle, damage to your car is covered by collision insurance. Damage to the other driver’s vehicle is covered by your liability insurance.
Comprehensive
What it covers: Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your vehicle caused by events other than a collision. This may include:
- Theft or vandalism.
- Fire, flood or falling objects.
- Natural disasters.
- Damage from hitting an animal.
Example: If a tree branch falls while your car is parked on the street, comprehensive insurance pays for the repairs.
Medical payments
What it covers: MedPay is available in most states and can supplement your health insurance, but it’s typically optional. It helps pay for medical expenses after a car accident, regardless of who was at fault. These expenses can include:
- Medical bills for you and your passengers.
- Your ambulance fees, ER visits, surgery and X-rays.
- Funeral expenses, in some cases.
Example: If you’re injured in a crash with another vehicle, MedPay covers your medical expenses, including a health insurance copay or deductible, if you have one.
Personal injury protection
What it covers: PIP is required in some no-fault states and optional in others. It offers broader protection than MedPay for medical expenses and other related costs after a car accident, regardless of who’s at fault. Such expenses may include:
- Medical bills for you and your passengers.
- Lost wages if you can’t work due to injuries.
- Rehab costs.
- Funeral expenses.
- Services like childcare or house cleaning if you’re unable to do them because of the accident.
Example: Say you suffer a concussion in a car accident, and the injury causes you to miss two weeks of work. PIP may cover your medical bills, lost wages and services like housekeeping while you recover.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist
What it covers: UM/UIM coverage is optional in many states but required in some. This insurance protects you if you’re in an accident with a driver who doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough to cover your expenses. It can pay expenses like:
- Medical bills for you and your passengers.
- Lost wages.
- Car repairs, if you have UM property damage insurance.
Example: If another driver causes an accident that injures your passenger, but the driver doesn’t have car insurance, your UM coverage kicks in to pay for the passenger’s injuries.
Summary: What does full coverage car insurance cover?
If you include liability, collision, comprehensive, MedPay or PIP, and UM/UIM in your policy, full coverage car insurance can pay for most major unexpected expenses that you can encounter as a driver and car owner.
What is not included in full coverage?
These common protections can be added to a full coverage policy.
- Gap insurance: This coverage pays the difference between the amount you owe and the actual cash value of a leased or financed vehicle if it’s totaled in an accident. It is only helpful for drivers with a loan or lease.
- Roadside assistance: If you break down, run out of gas or lock your keys in your car, roadside assistance pays for the service that comes to the rescue.
- Rental reimbursement: When your car needs repair, rental reimbursement pays for a rental car so your daily life isn’t disrupted.
How much does full coverage cost?
The average cost of full coverage in the U.S. is $308, according to Jerry’s analysis of more than 600,000 quotes from 20 insurers in the last 18 months. Your full coverage premium depends on factors like your age, location, driving history, the number of drivers on your policy, homeownership status and more.
More: Cheap full coverage car insurance
Here’s what each car insurance company has quoted real Jerry customers on average in the last 18 months.
|
Insurance Company
|
Avg Monthly Quote
|
Avg Annual Quote
|
|---|---|---|
| New York Central Mutual | $191 | $2,294 |
| Nationwide | $191 | $2,295 |
| Travelers | $202 | $2,420 |
| First American | $227 | $2,723 |
| Safeco | $230 | $2,764 |
| Clearcover | $236 | $2,831 |
| Mapfre | $238 | $2,858 |
| Mercury | $241 | $2,897 |
| Allstate | $247 | $2,960 |
| Bluefire | $251 | $3,010 |
See the average cost of full coverage by state
|
State
|
Avg Monthly Quote
|
Avg Annual Quote
|
|---|---|---|
| AK | $330 | $3,965 |
| AL | $222 | $2,669 |
| AR | $237 | $2,847 |
| AZ | $255 | $3,064 |
| CA | $320 | $3,842 |
| CO | $291 | $3,491 |
| CT | $367 | $4,401 |
| DC | $380 | $4,565 |
| DE | $339 | $4,064 |
| FL | $381 | $4,567 |
| GA | $368 | $4,418 |
