Types of Auto Insurance: Car Insurance 101 Print E-mail

The types of Auto Insurance are given as follows.

Liability Insurance

If you are found legally liable to pay for someone else's injuries or loss due to an accident, then liability Insurance safeguards you or another driver insured under your policy.


Liability Insurance is one of the most important coverage you can buy due to the protection offered by it to you and your personal assets.

 

For a single injured person, the maximum amount of coverage available is equivalent to the lower "per person" limit. In the case when more than one person is injured in the same accident, the higher "per accident" limit is the maximum total amount of coverage.

 

Liability Insurance will pay damages for bodily injury and property damage. Bodily injury is broadly defined to include the sickness, injury, or death of another person, and typically includes economic and wage loss as well, provided such losses arise out of a bodily injury.

 

Property damage covers financial losses arising from the damage, destruction, or loss of use of another person's property.

 

Single Limit Policy

 

You should buy the highest liability insurance for your own protection that you can afford. It's important since these limits will also find out the amount of underinsured motorist coverage available to you. You should buy the highest coverage per person you can finance and that coverage amount is the same coverage as per accident. This is known as a single limit policy.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

PIP coverage provides for payment of medical expenses, wage loss benefits, burial expenses, and other services such as home nursing care and domestic help during recovery from an injury. PIP benefits are limited by a maximum dollar amount and for a specific period of time, whichever comes first.

 

Even though, it is not essential to purchase PIP coverage, it is recommended that you do so, and that you buy the maximum available amount.

 

Irrespective of the person who caused the accident, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) pays for medical expenses and wage loss for you and other passengers in your car. In addition to that, PIP also covers pedestrians and bicyclists who are along with you and are injured in an accident.

 

According to the State law, PIP coverage be offered and that it meet certain minimum requirements.

 

Insurance companies also are obligated to offer higher PIP coverage-at an additional cost-for payment of medical expenses, and for loss of services up to one year from the date of the accident.

 

Many insurance companies are becoming more and more aggressive in restricting payments for treatment they consider "unreasonable" or "unnecessary" irrespective of the trend toward making PIP coverage more accessible.

 

For example, when chiropractic care is involved, insurers are increasingly likely to attempt to cut off PIP payments before one year. If your insurance company attempts to restrict your PIP coverage following an accident, you may require talking with a lawyer.

Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM)

Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UIM) covers you, members of your household, and other people traveling in your car against damage caused due to an uninsured or underinsured motorists.

 

While you are a pedestrian or riding a bicycle, this coverage also extends to you or members of your household who may be injured by an uninsured/underinsured motorist.

 

In spite of the fact that auto insurance is compulsory, many people drive without any coverage or without sufficient coverage to reimburse an injured person fully.

 

It's essential for you to have your own UIM in the case if you experience an injury or loss caused by a driver who is uninsured or underinsured.

 

The significance of the Underinsured Motorist Coverage is due to the fact that the law requires insurance companies to offer it to all customers. Unless you make a written request for less coverage, the amount of UIM coverage offered must be the same amount as your liability coverage.

 

If you want to cut costs on your policy, you should never waive this coverage or reduce it below your liability coverage. Instead, consider paying higher deductibles or even reducing collision or comprehensive coverage.

 

Today, too many uninsured or underinsured motorists are simply there on the road. In case of your vehicle damaged by an uninsured or underinsured motorist, you may also buy UIM property damage to pay for damage to your vehicle.

 

Beyond the value of your vehicle, you will not require coverage limits. Because both cover damage to your vehicle, this coverage overlaps with collision coverage, but for the deductibles, there may be different amounts.

Collision Coverage

Irrespective of who may be at fault, collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle from an accident or collision. Subject to a deductible, Collision coverage pays for repair or replacement of a vehicle, up to the fair market value of the vehicle.

 

By means of choosing a higher deductible amount, you can reduce the cost of this coverage. On older vehicles, which have minimal values, your cost can also be reduced by not carrying collision coverage.

Comprehensive (or "Other than Collision") Coverage

This coverage protects your vehicle from the damage caused due to the following.


  • Fire

  • Theft

  • Vandalism

  • Weather

  • Glass breakage, and

  • Contact with an animal.

 

Note, however, that this coverage usually does not cover such items as:

 

  • Cassette tapes,

  • CDs,

  • Tape decks or car phones.

 

These items can be added by specific endorsement.

 

Other insurance options

 

By means of towing and car rental, other coverage is typically offered. These services are usually worthwhile for a small additional cost.


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Disclaimer: All material included in the website is intended for information purposes only and not to give you advice that relates to your specific circumstances. You are advised to discuss your specific requirements with an independent financial adviser.