Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Average premium for liability, collision and comprehensive (2023) | $1,438 a year, about $120 a month |
| Change in that average, 2022-2023 | up 14.42% |
| Average spent per insured vehicle, all policy types (2023) | $1,281 a year |
| Average collision claim (2022) | $7,191 |
| Legal definition of "full coverage" | None; the NAIC says no such policy exists |
| Who requires collision and comprehensive | Lenders and leasing companies, not state law |
| Rule of thumb for older cars | collision and comprehensive may not pay off if the car is worth less than 10 times the premium |
What does full coverage car insurance mean?
When an agent, a lender or a friend says "full coverage", they usually mean three coverages bundled on one policy:
| Part | What it pays for | Whose loss |
|---|---|---|
| Liability | Injuries and property damage you cause to others | Other people's |
| Collision | Damage to your car from a crash, rollover or pothole, regardless of fault | Yours |
| Comprehensive | Theft, vandalism, fire, hail, flood, falling objects, animal strikes and glass | Yours |
On top of those three, the policy also carries whatever your state requires, such as personal injury protection, medical payments or uninsured motorist coverage. So "full coverage" in Florida or New York, which require PIP, looks different from "full coverage" in a state that does not.
The phrase is shorthand, and regulators warn against reading too much into it. The NAIC's auto insurance shopping guide states plainly that "there is no such thing as a 'full coverage' auto insurance policy." Every policy has limits, deductibles and exclusions, and two policies both called full coverage can protect you very differently.
What full coverage does not include
The biggest risk with the label is assuming you are covered for something you are not. A policy with liability, collision and comprehensive can still leave out:
| Coverage | Usually part of "full coverage"? | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Liability limits above the state minimum | Not necessarily | A full coverage policy can still carry minimum liability limits |
| Uninsured and underinsured motorist | Only where required or chosen | Pays you when the at-fault driver has no or too little insurance |
| Gap insurance | No | Covers what you owe above the car's value after a total loss |
| Rental reimbursement | No | Pays for a rental while your car is repaired after a covered claim |
| Roadside assistance | No | Towing and labor when the car breaks down |
| Mechanical breakdown | No | Wear and tear and repairs are not accident damage |
| Your deductible | No | You pay it on each collision or comprehensive claim |
Liability limits are the easiest item to overlook. Collision and comprehensive can only ever pay up to your car's value, but a crash you cause can leave you owing far more to the people you hurt. Our liability guide explains why minimum limits run out quickly.
How much is full coverage car insurance per month?
The best national benchmark is the NAIC's combined average premium, which measures the average cost of a policy with liability, collision and comprehensive. It was $1,438 a year in 2023, or about $120 a month, after rising 14.42% in one year.
The NAIC's other headline figure, average expenditure, was lower at $1,281 a year. It divides all premiums by all insured vehicles, including cars with no collision or comprehensive, so it is closer to an average of everyone than an average of full coverage buyers.
Your own price can be far from either average. Insurers weigh your state and ZIP code, age, driving record, credit-based insurance score where allowed, the car itself and the deductibles and limits you pick. Rising claim costs push in one direction for everyone: the NAIC found the average collision claim climbed 17.6% to $7,191 in 2022.
Ways to bring the cost down without dropping protection you need
- Raise your deductibles. The Triple-I says moving from $200 to $500 can cut collision and comprehensive costs by 15% to 30%, and a $1,000 deductible can save 40% or more. See our guide to choosing a deductible.
- Ask about discounts for things such as safe driving, multiple policies or low mileage. Our discounts guide lists the common ones.
- Compare quotes at renewal rather than letting a policy roll over unchecked.
- Drop collision but keep comprehensive on an older, paid-off car. The NAIC notes comprehensive costs less than collision, so it can be a lower-cost middle ground.
Dropping collision and comprehensive altogether is one way people look for cheap car insurance, but it moves the whole risk of losing the car onto you.
Is full coverage worth it? A decision framework
Full coverage is worth it when losing the car would hurt you more than the premium does. Three questions settle most cases.
1. Do you owe money on the car or lease it? If yes, the decision is largely made. The Texas Department of Insurance says lenders require collision and comprehensive while you still owe money, and the NAIC says a lender or lessor may require them. If you owe more than the car is worth, gap insurance is the other piece to consider; the Triple-I says it is generally required on a lease.
2. Could you replace the car from savings tomorrow? If not, full coverage is what stands between a crash or theft and having no car. If you could, you can treat collision and comprehensive as optional.
