Types of Personal Auto Insurance Coverage
Most state financial responsibility laws require proof that you are able to pay for any damage or injury you may cause while driving. Auto insurance is the way that most people comply with these laws. Typically compliance only takes liability insurance at some minimal limit that varies by state. Liability coverages include the following:
Bodily Injury Liability – insures against injury that you may cause to other persons. The key is that it involves you being held financially responsible for injuries to other persons because of your driving, your ownership or other use of your vehicle. It provides a legal defense if someone sues you for damages.
Bodily Injury liability limits are typically shown as a per person/per accident limit like this: $100,000/$300,000. This is meant to represent the highest amount per person and per accident that your insurance company would pay if you have an accident that injured other people.
Property-Damage Liability – handles damage that you may cause to another person's property. Again, the coverage only responds when you are financially responsible for such damage and it has to be related to your use or ownership of a vehicle.
A Property Damage liability limit of $100,000 means that if you cause damage to property in an accident, your insurance company would pay up to $100,000 to repair or replace it.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage – This coverage typically pays for injury you suffer from an accident caused by a person who has no insurance; a person who can't be located ("hit and run drivers"); or a person who has insurance but their insurance company is insolvent.
Important: Payment under this coverage is controlled by various laws that dictate what limit or limits must be sold. In some states, you may have an option to reject the coverage. Typically, the rejection must be in writing.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage - Similar to uninsured motorist, it pays for injuries caused by a driver who is inadequately insured. Example: You are seriously injured by someone carrying a bodily injury limit of $25,000, but your injuries are nearly $50,000. Your Underinsured Motorist Coverage limit is $100,000. In this instance, your policy would pay the difference between $25,000 and $50,000.
Cars are expensive to buy and repair, providing great reasons for protecting them. If you borrowed money to buy your car, or if you leased the vehicle, the lender or leasing company was likely to make certain that you had coverage to pay for any damage to the vehicle. Below are typical coverages that apply either to the vehicle or to those operating the vehicle:
Collision coverage - This covers damage to your own vehicle that happens when your vehicle runs into another object, such as other vehicles, trees, light poles, mountains, etc. Standard collision coverage will pay for any repairs up to the fair market value of your car – less your collision deductible. If you finance or lease your car, your bank may require you to carry collision coverage.
Other Than Collision coverage - This also covers damage to your own vehicle that is due to sources such as fire, theft, hitting an animal, vandalism, earthquake, flood or hail. Like collision, comprehensive will pay up to the fair market value of your car - less your comprehensive deductible. And although it’s not legally required by any state, you will probably need it if your car is financed or leased.
Collision and Other Than Collision coverages are subject to deductibles (the amount a policyowner must pay). They eliminate the need for an insurer having to pay for very minor losses. The higher the deductible you’re willing to pay, the less the coverage will cost.
Personal Injury Protection or Medical Expense – This coverage typically handles medical expenses for injuries to you, your passengers or people who are "around" you. It may also cover you and your household if you, as a pedestrian or a bicyclist, are struck by an automobile.
Towing and Labor coverage - This coverage is to help pay for your costs to deal with a disabled car. It could help pay for the car to be towed to a service station or for any repair that occurs at the location of the car's breakdown. Note that this coverage is for labor rather than the costs of car parts. Available coverage is minimal (often $25-$75).
Rental Reimbursement - This coverage reimburses your expense of renting a car as a temporary replacement. The car being replaced must be an insured car that's unavailable for use because of it being damaged, lost (stolen) or destroyed in a covered loss.
Remember the above information only touches upon some typical auto insurance issues. It's always wise to contact your agent and discuss your coverage questions and needs in detail.