Auto Insurance

In a country where almost 17,000 car accidents happen a day, it is wise to have car insurance. Not only is it wise, it is mandatory in 49 states.

A basic car insurance policy covers the following areas:

1. Property Damage – Covering both public and private property like a car, telephone pole, home, fence, or commercial building, property damage coverage provides for the damage for which you are liable in the event of a car accident.
2. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – By covering some of the costs that originate from injuries sustained by you and the occupants of your vehicle, Personal Injury Protection adds an additional layer of protection.It may provide for reimbursement for medical expenses, lost wages, and possible funeral costs.
3. Comprehensive – With comprehensive coverage, you will be reimbursed in the event of theft or physical damage caused by either an accident, weather event, falling object, or vandalism. Comprehensive coverage also provides for damaged or broken glass, such as a windshield.
4. Bodily Injury Liability – This covers any bodily injuries caused by you or another insured person in the event of an accident. With the health care costs on the rise, Copeland Insurance Group advises that you carry enough bodily injury liability limits to protect your financial assets. This is definitely an area you don’t want to hold back on to save a few dollars!
5. Collision – As the name implies, this coverage that will pay to have your vehicle repaired as the result of damage that is incurred from colliding with another car or object.
6. Uninsured and Under-insured Motorist Coverage – In the event that an accident is caused by another party that is uninsured or doesn’t have enough coverage to pay your damages, uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage is activated. Uninsured/under-insured motorist coverage may include only bodily injury to pay for the injuries you sustain in such an accident, or it may add property damage coverage to pay for the damage or loss of your vehicle.

There are ways to save on your car insurance:

• Keep a healthy credit score – There is data that shows that those with lower credit scores also have a higher propensity for auto insurance claims. Your carrier will take this into consideration when qualifying you and assessing your rate.
• Sustain a clean driving record – The presence of speeding tickets and moving violations adds to your insurance costs. Avoid getting tickets, but in the event that you do get a ticket, explore the option of using a Defensive Driving course or Deferred Adjudication to keep it off your driving record.
• Before you buy, check the cost of insurance on a car – Some cars simply cost more to insure, whether because they are more prone to theft, have higher repair costs than their counterparts, or experience more than the average share of claims. As you shop for a car, get quotes for auto insurance and take this into account.
• Buy more than one policy from same carrier – Many carriers provide a multi policy discount when you buy both auto and home or renters insurance from them.
• Seek other discounts – Many carriers offer discounts for theft prevention devices, low mileage, and having taken a safety course like defensive driving.

No matter what type of car you drive, how often you drive, what city or town you live in, it is imperative that you have secure insurance to protect yourself and your car. Call an agent at Copeland Insurance Group today to get started!