Car Insurance Advice
With over 11 million crashes occurring in the United States each year, securing the correct insurance for your car may be one of the most important things you do. No-one wants to pay more than they have to, but it is necessary to make sure you are adequately covered or you may end up paying much more than you ever bargained for.
In the United States of America, motorists are required by law to carry a minimum level of insurance to ensure that the driver can cover costs to people or property if there is an accident in which the driver is found liable. However, insurance requirements can differ between states in the US. Make sure yours is what is required in your state. If you have taken a loan to buy your car, you are typically required to have full coverage on your vehicle. Look around and get quotes from a few different companies. Although it can be time consuming, it is likely to pay off. You will find that prices will vary from company to company.
Ensure you have at least the basic coverage. Depending on how cautious you wish to be, you can opt for additional levels of coverage. Think about your financial situation. How much you can afford to spend to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident. You could also be liable for paying medical expenses and other costs to any other person or property you damage if you are not adequately covered. In most states, the minimum cover recommended is not adequate, so think about getting higher limits.
Different Types of Coverage:
Liability coverage
If you hit or damage another person or their property, this insurance will only cover the damages caused to them. You will be responsible for funding your own expenses incurred.
Asset liability coverage
If the costs incurred in an accident exceed the limits of your insurance coverage, any assets you own such as house or car may be sold to fund these. Taking out asset liability coverage will mean that you are protected from this happening.
Comprehensive coverage
Pays for loss or damage to your covered vehicle caused by any event other than collision. This includes damages due to events such as fire, theft, windstorm, flood, and vandalism. This will also pay transportation and loss of use expenses under this coverage if your motor vehicle is stolen.
Collision coverage
This coverage pays for damages to your vehicle in the event of it colliding with another object or overturning. The insurance will also pay for a collision loss to any non-owned vehicle, or to a vehicle you have rented other than a vehicle rented for use in connection with your business or employment, while that vehicle is in your custody, or while you are operating it.
Property Damage Liability Coverage
Pays when an insured person is legally liable for damage to the property of others caused by your vehicle your operation of most non-owned vehicles. This coverage also pays for your legal defense costs if you are sued.
Uninsured motorist coverage
This coverage will protect you, your resident relatives and occupants of an insured car if someone hits you or your property and they are not insured.
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage
If you have an accident and are found to be legally liable for bodily injury or death, this coverage will pay the expenses incurred by your vehicle or your operation of most non-owned vehicles. This coverage also pays for your legal defense if you are sued.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Personal Injury Protection is an insurance coverage for medical and other expenses resulting from an automobile accident, for people specified in the policy, regardless of who is at fault in the accident.
Loan or Lease Payoff or "Gap" Coverage
Loan or lease payoff coverage (often called "gap" coverage) pays the difference between what you owe on your vehicle and what your insurance pays if your vehicle is declared a total loss or stolen and not recovered, less your Comprehensive or Collision deductible.
As you can see, there are many different levels of coverage to think about when it comes to insurance. You may only wish to purchase the minimum requirement, but it is important to be aware of what you are covered for in the event of an accident.
The Minimum Level of Coverage You Are Required to Have In Your State
In the US, each state differs in the amount of insurance you are legally required to have. The below information shows what the requirements for your state are to ensure you are covered for the basics. The first number is the bodily injury liability maximum for one person injured in an accident.
The second number is bodily injury liability maximum for all injuries in one accident. The third number is the property damage liability maximum for one accident.
Some states have No-Fault laws. This means that if you are injured in an accident or your vehicle is damaged, then you deal with your own insurance company when making a claim, regardless of who is at-fault for causing the accident.
