Whether something is covered comes down to which of three coverages you carry: liability (damage you cause to others), collision (your car in a crash), and comprehensive (your car from non-crash events — theft, weather, animals). 'Full coverage' just means you carry all three. Here's how that plays out in the situations people actually search for.
Hitting a deer or animal
Covered by comprehensive, not collision — animal strikes are treated as an unavoidable event. You'll pay your comprehensive deductible. If you only carry liability, it's not covered.
A rental car
Your liability typically extends to a rental, and if you carry collision and comprehensive, those usually do too — so you can often decline the rental counter's pricey coverage. Confirm your limits first, and note this applies to personal rentals, not business use.
Someone else driving your car
Generally covered — car insurance follows the car, so a licensed friend driving with your permission is covered by your policy. See does insurance follow the car or the driver for the exceptions (excluded and unlisted drivers).
Theft and vandalism
Covered by comprehensive — theft of the vehicle, broken windows, and vandalism. Personal belongings stolen from the car are not covered by auto insurance; that's a renters or homeowners claim.
Weather, floods, and falling trees
Comprehensive covers hail, flood, fire, falling trees, and storm damage to your car — yes, including flood (unlike a home policy, where flood is separate). Without comprehensive, weather damage is on you.
Your own injuries
Covered by medical payments (MedPay) or personal injury protection (PIP) in no-fault states — not by liability, which only pays for the other party. If the other driver is at fault and uninsured, uninsured-motorist coverage steps in.
What car insurance never covers
Mechanical breakdown and normal wear, intentional damage, using your personal car for delivery/rideshare without an endorsement, and personal items inside the car. Those need other products (warranty, rideshare endorsement, renters/home insurance).
The takeaway: most 'is this covered?' answers come down to whether you carry comprehensive and collision on top of liability. Use the coverage calculator to see exactly what to carry — and skip — for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Does car insurance cover hitting a deer?
Yes, under comprehensive coverage (minus your deductible). It's not covered if you only carry liability.
Does my car insurance cover a rental car?
Usually — your liability extends to rentals, and collision/comprehensive carry over if you have them. Check your limits before paying for the rental company's coverage.
Does car insurance cover theft?
Comprehensive covers theft of the vehicle and vandalism. Items stolen from inside the car fall under renters or homeowners insurance, not auto.
Does car insurance cover flood or weather damage?
Yes — comprehensive covers flood, hail, fire, and storm damage to your vehicle. (Home insurance, by contrast, excludes flood.)
Related: Coverage Calculator →