Collision vs. comprehensive for door dings? What’s the difference?

Insurance Forum Auto Insurance
1

Can someone explain why two parked cars, and mine gets a door ding from someone else who didn’t even leave a note :confused:, is considered a ‘collision’ claim instead of ‘comprehensive’? I always thought a collision had to involve moving cars. I’m trying to understand how this type of damage works compared to hitting something like a deer or a rock while driving. It’s not adding up for me.

2

Collision covers any time your car hits or gets hit by another object that isn’t covered under comprehensive. So even if it’s just a door bumping your car, that counts as a collision. If something crazy like the other car falling from the sky happened, that would fall under comprehensive!

3

@Reese
Thanks! That makes more sense with the example :blush:

4

Blair said:
@Reese
Thanks! That makes more sense with the example :blush:

Also, if someone intentionally hit your car with their door, that could be considered vandalism and fall under comprehensive. I’ve even seen cases where wind blew a door or shopping cart into a car, and it was covered as comprehensive because wind was considered the cause.

5

Can you control an animal running out in front of you? That’s why hitting a deer is comprehensive. But if a rock is sitting on the road and you hit it, that’s a collision.

6

Lex said:
Can you control an animal running out in front of you? That’s why hitting a deer is comprehensive. But if a rock is sitting on the road and you hit it, that’s a collision.

Yeah, I get that the first example is covered under comprehensive, but a car door isn’t a moving object. It’s just swinging on a hinge. So if door dings count as collisions, wouldn’t that mean people who don’t leave a note are committing ‘hit and run’?

7

Here’s the breakdown of collision vs. comprehensive in your case:

Collision covers damage to your car when it hits or is hit by something, even if it’s not moving. Examples include:

  1. Two moving cars hitting each other
  2. Hitting a tree or pole
  3. A parked car getting dinged by another vehicle (like your door ding)

Comprehensive covers damage from non-collision events like:

  1. Theft or vandalism
  2. Natural disasters (floods, hail, etc.)
  3. Falling objects
  4. Hitting an animal (like a deer)

The key thing is that collision doesn’t require the cars to be moving. Any contact with another vehicle is still a ‘collision’ by insurance standards. Your confusion is totally understandable because, in everyday language, we think ‘collision’ means two cars driving into each other. But in insurance, it just means any impact between your car and something else.

Rock and deer hits are usually comprehensive because they fall under ‘acts of nature’ or aren’t the result of a crash with another car.

Policies can vary, though, so check with your provider if you’re unsure!

8

@Taylor
Thanks for breaking that down so clearly! I think other people confused about this will find your explanation super helpful, too :blush:

9

Your car collided with their door. Simple as that.