1 THE COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO CAR INSURANCE...Car accidents are very prevalent in the U.S. (over six million a year). With car repairs being so expensive, it ends up being cheaper in

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THE COMPREHENSIVEGUIDE TO CAR INSURANCE

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Regardless of the type of vehicle you

drive or where in the U.S. you are driving,

you are more than likely required by your

state and local governments to have a

minimum amount of car insurance.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Guide Introduction

Why You Need Car Insurance

Various Types of Car Insurance Coverage

How to Find the Best Car Insurance

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State-by-State Minimum Car Insurance Requirements

Filing a Car Insurance Claim

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GUIDE INTRODUCTION

Failure to have the minimum required car insurance can result in a number of penalties including fines, drivers

license suspensions and possible arrest. When searching for the right car insurance, make sure you choose a

reputable company that is guaranteed to cover your expenses in the event that you are involved in a car accident.

Be sure to also find out from your insurance provider how to go about the process of filing a claim. To learn more

about why you need car insurance, how to get car insurance and the best types of car insurance available in your

area, read the sections outlined below.

Minimum insurance requirements vary by state but typically include some level of property liability insurance as well as insurance against any injuries requiring medical attention.

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WHY YOU NEEDCAR INSURANCE

Most states require some sort of car insurance or proof of financial responsibility in order to register and legally

operate a vehicle. However, there are many reasons other than legal ones why drivers should secure car insurance

before operating a vehicle. To learn more about why you need car insurance, read the information below:

Car insurance is a factor most drivers in the U.S. have to take into account when purchasing a vehicle.

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The Keyword is Insurance It’s the Law

Access to Experts

Peace of Mind

Car accidents are very prevalent in the U.S. (over six

million a year). With car repairs being so expensive, it

ends up being cheaper in the long run to have car

insurance as opposed to not and potentially paying

out-of-pocket for damages. Additionally, depending

on who was at fault during the accident, you may

also have to pay for the other vehicle’s damage as

well. Insurance helps prevent incidents such as these

from leaving you in debt.

The most obvious reason to get car insurance is

because it is most likely legally required in your area.

While not every state in the country requires drivers to

have car insurance, nearly every state requires drivers

to prove they have the financial capability to pay for

damages in the event that they are involved in an

accident. Some states allow drivers to complete this

requirement by storing a bond in a minimum dollar

amount (i.e. $40,000) with the state’s department of

motor vehicles to hold as assurance that the driver

will pay. However, most states simply require drivers

to have car insurance with an official car insurance

provider.

Check your state’s requirements for which types of

car insurance are required for your vehicle. Many

states have minimum requirements that only include

liability insurance, while other states require drivers

to have other types of coverage such as property

damage liability coverage, personal injury protection

and death by vehicle liability coverage.

Getting in a car accident is always bad, but the post-

accident process doesn’t have to be unbearable.

Drivers who attempt to negotiate with other

insurance companies, lawyers, and opposing drivers

may not know everything they need to know to insure

they are not being taken advantage of. Car insurance

companies hire and train car insurance experts who

can give you information on all your options following

a car accident.

Even though you may be an expert driver, that doesn’t

mean everybody else on the road is. Insurance

protects you from the costs of other driver’s mistakes.

With insurance, you can drive around knowing that, at

the least, your vehicle repairs or possible replacement

are covered in the event that a neglectful car owner

who happens to be texting while driving runs into

your back bumper. Additionally, after an accident,

your insurance company will come in handy in

regards to legal representation for your case. Most

drivers are not educated in the intricacies of legal

proceedings, so having someone who can represent

you in court is oftentimes the difference between a

favorable outcome and a non-favorable outcome.

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VARIOUS TYPES OFCAR INSURANCE COVERAGEMost areas in the United States require drivers to have a minimum amount of insurance coverage in the event of any car accidents or other car-related incidents.

However, the minimum required car insurance typically only covers one of many types of situations that can

happen while you are on the road. Insurance companies typically offer a variety of coverage types to make sure

policy holders are covered, regardless of what has happened. To learn more about the various types of car insurance

coverage offered throughout the country, read the information outlined below:

· Liability coverage

· PIP

· Collision coverage

· Uninsured/underinsured motorists

· Comprehensive coverage

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Liability Insurance CoverageLiability insurance coverage is the minimum required insurance coverage in

most states throughout the country. Even in states where liability insurance

is not required, there are usually other insurance requirements that equate

to the same as purchasing liability insurance.

Liability insurance covers drivers who are involved in an accident which they

caused. This insurance coverage will cover any financial liability resulting

from property damage including damage to another person’s vehicle.

