Auto Insurance
Basic Auto Insurance is required by most states, and Ohio is no exception. Below will be some basic information for Auto Insurance and what it can do for you.
Liability
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Coverage Options
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Your basic car insurance plan begins with auto liability. Liability insurance is generally required by state law and protects you financially when you're liable for your actions as a driver. It pays for property damages and injuries you cause to others while driving. You’re also covered for court/attorney costs.
Bodily Injury liability
Pays medical bills and lost income (up to your limits) if you hit someone and they're injured. This covers anyone in the accident, plus legal fees if you're taken to court as a result of the incident. Property Damage Liability
Pays for damages (up to your limits) to someone else's vehicle and/or property.
Example: You lose control of your vehicle and hit your neighbor standing in their driveway, along with their car and mailbox. Liability will cover your neighbor's injuries and the cost to repair their mailbox and vehicle. |
If you're looking for a "full-coverage" auto quote, understand the term is a bit of a myth. "Full coverage" car insurance means something different to everyone, but it usually includes protecting your vehicle with both comprehensive and collision coverage.
Comprehensive Coverage
Comprehensive coverage covers events beyond your control. It protects your vehicle against fire, theft, vandalism, hitting an animal, glass breakage, or weather/acts of nature. A deductible (the amount of money you'll pay out of pocket before your insurer pays the rest) usually applies, but you'll be able to choose the amount.
Example: You hit a deer, wrecking your front bumper and windshield. The damage amounts to $2,500. Your deductible is $250, so you’ll be paid $2,250. Collision Coverage
Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your damaged vehicle if you collide with another object, including vehicles, curbs, trees, etc. Collision covers you regardless of fault and includes a deductible.
Example: Your car skids on an icy highway and plows into a guardrail, causing $5,000 in damage to your vehicle. Your deductible is $500, so you'll be paid $4,500. Medical Payments
Pays for medical costs. It will also pay for funeral expenses (up to your limits). The coverage also applies if you or your family members are passengers in other vehicles or hit by a car while you're walking or riding a bicycle. In some states, personal injury protection is offered for medical payments and protects you in a similar way.
Example: You're in a fender bender on your lunch break and your co-worker, in the passenger's seat, is injured. Your medical payments will cover your co-worker's hospital bill (up to your limits). A deductible may apply for personal injury protection. Uninsured/Under-insured
Bodily Injuries
...covers you and your passengers (up to your limits) if you're injured in an accident and the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough insurance.
Example: You're rear-ended in a car accident and the other driver has no auto insurance. The company will pay for your medical bills and lost income as a result of the incident.
Property Damage
...pays to repair or replace your vehicle (up to your limits) if you're hit by a driver with not enough insurance or none.
Example: Your car is totaled after an uninsured driver crashes into it. Your policy's uninsured property damage will cover the cost to replace your vehicle up to a specified limit. A deductible may apply. Rental Reimbursement/ Loan Payoff
Rental Reimbursement
Pays for your rental car fees while your vehicle is being repaired from a covered loss. If your car is in a "covered accident," we'll pay for you to have a rental (up to your limits, typically up to $30-$50 per day) while your vehicle is in at the body shop. A covered accident is something we pay for and does not include routine maintenance.
Example: The shop owner estimates it will take two weeks to repair your car. Rental car coverage will pay for a replacement vehicle during that period. Loan Payoff
Also known as “gap insurance.” If your car is totaled, insurance companies will pay off the balance of your loan (often at up to 125% of your vehicle's current value). Coverage for Pet Injuries
If you have collision coverage, and your pet is injured in an auto accident, certain companies will cover your vet bills up to a specified limit. Roadside Assistance
Roadside assistance pays for a towing service if your car breaks down for any reason, whether you're on the road or in your driveway. We'll tow you to the nearest repair facility or the mechanic of your choice if the shop is within 15 miles. Roadside assistance also provides lock-out service, flat-tire changes, fuel/fluid delivery if you run out of gas and more.
Example: On a long road trip, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, your tire goes flat. We'll tow you the nearest mechanic, no matter how far away they might be. |