Car Insurance Types
Car insurance coverage is designed to protect you in case you are involved in an accident and you find yourself responsible for medical and repair bills. The different kinds of car insurance coverage in a general policy usually include:
Car insurance coverage is available through several companies. Some people buy policies independently and others choose a company and driver combination for their insurance. The most popular types of auto insurance coverage are:
If you buy your car from a dealership, you will have more options than if you purchased your car privately. Most dealers require you to buy your car with a factory warranty. They also offer protection for a wide range of damage. The coverage is normally limited to what is necessary to get your car fixed in the event of an accident.
If you buy your own vehicle, you can have all kinds of options, including liability, comprehensive coverage and collision coverage. A comprehensive policy pays for repairs that are necessary to repair your car. You pay a higher premium for comprehensive coverage because it covers more of the repair costs.
Collision coverage pays for damages to your car in the event of an accident. Collision coverage often pays for the car itself, although it can also pay for your car if it is totaled. Collision coverage is often not as comprehensive as the other two types because it does not usually pay for parts or labor that are damaged during an accident.
If your car is totaled and needs repairs, the comprehensive coverage will pay for those repairs. If you drive a sports car and want to insure it against theft and fire, then collision may be the coverage type for you. Fire and theft coverage is often required by law and covers your vehicle if you have it stolen or burned to the ground.
If you want additional coverage, you can buy additional coverage. For example, if your car is totaled and you want to replace the windshield or body of the car, you can add this coverage to the general coverage you already have.
Once you are armed with the information about car insurance, it’s time to choose a company and driver combination. You will have to compare rates from many companies before making a decision.
One way to make the comparison is to sign up for a free auto quote online. There are sites that will do this for you just give them information such as your personal information, driving record, etc., and they will instantly do a search to find a company and driver combination with whom you can get the best deal.
The advantage of getting free car insurance quotes is that you can look around at a variety of companies at once. Even if you have found the best deal, you might find it can’t be the cheapest by having to check around.
When you use these websites, keep an open mind. Take the time to read all the fine print. in the fine print so you know what you can actually get. and what you may have to accept.
For instance, you might think you can get a very cheap policy but you have to have an alarm on your car or you are locked out of it at night if you leave it unlocked. Another good idea is to include coverage for any type of theft of your car such as your car being broken into, vandalism. However, if you have uninsured motorists, your premium may go up.
In order to make sure you get a good policy, think carefully about the extras and add-ons you can have on your policy. Some insurance companies will include rental car coverage, or liability coverage for rental cars. This is something that will pay the cost of the car while you are away from home if you are not using it.