Additionally, liability coverage also covers any medical costs incurred by the

injured party resulting from the incident. The more liability insurance you

purchase, the more you will be covered if you are involved in an accident

that is your fault.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)While PIP insurance is not available in every state, it is invaluable in the

states where it is available. PIP enhances liability insurance coverage by

insuring drivers and any other involved party’s medical bills. PIP insurance

will also cover all parties’ medical bills regardless of who is at fault.

Collision Insurance CoverageWhile liability insurance coverage protects you from paying for somebody

else’s vehicle or property damage, collision coverage protects you from

having to pay for your own repairs. In the event that you are involved in an

accident where your vehicle is damaged or totaled, collision insurance will

cover the cost of repairing your car. Collision insurance is worth the cost for

newer vehicles, though it can be an unnecessary expense for older vehicles.

Uninsured/Underinsured Driver CoverageThough most states require drivers to have insurance coverage to operate

a vehicle on public roads, not all drivers comply with these requirements.

If your property is damaged by a person who does not have car insurance,

standard insurance coverage will only pay for a small amount of your

total repairs. Uninsured and/or underinsured driver insurance protects

you against paying the extra costs out-of-pocket, in the event that you are

involved in an accident with a driver who does not have proper insurance

on their vehicle.

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Comprehensive Car InsuranceThough most car insurance coverages insure you against driving-related

incidents, it does not necessarily cover you for other types of damage

that can occur to your vehicle. In the event that your car is damaged in

an incident that doesn’t involve another vehicle (i.e. hitting a deer, theft,

vandalism, etc.), comprehensive insurance coverage will cover the costs of

repairs. Depending on whether or not you have a car alarm or other anti-

theft devices, your comprehensive coverage premium may also be relatively

low.

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HOW TO FIND THE BEST CAR INSURANCEThough car insurance is required in nearly every state in the country, the options for car insurance are wide

However, depending on the type of

insurance you want and your driving

history, certain insurance companies

may be better suited to your needs than

others. To find out more about how to

find the best car insurance provider for

you, read the information below.

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Decide What You Want from Your Insurance

Know Your Insurance Provider’s Reputation

Compare Quotes

Before you pick a car insurance company, make sure

you know what type of car insurance you want. Drivers

looking for the bare minimum insurance might be

better suited for an insurance company with cheaper

premiums. Conversely, drivers who would like full

coverage may be better suited partnering with an

insurance company with high premiums but more

reliable policies.

Once you know which type of insurance you want

and have a list of companies that offer it, do some

research into each company’s reputation and overall

financial status. To do so, visit the Department

of State’s website and check to make sure your

insurance company is properly licensed in your state.

Additionally on this website you can also check to

see what complaints have been logged with each

insurance company.

After cutting your list down to reputable companies,

look at websites like A.M. Best and J.D. Power and

Associates to see the insurance company’s financial

status. This way you can make sure your insurance

provider is financially capable of covering your policy

With your final list of insurance companies in hand, you can now request quotes for the type of insurance you have. Before signing a policy though, make sure to compare the quotes between the various companies on your list in order to find the most affordable one. Additionally, ask friends and family members about their own insurance coverage to get their opinion on which to choose. Many companies offer good driver

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reward and discount programs as well.

Consider an Insurance Agent

Always Check Coverage

Car insurance agents and brokers are two different

types of agents that can help you achieve the same

result. Insurance agents typically work with one

insurance company, whereas insurance brokers work

with multiple companies. With an insurance agent,

you will receive the best coverage and rates from a

particular company, should you already know exactly

which company you want your policy with. With an

insurance broker, you will receive offers from multiple

companies and pick the one that fits best with your

desires. However, keep in mind that most insurance

brokers charge a broker fee for helping you sign up.

Just because you have insurance doesn’t mean you

should stop looking for savings. Many insurance

companies offer discounts for milestones in policy-

holder’s lives, such as turning a certain age or buying

a certain type of vehicle. Contact your insurance

provider for more information. Additionally,

whenever the time for renewing your policy arrives,

take a moment to shop around and see what other

plans have come to the table since the last time you

shopped for insurance.

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STATE-BY-STATE MINIMUM CARINSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

Almost every state in the U.S. requires drivers to have a minimum amount of liability insurance.

However, exactly how much liability insurance you

need varies, based on the state you live in. For a

complete listing of all state minimum car insurance

requirements, read the information below:

· Alabama

· Bodily injury (per person): $25,000

· Bodily injury (per accident): $50,000

· Property damage (per accident): $25,000

· Alaska




· Arizona

· Driver must have either insurance or a minimum

$40,000 bond filed with the state motor vehicle

department.




