Why Is Auto Insurance Necessary?
The primary reason car insurance is necessary is to protect drivers from being responsible for the damages they cause. Forty-eight out of the 50 states require drivers to have at least some amount of liability coverage in order to drive legally. It also helps cover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle. Comprehensive and collision are two of the most common types of auto insurance coverage. They’re usually required by your lender if you’ve financed or leased your car.
Liability
When you’re at fault in an accident, liability auto insurance pays for the damages to others resulting from your negligence. It also covers your legal defense costs and judgments and settlements that may result from these claims.
Most states require a certain level of liability coverage. That’s called “minimum coverage” – but you can get higher amounts to protect yourself better if you choose.
Liability coverage includes bodily injury and property damage liability. It also helps pay for medical expenses, lost wages and other costs.
Many drivers bundle their liability insurance with collision, which is the other type of auto insurance that pays for your injuries and vehicle repairs if you’re at fault in an accident. In addition, some drivers opt for full coverage – which means they have a policy that has higher liability limits than the state minimums.
Comprehensive
Cars are expensive and can be damaged or stolen, so it’s important to have auto insurance. It’s also a good idea to consider comprehensive coverage, which helps pay for damage caused by non-collision-related events.
This type of policy reimburses you for damages that result from fires, vandalism, natural disasters and other causes that are outside your control. It may be required by lenders if you finance or lease your vehicle.
If you’re not sure if comprehensive coverage is right for you, evaluate your budget and vehicle’s value. It might make sense to purchase a policy that pays for repairs or replacement costs up to your deductible.
Collision
If your car is damaged in a collision, you’ll want to make sure you have collision coverage. This type of auto insurance will help cover the cost of repairing or replacing your car after an accident, regardless of who was at fault for the crash.
If you don’t have collision coverage, you’ll need to pay out-of-pocket for any repairs above your deductible. That can be a lot of money.
Collision is a very common type of auto insurance, and many lenders require it when you lease or finance a vehicle.
It also helps to ensure that you’re protected if you’re involved in a hit-and-run or have an accident with another driver who doesn’t have enough liability insurance. This coverage will cover the actual cash value of your car, minus your deductible.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage is important because it protects you, your passengers and any vehicles you own if you get into an accident with someone who doesn’t have car insurance or whose insurance won’t cover their costs.
UM covers your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, funeral expenses and other expenses if you get into an accident with an uninsured driver. UIM provides additional coverage, up to your choice of limits, for any damages if the at-fault driver’s auto liability insurance isn’t enough to cover all your damages.
Whether you need UM and UIM depends on your state laws and what other auto insurance policies you have. It’s always a good idea to ask your insurance company about this type of coverage and what it covers.
BIG – Brock Insurance Group, LLC
https://www.google.com/maps?cid=17997503633432223063
820 S Friendswood Dr #103, Friendswood, TX 77546
(281) 482-4244
https://www.brockinsurancegrp.com/