Select your state from the list below to see what level of insurance you are required to have:
Alabama
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 20/40/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Alaska
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 50/100/25
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Arizona
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 15/30/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Arkansas
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/25
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
California
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 15/30/5
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Colorado
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/15
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is required
- This is a no-fault state
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Connecticut
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 20/40/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
Delaware
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 15/30/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Florida
- Liability coverage is required
- Only property-damage liability is compulsory
- Liability Minimum is 10/20/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is required
- This is a no-fault state
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Georgia
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/25
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Hawaii
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 20/40/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is required
- This is a no-fault state
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Idaho
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/15
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Illinois
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 20/40/15
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
Indiana
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Iowa
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 20/40/15
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Kansas
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is required
- This is a no-fault state
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
Kentucky
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is required
- This is a no-fault state
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Louisiana
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 10/20/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Maine
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 50/100/25
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
Maryland
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 20/40/15
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
Massachusetts
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 20/40/5
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is required
- This is a no-fault state
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
Michigan
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 20/40/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is required
- This is a no-fault state
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Minnesota
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 30/60/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is required
- This is a no-fault state
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
Mississippi
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/25
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Missouri
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
Montana
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Nebraska
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/25
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Nevada
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 15/30/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
New Hampshire
- Liability coverage is not required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/25
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
New Jersey
- Liability coverage is required
- Drivers can choose a standard or basic policy. Basic policy limits are 10/10/5; only property-damage liability is mandatory
- Liability Minimum is 15/30/5
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is required
- This is a no-fault state
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
New Mexico
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
New York
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/10
- Liability rises to 50/100 if injury results in death
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is required
- This is a no-fault state
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
North Carolina
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 30/60/25
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
North Dakota
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/25
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is required
- This is a no-fault state
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
Ohio
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 12.5/25/7.5
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Oklahoma
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/25
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Oregon
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
Pennsylvania
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 15/30/5
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- This is a no-fault state
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Rhode Island
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/25
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
South Carolina
- Liability coverage is not required
- Liability Minimum is 15/30/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
South Dakota
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/25
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
Tennessee
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Texas
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 20/40/15
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Utah
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/15
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is required
- This is a no-fault state
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
Vermont
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
Virginia
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/20
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
Liability coverage is not required
Washington
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
West Virginia
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 20/40/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
Wisconsin
- Liability coverage is not required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/10
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is required
Wyoming
- Liability coverage is required
- Liability Minimum is 25/50/20
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance is not required
- Uninsured Motorist Coverage is not required
What Factors Contribute to the Cost of Your Premium
Insurance companies take into account a number of factors when quoting the premium you will pay. Insurance companies collate statistics and data on accidents and theft to determine which types of people are low risk, and which are higher risks to insure. After asking you a number of questions there will be a demographic you best fit and this will determine the level of premium you will pay. The kind of questions you will be asked:
Your driving record
Have you had any accidents, tickets or fines? DUI charges? Have any of these happened recently, or do they occur often? Your answers will factor into the equation and help determine whether you are a high or low risk driver.
Your age, and the length of time you have had your licence
Age and experience generally weigh in your favour. A young driver is more likely to be a high risk driver, and so is one who has only held a licence for a short time.
The type of car you drive
Each year, vehicles receive ratings according to the safety features they have installed in them. Insurance companies think about the number of safety enhancing features your vehicle has - such as power steering, automatic safety belts, anti-lock brakes, airbags etc. The level of power a car has may raise the price of the premium. Sports cars and some SUVs are more likely to command higher premiums. Even the colour of a car can cause a variation in price. Based on research, red cars and black are considered to be higher risk. Cars are also ranked accordingly as to how likely they are to be targeted by thieves. Thieves target desirable cars. Cars with sports motors in them, or Japanese cars have a higher incidence of theft. Modified cars with attractive features may also be a target, so if you are considering adding components such as magnesium alloy wheels, high quality stereos, radar detectors etc. be aware that this may make your car more likely to be at risk.
Who else will be driving the car?
Generally, anyone who drives your car with your permission will be covered in your insurance. As the most likely people to drive your car will be members of your household, the insurance company may wish to gather information on these people.
Where your car is located
Whether your car is locked in a garage or secure unit will be of significance to an insurance company. Cars that can be parked overnight in off-street parking are preferable. Where you live is also a factor. Some neighbourhoods have a higher security risk than others. This is calculated by the number of thefts or vandalisms in a particular area over a certain amount of time. Cities command higher premiums than towns.
The amount of driving you do
How often and how far do you drive your car in a day? The more you use a car, and the distance you drive will cost you more in premiums. Whether you drive it predominantly around town or long distance will also be a consideration.
The number of cars you own
If you have multiple cars insured on the same policy, the company will most likely give you a discount. You will also be eligible for a discount if you have other assets such as a house or your contents insured with the same company.
As you can see, there are many factors that will determine what you pay as a premium to have your car insured. Insurance companies compile data and calculate levels of probability based on their statistics. They assess all the variables and then determine how likely it is that you will need their services.
Get in touch with people you trust and ask which companies they recommend. Get a number of quotes from different companies and compare them.
Before you sign up, read carefully the policy. Make sure that you keep your right to sue. In the event that there is a disagreement between you and the insurance company, it is important that you are able to take it to court if you wish.