People throw around the term “full coverage” like it means something specific. It doesn’t.
Even insurance companies will tell you there’s no such thing as a “full coverage” policy. It’s just casual shorthand for a package that usually includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. But the details—and what’s missing—are what actually matter when you file a claim.
Below, our friends at Warner & Fitzmartin – Personal Injury Lawyers discuss what you need to know about what your policy really covers and where the gaps are.
What People Usually Mean By “Full Coverage”
An Uber accident lawyer knows that when someone says they have “full coverage,” they typically mean their policy includes liability coverage that pays for damage and injuries they cause to others, collision coverage that pays to fix their car after a crash, and comprehensive coverage that pays for non-crash damage like theft or hail.
Those are important coverages. But they don’t automatically include uninsured motorist protection, medical payments, rental car reimbursement, roadside assistance, or gap coverage. If it’s not listed on your declarations page, you probably don’t have it.
Collision Vs. Comprehensive: Why The Difference Matters
These two coverages get lumped together, but they cover different types of damage and often come with separate deductibles.
Collision covers your vehicle when it hits another vehicle or object—like a car, pole, or guardrail—or when you roll over. Comprehensive covers damage from things you didn’t collide with, including theft, vandalism, fire, hail, flood, falling tree limbs, and animal strikes.
Here’s the thing: which coverage applies determines your out-of-pocket cost. If your comprehensive deductible is $250 and your collision deductible is $1,000, you’ll feel that difference. Many people don’t realize they have two separate deductibles until they file a claim.
Deductibles: The Hidden Cost Inside Your Coverage
A deductible is what you pay first before your insurer pays the rest on a covered claim.
If repairs cost $600 and you have a $1,000 collision deductible, your insurance pays nothing. You’re covering the entire bill. A $3,500 collision repair with a $1,000 deductible means you pay $1,000 and the insurer pays $2,500. If your car’s totaled and valued at $12,000, the payout is $12,000 minus your deductible.
The truth is, a higher deductible lowers your premiums. But only pick a deductible you could realistically cover tomorrow without derailing your finances.
Coverages People Assume Are Included (But Often Aren’t)
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM) protects you if the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough insurance. It’s not automatic in many states.
- Medical Payments or PIP help cover medical bills regardless of who’s at fault—useful for immediate expenses while liability is sorted out.
- Rental Reimbursement pays for a rental car while yours is being repaired. Without it, you’re waiting on the other driver’s insurer.
- Gap Coverage pays the difference if you owe more on your loan than your totaled car is worth.
- Rideshare or Delivery Endorsements are necessary for app-based driving. Standard policies often exclude this.
How To Actually Check What You Have
Don’t guess. Look at your declarations page. It should list your liability limits, whether you have UM/UIM coverage, your collision and comprehensive deductibles, and any endorsements like rental coverage or gap insurance.
If you can’t find something on your declarations page, assume you don’t have it.
Common “Full Coverage” Surprises
An uninsured driver hits you and you don’t have UM coverage—you’re relying on health insurance and savings. Storm damage totals your car but you have a very high comprehensive deductible—you’re paying thousands out of pocket first. Your totaled car has an underwater loan and no gap coverage—you’re paying off a car you can’t drive.
The Bottom Line
“Full coverage” is marketing language, not an actual insurance product. What matters is what’s written on your declarations page.
Most people don’t look at their policy until they need to file a claim. By then, it’s too late to add coverage for something that just happened.
Take five minutes to review your declarations page. Make sure your deductibles are amounts you can actually afford to pay. Check whether you have uninsured motorist coverage, medical payments, and gap insurance if you’re financing your vehicle.
The time to figure out what you’re missing isn’t after you’ve been hit by an uninsured driver or your car’s been totaled in a hailstorm. It’s now.
