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What is OTC (other than collision) insurance?
OTC (other than collision) is an auto insurance policy, also known as comprehensive coverage. It covers damage to a vehicle caused by something other than a collision, such as fire, theft, vandalism, and other natural disasters. Skip to article
Written by:
Shivani Gite
Contributing Writer
Shivani Gite is a personal finance and insurance writer with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She is passionate about making insurance topics easy to understand for people and helping them make better financial decisions. When not writing, you can find her reading a book or watching anime.
Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.
OTC stands for other than collision, also known as comprehensive coverage, a type of physical damage coverage. Other than collision is an optional physical damage coverage, which helps protect your vehicle in case of theft, vandalism, glass damage, damage from hitting an animal, fire, floods and weather-related damage.
It’s called “other than collision” in reference to collision coverage, which covers damage to your car when your car hits, or is hit by, another vehicle or other objects. It does not matter who is at fault in the accident that damages your vehicle; you can make a claim under collision but will pay your deductible.
A car insurance coverage package including both comprehensive and collision coverage is often referred to as “full coverage.”
If you aren’t sure whether to buy collision or comprehensive coverage, use our tool “How much car insurance do I need?” to see what’s best for your situation.
— Michelle Megna contributed to this story.
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Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.
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John McCormick
Editorial Director
John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Managing Editor
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
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Nupur Gambhir
Managing Editor
Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.
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Shivani Gite is a personal finance and insurance writer with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She is passionate about making insurance topics easy to understand for people and helping them make better financial decisions. When not writing, you can find her reading a book or watching anime.