A full coverage car insurance policy is the ideal type of policy to carry in order to provide yourself with the protection you really need. Such a policy will give you with not only liability coverage, but also personal property damage coverage, in addition to other valuable types of insurance coverage.
While no insurance policy will be able to cover absolutely every thing that might occur, full coverage will give you the best chances of being fully covered in the case of a serious accident.
To learn more about full coverage auto insurance coverage then continue reading and then also be sure to enter your zip code in for a free full coverage car insurance comparison!
Required State Coverage
Full coverage goes beyond the requirements that are mandated by the state you live in. Each state mandates a minimum amount of liability coverage that a car owner must carry. Many states will also require other types of coverage such as uninsured/underinsured motorist or personal injury protection. To find out what is required where you live, you should check with your state’s department of insurance.
The state requirements for liability are always set very low and prove to be inadequate for drivers found at fault in a serious accident. Therefore, in full coverage policies, liability limits that are much higher than those required are the norm. In fact, typically full coverage liability limits are at least $100,000 for bodily injury per person, $300,000 for bodily injury in total per accident and $100,000 for property damage per accident.
Personal Property Protection
One of the major advantages with full coverage is that it gives you personal property protection for your own vehicle. Most people who own relatively new vehicles want to carry this type of coverage, so that if their vehicle is damaged or destroyed they will have help replacing it. If your vehicle is financed, the lender will usually insist that you carry this type of coverage in order to protect his or her investment.
The two types of personal property coverage that are added to liability to make up full coverage are comprehensive and collision. Comprehensive covers mostly losses that occur through no fault of the driver. Such events include fire, theft, vandalism, storm damage, flooding or animal damage.
Collision coverage provides for the cost of repair or replacement of your vehicle if you are involved in an accident where you are at-fault. Such coverage is subject to a deductible, as is comprehensive. The deductible is selected when you purchase your policy. All collision and comprehensive claims are based on the value of your vehicle at the time of loss, unless you have taken out additional coverage such as gap or replacement cost coverage. Some insurers may automatically quote full coverage with these types of loan/lease payoff options included.
There are circumstances where collision and comprehensive are not the best investments. If you own your car outright and it is a much older vehicle or one with little value, then it may not make sense to purchase these types of coverages. You need to look at the amount of the coverage, the cost of the deductible and premium, and compare it to the replacement value of your vehicle.
Different Versions of Full Coverage
While all companies will include state minimums, the higher amount of liability coverage, collision and comprehensive in a full coverage policy, this is where the similarity ends. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is also an important type of coverage that should be carried by all drivers to protect them if they are involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver. While many companies include it in full coverage, some do not in an effort to keep prices lower.
Medical payments coverage is also an important form of coverage that may or may not be covered in a full coverage policy. It gives added protection in the form of insuring against lost wages and incidental medical expenses that are not covered by regular insurance. There are still other forms of car insurance that some insurers will include in full coverage while others will not. They include: loss of use, towing and loan/lease payoff insurance.
Because of the variety of different versions of full coverage auto insurance that exists, it is very important to shop around and compare the different quotes very carefully before making a decision. When comparing, you should make sure that all limits of coverage are equal, that the same forms of coverage are included, that the length of the policy is the same, and that the deductibles are the same amounts. This is the only way to ensure that you are comparing quotes accurately.
When you are looking for full coverage for your vehicle, the best way to start is by using an online rate quote tool to get quotes on what you are looking for. Free quote tools save you time by allowing you to enter your information just once but still get multiple quotes. The tool will submit your information to the top insurers serving your area. In no time, you will have all the quotes you need to compare and contrast. You’ll get the full coverage protection you want at the best price possible. Click to start right now!
