What a $0 Comprehensive Deductible Actually Covers in Oklahoma

Most drivers in Norman have heard the phrase "full coverage." Almost none of them have heard "zero comprehensive deductible," and it is the single thing I bring up on more auto calls than anything else. Here is what it is, what it covers, and why I use it to answer the windshield question.

What is comprehensive coverage?

Comprehensive is the part of an auto policy that pays for damage to your own car from events that are not a collision with another vehicle. In Oklahoma that list is long:

• Hail, which is the most common one around here
• Theft of the vehicle
• Someone breaking into the car
• Vandalism
• The car catching fire
• Hitting a deer or another animal
• A cracked or shattered windshield

Collision coverage pays when you hit something or something hits you. Comprehensive pays for everything else that happens to the car while it is sitting in your driveway or driving down I-35 minding its own business.

What does a $0 deductible change?

A deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before the policy pays the rest. Most comprehensive deductibles are $500 or $1,000. With a $0 comprehensive deductible, you pay nothing for a covered comprehensive claim.

Think about what that means for the events above. If someone steals your car, the last thing you want to worry about is "I have to pay some money out of pocket to get my vehicle replaced." Having a $0 comprehensive deductible allows you not to pay anything out of your pocket in the event of a claim. Same for a hailstorm. Same for a deer.

We are one of the only agencies offering it right now, and I put it on most of the policies I quote.

The windshield question

Some of our competitors sell a $50 glass deductible. If your windshield cracks, you pay $50 and they replace it. Our carrier does not offer that specific product, so people sometimes assume we are behind on glass.

The way I help my customers is I give them a $0 comprehensive deductible, which can be used for your windshield. Not only is it $0 for your windshield, but if a deer hops out in front of you and you get into an accident, that is $0 too. You get the full benefit of a windshield deductible, and it also covers everything else that is out of your control.

Does "full coverage" already include this?

No, and this is the misunderstanding I spend the most time clearing up. "Full coverage" is not a defined term. It usually means liability plus comprehensive plus collision. It says nothing about your deductible amounts, and it says nothing about uninsured motorist coverage, which is the piece that pays your medical bills if someone hits you and drives off.

When you call, the first thing I will ask is what your deductibles are today. A lot of people do not know. That is not a criticism. Nobody explained it to them when they bought the policy.

What it costs

A $0 comprehensive deductible raises the premium compared to a $1,000 deductible on the same policy. How much depends on the vehicle and the driver, so I will not put a number here. What I will say is that bundling the auto with your home saves 20 to 30 percent, and the free defensive driving course Elise paid for takes it down further for three years. Most of my customers end up with the $0 deductible and a lower total bill than they walked in with.

How to find out if it fits your policy

Call the office at (405) 253-7879 or send the quote form and tell us you want the $0 comprehensive option. A licensed agent will pull your current declarations page, show you exactly where your deductibles sit, and quote the change side by side.