Best Auto Insurance In United States

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It is a legal requirement in most states to have auto insurance, which provides some financial protection in case of an accident. But is it enough? What are the options? Find out how car insurance works and what types of coverage are available.

Basics of auto insurance

Having auto insurance is a contract between you and the insurance company that protects you against financial loss in the event of an accident or theft. The insurance company agrees to cover your losses in exchange for your premium.

The following are covered by auto insurance:

  • Theft or damage to your property, such as a car
  • In the case of bodily injury or property damage, you are legally liable to others
  • Injuries, rehabilitation, lost wages, and funeral expenses are all considered medical expenses

Auto insurance coverages are priced individually (a la carte) to allow you to customize coverage amounts to suit your needs and budget. Basic personal auto insurance is obligatory in most U.S. states.

Most insurance policies are issued for six-month or one-year periods, and they are renewable. When it’s time to renew your policy, you receive a notice from the insurance company.

Under what circumstances is my auto insurance valid?

Your auto policy will cover you and other family members, whether they are driving your car or someone else’s car (with their permission). Your policy also covers someone who is not on your policy who drives your car with your permission.

It will not cover you if you use your car for commercial purposes – such as delivering pizza – which is not covered under your personal auto policy.

Your personal auto insurance will also not cover you if you use your car to provide ride-sharing services, such as Uber or Lyft, to provide transportation to others. Nevertheless, some auto insurers offer ride-sharing insurance supplemental products that extend coverage (at an additional cost).

Does auto insurance have to be carried?

It’s important to note that auto insurance requirements vary by state. If you’re financing a car, your lender may also have its own requirements. Nearly every state requires car owners to carry:

Liability for bodily injury or death – covers costs related to injuries or death caused by you or another driver.

In addition, property damage liability covers damage caused by you or another driver operating your car to another vehicle or other property, such as a fence, building, or utility pole.

Additionally, many states require you to carry:

A personal injury protection plan (PIP) provides reimbursement for medical expenses for injuries to you or your passengers. It also covers lost wages and other expenses.

If a driver does not have auto insurance or if a hit-and-run occurs, uninsured motorist coverage reimburses you. The under insured motorist coverage also covers costs incurred by another driver who does not have adequate coverage in case of an accident.

Consider adding personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage to your policy even if they are optional in your state.

In addition to auto insurance, what other types of coverage are available?

In most cases, basic, legally mandated auto insurance covers damage your car causes, but does not cover damage to your own car. Here are some optional coverages to consider:

A collision insurance policy reimburses you if your car is damaged by a collision with another vehicle or an object, such as a tree or guardrail, when you are at fault. In contrast to normal wear and tear, collision coverage will cover damage caused by potholes or rolling your car.

A comprehensive policy covers theft and damage caused by incidents other than collisions, such as fire, flood, vandalism, hail, falling rocks or trees, and other hazards – even being hit by an asteroid!

The glass coverage provides protection for windshield damage, which is common. Some auto policies include no-deductible glass coverage, which also covers side windows, rear windows, and glass sunroofs.

Do I need gap insurance?

New cars depreciate rapidly, so collision and comprehensive coverage only covers the market value of your car. A gap may exist between what you owe on your car and your insurance coverage if your car is totaled or stolen. In order to cover this, you may want to consider purchasing gap insurance. Generally, gap coverage is rolled into lease payments for leased vehicles.

How do car insurance policies differ?

What types of car insurance do you know, even if you already know how auto insurance works? Understanding the different types of auto insurance and their coverages is an important step in finding the one that works for you when shopping for auto insurance. Listed below are a few types of car insurance, what they cover, and how they work.

Coverage for liability

In most US states, liability insurance is legally required in order to drive a car. Liability insurance can cover damages for injuries and property damage to others for which you become legally liable.

Insurance for collisions

Your collision insurance may help to repair or replace your car after an accident involving another vehicle.

Insurance coverage that is comprehensive

Besides collision coverage, comprehensive insurance may cover damage to your car caused by vandalism, certain weather events, and animal attacks.

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Auto insurance for uninsured motorists

An uninsured motorist policy protects you and your car against uninsured drivers and hit-and-run accidents.

Insurance coverage for underinsured motorists

In order to save money, many drivers choose to carry only the minimum liability coverage. Underinsured motorist insurance can protect you if you are involved in an accident with a driver whose insurance is insufficient to cover your damages.

Coverage for medical payments

There can be a lot of medical expenses following an accident. Medical payments coverage can help pay for these expenses, regardless of who is at fault.

Insurance for personal injury protection

Depending on the limits of a policy, personal injury protection insurance can cover up to 80% of medical and other expenses resulting from a covered accident.

Insurance for towing and labor

If you already have comprehensive car insurance, towing and labor insurance may reimburse you for towing and repair costs.

Insurance for rental reimbursement

If you are unable to drive your vehicle after an accident, rental reimbursement insurance can help pay for a rental car.

Insurance for classic cars

If you own a classic or vintage car, you may qualify for classic car insurance. Find out if classic car insurance is right for you.

 

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