Essential Auto Insurance Coverages

When you compare fast auto insurance quotes, you'll need to select the coverages you include in your policy. We'll outline the coverages no policy should be without on this page.

Liability: Bodily Injury and Property Damage

The liability portion of your car insurance policy is the coverage that is legally mandated in most states. State law usually requires drivers to carry certain amounts of bodily injury and property damage liability coverage. For example, if your state had liability requirements of $20,000/$40,000/$15,000, this would mean you would need to carry $20,000 of bodily injury protection per person injured, $40,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $15,000 of property damage liability coverage. Because of these laws, liability coverage is usually included in fast auto insurance quotes by default. Liability protection would protect you from lawsuits in the event you damaged property or injured a driver, passenger, or pedestrian in a collision. Liability coverage also pays for your legal defense in the event of a collision-related lawsuit. You may need to present proof of your liability coverage at the motor vehicles department in order to get a license and/or register your vehicle.

Collision: Protecting Your Car

You can still get affordable fast auto insurance quotes on a policy that includes collision coverage, which is not required by law. Collision coverage pays for the cost of repairs to your vehicle after a covered accident. If the car is totaled, collision will pay to replace the vehicle. Most insurers reimburse the policyholder for the actual cash value of the vehicle, which is the purchase price of the car less depreciation. If you have a fast auto loan and owe more than your vehicle's actual cash value, then you may have to pay the difference (though this could vary on the insurer). When you request quick auto insurance quotes, you will probably have to select a deductible amount. The deductible is how much you must pay out of pocket before your car insurance benefits kick in.

Comprehensive: Damages Unrelated to Collisions

If you choose full coverage, your policy will include collision and comprehensive as well as liability protection. Comprehensive coverage is meant to pay for damage to your vehicle that is not the result of a collision. For example, if your car is stolen, your comprehensive coverage would pay for the loss. Comprehensive coverage is also subject to a deductible. The higher your deductibles, the lower your fast auto insurance quotes will be.

Protection against Uninsured and Underinsured Drivers

Your state may also require you to purchase uninsured or underinsured driver coverage. This coverage pays for the injuries you and your passengers sustain as a result of a collision with an uninsured/underinsured driver. Depending on your state, the coverage may also pay for the damage the driver did to your vehicle. Talk to your insurance agent to find out how much uninsured driver protection you must carry, if any.