Updated July 2026
What Is Full Coverage Car Insurance Insurance?
Full coverage combines three distinct coverage types: liability (pays others when you cause an accident), collision (pays for your vehicle damage in crashes regardless of fault), and comprehensive (pays for non-collision damage like theft, hail, or vandalism). Georgia requires only liability coverage, but lenders require full coverage on financed or leased vehicles. The term 'full coverage' is insurance industry shorthand, not a legal definition — your policy will list each coverage type separately with its own limit.
- You slide through a red light on wet pavement and hit another car. The other driver has $8,000 in vehicle damage and $15,000 in medical bills. Your liability coverage pays the other driver's costs up to your policy limits. Your collision coverage pays to repair your own vehicle, minus your $500 deductible. Without collision coverage, you'd pay the full cost to fix your car yourself.
- A severe hailstorm causes $4,200 in dents and broken glass across your vehicle. Your comprehensive coverage pays the repair cost minus your $1,000 deductible, leaving you with a $3,200 payout. Liability and collision don't cover weather damage — comprehensive is the only coverage that pays for hail, and it must be active before the storm hits. Adding comprehensive after damage occurs won't cover the loss.
- Your car is stolen and never recovered. Your comprehensive coverage pays your vehicle's actual cash value — the amount it was worth immediately before the theft, not what you paid for it or what you owe on your loan. If your car was worth $18,000 and you owe $22,000, comprehensive pays $18,000 minus your deductible. You're responsible for the remaining $4,000 loan balance unless you carry gap insurance.
Who Needs Full Coverage Car Insurance Insurance?
You need full coverage if you're financing or leasing your vehicle — your lender requires it to protect their collateral. You should strongly consider it if your car is worth more than $5,000 and you couldn't afford to replace it out of pocket after a total loss. Drivers with newer vehicles, those living in high-theft areas, or anyone who depends on their car for work benefit most from the added protection.
Calculate your car's current value using Kelley Blue Book or a similar tool. Subtract your deductible from that value — that's your maximum collision or comprehensive payout. If that number is less than two years of collision and comprehensive premiums combined, dropping those coverages and keeping liability-only makes financial sense. If you'd struggle to replace your car with cash, keep full coverage regardless of the math.
How Much Does Full Coverage Car Insurance Insurance Cost?
Full coverage in Georgia typically adds $80 to $140 per month compared to minimum liability-only coverage, bringing total monthly premiums to $110 to $180 for drivers with clean records.
- Your vehicle's actual cash value — newer and more expensive cars cost more to insure because collision and comprehensive payouts are higher.
- Your chosen deductible — selecting a $1,000 deductible instead of $500 can reduce your collision and comprehensive premiums by 15 to 25 percent.
- Your ZIP code — metro Atlanta drivers pay more for comprehensive coverage due to higher theft and vandalism rates than rural Georgia counties.
- Your driving record — at-fault accidents in the past three years increase collision premiums by 40 to 60 percent at most carriers.
- Your credit-based insurance score — Georgia allows insurers to use credit history in pricing, and lower scores increase full coverage premiums more than liability-only premiums.