How do I know if I chose the right coverages?

Anyone who plans on driving needs insurance, but finding the right coverage can be confusing. That’s especially true if you’re unfamiliar with insurance terms, like liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage.

There are three main factors to consider when choosing insurance: how much coverage you need, what your budget is, and what company to buy from. If you’re wondering, How much insurance do I need? these three items are a great starting point.

If you’re struggling to choose the right coverage, the first place to begin is to shop around for rates to gain an idea of your options. Enter your ZIP code into our free tool to discover what quotes might look like for you.

How to Choose the Right Car Insurance Coverage

The first step in how to find the right auto insurance coverage is to determine how much coverage you need.

While there are numerous insurance products you can purchase, liability, collision, and comprehensive are three main options.

Liability coverage helps pay for damage you cause to other cars and property. Most states (except New Hampshire) require a minimum amount of liability coverage to drive legally.

Collision protects your car, no matter who is at fault for an accident. This includes accidents with other drivers as well as collisions with objects like trees or walls.

Comprehensive covers your car against anything else that can damage it, including weather, vandalism, animal contact, and theft.

Other types of insurance that you can purchase include the following:

• Underinsured/uninsured motorist – Even though most states require drivers to have insurance, not every driver does. This coverage protects your vehicle against drivers with inadequate insurance.
• Personal injury protection – This gives you extra coverage for any medical bills you or your passengers incur after an accident.
• Roadside assistance – When you purchase this, you can call for help anytime you’re stranded on the side of the road.
• GAP coverage – GAP coverage is for drivers with an auto loan. You’ll likely owe more on your loan than the car is worth for the first year or so of your loan, and GAP coverage pays the difference if your car is totaled.

In general, you can’t go wrong with having all three of the main types of coverage. If you’re concerned about your car, a mixture of all three will certainly protect your vehicle from everything on the road.

However, you don’t necessarily need all three. If your car is older and of low value, you can probably avoid comprehensive insurance.

How to Choose the Right Liability Coverage

Every state except New Hampshire has a minimum liability coverage requirement. You can check your state’s minimum requirements below.

Most providers recommend that you purchase more than your state’s minimum coverage. Otherwise, if you cause an accident, you’ll be on the hook for several payments. Your state’s minimum coverage is likely so low that it won’t cover expensive accidents.

How to Choose the Right Full Coverage

Full coverage means that your car has liability, collision, and comprehensive insurance. While it isn’t required by law, full coverage is a good idea if you have a new or valuable vehicle.

On top of that, lenders usually necessitate full coverage on any vehicle you don’t own.

Regardless of your ownership status, you should consider full coverage for any car you want to have around for a long time. Your car is an investment, and full coverage will protect it.

The best way to find the perfect policy is to shop around for quotes and explore insurance options. Some companies provide extra coverage and unique add-ons. It’ll cost more, but you might enjoy the additional insurance.

How much does insurance cost?

Several factors comprise the price of your insurance:

• Your age
• Your gender
• Your vehicle make, model, and year
• Your location
• Your driving history
• Your insurance history
• Your credit score
• Your average yearly driving miles

Insurance companies will use all these factors to determine your price. No matter what coverage you end up buying, the right amount of insurance for you will fit your budget.

Here are the average prices of the top insurance companies:

As you can see, USAA has extremely affordable prices. However, you have to be active or retired military or their families to be eligible to join USAA.

Which insurance company is right for you?

There are a few key characteristics you should seek when you consider an insurance company, but the importance of each factor will depend on how much weight you put on them. For example, you’ll select a different company if you want a fast claims process vs. lower rates.

The leading insurance companies have fast response times, a quick claims process, higher settlements, and excellent customer service. They should also offer competitive rates.

An excellent way to gain a sense of the quality of a company is to inspect third-party reviewers, such as J.D. Power, A.M. Best, or the Better Business Bureau. Most insurance companies have a rating, but you can review the top insurance companies below:

However, the most critical thing to do to obtain the best rates is to shop around for quotes. You can examine averages all day, but the price of your policy will be unique to you.

Find the Best Insurance for Your Needs

Buying insurance can be a confusing, complicated process, but you don’t have to do it alone. Using this guide is a good starting point, and you can work with an insurance agent.

When you’re ready to choose the right coverage for you, you should obtain quotes from as many companies as possible. Enter your ZIP code into our free tool to determine what quotes might look like for you.

[su_spoiler title=”References:” icon=”caret-square” style=”fancy” open=”yes”]

1. https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2021-us-auto-insurance-study
2. https://www.ambest.com/home/default.aspx

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