Have you ever looked at your insurance policies and wondered what some of the terms meant? Or been confused as to what was covered under what part? As agents, we know the ins and outs of what all those insurance terms mean but realize that some of our clients might not so we’re going to do a series of basic primers on insurance over the next few months – call it Insurance 101.
Let’s start with auto insurance!
Liability Insurance
If you are in an accident and are at fault, this insurance covers you. Liability covers damage to other cars as well as other property and injuries to other drivers and their passengers. It also covers your legal defense if someone sues you as a result of an auto accident. Note, this doesn’t cover the cost of repairing your own car – we will get to that in a moment.
In Ohio, minimum levels of liability are required for all drivers. You may have seen coverage levels written like this: 25/50/25. That simply means that in Ohio, every driver must carry a limit of at least $25,000 per person, per accident for bodily injury (when you hurt someone) and $50,000 total limit per accident regardless of the number of people injured. That last $25,000 is the minimum per accident limit for property damage (when you hurt something). As we all know, medical bills can add up quickly so most drivers opt for much higher coverage so they have less possibility of a big out of pocket bill. There is typically no deductible for liability claims.
Comp and Collision
This dynamic duo of coverage covers your car (remember, liability is for other people and their things) from damage and helps pay for repairs to your car. But it is important to note, these two coverages are very different!
Comprehensive covers things that are out of your control – a tree limb falling on your car, theft, glass damage, storm damage like hail and lightning or hitting a deer. It covers the unexpected, not-your-fault things that life throws at you and your vehicle.
Collision covers when you hit anything (other than an animal) regardless of who is at fault.
Both of these coverages have a deductible associated with them. Not to be confused with the premium, this amount only comes into play if you make a claim. As an example, if your deductible is $500 and your overall claim is $2500, your insurance company will cover $2000. You can select the amounts of your deductible and you agent will work with you to determine what a good amount might be for your particular needs.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist
Even though Ohio requires every driver to have insurance, not every driver does! Or they may have just the minimum limits which might not be enough to completely cover damages they cause. This coverage makes sure that if you're in that situation, you aren't paying for the damage they cause out of pocket!
Medical Payments
This is money that helps cover medical expenses for you and your passengers resulting from an auto accident - regardless of who is at fault.
Rental Car Reimbursement
If you can't use your car due to an accident, this coverage will make sure that you are reimbursed for renting a car while your car is being repaired. Doesn't cover regular repairs
Roadside Assistance
Towing, lockouts, dead batteries - basically if you are stranded or need assistance with your car, this is your coverage.
New Car Replacement
We've all heard that once your new car leave the lot, it goes down in value. Auto insurance only pays you the value of the car which may not match what you owe to the bank or what you paid. New Car Replacement coverage means that if your car is totaled, you get a new car in the same make and model not just a check for the value of the old car.
There's obviously a lot more that goes into auto insurance but these are the basics that we think all our clients should be familiar with! If you have any questions at all, want more explanations, we would be happy to walk you through your policy and make sure you know exactly what it says and what it all means for you!