Auto Insurance

Even the most careful drivers need auto insurance because accidents can happen any time. Many states require auto insurance as well as minimum amounts of coverage. But having only the minimum amounts of insurance may not be adequate to protect you financially in the event of an accident or injury.

Posted in Vehicle Insurance on Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Basic Auto Policy Coverage

Your auto policy likely includes the following six coverages which are priced separately.

1. Liability – protects the owners or drivers of a vehicle for amounts they are legally responsible to pay due to an auto accident.

• Bodily Injury Liability – protects you against financial loss if someone is injured or killed by your auto and you are found liable.
• Property Damage Liability – pays for damage you may cause to someone else's property. Usually, this means damage to someone else’s car, but it also includes other damaged property.

2. Medical Payments – pays medical expenses of individuals in your car who are injured as a result of an auto accident.
3. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – pays for the treatment of injuries to the driver and passengers of the insured's car.
4. Collision – pays for damage to your car that is a result of a collision with another car or object.
5. Comprehensive – pays for losses due to theft or damage that is caused by something other than a collision with another car or object. This might include damage from a fire, falling objects, missiles, explosion, earthquake, windstorm, hail, flood, vandalism, riot, or contact with animals such as birds or deer.
6. Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage – reimburses you, family members, or a designated driver if an accident occurs that involves an uninsured or underinsured individual.

Premiums

Many factors influence the price you pay for auto insurance, including:

• Your driving record – the better your record, the lower your premium.
• Number of miles you drive each year – there’s a greater chance for an accident the more miles you drive.
• Where you live – the price of your insurance may be affected by local trends, such as the number of accidents, car thefts and lawsuits, as well as the cost of medical care and car repair.
• Your age – typically, mature drivers have fewer accidents than less experienced drivers, particularly teenagers. So insurers generally charge more if teenagers or young people under the age of 25 drive your car.
• The car you drive – some cars cost more to insure than others. Variables include the likelihood of theft, the cost of the car, the cost of repairs, and the overall safety record of the car.
• The amount of coverage – like anything else, the more coverage you have, the more you pay. However, you may qualify for discounts.

To learn more about auto insurance, and to make sure you have the coverage you need at an affordable price, call NCMIC Insurance Services. Our agents can be reached at 800-769-2000, ext. 8180. Or email agents@ncmic.com.