What is covered by a basic auto policy?
Auto insurance is a specialized field of insurance and you should consult with an insurance agent or insurance company to make sure you are fully covered. The typical auto insurance policy comprises six different coverages and each of the coverages is priced separately.
These are the 6 sections:
Bodily Injury Liability
This covers injuries that you cause to someone else. You, and family members listed on the policy, are also covered when driving someone else’s car with their permission.
It is important to have enough liability insurance, because if you are involved in a serious accident, you may be sued for a large sum of money. Consider buying more than the state-required minimum to protect your assets such as your home and savings.
Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
This covers the treatment of injuries to the driver and passengers of the policyholder's car. PIP can cover medical payments, lost wages and the cost of replacing services normally performed by someone injured in an auto accident. It may also cover funeral costs.
Property Damage Liability
This covers damage you, or someone driving the car with your permission, may cause to someone else's property. Usually, this means damage to someone else’s car, and includes damage to lamp posts, telephone poles, fences, walls, buildings or other structures you hit with your car.
Collision
This covers damage to your car resulting from a collision with another car, object or as a result of flipping over. It also covers damage caused by potholes. Collision coverage is sold with a deductible of $250 to $1,000. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium.
Comprehensive
This covers you for loss due to theft or damage caused by something other than a collision with another car or object, such as fire, falling objects, missiles, explosion, earthquake, windstorm, hail, flood, vandalism, riot, or contact with animals such as birds or deer. Comprehensive insurance is also sold with a $100 to $300 deductible.
Comprehensive insurance also covers windshield damage.
Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
This coverage will reimburse you or a member of your family or a designated driver if one of you is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver. Underinsured motorist coverage comes into play when an at-fault driver has insufficient insurance to pay for your total loss. This coverage will also protect you if you are hit as a pedestrian.





