The major Auto Insurance types include:
Liability (Bodily Injury Liability Insurance and Property Damage Liability Insurance):
The only states that don't require liability coverage are New Hampshire, Tennessee and Wisconsin, and if you don't reside in one of those states, this coverage is imperative.
Liability Car Insurance protects your bank account in case you are liable for damaging the other person or his/her car. It covers any injuries or damages to property that you might cause during an accident.
In case you get in an accident and you are at fault for other people's bodily injuries or death, Bodily Injury Liability(BI) will cover medical bills, pain or suffering, loss of income of another party in an accident and a legal defense if they file a lawsuit against you. Mind that Bodily Injury Liability does not cover you or other people on your policy and is strictly limited to the terms and conditions of your policy.
Property Damage Liability (PD) will provide you with legal defense and cover you if you get in an accident and your car happens to damage someone else's property: another party's car, a house, a fence, or any other property. It is important to have enough coverage for the amount of damage your car might do to another party's property.
Collision: This coverage protects you regardless of who is at fault for an accident. It will pay for any repairs your car requires as well as for the replacement of its market value if after an accident your vehicle is beyond repair. The principle difference between Collision and Liability Insurance coverage is that Collision covers damage caused to your own car while Liability pays for damage you cause to the other party. Basically, the safer a driver you are, the less you need this type of insurance.
Comprehensive (Fully Comprehensive Insurance Coverage):
This is the most expensive optional coverage. However, finance companies and lessors require that the car owner insure their car fully comprehensive. This coverage pays for repair works or the replacement of your car if it is stolen or damaged. Comprehensive coverage protects against disasters, such as theft, falling trees, and most acts of nature, fire, vandalism, animal accidents, etc.
Many Car Insurance companies choose to insure only 80% of the value, refusing to cover 100%. It is done to prevent fraudulent losses of cars when some car owners just feel like recovering their fininacial position. Therefore, it is necessary to thoroughly scrutinize what is covered and what is not covered in your policy.
There are several other types of Car Insurance. For instance,Medical Payments Coverage pays medical bills and funeral costs following road accidents. Injured person (including cases when it is a pedestrian or biker) is covered regardless of who is at fault for the accident. Medical insurance may or may not include disability insurance and pain and suffering compensation. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) is very similar but can also cover the cost of care after the accident and up to 80% of lost income.
Uninsured or Under-insured Drivers Insurance pays any costs due to damage and injuries caused by a driver who is uninsured or underinsured. It also covers damages by hit-and-run accidents. This type of coverage is a good idea, taking into account that abut 17% of drivers fail to have an adequate insurance coverage.
There are also Glass Replacement Insurance, Towing and Labor Coverage and Rental Reimbursement Coverage, and other Car Insurance low-cost additions, which you can add to your policy as your situation requires.
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