Millions of licensed drivers use the roads, but the majority of those who have car insurance probably don’t know what they cover. Insurance policies are actually boring to read, but we can help.
We won’t be introducing a complete policy; rather, we will concentrate on the fundamentals of car insurance that you should be aware of. You will be able to make a well-informed purchasing decision and will be able to safeguard your vehicle as well as safeguard against liability risks if you have a better understanding of how each component of your auto insurance works.
This article will cover:
• The basics on car insurance
• Car insurance coverage types
• Car insurance coverage limits
• Exclusions
• Why car insurance is important
A Brief Overview of Auto Insurance
Insurance is simply the transfer of risk at its most basic level. In the case of auto insurance, we shift risk from an individual to a group of insured individuals. The insured group consists of individual insurance company policyholders. We all have to pay premiums, but we won’t all suffer losses at the same time.
It is impossible to know whether or when we will lose on a personal level. We are also unaware of the price. On the other hand, when we insure through a larger group, we can use probability and statistics to figure out how much each insured person should pay to cover the group’s collective risk.
When an insured group member suffers a loss, the premiums we pay cover their claims.
We are covered by the insured group’s premiums in the event of a loss, but only for the coverages we have purchased with the policy. For instance, if you do not have collision coverage for your vehicle, your policy will not be able to assist you in paying for repairs to your vehicle when you are at fault.
The average annual cost of auto insurance for a new vehicle was estimated at $1,342 in a recent AAA study. Although the coverages you choose will have an impact on your actual premiums, this figure can help you understand how premiums pay for claims.
For a 2021 model car, AAA’s average cost for car insurance includes full coverage. The average cost for drivers under the age of 65 who live in the suburbs and have never been in an accident is $1,342.
Auto Insurance Coverage Types
Physical damage coverage is typically required by lenders, but liability coverage is the primary focus of individual state auto insurance requirements.
The types of coverage fall into the following categories, although state-specific requirements and available coverages may also vary.
Physical Damage Coverage
Physical damage coverage includes both comprehensive insurance and collision insurance. In 2020, comprehensive claims were on average $1,995 and collision claims were $3,588, according to III data.
• Collision: Damage caused by collision with another vehicle or a stationary object is covered by your collision coverage. Additionally, it covers rollover-related vehicle damage.
• Comprehensive: Comprehensive insurance, also known as “other-than-collision coverage,” covers damage from other than a collision. Vandalism, broken glass, theft, falling or flying objects, fires, floods, and other similar incidents are all examples of this. Animal-caused damage is also covered by comprehensive insurance.
The law does not require coverage for physical damage. However,
physical damage coverage is typically a prerequisite for auto loans and leases from lenders and leasing companies.
At least a portion of the automobile still belongs to the lender. Both the lender’s financial interest in the vehicle and the policyholder’s financial losses as a result of damage are safeguarded by physical damage coverage.
The term “full-coverage auto insurance” refers to coverage for physical damage in addition to mandatory coverages like auto liability and medical insurance.
Liability Insurance
Auto liability insurance is one type of coverage that is mandated by law in the majority of states, and drivers are required to have it. Our financial responsibilities to others are referred to as liability.
Let’s say, for instance, that you hit the car in front of you by accident at a stoplight. In most cases, you would be found to be at fault for the accident, which would likely make you liable for any injuries or damage to the other vehicle’s occupants.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s most recent statistics, nearly two million automobile-related accidents each year cause injuries. The III reports that bodily injury liability claims average more than $20,000 and property damage claims nearly $5,000.
The majority of states require drivers to carry insurance because the costs can quickly add up, particularly for injuries.
Two specific dangers are covered by auto liability insurance:
• Bodily injury liability
Property damage liability is not always well understood, whereas bodily injury liability is largely self-explanatory. Damage to other people’s property is covered by property damage liability. Other cars, street signs, guard rails, traffic lights, and even buildings can all fall under this category.
Each state has its own set of requirements for liability insurance, but it’s usually best to select a coverage level that is higher than what the state mandates.
For instance, the following are the minimum requirements in New Jersey and a few other states:
• Liability for bodily harm (per person): $15,000
• Liability for bodily harm (per occurrence): $30,000
• Liability for property damage (per occurrence): $5,000
According to III data, New Jersey’s required bodily injury liability coverage per person is less than the average claim amount of more than $20,000. The fact that the III figures represent average claim amounts is another consideration. The sums of some claims are significantly higher than the average.
