There are two physical damage coverages for your car on an auto policy: collision coverage which covers crashes, and comprehensive coverage, also known as other than collision, which covers fire, theft, vandalism and glass breakage. Both of these coverages come with a deductible - what you have to pay, before the insurance pays. The higher the deductible the less the cost of insurance because you are retaining more of the risk. Many other factors determine the cost of insurance: what kind of car is it?, how old is the car?, how old is the driver?, is the driver a man or a woman?, and how is the driver's driving record?

Deductibles vary with the state you live in and which insurance company, but they generally range from no deductible (0) to $2000. Other deductibles are: $100, $250, $500 and $1000. When you are shopping for insurance, I urge you to compare the numbers. The cost between deductibles on comprehensive are generally lower than those on collision. When buying a new car, many people come in with a mind set on a $500 deductible. Most lienholders or finance companies allow you a maximum deductible of $500, so that is usually the cheapest insurance. So now you are driving down the road in your new car with a $500 deductible, and a rock shoots up shattering your windshield. It is covered under your comprehensive coverage, but you have to pay the first five hundred dollars and the average windshield runs between three to five hundred dollars. For a little more money, you could have purchased comprehensive with a $100 deductible and you would only have to pay the first one hundred dollars.

Have your agent run the numbers for different deductibles on both comprehensive and collision. If the numbers look good at one deductible, look at the next lower level. Insurance is not meant to be one size fits all. I like to say insurance is a la carte. It should be a custom fit between what you can comfortably afford and what you are comfortable with risking.