Auto Insurance Benefits of Collision and Comprehensive Coverage
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Types of Auto Insurance Coverage
The most commonly recognized coverages, in addition to the basic liability are collision and comprehensive coverages also known as other than collision coverage. This article will explain the differences in coverage and what is covered so when you get free insurance quotes you will be well informed.
Collision Coverage
Will pay for damages to your car from hitting another object, such as another car, tree, house or mailbox. This coverage is relatively expensive compared to the other coverages listed in your car insurance policy. Collision coverage is not required by law but may be by your financing or leasing company.
If you have an old car and it is not worth at least $2000, you might want to consider not buying collision coverage. You will likely pay more for the coverage than you would get if you filed a claim. This is because insurance companies are only required to pay for the lessor of either what the car is worth or the costs to fix it. They might deem you vehicle worth less than what it will cost to fix.
Comprehensive Coverage
This coverage will pay for almost all other damages to your vehicle including, theft, vandalism, severe weather, flood, fire, the hitting of an animal and glass including your windshield. This coverage isn’t as expensive as collision coverage and is chosen by many consumers. This coverage is also optional and not required by law.
When considering collision and comprehensive coverage, you should consider your deductible. A deductible is an amount of money you agree to pay as part of a claim before the insurer is committed to pay the rest of the claim. For example, if you carried collision coverage with a $200 deductible and you had a $500 loss, you would have to pay $200 and the insurance company would have to pay the remaining $300.
Having a deductible lowers the amount you have to pay for insurance because you are agreeing to take on part of the risk. The insurance companies also likes this because it reduces your chance of filing small claims, which are costly for them to process.
If you purchase a new car with a loan, the financial institution that loaned you the money might require you to purchase comprehensive and collision coverages. This is because they see your car as collateral for the loan, and they want to make certain it is worth something if they need to repossess it.
If you are required or choose to purchase collision and comprehensive coverage, the easiest way to get cheap car insurance is to request the highest deductible you can afford. Remember, you will be required to pay that deductible amount if you file a claim that is your fault before the insurance company will pay for the rest of the damages.