It’s possible that the limits of your state’s minimum insurance won’t be enough to protect you financially. Fortunately, higher liability coverage limits are available.
Medical Coverage
State laws govern automobile insurance. Even though most aspects of a car insurance policy are the same in every state,
each state has its own requirements. The area in which states typically differ from their neighbors is medical coverage.
Medical insurance for you and your passengers is required in some states; Some do not.
State-by-state variations in medical coverage options include personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments (med pay) coverage.
If you or your passengers are hurt in a car accident, these options let you pay for their medical bills.
Med pay is the simpler of the two and covers your medical costs up to the coverage limit you choose if you are at fault in an accident. Your medical bills should be covered by the liability insurance of the other driver if you were not to blame.
In contrast, PIP covers medical costs regardless of who was to blame for an accident. Additional costs like lost wages and other expenses directly related to an auto accident are covered by PIP as well.
Add-Ons And Riders
The majority of auto insurance policies also provide options or add-ons. Some of these are referred to as riders or endorsements frequently. However, some might actually be distinct products that are billed separately from your insurance policy but are included in your premium.
Add-ons for automobile insurance include the following:
• Reimbursement for rental: Rental reimbursement coverage can assist with the cost of renting a replacement vehicle in
• Favoritism for ridesharing: When you are logged into the app but do not yet have a passenger, this endorsement can fill in a coverage gap if you drive for a ride-hailing company like Uber or Lyft.
• Insurance for gaps In the event of a total loss, this may cover the difference between the insured value of your vehicle and the amount owed to the lender.
• Assistance on the road: Towing, jump starts, roadside repairs, and fuel delivery are all offered by numerous insurers.
Car Insurance Coverage Limits
Two types of coverage are determined by market value instead of the coverage limits specified in your auto insurance policy, which provide protection up to those limits. Your vehicle’s value is used as a coverage limit on a standard auto insurance policy for both collision and comprehensive coverage.
• Limits for physical damage coverage: Your vehicle’s coverage limit decreases with your vehicle’s value over time. The insurer is, in effect, covering your actual loss—the depreciated value—rather than the cost of replacing your vehicle.
• Limits of liability coverage: While the minimum liability limits required by your state are set, you can choose higher limits or even add more coverage with an umbrella policy. A judgment on liability does not take into account whether you have enough money to cover your losses or damages.
Instead, the money you owe after a car accident can affect your savings or future earnings.
• Limits on medical coverage: The options for medical insurance vary from state to state, and some states require at least some coverage. However, in some instances, you may be able to use your existing health insurance coverage as your primary provider, which can help you save money on your auto insurance.
Car Insurance Deductibles
Auto insurance, like many other kinds of insurance, uses deductibles to keep premiums lower for everyone. The deductible is deducted from your claim settlement, as the name suggests. However, deductibles are not used by all types of coverage. A deductible, for instance, is not used in liability coverage.
Select an affordable collision and comprehensive insurance deductible. A deductible may also be used in medical coverage.
Car Insurance Exclusions
Policies for auto insurance do not cover everything. An exclusions section is also included in your policy. These exclusions may differ from insurer to insurer, but they typically follow a similar pattern.
• Use in business: Business-related risks are not covered by personal insurance policies. Discuss your coverage requirements with a reputable agent if you are using your vehicle for business purposes. You can usually add a rider to get coverage for your particular use case.
• Racing: Race-related claims are not covered by auto insurance.
• Acts that are against the law: In a similar vein, claims brought about by illegal acts are not covered by auto insurance policies. Even though that may be the least of their concerns, bank robbers in movies who drive away from the scene are not covered by their auto insurance.
• Damage or failure of the mechanical system: Wear and tear and mechanical failure are not covered by auto insurance policies. Instead, you might want to think about starting a savings account for the costs that will come up as your car ages.
How Your Auto Insurance Covers You
When the bill for our auto insurance comes in, we all grumble, but your policy can protect you in subtle ways. By insuring against liabilities that are difficult to predict, you can safeguard both your vehicle and your finances with full coverage.
It’s a good idea to talk to a reputable agent about your coverage once a year. Your insurance might need to change with your life as well.
Also, take advantage of the occasion to compare rates from time to time. Although car insurance companies use similar factors to set rates, these factors may be weighed differently by each company.
Even if you haven’t filed a claim in a while, car insurance can seem expensive. But it can be much more expensive to not have coverage that is well-suited to your requirements.
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