Car Insurance Coverage Types

Car accidents can happen to any motorist on the road. Auto insurance coverage can help cover repairs to your vehicle and medical expenses in case an accident occurs. An insurance policy is your firewall against a financial disaster. If you are found to be at fault for injuries to other people or damaged property, your auto insurance policy will pay for the loss.

An auto policy may include various types of coverage. It is important to research available coverage and how they protect you. Please note, many policies provide coverage for you and any licensed member of your family listed on your policy. It also covers other people who drive your vehicle with your permission.

Types of Required Auto Coverage

Different states require a mandatory minimum amount of auto insurance coverage. It is advisable to buy more than your state’s minimum coverage.

These policies are:

• Liability
• Bodily Injury

Liability

Liability insurance offers protection when you are at fault of a covered accident. It provides coverage for the cost of repairs to damaged property resulting from your actions. With liability coverage, it also pays medical bills for injuries sustained in the accident.

Bodily Injury

Bodily injury liability protects you as a policyholder holder when you cause injuries to someone else. It also provides coverage for any other person who you permit to drive your vehicle. As long as you are listed on the policy, you and your household are also protected when driving someone else’s vehicle. The amount of liability coverage is typically expressed in three numbers which are 100/300/50.

Here is how to understand those figures:

• $100,000 bodily injury per victim
• $300,000 bodily injury per accident
• $50,000 damaged property per accident

Your car insurer will pay up to your policy’s set limit. You will be responsible for any amounts exceeding those limits.

Auto Coverage That May Be Required

You may be required to purchase personal injury protection, and/or uninsured motorist coverage depending on where you live.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Personal injury protection pays for medical bills for you and anyone else in your car when an accident happens. Personal injury protection is also called no-fault insurance because your injuries are covered no matter who caused the accident.

Beyond paying for hospital bills, PIP may provide coverage with limits for:

• Lost Wages
• In-Home Services
• Child Care Fee
• Rehabilitation
• Funeral or Cremation Cost

Your specific policy defines coverage which varies in every state and the minimum requirements.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

The law does not permit you to drive without insurance coverage in most states. Unfortunately, some accidents involve drivers without coverage and cannot pay for damaging your car. Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage reimburses you for injuries and damages suffered at the hands of an uninsured driver. This coverage extends to your household and a designated driver. It also offers protection to a covered driver if he/she is a victim of a hit-and-run.

Optional Auto Insurance Coverage

Auto insurance pays for the cost of damages a policyholder may cause to other vehicles. Basic car insurance does not offer coverage for your vehicle. For your insurer to provide coverage for your car, you need to buy optional insurance coverage such as:

• Collision
• Comprehensive
• Glass Coverage

Collision

Collision insurance reimburses an insured driver for damages to their vehicle when found to be at fault. This coverage will also pay for damages caused by:

• A hit-and-run
• Overturning Your Car
• Crashing into a Ditch
• Potholes
• Crashing into Another Vehicle
• Hitting Objects (Trees, guardrails, Street lights, mailbox, etc.)

To reduce the cost of collision insurance, choose at least a $500 deductible.

Comprehensive

Comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle from damages caused by non-collision accidents or events. Examples of causes of damage covered by comprehensive insurance are:

• Natural Disasters
• Falling Objects
• Acts of Terrorism
• Fire
• Explosions
• Vandalism and Theft

Comprehensive insurance will not cover theft of personal items from your vehicle including the car’s music system.

Glass Coverage

Glass damage coverage is typically included in comprehensive car insurance subject to a deductible. However, if your vehicle’s windshield is partially damaged and requires a minor repair, your insurer may not require you to pay the deductible. You may be living in a state which regulates the application of a deductible on glass claims that require repairing.

Glass coverage includes:

• Glass Sunroof
• Rear Windows
• Side Windows

Some states which mandate glass repair by comprehensive coverage with zero deductible are:

• Arizona
• Kentucky
• Florida
• South Carolina

In Arizona, when you are filing for a glass claim, you are at liberty to choose which company will handle the repair or replacement. Unfortunately, Oklahoma’s laws regarding glass claims deductibles are different. The State of Oklahoma mandates a deductible for comprehensive car policy for full coverage.

Fortunately, most insurers in Oklahoma offer comprehensive auto policies with zero deductible full glass coverage. We are more than capable of handling all your auto insurance needs. Begin your free online quote at our Scottsdale AZ location, Dallas TX locations, or our Norman OK location. We would love to provide you with the best insurance quotes.