If you own or drive a car in the US, you need to have auto insurance. Just about every state in the U.S. mandates that drivers carry a certain minimum level of car insurance to not only protect themselves but also other drivers and property. Getting affordable auto insurance is a complex process, and it is important to have a thorough understanding of the different types of coverage and how the policies work.
Types of Insurance
The first thing to know about car insurance is the different types of policies you can get. Auto insurance is not a one-size-fits-all product. One of the types of coverage that every driver must carry is liability coverage. This type of insurance pays for damage that you cause to other cars or property when you have an accident that is your fault. It also pays out if you cause injuries as well. Another type of insurance that most people carry is collision coverage. This type of insurance covers your own vehicle for damage caused in a crash that isn’t covered by some other insurance. For instance, if you get in a crash where you are at fault, liability insurance would cover damage to the other driver’s car, while collision would cover damage to your car. A third type of insurance that drivers often carry is comprehensive coverage. This covers your vehicle for damage that’s not caused by a crash. It could be weather damage from hail or wind, fire damage, vandalism or theft. Additional types of car insurance you can get include personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage.
Factors To Consider
Another important thing to know about auto insurance coverage is the factors that affect the rates you pay. A number of factors can affect how much you pay for insurance, some of which you can control and some you can’t. For example, younger people, especially teens, pay more than older people, and men tend to pay more than women. This may sound discriminatory, but it’s based on risk. Some of the factors that affect what you pay that you can control include your driving record, what kind of vehicle you drive, your credit score and where you live. Insurers look at all these factors and others to determine how much of a risk you are before setting the rates on the policy.
Affordable Auto Insurance
If you are looking for the most affordable auto insurance, there are a number of things you can do. Shopping around is one of the best ways to find insurance. Different companies can have different underwriting standards, so you could get quoted very different rates. Another way to get affordable auto insurance is to get more than one policy from the same company —a process called bundling. For example, if you get renters and auto insurance from the same company, you might get a discount on both policies. Carrying a higher deductible also is a way to lower the premiums you pay for insurance. The deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before coverage kicks in, so the more you have to pay upfront, the less the insurer has to pay, which results in lower premiums.
Car insurance is a part of US life, so it’s important to be as informed about the subject as possible. The more you know about the process of getting insurance and the different coverage options available, the more likely you are to make a decision that is financially sound.