Car insurance is a necessary expense that helps protect you, people in your vehicle, and other driver's in the case of a car accident. It is an exchange of sorts - you pay a monthly premium, and in return, an insurance agency supports you in financial losses as long as you keep your policy. It is a legal requirement in most states, but that doesn't mean it isn't beneficial for you! Fortunately, cheap car insurance is easy to come by with proper research, and extensive coverage can save you thousands of dollars in the event of an accident.
There are several different types or components of car insurance. For example, you can purchase property damage liability, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, bodily injury liability, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, or medical payment coverage. The average policy will have some coverage for each of these components, but what your individual policy contains is up to you and what type of coverage you think you need.
In order to know what you need, it is necessary to know what each of these components covers. Property damage liability covers you if your vehicle damages another person's property, and can also help pay for any legal expenses. Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage protects you and your property if you are involved in an accident with somebody who has inadequate, or no, car insurance. Bodily injury liability protects you if somebody is killed or hurt in your vehicle, and you are declared at fault. It covers both personal injury claims and legal expenses. Collision coverage is exactly what it sounds like - protection for your vehicle if it collides with another vehicle, object, or person. Comprehensive coverage typically goes with collision in order to cover other things such as damage due to theft or natural disasters. It typically pays for the cost of the repairs or replacement of your vehicle. Finally, medical payment coverage helps you pay medical expenses. This will cover the insured individual regardless of the vehicle they are in.
As you can see, there are many different types of coverage and each provides different services. It is up to you and your family to what type of coverage to purchase outside of the minimum requirements of your state. Having too much coverage is better than not enough, so be sure not to skimp on important coverage just to save money - it can end up costing you much more in the long run!