Full Coverage vs Liability Only: What You Get and What It Costs
Enter your ZIP code and price both options with the same liability limits.
By the AutoQuotesByZip editorial team. Last reviewed: October 4, 2026. Data: NAIC 2024 average premiums.
“Full coverage” is not an official policy type. It usually means liability plus collision and comprehensive, the two coverages that pay to repair or replace your own car. In 2024 the average U.S. premium was $813 for liability, $516 for collision and $283 for comprehensive, according to NAIC — so physical damage coverage made up about 50% of the average full-coverage cost of $1,613.
Enter your ZIP code and price both options with the same liability limits.
Where physical damage coverage costs the most
| State | Liability | Collision | Comprehensive | All three | Share for your own car |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | $1,105 | $635 | $412 | $2,151 | 49% |
| Texas | $893 | $569 | $455 | $1,917 | 53% |
| District of Columbia | $978 | $706 | $303 | $1,986 | 51% |
| Colorado | $831 | $483 | $521 | $1,835 | 55% |
| Michigan | $831 | $658 | $303 | $1,791 | 54% |
| California | $760 | $718 | $211 | $1,690 | 55% |
| New York | $1,243 | $622 | $284 | $2,150 | 42% |
| Arkansas | $586 | $508 | $371 | $1,465 | 60% |
| South Dakota | $416 | $341 | $534 | $1,291 | 68% |
| Mississippi | $679 | $483 | $380 | $1,542 | 56% |
| Lowest-cost states | Liability | Collision | Comprehensive | All three | Share for your own car |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $517 | $405 | $181 | $1,103 | 53% |
| Hawaii | $477 | $447 | $128 | $1,051 | 55% |
| Oregon | $804 | $385 | $186 | $1,375 | 42% |
| Idaho | $519 | $369 | $198 | $1,086 | 52% |
| Maine | $446 | $358 | $196 | $1,000 | 55% |
Compare quotes for your ZIP code with and without collision and comprehensive.
What each option covers
Liability-only pays for injuries and damage you cause to others, up to your limits. It pays nothing for your own car. Collision adds repairs after a crash with another vehicle or object, whoever is at fault, minus your deductible. Comprehensive adds theft, hail, flood, fire, glass and animal strikes. Neither covers mechanical breakdown or normal wear.
When liability-only can make sense
Lenders and leasing companies almost always require collision and comprehensive until the vehicle is paid off. Once you own the car outright, a common rule of thumb is to compare the yearly cost of collision and comprehensive (plus your deductible) with the car’s current value: if a total loss would pay out little more than a year or two of premiums, liability-only may be reasonable — provided you could replace the car yourself. Keep comprehensive longer if you live in a ZIP code with high theft or hail exposure.
Location matters here. Comprehensive averaged $534 in South Dakota and $455 in Texas but only $128 in Hawaii; collision averaged $718 in California versus $339 in Iowa. Our state pages show the breakdown for Texas, Florida, California, New York, Georgia.
Choosing deductibles
Raising a collision or comprehensive deductible lowers the premium, but only choose a deductible you could pay the day after a claim. When comparing insurers, keep the same deductibles on every quote, then test one change at a time.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between full coverage and liability insurance?
Liability insurance pays for injuries and damage you cause to others. Full coverage usually adds collision and comprehensive, which pay to repair or replace your own car.
How much more is full coverage than liability?
Using NAIC’s 2024 U.S. averages, liability averaged $813 while liability plus collision and comprehensive averaged $1,613 — roughly double. The gap varies widely by state and vehicle.
Is full coverage required by law?
No state requires collision or comprehensive. Lenders and leasing companies usually require both while you have a loan or lease.
Sources
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