Auto Insurance Basics (Part 1)
Most states require drivers to carry some kind of auto insurance before they will issue a car registration, so it is a policy you cannot avoid if you own a car.
The lingo of car insurance can be particularly difficult to understand, but it is worth learning if you don't want to pay excessive premiums.
The first principle of car insurance is that your policy covers a specific automobile.
That means you are not covered when driving other cars, such as your cousin's jalopy, unless your policy specifically includes them.
In addition to potential damage to your car itself or injuries caused by your car, your policy also insures the people who drive or ride in the vehicle.
Mainly, your auto policy covers you and your family.
However, if you give someone else permission to drive your car, such as a friend or relative, he or she also is covered by your policy.
Your auto insurance is really several kinds of coverage combined in one policy.
The primary components of coverage are bodily injury, property damage, collision, comprehensive, medical payments, personal injury, and uninsured or underinsured motorist.
A brief explanation of each follows.
Bodily injury.
If you hit someone with your car and cause injury or death because you were driving negligently, you must pay for the damages caused by the accident.
These damages include the medical bills and lost wages of the person you injured.
The person can also sue for pain and suffering if you live in a state that assesses fault for accidents.
If you kill someone, you may also be responsible for the loss of income to the deceased person's family.
Most states require that you carry a minimum amount of bodily injury liability coverage-usually between $15,000 and $25,000.
If you own a substantial amount of property and earn a regular income, obtain far more coverage than the minimum.
Because potential liabilities are enormous, coverage for at least $100,000 per individual you harm and $300,000 for each accident you cause would not be excessive.
Property damage.
This liability insurance covers any damage that you cause to another person's property by driving negligently.
This may include damage to another car or other property, such as a fence or a tree.
Because it is usually less expensive to damage property than to injure people, property liability is cheaper and generally purchased in smaller amounts.
Most states require a minimum of $5,000 to $25,000 in coverage; however, you should probably obtain at least $25,000 worth because today's cost of repairing cars is extremely high.
The lingo of car insurance can be particularly difficult to understand, but it is worth learning if you don't want to pay excessive premiums.
The first principle of car insurance is that your policy covers a specific automobile.
That means you are not covered when driving other cars, such as your cousin's jalopy, unless your policy specifically includes them.
In addition to potential damage to your car itself or injuries caused by your car, your policy also insures the people who drive or ride in the vehicle.
Mainly, your auto policy covers you and your family.
However, if you give someone else permission to drive your car, such as a friend or relative, he or she also is covered by your policy.
Your auto insurance is really several kinds of coverage combined in one policy.
The primary components of coverage are bodily injury, property damage, collision, comprehensive, medical payments, personal injury, and uninsured or underinsured motorist.
A brief explanation of each follows.
Bodily injury.
If you hit someone with your car and cause injury or death because you were driving negligently, you must pay for the damages caused by the accident.
These damages include the medical bills and lost wages of the person you injured.
The person can also sue for pain and suffering if you live in a state that assesses fault for accidents.
If you kill someone, you may also be responsible for the loss of income to the deceased person's family.
Most states require that you carry a minimum amount of bodily injury liability coverage-usually between $15,000 and $25,000.
If you own a substantial amount of property and earn a regular income, obtain far more coverage than the minimum.
Because potential liabilities are enormous, coverage for at least $100,000 per individual you harm and $300,000 for each accident you cause would not be excessive.
Property damage.
This liability insurance covers any damage that you cause to another person's property by driving negligently.
This may include damage to another car or other property, such as a fence or a tree.
Because it is usually less expensive to damage property than to injure people, property liability is cheaper and generally purchased in smaller amounts.
Most states require a minimum of $5,000 to $25,000 in coverage; however, you should probably obtain at least $25,000 worth because today's cost of repairing cars is extremely high.
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