What is optional coverage for auto insurance?

Asked by: Odessa Gislason  |  Last update: September 4, 2025
Score: 5/5 (27 votes)

Collision and comprehensive coverage are optional, but if you finance or lease your vehicle, you may be required to carry them. Depending on the carrier, other optional coverage types may include roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, new car replacement, gap insurance and accident forgiveness.

What is the optional coverage for car insurance?

Collision — This optional coverage reimburses you for damage to your car that occurs as a result of a collision with another vehicle or other object—e.g., a tree or guardrail—when you're at fault.

What does "optional coverage" mean?

Definition and Citations:

Insurance coverage provided by a policy that is beyond what is required by law. Includes Collision Coverage and Comprehensive Coverage.

What does optional cover mean in insurance?

This is where optional benefits in Term Insurance come into play. These optional benefits provide additional coverage that can enhance your policy coverage and provide financial security to your loved ones in case of critical illness, disability, or accidental death.

What is optional insurance policy?

Optional Insurance means mortgage/credit life insurance, accidental death insurance, disability insurance, unemployment insurance or any similar optional insurance covering a Mortgagor for which premiums are collected by the Subservicer.

Understanding Auto Insurance: What’s ‘Full Coverage’ Car Insurance?

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What is an optional cover?

Optional covers are a way for you to get a particular cover that better suits your needs. They can be added to your policy for an additional premium. By reviewing available optional covers and determining their suitability, you can help ensure that your policy is able to support you when you need it most.

What is optional add coverage?

Optional Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance. AD&D provides financial assistance in the event of bodily harm as the result of an accident. Optional AD&D coverage increases the amount paid out following an accident or loss and is often paired with Life Insurance.

Should I get optional accident insurance?

If an accident results in medical expenses your current health insurance doesn't cover, accident insurance can serve as a financial cushion should the unexpected happen. Accident insurance also helps complement disability insurance by allowing you to claim benefits even if your injuries don't keep you out of work.

What is optional insurance premium?

Optional insurance is coverage that can be added to the basic coverage you have with your group plan. It's a way to increase the amount of coverage you already have, or to add benefits that aren't part of your basic plan. Optional insurance. COVERAGE THAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU.

What is optional collision coverage?

Collision coverage is considered an optional coverage because it's not required by any state law. If you lease or finance your vehicle, however, your lender may require it to protect their investment.

Which two types of insurance are optional?

Therefore, the two types of insurance which are generally optional and up to the individual to acquire are life insurance and auto insurance (if you do not own a vehicle or are not driving) or life insurance and health insurance (depending on your country's health system).

Can you get a collision without comprehensive?

Some insurers require that you purchase collision and comprehensive insurance together, while other insurers may allow you to purchase these two types of coverage separately.

When should you not have full coverage auto insurance?

Your vehicle holds a low value: As with collision, consider dropping comprehensive coverage if your vehicle's market value is lower than a few thousand dollars. Figure in your deductible as well and the potential insurance payout may not be worth the price of the coverage.

Which type of car insurance is best?

Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy

This type of insurance policy provides complete protection. It covers both third-party liabilities as well as damages to your vehicle. Also, with a comprehensive cover, you can get compensation if the accident results in your death; the family members will receive the benefit.

Which is better, a collision or an uninsured motorist?

Deductible Comparison: UMPD generally has a lower deductible compared to collision coverage. This can be beneficial in reducing immediate out-of-pocket costs. Broader Coverage: UMPD can cover not just your vehicle but also other property, such as a fence or a garage, if damaged by an uninsured driver.

What is optional insurance coverage?

Additional car insurance coverage that is optional and not a mandatory part of your insurance policy. They are simply optional protections for your vehicle to avoid out of pocket expenses and be safer when driving on the road. It is not considered a common type of car insurance.

What type of car insurance is optional?

Comprehensive and collision are also common types of car insurance coverage, though no state requires them. These optional coverages pay for damages to your car due to fire, theft, vandalism, animal strikes, acts of nature, glass breakage, and collisions.

What do optional Benefits mean?

Optional Benefits means those District-approved insurance programs optionally available to employees outside the Basic Benefits programs, including short-term disability, additional individual life, long-term care, pre-paid legal, and cancer insurance programs, which are not Basic Benefits as described in Section 7.2.

Why would you not want to have collision coverage?

Collision insurance only pays up to the current market value of your car, minus your collision deductible. Since older cars typically have a low market value, collision coverage won't pay out much, if anything, in a total loss. Be sure to research your car's worth before deciding on whether to drop the coverage.

Do I need optional bodily injury coverage?

BI liability coverage is required in nearly every state, so you should instead consider how much car insurance coverage you need. Remember, BI covers injuries you cause to other people in an accident, so you don't have to risk your personal assets to compensate them.

Do I need accidental death coverage?

While an accidental death policy can benefit a wide range of people, those in high-risk jobs should carefully consider these plans. It might make sense for you to get a form of coverage, especially if you are in a high-risk situation.

What is optional life insurance coverage?

Optional Term Life Insurance provides additional coverage — up to two times your annual salary when you retired (Election 1 or 2). Maximum coverage is $400,000. The monthly premium is based on your coverage election, your salary and your age. Coverage begins to decrease when you reach age 70.

What does additional coverage cover?

Additional insurance refers to extra coverage that can be added to an existing insurance policy to provide more protection. For example, if someone has car insurance, they may choose to add additional insurance for things like theft or damage caused by natural disasters.

What is optional critical illness coverage?

Critical illness insurance is the plan that protects you in the event of a future major illness diagnosis. This type of plan supplements existing health insurance coverage with extra funds that meet the demands that come with critical illness health emergencies.