Auto Insurance Coverage

Thursday

Understanding Your Auto Insurance We admit it. Auto insurance isn't the easiest thing to comprehend. You may feel like you need a PhD, the Rosetta Stone, and Sherlock Holmes to de-code all of the language about your auto insurance coverages. Really, though, it's not that complicated. Here's a quick overview that will have you understanding auto insurance so well, you may just want to read your policy for fun! (OK-maybe not.)

The Basics:  Your policy is actually a package of seven primary auto insurance coverages. Each of these coverages has its own separate premium amount. Your payment is the total of these separate amounts added together for each car listed on your policy. In addition to the primary coverages, you can also choose to add other coverages for additional amounts; for example, GEICO's Mechanical Breakdown Insurance and Emergency Road Service.

The Magnificent Seven Auto Insurance Coverages: Here's a list of the seven primary coverages and how they protect you: Bodily injury liability provides protection if you injure or kill someone while operating your car. It also provides for a legal defense if another party in the accident files a lawsuit against you. In the event of a serious accident, you want enough insurance to cover a judgment against you in a lawsuit, without jeopardizing your personal assets. Bodily injury liability covers injury to people, not your vehicle. Therefore it's a good idea to have the same level of coverage for all of your cars. Medical payments, no-fault or personal injury protection coverage usually pays for the medical expenses of the injured driver and passengers in your car. There may also be coverage if you are injured by a vehicle as a pedestrian. Uninsured motorists coverage pays for your injuries caused by an uninsured driver or, in some states, a hit-and-run driver. In some states there is also uninsured motorist coverage for damage to your vehicle. Given the large number of uninsured motorists, this is very important coverage to have, even in states with no-fault insurance. Comprehensive physical damage coverage pays for losses resulting from incidents other than collision. For example, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car if it is stolen; or damaged by flood, fire or animals. To keep your premiums low, select as high a deductible as you feel comfortable paying out of pocket. Collision coverage pays for damage to your car when your car hits, or is hit by, another vehicle or other object. To keep your premiums low, select as large a deductible as you feel comfortable paying out of pocket. For older cars, consider dropping this coverage, since coverage is normally limited to the cash value of your car. Property damage liability protects you if your car damages someone else's property. It also provides you with legal defense if another party files a lawsuit against you. It is a good idea to purchase enough of this insurance to cover the amount of damage your car might do to another vehicle or object. Rental reimbursement coverage pays for a rental vehicle (usually up to $25 a day) when your vehicle is out of commission as a result of a loss covered under comprehensive or collision coverages

It may seem like there's a lot to understand about auto insurance coverage. If you have any questions about auto coverages, rental coverage, or anything else regarding your policy, contact our licensed insurance agents at 1-800-861-8380

Please note: The above is meant as general information and as general policy descriptions to help you understand the different types of coverages. These descriptions do not refer to any specific contract of insurance and they do not modify any definitions expressly stated in any contracts of insurance. We encourage you to speak to your insurance representative and to read your policy contract to fully understand your coverages.