Buying Car Insurance Important Features

By Author: Frank Kasimov
Total Articles: 4762
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You might have a car and driver's license but according to the law, you're still not ready to drive until you get car insurance. Each state has its own legal requirements for minimum car insurance coverage but it's almost always a smart idea to afford yourself more protection than just the mandated minimum amount. But in order to decide on a car insurance plan that best meets your needs, it's important to familiarize yourself with the most important features of a car insurance plan.

Liability Insurance
If you're the cause of an accident or property damage caused by your automobile, you could be buried in debt without liability insurance. This covers the costs for damages or injuries related to situations where you are at fault. Liability insurance is a legal requirement and the minimum amount of coverage is set by the state. However, you're free to increase the amount of liability coverage in your plan and it's highly recommended that you do.

Personal Injury Protection
The only thing worse than having your car damaged in an accident is having yourself damaged in an accident. Fortunately, personal injury ...
... insurance is available to protect you from the sky-high medical costs that can spin out of an auto accident injury. The majority of personal injury insurance plans provide you with coverage regardless of whether the injury occurred in your vehicle or not; you will usually be covered in any car you were riding in at the time of the injury. These plans will pay your medical bills up to a predetermined amount. Again, while there are usually state-required minimums, it's always recommended that you opt for a plan with a higher degree of coverage.

Collision Insurance
Collision insurance covers costs related to repairing your own vehicle following an accident where you were at fault. It is usually optional but as with most kinds of auto insurance, it's often a much more financially sound option than the alternative of paying your car's damages out of pocket. In addition, if you have a car loan, you'll almost certainly find that the loan company will require collision insurance as a way to safeguard their investment.

Comprehensive Insurance
Comprehensive insurance plans may not be legally required in many states but they are usually mandated by car loan companies. The reason for this is that comprehensive plans provide the loan company with the best, most inclusive coverage of their investment. Comprehensive insurance offers protection against all kinds of damage, even those that aren't the result of an automobile accident. This can include things like damage by fire, harsh weather, vandalism, and even animals. This kind of coverage is almost always a good idea, as it can provide the highest degree of peace of mind within a single inclusive package.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Sadly, there are still countless uninsured motorists on the road and when they cause an accident, they're not just putting themselves in the hot seat. If your vehicle or property is damaged by an uninsured (or under-insured) driver, you could potentially be stuck under a mountain of debt. However, uninsured motorist coverage provides a safety net to guarantee that you won't have to pay for somebody else's irresponsibility. Uninsured motorist coverage not only protects you from uninsured drivers but also hit-and-run situations as well. This kind of coverage is available as protection against both bodily injury and property damage.

Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage
If an uninsured motorist is the cause of an accident, this covers the costs of any personal injuries that occur as a result. These plans not only cover you but usually extend to your household family members and any passengers in your vehicle at the time of the accident.

Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage
This kind of coverage is basically the same as uninsured motorist bodily injury coverage, except that it covers costs related to repairing your vehicle and property if they have been damaged by an uninsured motorist. Unlike many other kinds of insurance, however, many states set a cap on the highest amount of coverage legally allowed by these plans, often placing the limit at several thousand dollars.

So, these are some of the most important (and in some cases, legally required) features of a car insurance plan but there are many more specific features available. This can include things the costs of renting a car while your vehicle is being repaired or the cost of towing your damaged vehicle from the scene of an accident. The more you learn about what the insurance company has to offer, the more you'll be able to tailor your coverage to meet your needs. In the end, it should always come down to one very basic question, "If worse comes to worse, can I afford to pay these costs myself?"
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