· Arkansas




· California




· Colorado




· Connecticut




· Uninsured/underinsured driver coverage (per

person): $20,000


accident): $40,000

· Delaware




· Florida


· Personal injury protection: $10,000

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· Georgia




· Hawaii





· Idaho




· Illinois




· Uninsured driver coverage (per person): $25,000

· Uninsured driver coverage (per accident):

$50,000

· Indiana




· Iowa




· Kansas




· Uninsured/underinsured coverage (per person):

$25,000


accident): $50,000

· Personal injury protection: minimum varies

· Kentucky





· Louisiana




· Maine






$100,000

· Medical payments: $2,000

· Maryland




· Massachusetts






$40,000


· Michigan




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· Personal injury protection (no-fault insurance

with mandatory coverages)

· Property Protection (PPI)

· Minnesota





$25,000


accident): $50,000


· Mississippi




· Missouri






$50,000

· Montana




· Nebraska






$50,000

· Nevada




· New Hampshire

· Car insurance not required, but drivers held

liable for vehicle damage by state law.

· New Jersey





· New Mexico




· New York



· Liability for death (per person): $50,000

· Liability for death (per accident): $100,000





$50,000

· North Carolina






$60,000

· Uninsured driver property damage (per

accident): $25,000

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· North Dakota





$25,000


accident): $50,000


· Ohio




· Oklahoma




· Oregon






$50,000


· Pennsylvania




· Medical payments: $5,000

· Rhode Island




· South Carolina






$50,000

· Uninsured driver property damage: $25,000

· South Dakota





$25,000


· Tennessee




· Texas




· Utah





· Virginia




· Vermont



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$50,000


accident): $100,000

· Uninsured/underinsured driver property

damage: $10,000

· Washington




· Washington D.C.





$25,000


accident): $50,000

· Uninsured/underinsured driver property

damage: $5,000

· West Virginia






$50,000

· Uninsured motorist property damage: $25,000

· Wisconsin






$50,000

· Wyoming




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FILING A CARINSURANCE CLAIM

Depending on your insurance company, the claim process may vary. However, there are some basic rules for filing

insurance claims, regardless of where you get your insurance. To find out more about filing car insurance claims,

read the information given below.

In the event you are involved in an accident or other incident that causes damage to your vehicle or a vehicle owned by a separate party, you will more than likely need to file an insurance claim.

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When to File a Car Insurance Claim

What Information to Provide

Car owners who have been involved in an accident

that has caused damage to their vehicle or a vehicle

owned by another party should make sure to contact

their car insurance provider as soon as possible. You

may also need to file an insurance claim if your

vehicle has been stolen, vandalized or damaged in

any other way by non-accidental events (i.e. weather-

related damage).

During the insurance claim process, you will need to

provide your insurance agent with some information

in order to continue moving forward with your claim.

Information car owners must provide includes:

· Car owner’s name.

· Car insurance policy number.

· Date insurance coverage began.

· Date and time of the accident/incident that

caused vehicle damage.

· Name, address and phone number of all

witnesses and persons involved in the incident.

· Driver’s license number of car owner and all other

drivers involved.

· Vehicle license plate number of car owner and

all other drivers involved.

Depending on your insurance company, you may

have to provide more information as needed.

How to File a Claim

Once you have given all your necessary information

to your car insurance agent, you can begin the claim

process. Initially, your case will be assigned to an

insurance claims adjuster who will investigate the

circumstances of the incident that led to the vehicle

damage. This claims adjuster will discuss insurance

coverage and the available options with the car

owner.

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Bodily Injury

In the event that the car accident in question resulted in bodily injury to one or more drivers or passengers, the car

insurance claims process operates a bit differently. In these cases, insurance claims adjuster’s also have to assess

how much insurance funds will be made available for medical expenses, depending on the policy holder’s bodily

injury liability coverage.

In the event that you are injured during an accident, complete the following steps to make sure your claim is

processed in a timely manner:

· Take pictures of the accident scene, as well as your injuries.

· Visit a local police station to file an accident report and save a copy for your records.

· Visit a medical professional immediately once you realize you have been injured.

· Document all repercussions of the injury (i.e. missed time at work, etc.)

· Speak to an attorney about your available legal options.

Following this meeting, the claims adjuster evaluates the car insurance claim through a variety of methods,

such as inspecting the vehicle, examining the available evidence from the accident and making a decision as to

whether or not the car owner has a valid claim and how much they should be paid.

After the claims adjuster has made their final assessment of your case, the issue is resolved. Payments are then

made to the insurance policy holder, at which point the case is closed.

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The Comprehensive Guide to Car Insurance

Documents

1 THE COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO CAR INSURANCE...Car accidents are very prevalent in the U.S. (over six million a year). With car repairs being so expensive, it ends up being cheaper in