Auto Insurance – Simple Facts

by: Mare Nikolic

Auto insurance helps you meet whatever is coming down the road with a greater peace of mind.

Whether you're buying your first car or your teenager is about to hit the road, your car insurance needs will vary.

You want to protect the people and things that are important to you. Auto insurance can help you:

protect your investment in your automobile, pay for medical expenses in case of an accident, provide financial protection from lawsuits, cover losses caused by uninsured or underinsured drivers, pay for damage due to theft, vandalism or natural disasters.

One way to get the car you want and still save a little money is to check out the overall safety of the car. If the car has plenty of safety features (such as airbags, anti-theft systems, etc.) and a good safety rating in crash tests… There are other factors that will influence your insurance rates, such as your age, gender, driving record, and where you live. However, they don’t always play as large of a role as the car you drive. Sporty, fancy car will cost you more than driving a wagon or a nice four door family car.

Types of auto insurance coverage vary from state to state or differ according to the company that does the insuring. California does have a financial responsibility law, but the amount of coverage that is required is ridiculously low compared to the actual amount of coverage you would need to pay for a total loss or a major accident. As a law, drivers in California must have the following insurance coverage:

$15,000 per person injury coverage

$30,000 per accident for injury coverage

$5,000 property damage coverage per accident

There are a variety of coverage options available to you:

Liability Coverage covers damages to others if you're at fault in an accident,

Collision Coverage will repair or replace your insured car after an accident,

Comprehensive Coverage pays for loss or damages to your car from a danger other than a collision, such as theft, vandalism, or national disaster,

Underinsured/Uninsured Motorists Coverage protects you for covered age caused by drivers who don't have auto,

Rental Reimbursement pays for a rental car when your auto is disabled during a car accident,

Personal Injury Protection covers treatments needed from an accident including medical, rehabilitation, lost earnings, replacement of services, and funeral expenses,

Medical Payments Coverage covers payments for your medical treatment or funeral expenses when bodily injury is caused by an accident.

You should check into available discounts and higher coverage amounts if you are a low-risk driver, because you might be able to get a better policy for less money. Remember, all auto insurance isn't the same. Different types of coverage fit the different needs you might have. To determine what type of coverage applies to you, consider your individual situation. Once you have all the information you're looking for, you are ready to get a quote. Auto insurance is imperative, yes, but it’s best to drive safe!