Auto insurance is a contract that protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. You pay a premium, and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy. Although most auto insurance provides property, liability, and medical coverage, many states have different requirements. Here are typical coverages found in an auto policy:
Liability
Pays for damages you cause to other people and their property. Higher limits than what you currently have may be available.
Medical Payments
Provides coverage for the insured, family members, and passengers in the insured’s vehicle for injuries sustained in an accident regardless of who was at fault. It also provides coverage for reasonable expenses for necessary medical and funeral services incurred. Higher limits than what you currently have may be available.
Personal Injury Protection
Provides coverage for injury, death, loss of services, and loss of income suffered by you, your covered passengers, or covered family members (for those who reside in states with no-fault insurance laws).
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Automobile coverage designed to protect the insured if involved in an accident where an uninsured motorist is at fault. Limits usually match liability coverage.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Auto coverage that pays the difference between the insured’s actual damages for bodily injury and the amount of liability insurance carried by the at-fault driver. Limits usually match liability coverage.
Collision Coverage
Protects you from loss caused by damage to your car by collision with another object or vehicle or by overturn of the vehicle.
Comprehensive
Pays for losses to your car that aren’t considered collision. This includes damage or loss caused by fire, theft, glass breakage, falling objects, and vandalism.
Towing and Labor
Offers reimbursement for the cost of having a vehicle towed. Labor costs to repair a vehicle are not covered. Higher limits than what you currently have may be available.
Rental Reimbursement/Loss of Use
Loss of use covers the daily cost to rent a vehicle while yours is out of commission due to a covered loss.
Auto Loan/Lease Coverage
This is insurance that may cover the difference between the unpaid amount due on a loan or lease of a new car and the actual cash value at the time of loss.
Audio, Visual, and Data Electronic Equipment
Covers the loss of electronic (audio, visual, data) equipment within a vehicle.
