Auto ( car ) Insurance Huntsville Alabama
What Are the Principal Types of Auto Insurance?
If you are involved in an accident or have your car stolen, having the
right kind of auto insurance can help protect you against financial loss.
Auto insurance is simply a contract between you and your insurance
company. You agree to pay the insurance premium and the insurance company
agrees to pay your covered losses in the event of a claim.
There are seven major types of car insurance coverages available to you:
1. Bodily Injury Liability
This vital insurance is required coverage in
most states. It applies to injuries that you, the designated driver or
policyholder, cause to someone else. 
It pays the medical bills, lost
income, pain and suffering, even funeral expenses for people who are
injured in an auto accident (provided you were held responsible for their
injuries). Family members listed on the policy are also covered when
driving someone else’s car with their permission. It is very important to
have enough liability insurance, because if you are involved in a serious
accident, you may be sued for a large sum of money. You should therefore
consider carefully whether the coverage you have chosen is adequate to
protect your financial security against the expenses for which you could
legally be held responsible. Expenses are only paid up to the limit of
coverage you have selected, so you should definitely consider buying more
than the state-required minimum to protect assets such as your home and
savings.
2. Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
This auto
insurance pays for the treatment of injuries to the driver and passengers
of the policyholder's car. At its broadest, PIP can cover medical
payments, lost wages, and the cost of replacing services normally
performed by someone injured in an auto accident. It may also cover
funeral costs. In addition, PIP will protect you and other household
family members if you are injured while riding in another person’s car.
This is an optional insurance*, mainly because it may duplicate coverage
in your comprehensive health plan. However, many policyholders believe
that it is a good idea to carry Medical Payments coverage for those
out-of-pocket expenses their health insurance may not cover (like an
annual deductible or co-payments). Another reason to consider adding PIP
when requesting an auto insurance quote is to ensure there is some
protection for those passengers in your auto who may not have health
insurance.
3. Property Damage Liability
This coverage pays for damage you (or
someone driving the car with your permission) may cause to someone else's
property. Usually, this means damage to someone else’s car, but it also
includes damage caused to lamp posts, telephone poles, fences, buildings
or other structures. With even used autos having book values of $15,000 or
higher, it is in your best interests to get adequate coverage—enough to
repair or replace someone else’s car. As with Bodily Injury Liability
insurance, it is probably better to overestimate, rather than
underestimate Property Damage Liability coverage. This type of auto
insurance coverage is mandatory in most states.
4. Collision
This coverage protects your car. It pays for damage to
your vehicle resulting from a collision with another car or object, or as
a result of flipping over. It also covers damage caused by potholes.
Collision coverage is generally sold with a deductible of $250 to
$1,000—the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. Even if you are
at fault for the accident, your collision coverage will reimburse you for
the costs of repairing your car—minus the deductible—up to the limit of
the actual cash value of your car. If you're not at fault, your insurance
company may try to recover the amount they paid you from the other
driver’s insurance company. If they are successful, you'll also be
reimbursed for the deductible.
5. Comprehensive
This coverage reimburses you for loss due to theft or
damage caused by something other than a collision with another car or
object, such as fire, theft, falling objects, earthquakes, hail, floods,
vandalism, riots or damage caused by hitting an animal (such as birds or
deer). Comprehensive auto insurance also provides coverage, without a
deductible, for transportation expenses incurred by you in the event of a
covered loss. Comprehensive insurance will also reimburse you if your
windshield is cracked or shattered after your policy’s deductible (if any)
is applied. If one of the covered damages occurs, you simply pay the
deductible amount, and the comprehensive coverage pays the remaining
repair or replacement expenses, up to the limit of the actual cash value
of your auto. Comprehensive insurance is usually sold with a $100 to $300
deductible, though you might want to opt for a higher deductible as a way
of lowering your premium.
States do not require that you purchase collision or comprehensive coverage, but if you have a car loan, your lender may insist you carry it until your loan is paid off.
6. Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
This coverage will
reimburse you, a member of your family, or a designated driver if one of
you is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver who is held legally
responsible for your injuries. It pays medical and other related expenses
up to the limits of the coverage you select. Underinsured motorist
coverage comes into play when an at-fault driver has insufficient
insurance to pay for your total loss. This coverage will also protect you
if you are hit as a pedestrian.
