Cars, trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles are covered under auto insurance, which is also known as vehicle insurance, GAP insurance, car insurance or motor insurance. An auto insurance policy is a contract between you and the insurance company in which you agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses, as defined in your policy. The primary purpose of an auto insurance policy is to provide financial protection from physical damage, bodily injury and liability that result from traffic accidents. Financial protection against theft and damage to vehicles caused by events unrelated to traffic accidents can be covered by auto insurance.
There are six types of auto insurance coverage, including: property damage liability, bodily injury, comprehensive, collision, medical payments or personal injury protection, and underinsured motorist coverage. Auto insurance policies are commonly purchased for six or 12-month terms and companies typically provide monthly billing and notification when it is time to renew your auto insurance. Property Damage Liability – When there is damage to someone else’s property caused by your vehicle, property damage liability insurance is essential. In addition to auto damage, property damage liability also covers damage to fences, guardrails, telephone poles, buildings and other things that may have been damaged in an accident.
A car accident happens every minute of the day. Defensive driving will go a long way to keeping you and your family safe, but if an accident does happen while you’re driving you’ll want the peace-of-mind that can only come from adequate auto insurance coverage to take care of the aftermath.
Auto Insurance
Auto insurance can cover the injuries, medical expenses, and damage to vehicles that occur as a result of an accident or other incident. In many states, you are obligated to carry a minimum amount of auto insurance in order to drive your vehicle on public roads. Depending on your state, your bare bones minimum auto insurance will provide liability coverage for damage to property and injury for one or more persons.
However, most drivers find the minimum required insurance coverage isn’t enough to cover all of the costs associated with an average accident, and choose to carry more to protect their personal assets.
There are a wide variety of auto coverages available, so you can choose the coverage and rates that are best for you and your vehicles.
What Does Auto Insurance Cover?
Your auto insurance policy may include some or more of the following:
Bodily Injury
Liability Coverage for injuries you cause to someone else. Your state may have minimum required coverage amounts, but you may choose to carry higher limits in order to protect your assets from claims exceeding that amount.
Medical Payments
Medical payment coverage, also known as Personal Injury Protection (PIP) covers your injuries, as well as injuries to passengers riding in your car. This coverage often also covers lost wages and even funeral expenses in the event of a worst-case scenario.
Collision Coverage
Coverage for damage to your own vehicle in the event of a collision with an object or other car, from flipping over, and even damage caused by potholes. Collision coverage can reimburse you for repairs to your own vehicle, even if you’re at fault for an accident.
Comprehensive Coverage
Coverage which reimburses you for a loss due to theft or damage not caused by a collision, such as fire, falling objects, floods, riots, and even impacting with animals such as deer. Comprehensive coverage often includes coverage for cracked or shattered windshields, as well.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Not everyone will carry adequate insurance coverage to fully cover your total loss. If you’re involved in an auto accident where the person at fault has no or insufficient insurance, this coverage will reimburse you for your loss. This coverage can also protect you against hit-and-run drivers, and even cover you if you are hit as a pedestrian.
Auto insurance does more than protect your vehicles from accidents which happen every minute of the day; it also protects you and your passengers from the truly unexpected.
McGovern Insurance is an experienced insurance agency that can help you with an auto insurance policy tailored to your individual needs. Please call us at (650) 593-8216.