Checklist: Demystify Your Auto Insurance

An article from our friends at Leavitt Group 

As insurance goes, auto insurance is pretty straightforward, right? Maybe not. Sometimes, it seems like you need to be a magician to sift through the smoke and mirrors to find exactly what you need. 

Simply put, auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company—you agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy. Most policies include property, liability and medical coverage, but some states may have different requirements.  

Here are typical coverages that may be found in an auto policy: 

Liability coverage—Pays for damages you cause to other people and their property. The insured and covered family members are also covered while driving someone else’s vehicle with permission. Higher limits than what you currently have may be available. 

Medical payments—Provides protection for the insured, family members and passengers in the insured’s auto for injuries sustained in an accident regardless of who was at fault. May also provide reasonable expenses for necessary medical and funeral services incurred. Higher limits than what you currently have may be available. 

Personal injury protection—Provides coverage for injury, death, loss of services and loss of income suffered by you, your covered passengers or covered family members (for those who reside in states with no-fault insurance laws). 

Uninsured motorist coverage—Auto coverage designed to provide protection for the insured if involved in an accident where an uninsured motorist is at fault. Limits usually match liability coverage. 

Underinsured motorist coverage—Auto coverage that pays the difference between the insured’s actual damages for bodily injury and the amount of liability insurance carried by the at-fault driver. Limits usually match liability coverage. 

Collision coverage—Protects you from loss caused by damage to your auto by collision with another object or vehicle or the overturn of the auto. Also covers pothole damage. 

Comprehensive—Pays for the losses to your auto in instances other than collision, including damage or loss to your auto caused by fire, theft, earthquake, glass breakage, falling objects, vandalism and contact with animals such as birds or deer. 

Towing and labor—Offers reimbursement for the cost of having a vehicle towed. It may include road service—like a battery jump or fixing a flat tire—but labor costs to make other repairs are not covered. Higher limits than what you currently have may be available. 

Rental reimbursement/loss of use—Loss of use covers the daily cost to rent a vehicle while yours is out of commission due to a covered loss. 

Auto loan/lease coverage—Coverage may be extended for the difference between the unpaid amount due on the loan or lease of a new auto and the actual cash value at the time of loss. 

The coverages discussed herein are for illustrative purposes only. The terms and conditions of your specific policy may differ from those described. Please consult the provisions of your policy for the terms, conditions, and exclusions that apply to your coverage.