| HI | $353 | $4,230 |
| IA | $184 | $2,212 |
| ID | $166 | $1,997 |
| IL | $240 | $2,876 |
| IN | $205 | $2,460 |
| KS | $234 | $2,804 |
| KY | $316 | $3,795 |
| LA | $368 | $4,419 |
| MA | $347 | $4,158 |
| MD | $423 | $5,078 |
| ME | $148 | $1,779 |
| MI | $336 | $4,032 |
| MN | $243 | $2,919 |
| MO | $272 | $3,259 |
| MS | $228 | $2,734 |
| MT | $190 | $2,284 |
| NC | $203 | $2,441 |
| ND | $227 | $2,724 |
| NE | $217 | $2,602 |
| NH | $172 | $2,061 |
| NJ | $393 | $4,715 |
| NM | $220 | $2,644 |
| NV | $350 | $4,203 |
| NY | $540 | $6,486 |
| OH | $208 | $2,497 |
| OK | $240 | $2,882 |
| OR | $264 | $3,170 |
| PA | $286 | $3,427 |
| RI | $309 | $3,707 |
| SC | $356 | $4,267 |
| SD | $236 | $2,832 |
| TN | $239 | $2,874 |
| TX | $306 | $3,670 |
| UT | $227 | $2,719 |
| VA | $265 | $3,176 |
| VT | $142 | $1,708 |
| WA | $258 | $3,093 |
| WI | $224 | $2,690 |
| WV | $219 | $2,631 |
See the average cost of full coverage by age group
|
Age Group
|
Avg Monthly Quote
|
Avg Annual Quote
|
|---|---|---|
| 18-20 | $546 | $6,557 |
| 21-24 | $462 | $5,550 |
| 25-34 | $330 | $3,957 |
| 35-44 | $283 | $3,402 |
| 45-54 | $266 | $3,191 |
| 55-64 | $246 | $2,952 |
| 65+ | $247 | $2,964 |
Do you need full coverage?
Whether you need full coverage auto insurance depends on your budget, risk tolerance and needs. Here are some guidelines to help you decide.
Full coverage may be the right choice if:
- It’s mandatory because you have a loan or lease.
- You can’t afford to replace your vehicle if it’s totaled.
- You live in an area with a high accident rate, a high chance of auto theft or frequent animal collisions.
The minimum required coverage may be sufficient if:
- You own an old car with high mileage outright, meaning the insurer would pay a relatively low amount if the car was totaled.
- You don’t drive the vehicle much or it’s parked.
How to shop for full coverage car insurance
The ideal full coverage policy is one that gives you the coverage that you need at an affordable price — it isn’t always necessarily the cheapest option.
More: Compare the best car insurance companies
Here are the steps to finding the right full coverage insurance.
- Review your state’s required coverage. Almost every state requires drivers to carry a certain amount of liability coverage, but it’s important to know if your state requires MedPay, PIP or UM/UIM.
- Determine what additional insurance you want. This includes choosing liability limits, deciding how much collision and comprehensive insurance you want, and considering other protections like gap insurance and rental reimbursement.
- Compare top auto insurers. Review insurers’ online reputations and research their track records for things like claims handling and customer service availability. If you prefer to speak with an agent, look for 24/7 customer service. If you prefer to manage your policy online, look for an insurer that lets policyholders self-service. Knowing this information can help break the tie between two competitive quotes.
- Ask about discounts. Insurers commonly offer discounts for things like being a homeowner, insuring a good student, insuring a vehicle with safety features and insuring multiple vehicles. Be sure all eligible discounts are added to the policy before you buy it.
- Get multiple quotes. Don’t assume the first quote is the best. Once you know how much coverage you want, check rates with multiple providers to find the lowest price.
Annie is a writer and editor at Jerry and has more than a decade of experience writing and editing digital content. Before joining Jerry, she was an assistant assigning editor at NerdWallet, where she covered loans. Previously, she worked at USAA and newspapers in Minnesota, North Dakota, California, and Texas. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota.
Kevin Berry is the Senior Director of Content at Jerry and has been working in the digital content space since 2011 across the car insurance/repair, personal finance, travel and sports industries. Prior to Jerry, Kevin was a content team lead at NerdWallet overseeing the Multimedia Production and Travel Rewards teams. Previously, he worked for NBC Sports, Comcast Cable and Nike. He has a Master`s Degree from Arkansas State and a Bachelor`s from Oregon State University.
Methodology
Data included in this analysis comes from policies that Jerry has quoted within the last 18 months. Jerry services 48 states and offers a range of insurance companies to choose from.