7. Towing and Labor
Towing and Labor coverage helps to reimburse
expenses you incur if your car is temporarily disabled. It is available if
you have purchased at least Comprehensive coverage.
*Personal Injury Protection may be required if your policy is issued in a state which has “No Fault” or “Reparations” laws governing your auto insurance.
This article adapted from information provided by the Insurance
Information Institute.
Can I Drive Without Insurance?
No! Auto liability insurance is required in almost every state. If you
have financed your car, your lender may require comprehensive and
collision (coverage for damage to your vehicle) insurance as part of the
loan agreement. If you have leased your vehicle you will be required to
carry liability coverage as well as comprehensive and collision.
Even if your state is one of the few that does not require auto insurance, all states have financial responsibility laws. These laws require that all drivers demonstrate the ability to cover their liability if they are involved in a motor vehicle accident.
A Certificate of Insurance, Certificate of Self-insurance, Surety Bond or Certificate of Deposit are typically all acceptable forms of proving financial responsibility. If you can not meet the states financial responsibility requirements, you must purchase insurance. Penalties for driving without insurance differ from state to state, and include license suspension/revocation, fines ranging from $75 to $5000 and up to 12 months in jail.
In some states, your license plates and registration receipt can be
seized and your car impounded. Additionally, you can be held legally
responsible for damage or injuries you cause. Insert here: call or email
me for additional information and always put a link to contact page This
article adapted from information provided by the Insurance Information
Institute.
How Much Auto Insurance Coverage Do I Need?
Car insurance is designed to protect your assets from lawsuits that
could arise as a result of an accident. Whether or not an accident is your
fault, if you are found legally responsible for bills that are more than
your insurance covers, you will have to pay the difference out of your own
pocket. Therefore, it is imperative that, when deciding your coverage
level, you focus on getting enough insurance to adequately address any
claims, and keep you and your family on a sound financial footing. Our
licensed agent or broker can help you make decisions regarding adequate
protection.
The first step is to choose your coverage level. The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) recommends that you get $100,000 of bodily injury protection per person and $300,000 per accident. If your net worth is more than $300,000, consider buying additional liability insurance. You should also consider purchasing an umbrella or excess liability policy. These policies pay when your underlying coverage is exhausted, and typically cost between $200 and $300 per year for a million dollars in coverage.
In addition to liability coverage, consider adding collision and
comprehensive coverage when requesting an auto insurance quote. This
coverage amount is based on the market value of your car and the cost of
repairing it, so the maximum you can recoup is typically the actual cash
value of the vehicle. For collision and comprehensive you will need to
select a deductible. The selected deductible is your proportionate share
of the claim. Your claim must exceed the selected deductible in order for
the insurance company to pay for damages to your vehicle. Typically,
deductibles are $500 or $1,000; the higher your deductible, the lower your
premium. Insert here: call or email me for additional information and
always put a link to contact page This article adapted from information
provided by the Insurance Information Institute.
How Do I Choose an Auto Insurance Company?
Cost is important, but there are many other factors to consider in
addition to price when selecting the best auto insurance company for you.
Here are the main points to keep in mind as you start the auto insurance
quote process:
Financial Stability— You buy car insurance to protect you
financially and provide peace of mind, so it is best to select a company
that is financially sound. Independent rating agencies measure and report
the financial strength of insurance providers, so make use of this
excellent resource to help you make a wise decision.
Service and Claims
— While assessing financial strength is one of the most important elements
to consider in choosing the right insurance company for you, it is equally
vital to research a company's customer service record. Your company and
its representatives should answer your questions and handle your claims
fairly, efficiently and courteously. You can get a feel for customer focus
by talking to other customers who have used a particular company. Also,
your state insurance department will be able to tell you if the insurance
company you are considering doing business with had many consumer
complaints about its service relative to the number of policies it sold.
The better a provider's service and claims record, the better your chances
of having a good experience in the event you have a question or need to
file a claim.
Price and Product — The rule here is to make sure that you
get the coverage that's best for your circumstances at the price that is
best for your pocket. Many companies sell insurance policies and prices
vary greatly from one to another, so it really pays to shop around. Get at
least three price quotes from companies, agents, brokers, and from the
Internet. Your state insurance department may publish a guide that shows
what insurers charge for different policies in various parts of your
state.
