What is Comprehensive Car Insurance?

Decisions, decisions, decisions… When it comes to shopping for car insurance, there’s no denying that there are a lot of decisions involved. However, unless you’ve taken the time to do the necessary research, picking the right type (or types) of car insurance can be rather difficult.

If you’re looking for your first car insurance policy or are thinking about amending your current policy, you may want to consider adding comprehensive coverage to your plan.

This leads to today’s question, “what is comprehensive car insurance, and why is it important for drivers in Canada?”.

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Continue reading to learn more about comprehensive coverage in Canada.

What is comprehensive car insurance and why is it beneficial for Canadian drivers?

Comprehensive coverage is an optional form of car insurance that you can add to your policy for an additional fee. These types of car insurance are referred to as car insurance add-ons or insurance endorsements.

Comprehensive car insurance coverage financially protects your vehicle from a wide array of non-collision-related events (i.e. damage that generally occurs off of the road).

Bonus tip — Click here to learn more about the various auto and home insurance add-ons available in Canada.

What is covered by comprehensive car insurance in Canada?

The components of your comprehensive coverage will depend on which car insurance provider you choose. But, in most cases, comprehensive coverage financially protects vehicle owners from the following risks:

• Vandalism
• Theft and attempted theft
• Damage caused by fallen objects (fallen trees, tree branches, etc.)
• Fire
• Windstorms
• Hailstorms
• Instances that result in a cracked windshield (in select provinces)

Now that you know the answer to the question, “what is comprehensive car insurance?”, let’s take a look at how you can confirm that you’re covered for the above-mentioned risks and perils.

*In western Canada vehicle owners commonly add a 13D endorsement for limitation of glass so may your vehicle not be covered in all circumstances.*

How do you check what risks your comprehensive auto insurance covers?

Have you already included comprehensive coverage in your auto insurance policy? Then it would be best if you took a moment to confirm that your policy covers all the risks mentioned above.

The easiest way to confirm which risks and perils your comprehensive car insurance covers is by referencing the Specified Perils portion of your auto insurance policy. The Specified Perils section will clearly list all of the events that are included in your comprehensive coverage.

If you want to add additional risks and perils to the Specified Perils portion of your policy, you can speak with your insurance company or insurance broker when it comes time to update your plan.

How much can policyholders expect to pay for comprehensive coverage in Canada?

There’s no surefire way to determine exactly how much more you’ll pay for comprehensive coverage until you’ve received your auto insurance quotes.

Like other fees related to car insurance, comprehensive coverage rates are pretty difficult to estimate due to the fact that different car insurers use their own techniques and processes to calculate rates.

That being said, we can say that because comprehensive coverage is a car insurance add-on, the price will be influenced by the size of your deductible. If you want to get better rates for comprehensive coverage (or car insurance in general), you may want to consider increasing your deductible. Speak with your insurance provider or broker to learn more.

Is comprehensive coverage always worth it for drivers?

Although you need to have the standard forms of mandatory car insurance comprehensive coverage isn’t necessarily required.

For one, Canadian drivers aren’t legally required to obtain comprehensive coverage; it’s up to the driver if they want it or not.

Additionally, comprehensive coverage can increase your car insurance rates, which doesn’t make it the most cost-effective option if you have an old, damaged or low-value vehicle. In some cases, like if your car is 15 years old (or more), some insurance companies won’t even offer comprehensive coverage as an option.

However, comprehensive coverage is highly beneficial for drivers that have high-value or luxury vehicles, as it increases the chances that they’ll be compensated if an unexpected event occurs. So, if you’ve recently purchased or are planning on buying a high-value vehicle, you should speak with your insurance company or broker about comprehensive coverage.

How can drivers compare quotes for comprehensive coverage in Canada?

There are a few different ways that drivers can compare insurance quotes for comprehensive coverage: contacting automobile insurance companies directly or teaming up with an insurance broker.

Calling all of the car insurance companies that offer coverage in your area can produce results, but it can take quite a long time and a lot of effort.

On the other hand, working with an insurance broker makes finding high-quality insurance quotes a quick and straightforward task.

For those that don’t know, insurance brokers are groups that work with both insurance companies and policyholders. When a policyholder wants to compare insurance quotes, their insurance broker can provide them with options from some of the best insurance companies in Canada. Instead of spending your day sitting by the phone, you can compare quotes with your insurance broker in a matter of minutes.

If you’re looking for a reputable brokerage that offers coverage throughout Canada, consider teaming up with one of our Surex insurance advisors.

Team up with Surex to save up to 25% on car insurance in Canada

At Surex, we work hard to provide policyholders with the best insurance quotes in Canada. We do this by working with several of the top-rated car insurance companies in the country, like Aviva and Intact.

When you contact your personal Surex insurance advisor, they can provide you with your collection of quotes in ten minutes or less. This makes shopping for insurance quicker and easier than ever before.

Want to get started? 

Contact us over the phone or online to receive the most competitive insurance quotes in the country. While you’re speaking with your Surex insurance advisor, feel free to ask about the benefits of bundling your insurance policies. Bundling multiple insurance policies (like auto and home) is a great way to reduce your car insurance rates. In some cases, the savings can be as generous as 25%.