Can I Keep Comprehensive and Drop Collision
Most insurers let you drop collision while keeping comprehensive, since they're separate coverages you can mix on your own policy.
Yes, you can drop collision and keep comprehensive
Comprehensive and collision are two separate coverages, even though insurers often sell them together. Collision pays for damage when you hit another car or an object. Comprehensive pays for damage from things like theft, fire, hail, a falling tree, or hitting an animal. You can drop one and keep the other because your insurer prices and tracks them separately on your policy.
Whether this is the right move depends on what your car is worth and whether you're required to carry collision. If you own the car outright, the choice is yours. If you're still financing or leasing it, your lender almost always requires both, and you won't be able to drop collision until the loan is paid off.
What your car is worth now, not what you paid
The main reason people drop collision is that the car's value has fallen to the point where the payout wouldn't cover much after a deductible. Collision coverage pays out based on the car's current market value, not what you paid for it or what you owe.
Check what your car is actually worth before you decide. If a bad crash would only net you a small payout after the deductible, the premium you're paying for collision may not be buying you much. Comprehensive tends to stay worth keeping longer, since its premium is usually lower and the risks it covers, like theft or weather damage, don't go away as the car ages.
If you're not sure what your car is worth, your insurer or a used car valuation site can give you a number. Compare that number against what you'd pay out of pocket in a collision claim after your deductible.
What you can afford to replace out of pocket
Dropping collision means that if you cause an accident, or a crash is your fault, you pay for your own car's repair or replacement yourself. Comprehensive doesn't cover that. It only covers the specific events in its own list.
Before you drop it, think through what you'd do if your car were totaled in a crash you caused. If you could cover a replacement without much trouble, dropping collision is a reasonable way to lower your premium. If you'd need that car and couldn't easily replace it, keeping collision may be worth the cost even on an older car.
Some drivers split the difference by raising their collision deductible instead of dropping it entirely. That lowers the premium somewhat while keeping some protection in place. Ask your insurer what a higher deductible would do to your premium before you decide to drop the coverage altogether.
Questions people ask about this
Will dropping collision lower my premium a lot?
It depends on your car, your driving record, and your insurer, so there's no general answer. Ask your insurer for a quote with collision removed so you can see the actual difference for your policy before deciding.
Can I add collision back later if I change my mind?
Yes, in most cases you can add it back at your next renewal or sooner by contacting your insurer. Your premium for it will be based on your car's value and your driving record at that time, not what you paid before.
Does comprehensive cover a cracked windshield?
Comprehensive typically covers glass damage from things like road debris or weather, since it falls under the same category as other non-collision damage. Check your policy or ask your insurer, since some policies handle glass claims differently or offer a separate glass deductible.
Do I still need comprehensive if I rarely drive the car?
Comprehensive covers risks like theft, fire, and weather damage that don't depend on how much you drive, so low mileage doesn't reduce most of what it protects against. If the car sits parked most of the time, ask your insurer whether a low-mileage discount applies instead of dropping coverage.
What happens if I drop collision and then total my car?
You would be responsible for repairing or replacing the car yourself, since collision is what pays for damage you're at fault for. Comprehensive would only help if the cause of the loss falls under its specific list, like theft or fire, not a crash you caused.
See what dropping collision would actually do to your premium before you decide.
Pull up your current policy and find the separate premium amounts listed for collision and comprehensive. Look up your car's current market value using your insurer's tool or a used car valuation site. Call your insurer or agent and ask for a quote with collision removed, and also ask what a higher collision deductible would cost instead. If your car is financed or leased, ask your lender whether collision is still required before you make any changes. Decide based on what you could afford to replace the car for, not just the premium difference.
