Unlike homeowners insurance, liability car insurance is required by state law. There are four main types of car insurance: comprehensive, collision, and liability. Full coverage is a combination of the three.
Liability minimum coverage requirements vary by state, but if you finance or lease your car, your lender probably requires comprehensive and collision coverage.
What is collision car insurance?
Collision insurance repairs your car if it's damaged in a collision with another vehicle or object. Car accidents are usually when collision coverage is involved.
However, collision insurance does not cover damage from theft, fire, vandalism, natural disaster, or liability for injuries.
What does collision insurance cover?
| Damage | Comprehensive | Collision | Liability* | Full |
| Theft | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Vandalism | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Fire | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Natural disaster | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Falling objects (tree) | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Animal damage | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Collision/accident | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Rollover | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Bodily injury/medical bills | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Physical damage | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Property damage | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Uninsured motorist | No | No | Yes | Yes |
*Most states require some type of liability coverage
Comprehensive coverage replaces or repairs your vehicle if it's stolen or damaged. Comprehensive coverage typically covers damage from fire, vandalism or falling objects like a tree or hail.
Collision insurance, on the other hand, covers accidents and collisions, including rollovers. If you lease or finance your vehicle, your lender may require both comprehensive and collision coverage.
How much does collision insurance cost?
Collision insurance would be in addition to liability coverage. Liability coverage is required by state law.
When you're shopping for collision insurance, get multiple quotes. The policy with the lowest price for coverage, the most coverage types and limits, and the lowest deductible is the best one for you. Your credit score, marital status, vehicle type, previous coverage, and miles driven will impact your annual premium.
Average costs for liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage costs by state are in the below table. The average cost is what consumers ended up paying on average for insurance in that state. However, your annual premium will vary based on your age, gender, and location.
| State | Liability | Collision | Comprehensive | Average cost |
| Alabama | $511.13 | $380.51 | $175.28 | $904.56 |
| Alaska | $576.09 | $387.12 | $147.87 | $965.44 |
| Arizona | $646.75 | $326.28 | $208.25 | $1,046.40 |
| Arkansas | $486.72 | $375.25 | $235.36 | $898.89 |
| California | $616.51 | $483.60 | $94.72 | $1,034.05 |
| Colorado | $687.40 | $330.50 | $272.44 | $1,132.81 |
| Connecticut | $784.70 | $407.54 | $133.86 | $1,216.55 |
| Delaware | $900.32 | $352.86 | $140.52 | $1,291.39 |
| D.C. | $809.41 | $535.96 | $228.71 | $1,429.43 |
| Florida | $1,009.94 | $361.79 | $149.26 | $1,426.46 |
| Georgia | $797.80 | $408.41 | $176.31 | $1,212.04 |
| Hawaii | $479.27 | $357.78 | $107.66 | $829.15 |
| Idaho | $425.89 | $262.67 | $139.75 | $722.06 |
| Illinois | $515.94 | $339.04 | $140.57 | $916.49 |
| Indiana | $442.69 | $286.49 | $135.63 | $767.72 |
| Iowa | $348.87 | $252.65 | $214.65 | $700.71 |
| Kansas | $421.78 | $287.24 | $276.33 | $805.15 |
| Kentucky | $611.54 | $312.51 | $164.68 | $936.91 |
| Louisiana | $1,015.36 | $487.44 | $248.57 | $1,545.82 |
| Maine | $374.59 | $294.80 | $113.33 | $686.25 |
| Maryland | $737.73 | $422.06 | $167.61 | $1,211.83 |
| Massachusetts | $658.47 | $440.55 | $147.06 | $1,167.16 |
| Michigan | $952.15 | $479.11 | $159.08 | $1,469.73 |
| Minnesota | $499.48 | $265.74 | $206.45 | $872.65 |
| Mississippi | $538.35 | $372.17 | $239.34 | $971.19 |
| Missouri | $520.45 | $315.49 | $216.92 | $913.81 |
| Montana | $435.81 | $283.65 | $306.00 | $825.87 |
| Nebraska | $429.35 | $272.48 | $260.97 | $796.87 |
| Nevada | $900.40 | $366.54 | $119.28 | $1,260.43 |
| New Hampshire | $436.76 | $327.30 | $118.58 | $847.58 |
| New Jersey | $955.93 | $414.39 | $130.26 | $1,385.61 |
| New Mexico | $576.81 | $311.24 | $214.10 | $915.62 |
| New York | $920.25 | $457.77 | $180.64 | $1,425.00 |
| North Carolina | $391.29 | $342.13 | $137.45 | $734.06 |
| North Dakota | $307.97 | $279.45 | $256.76 | $686.08 |
| Ohio | $448.59 | $302.57 | $130.74 | $794.91 |
| Oklahoma | $508.89 | $346.73 | $267.99 | $915.49 |
| Oregon | $689.74 | $280.61 | $106.87 | $990.21 |
| Pennsylvania | $555.42 | $376.21 | $169.21 | $991.23 |
| Rhode Island | $885.33 | $474.58 | $140.40 | $1,333.12 |
| South Carolina | $702.37 | $318.08 | $207.09 | $1,093.97 |
| South Dakota | $333.44 | $244.47 | $327.11 | $721.67 |
| Tennessee | $477.07 | $355.01 | $163.83 | $855.78 |
| Texas | $659.47 | $442.88 | $269.90 | $1,152.25 |
| Utah | $601.77 | $309.20 | $127.53 | $941.14 |
| Vermont | $376.99 | $329.47 | $147.81 | $778.29 |
| Virginia | $492.68 | $316.05 | $148.25 | $853.78 |
| Washington | $689.18 | $312.65 | $118.19 | $1,035.34 |
| West Virginia | $521.74 | $350.20 | $224.86 | $938.71 |
| Wisconsin | $422.28 | $247.95 | $159.82 | $755.97 |
| Wyoming | $356.25 | $297.61 | $317.22 | $765.81 |
Data from the Insurance Information Institute (III)
Who needs collision insurance?
If you bought a new car or newer used car with cash, you should consider collision insurance. If you lease or finance your car, most likely your lender will require comprehensive and collision coverage.
Car accidents happen. Collision insurance is good protection, especially if you have a newer car.
Ronda Lee is an associate editor for insurance at Personal Finance Insider covering life, auto, homeowners, and renters insurance for consumers. She is also a licensed attorney who practiced litigation and insurance defense.