3. How does the cost compare with the car's value? The most collision and comprehensive can pay is the car's value minus your deductible. The Triple-I's rule of thumb is that if the car is worth less than 10 times the premium for that coverage, it may not be cost effective.
| Your situation | What often fits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| New or financed car | Full coverage, plus gap if you owe more than it is worth | Lender requires it; a total loss would be costly |
| Leased car | Full coverage and gap | Lessor requires it; gap is generally required on leases |
| Paid-off car you could not easily replace | Full coverage, perhaps with higher deductibles | Protects transport you depend on |
| Paid-off older car worth little | Liability with strong limits; consider keeping comprehensive | Collision may cost a large share of what it could ever pay |
| Car you could replace from savings | Your choice; weigh premium against value | You can afford to carry the risk yourself |
Worked example
Example: suppose collision and comprehensive together cost $700 a year on top of your liability coverage, with $1,000 deductibles. These are hypothetical round numbers to show the test.
| Car value | Most you could collect | 10 times $700 | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| $25,000 | $24,000 | $7,000 | Car worth far more than the threshold, so full coverage likely earns its keep |
| $10,000 | $9,000 | $7,000 | Above the threshold, but closer; higher deductibles may help |
| $5,000 | $4,000 | $7,000 | Below the threshold, so the extra $700 a year may not be cost effective |
For example, on the $5,000 car, about six years of premiums would add up to more than the most the coverage could pay out, and the car keeps losing value every year.
How to decide if full coverage is worth it for you
- Check your loan or lease contract for required coverages and deductible limits.
- Look up the car's current market value.
- Ask your insurer to split your premium into liability, collision and comprehensive.
- Subtract your deductible from the car's value to find the most you could collect.
- Apply the 10-times rule to the collision and comprehensive cost.
- Be honest about your savings: could you replace the car without debt?
- Whatever you decide on collision and comprehensive, review your liability limits and uninsured motorist coverage, which protect against much larger losses. The coverage checklist can help.
- Repeat the check at each renewal, since the car's value keeps falling.
Full coverage compared with liability only
| Point | Full coverage | Liability only |
|---|---|---|
| Meets state law | Yes, if limits meet the minimum | Yes, if limits meet the minimum |
| Pays for other people's losses | Yes | Yes |
| Pays to fix your car after a crash | Yes, minus deductible | No |
| Pays if your car is stolen or flooded | Yes, minus deductible | No |
| Allowed on a financed or leased car | Yes | Normally no |
| Cost | Higher | Lower |
Frequently asked questions
What is considered full coverage car insurance?
It usually means liability, collision and comprehensive on one policy, plus any coverage your state requires such as PIP or uninsured motorist. There is no legal definition, so check the actual coverages and limits on your declarations page.
Is full coverage worth it on an older car?
It depends on the car's value and your savings. If the car is paid off, worth little and you could replace it yourself, collision in particular may cost more over a few years than it could ever pay. The Triple-I suggests the coverage may not be cost effective once the car is worth less than 10 times the premium.
How much is full coverage car insurance per month?
The NAIC's average for a policy with liability, collision and comprehensive was $1,438 a year in 2023, about $120 a month. Your price depends on your state, record, age, car and chosen limits and deductibles.
Does full coverage cover everything?
No. It does not include gap insurance, rental reimbursement or roadside help unless you add them, and it never covers mechanical breakdown. It also may carry only minimum liability limits, which can run out in a serious crash.
Do I need full coverage if I have a car loan?
Usually, yes. Lenders and leasing companies normally require collision and comprehensive until the loan is paid off or the lease ends, because the car is their security. Check your contract for the exact terms.
Can I drop full coverage after I pay off my car?
Yes. Once the lender's lien is released, collision and comprehensive are your choice. That is a natural time to compare their cost with the car's value, while keeping strong liability and uninsured motorist coverage.
Sources
- NAIC, 2022/2023 Auto Insurance Database Report combined average premium, average expenditure and collision claim costs
- NAIC, A Shopping Tool for Auto Insurance no such thing as a full coverage policy; lender requirements
- NAIC, Auto Insurance (consumer page) collision optional unless a lender or lessor requires it; comprehensive less expensive than collision
- Insurance Information Institute, Nine ways to lower your auto insurance costs deductible savings and the ten-times rule
- Insurance Information Institute, What is covered by a basic auto insurance policy? collision and comprehensive as parts of a full coverage policy
- Insurance Information Institute, What is gap insurance? gap generally required on leases
- Texas Department of Insurance, Auto insurance guide lenders require collision and comprehensive
Last reviewed by the StateCover Guide editorial team. See our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Tell us.