Choosing the right auto insurance coverage can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to understand which coverages are needed to protect your vehicle. Two of the most important—but sometimes confusing—types of protection are Collision Coverage and Comprehensive Coverage, often referred to together as “full coverage.”

For New Hampshire drivers—who face everything from icy roads to wildlife crossings and crazy drivers on the highways—understanding the differences between these coverages is essential. This Q&A guide breaks down what Collision and Comprehensive cover, how it works, and why most drivers choose to include both.

What is Collision Coverage?

Collision Coverage pays for repairs or replacement of your vehicle when it’s damaged in an accident involving another vehicle or object, regardless of who was at fault. This includes events such as:

• Hitting another car

• Another car hitting you

• Colliding with a tree, fence, guardrail, or pole

• Damage from potholes

• Rollovers

The key point is that Collision applies when two objects collide.

What is Comprehensive Coverage?

Comprehensive Coverage protects your vehicle from damage caused by events other than a collision. These are often incidents outside your control, such as:

• Hitting a deer or other wildlife

• Theft

• Vandalism

• Fire

• Flooding

• Hailstorms

• Falling trees or branches

• Broken or cracked windshields

In a state like New Hampshire—where wildlife collisions are common and winter storms can be intense—Comprehensive Coverage is especially valuable.

Are Collision and Comprehensive Coverage required in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire does not typically require drivers to carry any auto insurance unless they’ve been involved in certain at-fault accidents or have had a major violation on their record.

This means collision and comprehensive coverage are optional.

However, if your vehicle is financed or leased, your lender or leasing company will require both coverages to protect their investment until the loan is paid off.

Even for vehicles without a loan, most New Hampshire drivers keep this protection because of the high cost of modern repairs and the unpredictability of weather and wildlife activity.

How do Collision and Comprehensive Coverage work in a claim?

Both types of coverage work similarly in practice:

1. Your vehicle is damaged in a covered event.

2. You file a claim with your insurance company.

3. You pay your deductible (unless waived by your policy).

4. Your insurance covers the remaining repair or replacement costs up to your vehicle’s value.

The difference lies in the cause of the damage:

• If you hit a guardrail → Collision

• If a tree falls on your car → Comprehensive

• If you slide on ice and hit another vehicle → Collision

• If a deer jumps into the road and you hit it → Comprehensive

Your insurance adjuster will help determine which coverage applies based on the details of the incident.

What types of damage does Collision NOT cover?

Collision Coverage does not cover:

• Theft

• Weather damage

• Vandalism

• Damage from animals

• Flooding or fire

• Mechanical breakdowns

• Wear and tear

The theft, weather damage, vandalism, damage from animals, flooding and fire fall under Comprehensive Coverage, while mechanical breakdowns and wear and tear are not typically covered by a NH auto policy. 

What types of damage does Comprehensive NOT cover?

Comprehensive Coverage does not cover:

• Collisions with vehicles, buildings, or objects

• Damage caused while driving into potholes or curbs

• Rollovers

• Damage from hitting the road surface

• Personal items stolen from inside the vehicle (usually covered under homeowners or renters insurance)

Anything involving your car physically striking another object typically falls under Collision. The exception to this is if your vehicle collides with an animal- then this is under comprehensive.

How do deductibles work for Collision and Comprehensive?

Most auto policies allow you to choose separate deductibles for each type:

• Collision deductible (commonly $500 or $1,000)

• Comprehensive deductible (often lower, such as $250 or $500)

A higher deductible usually lowers your monthly premium, while a lower deductible reduces your out-of-pocket expense after a claim.

Many New Hampshire drivers choose a lower comprehensive deductible because windshield damage is more common than other types of accidents.

Does Comprehensive Coverage apply to windshields?

Yes, in most cases Comprehensive will cover:

• Cracks

• Chips

• Shattered glass

Some insurers in New Hampshire even offer full glass coverage, meaning you pay no deductible for windshield repairs or replacements. This can be a valuable add-on in a state where winter road debris is common.

Will Collision or Comprehensive cover a rental car?

Collision and Comprehensive may cover a rental vehicle, but the situation can vary.

For more details on coverage when renting a car, check out Should I Buy Insurance When I Rent a Car?

How do insurers determine if my car is totaled?

When the repair cost approaches or exceeds a certain percentage of your car’s value, the insurer may declare it a total loss. If so:

• Collision coverage will pay the actual cash value of the car if it is in a collision.

• Comprehensive coverage will pay the actual cash value of the car if it is in a non-collision event

Your insurer pays the actual cash value (ACV) of your vehicle, minus your deductible.

Does Collision or Comprehensive apply when someone else is at fault?

If another driver is at fault:

• Their insurance should pay for your damages.

• But sometimes responsibility is disputed or delayed.

In that case, you can use your own Collision Coverage immediately, and your insurer will likely seek reimbursement from the at-fault driver’s insurance.

Comprehensive Coverage applies regardless of fault because it covers non-collision events.

How much Collision and Comprehensive Coverage do I need? 

The amount of coverage is tied to your vehicle’s value, but the decision to carry it should consider:

• Your car’s age and replacement cost

• Your ability to pay for repairs out of pocket

  This is a critical point: if you are in an accident caused by someone without insurance and you did not have collision on your vehicle, you would not be able to go through any insurance to be made whole.

• Your commute distance

• Local wildlife activity (very high in NH)

• Weather-related risks

• Your personal comfort level with risk

Many drivers keep Collision and Comprehensive as long as the vehicle is worth more than the total of both deductibles. If your car is paid off and older, you may choose to drop one or both coverages—but only if you’re comfortable absorbing a total loss.

Is Collision and Comprehensive Coverage expensive?

These coverages often make up a significant portion of your auto policy premium, but they also offer some of the most valuable protection.

Comprehensive insurance is less expensive because most claims result from uncontrollable events.

Collision coverage tends to cost more because accident damage is more common and costlier to repair.

For many New Hampshire drivers, the cost is well worth the peace of mind, especially given the high price of modern vehicle repairs.

Final Thoughts

Collision and Comprehensive Coverage provide essential protection for your vehicle in a wide range of situations. Whether it’s a winter storm, a wildlife collision, a parking lot incident, or a major accident, these coverages help ensure that you’re not left paying thousands out of pocket.

In New Hampshire—where weather, wildlife, and rural roads add to the unpredictability of driving—having both Collision and Comprehensive Coverage can make all the difference when the unexpected happens.

If you’d like help reviewing your policy or choosing the right deductibles and coverages, our team at HPM Insurance is always here to assist.