What can car insurance protect you from?

Asked by: Alf Schaden IV  |  Last update: February 11, 2022
Score: 4.4/5 (39 votes)

Auto insurance is a contract between you and the insurance company that protects you against financial loss in the event of an accident or theft. ... Auto insurance provides coverage for: Property – such as damage to or theft of your car. Liability – your legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage.

What damage does car insurance not cover?

Car insurance does not cover intentional damage, general maintenance, or damage caused by normal wear and tear. Minimum car insurance coverage does not cover the policyholder's injuries or vehicle damage, either, only providing liability insurance to pay for injuries and property damage caused to others.

What are 3 items that auto insurance can cover?

Auto Insurance
  • Bodily injury liability.
  • Medical payments or personal injury protection (PIP)
  • Property damage liability.
  • Collision.
  • Comprehensive.
  • Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

What is the purpose of car insurance?

Auto Insurance Helps Protect Your Passengers

Medical payments coverage and personal injury protection may help pay for your medical bills if you're injured in an accident. It also may help cover your passengers' expenses due to the accident.

Does car insurance only protect the vehicle?

Optional coverage

While basic, legally mandated auto insurance covers the cost of damages to other vehicles that you cause while driving, it does not cover damage to your own car.

Insurance 101 - Personal Auto Coverages

43 related questions found

Can someone not on your insurance drive your car?

Can someone else drive my car if they aren't on my insurance? A person can legally drive your car if they are a named driver on your policy. It's easy to add a named driver to your policy. ... If they are not a named driver on your insurance then the policy will provide no cover if they are driving.

Does car insurance follow the driver?

Contrary to popular belief, car insurance typically follows the car — not the driver. If you let someone else drive your car and they get in an accident, your insurance company would likely be responsible for paying the claim, depending on the coverages in your policy.

How do insurances work?

The basic concept of insurance is that one party, the insurer, will guarantee payment for an uncertain future event. Meanwhile, another party, the insured or the policyholder, pays a smaller premium to the insurer in exchange for that protection on that uncertain future occurrence.

How does insurance work after an accident?

Typically, if you get into a car accident, the at-fault driver's insurance pays for the damages and injuries. ... If you get hit by a driver with no insurance or not enough liability coverage, your uninsured or underinsured insurance will kick in and help cover your medical expenses.

What is covered in vehicle insurance?

Bodily injury liability- It covers bodily injury claims of people who get injured in an accident. Property damage liability- It covers property damages to third parties such as another person's car. Medical payments- This payment is done to the policy owner and other passengers in the policy owner's car.

What does full insurance cover?

Full coverage insurance typically combines collision and comprehensive insurance, which pay out if your vehicle is damaged, plus liability coverage, which pays for injuries and damage you cause to others. But this extra protection comes at a cost.

Does full coverage cover at fault accidents?

So what does full coverage car insurance cover? In most cases, it includes liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage. Collision and comprehensive will protect you and your vehicle if you get into an accident. If you're found at fault for an accident.

Does car insurance cover personal items?

The short answer is no, auto insurance will not cover your personal belongings. This can be a problem if you leave something valuable such as a laptop in your car and the laptop or the whole car is stolen. It is important to be aware of what is covered and what isn't.

Does insurance cover body damage?

You can make an insurance claim for damage you caused to your own car if you have collision and/or comprehensive coverage. If you have a liability-only car insurance policy, however, damage that you do to your own car won't be covered. ... Also, even if you have “full coverage,” insurance won't pay for your own negligence.

What should you not do after a car accident?

10 Things You Should NOT Do After a Car Accident
  1. Leave the scene.
  2. Forget to call 911.
  3. Lose your cool.
  4. Forget to document the car accident.
  5. Admit fault.
  6. Neglect the aftermath.
  7. Speak to the other party's insurance company without a lawyer.
  8. Enter into an unfair settlement agreement.

What should you not say to your insurance company after an accident?

Avoid using phrases like “it was my fault,” “I'm sorry,” or “I apologize.” Don't apologize to your insurer, the other driver, or law enforcement. Even if you are simply being polite and not intentionally admitting fault, these types of words and phrases will be used against you.

When someone hits your car do you call their insurance?

If someone hits your car, you should call your insurance company. But first, you'll probably want to call the police, especially if the damage is severe, there are any injuries, or the accident was a hit-and-run. Even if you don't think you are at-fault, you're required to report potential claims to your insurer.

What happens after a car accident that is your fault?

If you live in a fault state, the person responsible for the accident will hold liability for anyone's injuries. The other driver would file a claim with your insurance company, and you or your car insurance will pay for losses. In a no-fault state, however, each party's auto insurance usually covers their losses.

What are the 3 main types of insurance?

Insurance in India can be broadly divided into three categories:
  • Life insurance. As the name suggests, life insurance is insurance on your life. ...
  • Health insurance. Health insurance is bought to cover medical costs for expensive treatments. ...
  • Car insurance. ...
  • Education Insurance. ...
  • Home insurance.

How do insurance companies decide what to cover?

Insurance companies determine what tests, drugs and services they will cover. These choices are based on their understanding of the kinds of medical care that most patients need. Your insurance company's choices may mean that the test, drug, or service you need isn't covered by your policy.

What are the benefits of insurance?

Benefits of Insurance
  • Cover against Uncertainties. It is one of the most prominent and crucial benefits of insurance. ...
  • Cash Flow Management. The uncertainty of paying for the losses incurred out of pocket has a significant impact on cash flow management. ...
  • Investment Opportunities.

What happens if my friend crashes my car?

Your collision insurance will pay for the damages to your own vehicle if your friend crashes your car, if you have that coverage on your policy, as collision is optional. ... So, if your friend is in a serious accident, the damages may go beyond your limits and that is where it gets interesting.

What happens if I let someone borrow my car and they crash?

If you let a friend borrow your car and he or she causes an accident, your auto insurer would be responsible for paying for damages to the other driver and his or her passengers, up to the limits of your policy. If damages exceed your policy limits, your friend's insurance would act as secondary coverage.

Can I drive my girlfriends car?

Some drivers will be covered under your policy as long as you have given them permission to drive your car. This is considered "permissive use." These drivers may include immediate or extended family, friends, or even a boyfriend or girlfriend who doesn't live with you.

Can my son drive my car?

Can I get insurance for anyone to drive my car? An any driver insurance policy allows anyone to drive your car at any time. There's no limit to how many people can drive the car, so any friends or family, who have your permission, are legally insured to drive it.