Various Car Insurance Options Explained

Car insurance Coverage Options

Before buying car insurance, you need to understand the different forms of additional coverage that are available to include in your policy. Car insurance coverage can be divided into many components such as Liability Insurance coverage, Collision Insurance, Comprehensive Insurance, Medical Payments, Underinsured/Uninsured and Personal Injury Protection.

The type of car insurance policy you choose divides the cost into parts of the premium. However, these options vary from state to state. What is available in one state may not be available in the other. Following is a brief and simple definition of different options that maybe available to add to your car insurance policy.

Liability Insurance

If you are found at fault in an accident, you are not only liable for all the damages to other vehicles, but you will also have to pay for property damage and medical costs to individuals involved. This type of option covers these costs if you are guilty or at fault of causing an accident.

Collision Insurance

This type of option covers the charges that are required for repairs or the replacement of your vehicle, at its market price at the time of the accident, no matter who is at fault. This option also covers and applies to static objects such as telephone poles, lamp posts, homes and other buildings.

Comprehensive Insurance

This type of option pays for repairs or replacement of your car if it is stolen, written-off or damaged due to external factors such as fire, floods or other natural disasters.

Personal Injury Protection

This option pays for your lost income, childcare expenses, and medical expenses sustained following an accident. However, these types of options are not available in all states and the amount of reimbursement depends on the type of coverage you purchase.

Medical Payments

This type of option helps you to pay for any necessary and reasonable medical bills that come up following an accident. It’s important to note that this policy will often pay out only after an existing medical cover has been exhausted.

Underinsured/Uninsured Coverage

If a driver without car insurance damages your car, or injures you or other passengers riding with you, this type of option helps to cover repairs and expenses. This option insures you are covered against underinsured or uninsured drivers as they may not have insurance or their coverage may not be sufficient to pay for damages you sustained. It is subjected to certain limitations and may vary depending on the type of car insurance.

Gap Insurance

Gap Coverage is an insurance option commonly used by customers who have purchased a brand new vehicle. It’s designed to payout depreciation costs an average insurance policy will not usually cover.

Other Coverage Options

Besides the above car insurance coverage options, there are also several extra insurance features that can be included or sometimes added by default to your car insurance policy. This includes insurance for a rental car, Towing, Labor Cost coverage, Rental Car Reimbursement Coverage. Some coverage options are only available with certain insurance providers. It’s important to check with your insurer and read your insurance policy carefully to find out what’s included, and what’s not.