Bodily Injury

Bodily Injury covers any kind of trauma or injuries that result from an automobile accident or impact. The lowest coverage limits are $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident that are acceptable in the state of California. It is best to have higher coverage limits for example $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident especially if you are a business owner or home owner so you that you are fully protected. Talk to your agent about the right coverage limits for you.

Property Damage

Just like there is Bodily Injury in a liability policy so there is coverage provided for any damages done to one’s property for example it covers a car, fence, lamp-post etc… The lowest coverage that you can get is $5000 which is the minimum in the state of California. Property damage goes up to as high as $50,000. It is important to have higher coverage limits as it can provide more protection.

Full Coverage or Comprehensive and Collision

Full coverage insurance includes comprehensive and collision coverages. Comprehensive coverage covers events besides a collision, see below for general list of things covered. Collision coverage covers one’s vehicle in the event one’s vehicle is involved in an accident with another vehicle or some other physical object. Collision may also cover a vehicle if another person crashes into it and that party does not have adequate insurance or no insurance at all. So the car would be fully covered with the few exceptions that the Insurance Company discloses. Comprehensive coverage covers:

  • Theft
  • Vandalism
  • Wind
  • Fire
  • Flooding
  • Hail
  • Hitting an Animal

With a full coverage comes a deductable that one would have to pay with one’s own money first before the insurance company covers the rest of the damage in the event there is some kind of damage to the vehicle. The higher the deductable limit is the less premium one has to pay for the whole year. A typical deductible is $500 – $1000.

Excess Liability

Excess Liability is a coverage provided to supplement the existing liability policy e.g. you have a minimum liability policy ($15,000/$30,000) and you would like to add on more coverage you can purchase another policy that will cover anything that reaches over the above limits those coverages can be $85,000/$270,000 which would equate to a total of $100,000/$300,000 in liability limits. The reason to get such high limits is to protect your business, home or equity that you may have in something.

Umbrella Policy

This type of coverage protects the future income and assets of the named insured on the policy. It is different from excess liability insurance that when all your primary insurance is totally exhausted then the excess liability would come into effect, while an umbrella policy is able to fill coverage gaps in the primary insurance policy. An umbrella policy provides only liability coverage and it is sold by increments of one million dollars. The word “umbrella” is used herewith to denote a sort of all inclusive shield that covers your auto insurance as well as a home owner’s policy if so desired.

Uninsured Motorist

This type of Auto Insurance covers someone who has been involved in a not-at-fault accident. When another party collides with your vehicle and causes bodily injury to someone in that car the insured may file a claim with his own insurance company that will cover $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident and in some states 3,500 property damage.

Underinsured Motorist

This type of coverage covers bodily injury incurred when the insured is injured by another driver who has insufficient Liability coverage. This coverage can vary from state to state and not all insurance companies provide this coverage.

Rental Reimbursement

This coverage pays for auto rentals when the insured vehicle is not operational due to an accident.

Emergency Road Service

This coverage is provided for when a vehicle breaks down and requires towing. There are different limits to this coverage depending on how far you want your vehicle towed.