Auto Insurance
Physical Damage Coverage
Physical damage coverage — collision and comprehensive — protects your vehicle investment against accidents, theft, hail, vandalism, and other covered losses. For newer or higher-value vehicles, maintaining adequate coverage and understanding your deductible choices matters as much as the liability structure.
Auto Insurance
What You Need to Know About Physical Damage Coverage
Collision Coverage
Pays for damage to your vehicle resulting from a collision with another vehicle or object, regardless of who is at fault. Your deductible applies — the higher the deductible you choose, the lower the premium, but the more out-of-pocket at claim time.
Comprehensive Coverage
Covers losses not related to collision — theft, fire, hail, flood, animal strikes, and vandalism. In ND and MN, comprehensive claims from hail and deer strikes are common. Comprehensive coverage is typically retained on vehicles until depreciation makes it uneconomical.
Gap Coverage
If you financed your vehicle, you may owe more than it's worth — especially in the early years of a loan. Gap coverage pays the difference between your insurance settlement (actual cash value) and your loan balance when a vehicle is totaled.