When you start searching for automobile insurance you may find agents asking you the same question over and over again – do you need liability coverage or full coverage? These terms are foreign to those of us who don't work with insurance on a daily basis. So what are they really asking and is it possible to find cheap full coverage auto insurance?
Most states require drivers to carry liability coverage, including bodily injury and property damage. Bodily injury liability covers you for damages you cause to another person during an accident – essentially paying for that person's medical bills. Property damage liability covers damages you cause to another person's vehicle or property.
Some states allow drivers to purchase uninsured and/or underinsured motorist coverage, allowing you a way to pay for damages to your vehicle if you are ever in an accident with a driver who is uninsured or who does not have high enough liability limits to cover your damages. You may also purchase medical payments coverage to cover your own medical bills.
Liability and medical payment coverage options are all usually included in a basic or standard policy. The addition of comprehensive and collision turns the policy into a "full coverage" policy but finding cheap full coverage auto insurance isn't always easy.
Changing your policy to a full coverage auto policy involves adding comprehensive and collision coverage. Comprehensive coverage pays for damages to your vehicle caused by fire, theft, vandalism, and collisions with animals (things insurance companies know you have no control over). Collision coverage pays for damages you cause to your own vehicle when you are found liable for an accident.
The rates insurance companies charge for this type of coverage will vary from state to state, and from company to company. If you want to obtain cheap full coverage auto insurance you'll need to do two things – consider a high deductible and shop around.
When shopping for full coverage auto insurance, remember that the higher your deductible the lower your premiums will be. On the other hand, the higher your deductible the more you'll have to pay out of pocket if you have an accident.
No state requires you to carry full coverage but if you are financing or leasing a vehicle your bank may require it in order to give you a loan. If this is the case, or if you just want to protect your vehicle, use our site to request quotes and include full coverage when you are asked what options you'd like. We'll shop for the best and cheapest full coverage auto insurance available – guaranteed.