When you buy or lease a car, it’s important to protect that investment. Getting auto insurance can offer reassurance in case you’re involved in an accident or the vehicle is stolen, vandalized, or damaged by a natural disaster. Instead of paying out-of-pocket for auto accidents, people pay annual premiums to an auto insurance company; the company then pays all or most of the costs associated with an auto accident or other vehicle damage.
Jubilee Car insurance is designed to protect you against vehicle damages, including your car or another driver’s vehicle
- Property damage or bodily injuries caused by an accident
- Medical bills and/or funeral expenses associated with injuries sustained in an accident
If you’re buying a new car or shopping for auto insurance, you’ll likely need to understand the common types of coverage available on a car insurance policy. The various types of car insurance coverage are available at jubilee car insurance to help protect you, your passengers, and your vehicle if you’re involved in a car accident.
Six common car insurance coverage options are auto liability coverage, uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, comprehensive coverage, collision coverage, medical payments coverage, and personal injury protection. Depending on where you live, some of these coverages are mandatory and some are optional. Understanding what’s required in your state and what each helps cover can help you choose the right coverage for your situation.
LIABILITY COVERAGE
Auto liability coverage is mandatory in most states. Drivers are legally required to purchase at least the minimum amount of liability coverage set by state law. Liability coverage has two components:
- Bodily injury liability may help pay for costs related to another person’s injuries if you cause an accident.
- Property damage liability may help pay for damage you cause to another person’s property while driving.
UNINSURED AND UNDERINSURED MOTORIST COVERAGE
If you’re hit by a driver who doesn’t have insurance, uninsured motorist coverage may help pay for your medical bills or, in some states, repairs to your vehicle. If you’re hit by an underinsured driver, that means they have car insurance but their liability limits aren’t enough to cover your resulting medical bills. That’s where underinsured motorist coverage may help.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is required in some states and optional in other states.
COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE
Comprehensive may help cover damage to your car from things like theft, fire, hail, or vandalism. If your car is damaged by a covered peril, comprehensive coverage may help pay to repair or replace your vehicle (up to the vehicle’s actual cash value). This coverage has a deductible, which is the amount you’ll pay out of pocket before your insurer reimburses you for a covered claim.
Comprehensive is typically an optional coverage — but your lender may require it if you’re leasing or paying off your vehicle.
COLLISION COVERAGE
If you’re involved in an accident with another vehicle, or if you hit an object such as a fence, collision coverage may help pay to repair or replace your car (up to its actual cash value and minus your deductible)
Collision coverage is typically optional. It may be required, however, by your vehicle’s leaseholder or lenders.
MEDICAL PAYMENTS COVERAGE
If you, your passengers, or family members who are driving the insured vehicle are injured in an accident, medical payment coverage may help pay for costs associated with the injuries. Covered costs may include hospital visits, surgery, X-rays, and more.
Medical payment coverage is required in some states and optional in others.
PERSONAL INJURY PROTECTION
Personal injury protection, or PIP, is only available in some states. Like medical payments coverage, PIP may help pay for your medical expenses after an accident. In addition, PIP may also help cover other expenses incurred because of your injuries — for example, child care expenses or lost income.
Personal injury protection is required in some states and optional in other states where it’s available.
OTHER TYPES OF AUTO INSURANCE COVERAGE
You may be able to add the following optional coverages to your car insurance policy, depending on your situation. Your insurance agent can help you understand what each helps cover, so you can put together a policy that’s right for you.
- Rental reimbursement coverage/transportation expense coverage
- Gap coverage
- New car replacement coverage
- Towing and labor cost coverage
- Ride-sharing coverage
- Sound system coverage
- Classic car insurance
The different components of an auto insurance policy are available to help protect you and your vehicle. Need help understanding which coverages are required and optional in your state? Talk to a local agent
