Auto Insurance Coverage and Deductable Options
The most important details of an auto insurance policy are the coverage and the deductible options. These are the heart of the policy and what determines what happens in case of an accident, as well as a large portion of what the premium will be. The deductible is the amount of money the customer, or policy holder, will pay in the event of an accident, up front, before the insurance company will pay out any money. It is a general rule that the higher the deductible, the lower the cost of the policy will be.
Auto insurance is an investment and everyone would like to invest in something that will do them some good in the long run. An auto insurance policy usually covers: the policy holder, the policy holder's spouse, any family members at the same address as the policy holder, and any other named drivers the policy holder chooses to list.
There are many types of auto insurance in North Carolina besides the basic types, with many coverage options. Many states will have a minimum any driver is responsible to purchase, some with different definitions as to what each type of coverage means. In general, however, assume these apply:
Liability coverage and auto liability coverage will be the most commonly occurring types of coverage. Auto liability covers a driver who causes injury to another person or damages someone else's property in an auto accident. There are two main types of auto liability coverage: bodily injury liability, which recompenses medical expenses, loss of wages, and similar damages; and personal damage liability, which just covers any harm done to property.
Personal Injury Protection covers a pre-stated amount of medical expenses for someone hurt in a car accident, and can even extend to later needs, such as rehabilitation, loss of wages, funeral costs, and other such expenses incurred in an accident.
Medical Payment Coverage: Much narrower than personal injury protection, this will also cover the costs of medical attention or funeral costs in the event of an accident.
Collision Coverage: This type of coverage usually requires the payment of a deductible. It will reimburse the costs of damage caused by another vehicle, a stationary object, or a rollover.
Comprehensive Coverage: This covers everything collision coverage does not, including things like fire, weather conditions, criminal activity, and damage caused by animals.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage: In the event an uninsured driver causes injury, which means he or she can't really pay, this type of coverage will pay for it. In some states, this can also include damage to property.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage: This is essentially the same as uninsured motorist coverage.
Rental Reimbursement: This will cover the cost of a rental car when the policy holder's original car is in the shop. The exact amount of coverage depends upon state law and the individual auto insurance policy.
Emergency Road Services: This will pay for towing if the policy holder's car should break down on the road.