What is not covered under a car insurance policy?
The key to having sufficient auto insurance coverage is understanding exactly what you have coverage for. This knowledge will not only help you negotiate for better car insurance rates but also save time, money and energy when time comes to submit a claim. Car insurance policies can provide coverage for almost anything however it depends specifically on the terms of your unique policy.
There is no such thing as a blanket “protection for everything” car insurance policy
Your coverage is only as good as how your policy was structured. There are many items which consumers take for granted that are actually optional features of car insurance and surprisingly enough, a lot of drivers walk around thinking they have full coverage when they really do not.
Learn more about car insurance coverage today and when you’re ready connect with local car insurance companies to get free auto car insurance quotes online!
What Type of Coverage do you have?
You really need to know the answer to this question before submitting a claim. Depending on what car insurance policy you obtained you may only have liability protection, may have NO medical coverage and may/may not be insured against property damage.
All states have minimum car insurance requirements but most states only focus on liability protection and do not require drivers to obtain insurance against damage to their own vehicle. While other states may require a little more there is no single state who requires a fully comprehensive set of requirements providing “reasonable ” coverage for the average driver.
What Types of Coverage are Available?
Car insurance coverage comes in a number of elements – all of which can be added to your policy with very reasonable cost. Some of the key policy features which ever driver should consider are:
- Liability coverage
- Comprehensive Car Insurance
- Collision Car Insurance
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
- GAP Car Insurance
- Bodily Injury Coverage
- Property Damage Insurance
- Medical Payments
- Rental Car Coverage
Some of these features can overlap one another but this depends on your car insurance company so learn about the topics first then start to explore auto insurance rates.
What is not Covered under a Car Insurance Policy?
Car insurance is heavily regulated by law and one of the most common acts against car insurance companies is the act of filing a fraudulent claim. This is not only illegal but also a slam dunk way for an insurance company to deny your claim. Auto insurance fraud is more or less submitting claim for damages caused by an intentional or deliberate act.
Auto fraud is one of the key reasons why car insurance rate continue to rise and is taken very seriously by both law enforcement officials and insurance company review staff. Should you be involved and convicted of insurance fraud it may be almost impossible to ever get insurance again.
Car insurance is also not a substitute for normal wear and tear of a vehicle. Should your tires blow out or engine breakdown when you happen to be out of warranty these repair costs are still your responsibility.
Did you lose personal property from your vehicle? Ever lose items like a radar detector, CD collection or a shopping bag in your car during a car break in? These items (unless attached to the vehicle) are considered personal property and car insurance policies generally do not cover the loss of these items. However many credit card companies and home insurance policies often have insurance coverage so it’s a good idea to check and see what other options you have to get reimbursed.
How much Car Insurance Coverage do I have?
The answer to this question depends on your unique policy. Some people have state minimum requirements such as $10,000 while others have more reasonable amounts well exceeding $100,000. The limits of your coverage are quite critical actually as having car insurance coverage with a very low limit is almost like having no car insurance at all. Check with any potential providers about the limits they are offering and make sure they are inline with your needs.
In Summary, car insurance is a key financial tool but you should always understand (a) what you are covered for (b) how much your limits are and (c) how to file a claim.
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