Comprehensive car insurance is usually mandatory if you’re leasing a vehicle and/or financing one, but for a car owner it is voluntary. Fully comprehensive car insurance is available for the driver who wants to make sure her property is protected from the more unpredictable events in life. This coverage is designed to provide a safety net against things like theft, fire, flood, and animals.

If your car gets stolen and never recovered, your comprehensive coverage will pay for your new car, or if it is recovered, it will pay to have it fixed. If you accidentally hit a deer and total your pick-up, the same applies. But, this is all in relation to your deductible.

Getting a comprehensive car insurance quote will vary greatly depending on many factors such as your driving record, location, make and model of your car, age, and most importantly the deductable. This is why it’s important to get as diverse of a comprehensive car insurance comparison before signing the dotted line.

Having a high deductable will always get you cheaper comprehensive car insurance, but it will leave you at risk for paying a lot more out of pocket if you do need to cash in on your policy. But, that’s the risk you take when deciding how much coverage you want stacked up against the level of coverage you can afford. If you have a brand new car or one in excellent condition, the cost of repairs is likely to be higher, so you may benefit from full coverage car insurance. But if you have an older or less than perfect vehicle, a comprehensive car insurance policy may not be worth the money, better to go with a liability insurance policy.

For example, if you have a deductable of $1,000 and your car is attacked by a bear, causing $1,500 worth of damage, your policy will only pay for $500 of the repairs. So, shopping around to get a good comparison of what insurance companies will quote you for comprehensive coverage is always a good idea.

—AJ Register