Confused about auto insurance? Want to know the most important auto insurance facts? Here they are …
Do I need auto insurance?
Most of the 50 states require you to have a minimum amount of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. Some states make you show proof of insurance before you register your car, while other states don’t ask for proof of insurance until you have an accident or get a ticket.
To find out what your state’s requirements are, go to your state’s department of insurance website by doing a web search for: “(your state’s name here) department of insurance.”
What does auto insurance cover?
Bodily injury liability coverage – Pays for your legal fees and any claims made against you if your car injures or kills someone. It also covers any family members living with you and anyone driving your car with your permission.
Property damage liability coverage – Pays your legal fees and any claims made against you if your car damages someone else’s property.
Personal injury protection – Pays for you and your passengers medical expenses when you’re involved in an accident. It also pays for you and your family’s medical expenses if you’re injured in someone else’s car or are walking.
Collision coverage – Pays for repairs to your car when you’re in an accident with another vehicle or an object, regardless of who was at fault.
Comprehensive coverage – Pays for damages to your car resulting from theft, vandalism, fire, or acts of nature.
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage – Pays for personal injury and property damage expenses for you and your family when you’re in an accident that’s caused by an uninsured, underinsured, or hit-and-run driver.
Where can I get cheap insurance with a good company?
Because yearly insurance premiums for the same type of policy can vary as much as $1,000 or more from one insurance company to another, the best way to get cheap insurance is to compare rates from different companies.
Go to an insurance comparison website. Once there you’ll fill out a simple questionnaire in order to get quotes from a number of companies. Compare those quotes and choose the best one.
There are comparison sites that let you talk with insurance experts using an online chat service or a toll-free telephone service. Take advantage of this service if you have any questions about auto insurance or want to find out about any discounts you may qualify for. (See link below.)
How do I know the company I choose is reliable?
To find out if the company you choose is reliable and will give you good service, go to the following websites:
* Your state’s department of insurance website offers a wealth of information about auto insurance and auto insurance companies.
* J.D. Power & Associate’s website (jdpower.com) rates auto insurance companies using feedback from their customers.
* A.M. Best (ambest.com) provides an insurance company’s financial ratings which tells you something about the company’s stability and it’s ability to pay claims.
