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Finding the best car insurance today doesn't have to be stressful, you can easily buy car insurance online that’s right for you. Before you switch your car insurance, it’s good to understand the basics. Keep reading to learn more and feel confident on the road, knowing you’re covered.
Car insurance is a legal requirement in every state except New Hampshire and Virginia. If you live in a state where it's mandatory, you'll need at least the minimum coverage to register your car and drive legally.
Usually, this basic coverage includes personal liability insurance. But if you're looking for more peace of mind, you can add extra types of coverage, often referred to as endorsements.
Here are the 6 major types of car insurance and what they cover:
When car insurance companies speak of liability coverage, they are actually referring to two types of coverage: bodily injury (BI) liability and property damage (PD) liability. BI covers expenses for injuries you cause to someone else. PD covers expenditures for damage you cause to someone else’s vehicle or property (such as a fence).
Collision is the opposite of property damage liability in that it covers when your property is damaged or destroyed in an accident with another vehicle or object (such as a fence or pole). Collision coverage is always optional from a legal point of view, although some loans or leasing companies may require that you purchase it as a condition of your contract.
Another optional policy, “comp” for short, comprehensive coverage covers expenses not caused by collisions. This generally includes theft, vandalism, fire, natural disasters, falling objects, or hitting an animal. Comp coverage is generally more expensive than collision coverage. It is always optional from a legal point of view, but as with collision coverage, some loans or leasing companies may require that you purchase comprehensive coverage.
The exact definition of personal injury protection varies slightly depending on the state and insurance company. Generally, PIP covers a wide range of medical and non-medical expenses when the policy holder is injured in an accident. PIP is mandatory in a handful of states, including New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida, Michigan, Kentucky, Kansas, Minnesota, Oregon, Utah, and Hawaii.
Medical Payments (Med Pay) coverage offers narrower coverage than personal injury protection and is not mandated by any state. Most insurers offer medical payments as an alternative to PIP, meaning they won’t allow you to purchase both.
One of the realities of driving in a country with more than 220 million other licensed drivers is that some don’t carry car insurance – even when it is against the law. To protect your vehicle from damage caused by uninsured or under-insured drivers (or hit-and-runs), insurance companies offer a cheap add-on to your regular insurance: uninsured motorist / under-insured motorist coverage. Uninsured / under-insured motorist coverage is mandatory in 15 states and optional everywhere else.
» Learn more about different types of Car Insurance.
The following are common add-ons to car insurance policies:
Most car insurance providers offer emergency assistance as a voluntary add-on to the basic forms of coverage—the insurance provider teams up with a network of partners who provide coverage when your vehicle breaks down. Assistance generally covers towing, flat tire, jump-start, fuel delivery, locksmith, and emergency extrication of your car if it gets stuck.
This optional form of coverage on most vehicle insurance policies has become more popular as car prices have risen. It pays the difference between the money you owe on your car and what the vehicle is worth during an accident. Loan/lease coverage is similar to gap coverage in that it covers leased contract drivers.
A product of the sharing economy, this type of coverage insures drivers who work for ride-sharing companies like Uber, Lyft, and Sidecar. It generally only applies when the driver has passengers in their vehicle.
Covers expensive vehicles such as vintage, classic, collector, and antique cars. Policy holders are generally required to park the vehicle in a garage (rather than on the street), to use it as a secondary vehicle (rather than using it to get to and from work), and to keep it in good working condition.
Covers the cost of hiring a rental car when your vehicle is in the shop due to an accident.
This policy covers the cost of replacing damaged or stolen equipment, such as stereo systems or rims. It generally applies to any equipment added to the vehicle by the policy holder, as opposed to equipment built into the vehicle by the manufacturer.
The key to securing the best car insurance rate involves several factors, many of which you can control and improve. You can save hundreds of dollars annually by using online tools that compare multiple providers and match you with the best car insurance quotes.
Is the cheapest option the best? While comparing prices is important when looking for new car insurance, the lowest price isn't always the best choice. Different car insurance companies may seem to offer similar policies, but each one evaluates drivers and their habits differently, leading to big differences in rates.
Car insurance companies consider many factors when calculating your premium. Some of the elements that affect the cost of your auto insurance include:
Fortunately, there are ways to bring down your premium and secure the best car insurance quotes. Try implementing some of these strategies to get car insurance at a lower rate:
Car insurance rates vary based on each driver’s unique profile. To find affordable car insurance online, you can use a matching service that uses your answers to pair you with the best car insurance, or you can painstakingly compare quotes from multiple insurers yourself using these steps:
Dealing with an accident or another covered loss can be challenging, so knowing exactly how to file an insurance claim can alleviate at least one stressor. The exact insurance claim process is different with every insurer, but these basic steps should hold true for most car insurance claims:
Finding the right car insurance can be complicated, with so many factors to consider and options to choose from. But don't worry; you've made it this far, and now it's time to take the next step. Answer our short quiz to get matched with the best new car insurance policy tailored to your needs. Let's make sure you're fully covered and ready to hit the road with confidence!
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You deserve the peace of mind of knowing you are fully protected when you're out on the road. See our in-depth reviews of the leading auto insurance providers to learn more about policies, plans, deductibles, and more.