Auto Insurance FAQs

A new car and new auto insurance go hand in hand. But, purchasing the right insurance and the appropriate amount can be confusing. In order to cut down on the guesswork, here are six frequently asked auto insurance questions from FreeAdvice.com that you need to ask your insurer.

What are the basic types of auto insurance coverage?

The basic types of auto insurance coverages are:

1. Bodily injury liability, which provides coverage for bodily injury claims from the people you might injure in an accident .
2. Property damage liability, which covers any property damages to third parties -- such as another person's car you damage -- which you cause or are responsible for.
3. Medical payments to the policy owner and other passengers in the policy owner?s car.
4. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, which protects you when the negligent driver has no insurance or insufficient insurance (in most states, this covers only bodily injury losses -- though some states also include property damage losses).
5. Physical damage covers damage to your car
   • collision, which covers losses to your car when you are involved in a collision
   • comprehensive, which covers most non-collision physical damage to your car (if your car is damaged in a storm, or a windshield breaks, for example).

My car is old, and not worth much. Do I need collision coverage?

If you have an older car that is not being financed, you can probably save money on your monthly premium by dropping collision coverage from your car insurance policy. Your agent can tell you how much. The agent can also tell you approximately how much that same coverage would pay if your car was totaled. For an old car, you may find that collision coverage would pay only a nominal amount in the event of a major accident, while eliminating it would mean significant savings.

What is the difference between uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages?

Uninsured motorist coverage will usually reimburse you and anyone in your vehicle for any bodily injury and medical expense or death from an auto accident caused by:

1. A driver with no insurance
2. A hit-and-run driver
3. A driver of a stolen car

It does not cover property damage.

Underinsured coverage provides bodily injury coverage when the negligent driver has some insurance, but it is insufficient to cover your bills. Underinsured motorist coverage pays the balance -- up to the limit on your policy.

I financed my car through a bank and at that time could not afford comprehensive and collision coverage. The bank secured coverage on my vehicle. Can they do this?

Yes. If you finance or lease a vehicle, the bank or leasing company will expect you to have enough comprehensive and collision insurance coverage to protect their interests. If you did not have such insurance and the vehicle was severely damaged or stolen, the bank or leasing company could look to you for the value of the remaining financing of the car. Since the car has been destroyed or stolen, you might, understandably, feel reluctant to pay for a vehicle you can no longer use. For these reasons, the insurance company will get secure coverages for you if you do not -- and expect you to pay the premiums.

In buying or leasing a new car, how can I be confident I will be able to insure it?

Call your insurance agent and ask. Give your agent all the information and get a quote on the premium. If it looks like there will be a problem getting affordable insurance, you will be happy you found out before you made the purchase.

I'm enlisting in the military after high school. Does my car insurance policy still cover me if I'm stationed in another state?

Yes. However, if you eventually become a permanent resident of that state, you should get a driver's license, registration and insurance from your new state.

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