Licensing— Not every company is licensed to operate in each
state. As a general rule, you should buy from a company licensed in your
state, because then can you rely on your state insurance department to
help if you have a problem. To find out which companies are licensed in
your state, contact your state insurance department. Insert here: call or
email me for additional information and always put a link to contact page
This article adapted from information provided by the Insurance
Information Institute.
Auto Insurance Glossary
Below is a listing of some definitions for terms commonly used in auto
insurance policies.
Aggregate Limit: The maximum amount that could be paid for a claim on an insured vehicle, regardless of the number of people injured or the number of items damaged.
Bodily Injury Liability: Protects the insured as the owner or driver of a vehicle for all sums, up to the policy limits, which the insured becomes legally obligated to pay because of bodily injury to a third party. This coverage also pays defense costs against legal actions. Bodily Injury Liability limits are usually split; the first figure defines payment limits to a single person per accident, the second defines payment limits in total for all persons injured.
Collision Coverage: Auto insurance that protects your vehicle against direct and direct accidental loss by collision with another vehicle or fixed object.
Comprehensive Coverage: Car insurance coverage that protects against losses to your vehicle caused by something other than a collision. This includes such perils as hitting an animal, vandalism, riots, floods, wind and hail, fire, theft, and glass breakage.
Deductible: A portion of an insured's loss that is not paid by car insurance. The deductible is subtracted from the amount that the insurer would otherwise be obligated to pay.
Direct Loss: The immediate reduction in value arising from damage to property.
Earned Premium: A portion of the auto insurance premium which represents coverage already provided.
Full Glass Coverage: If chosen, any comprehensive car insurance deductible would be waived for glass claims. This option is not available in all states.
Hazard: Anything that increases the chance of an automobile accident. (e.g., icy pavement, fog).
Liability: This means that a person (or group of people) is legally responsible, or liable, for the injury or damage suffered by another person (or group of people).
Medical Payments: Auto insurance coverage that pays up to a specific amount for injuries sustained by you and covered persons in your vehicle, regardless of who is at fault. Unlike Personal Injury Protection (PIP) medical payments only covers medical expenses.
Motor Vehicle Report: A report that lists moving violations (such as speeding tickets) and serious violations that a driver has accumulated in the past several years.
No Fault Coverage/Personal Injury Protection (PIP) (BRB): These are broadly used terms for most first-party benefits only in those states that have this type of coverage. The extent varies by state, but it generally pays for medical and rehabilitative expenses, work loss, funeral expenses and replacement services incurred by you, members of your family, passengers in your vehicle, and pedestrians injured by your vehicle as a result of an accident.
Property Damage Liability: Similar to Bodily Injury Liability but limited to damage caused by you to another person's property, such as an auto, fence, telephone pole, etc.
Quote: A statement regarding the premium that will be charged for certain auto insurance coverage.
Rental Reimbursement: Available to drivers who chose comprehensive coverage for their car. This coverage helps to reimburse expenses that you may incur if you need to rent a car while your auto is being repaired due to a covered accident or your covered vehicle is temporarily disabled.
Stacking: For an increased premium, stacking allows Underinsured or Uninsured Motorists coverage to be multiplied by the number of vehicles on the policy, when necessary, to pay a claim. Stacking is not available in all states.
Towing and Labor: This coverage helps to reimburse expenses you may incur if your car is in an accident or becomes temporarily disabled and needs to be towed to a repair shop. It is available for those drivers who have chosen comprehensive auto insurance coverage.
Umbrella Policy: A liability insurance policy that provides additional coverage to extend beyond the limits stated in your car insurance policy.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage: This coverage pays for your injuries when a legally liable third party has insufficient limits to cover your injuries. Underinsured motorist property damage protects your property up to your policy limit for property damage that results from an accident with a legally liable underinsured motorist or hit and run driver. This coverage is not available in all states, is sometimes subject to a deductible and can be rejected in writing by the insured.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage: Protects you and the occupants of your vehicle for bodily injury up to your policy limit as a result of an accident with a legally liable uninsured motorist or hit and run driver. Uninsured Motorist Property Damage protects your property up to your policy limit for property damage that results from an accident with a legally liable uninsured motorist or hit and run driver. It is available in some states and is sometimes subject to a deductible. This coverage can be rejected in writing by the insured in some states.
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): The VIN is the serial
number of a vehicle, usually found on the door frame or dashboard on the
driver's side. The number identifies specific characteristics of the
vehicle, including passive restraints.
Call (256-489-4206) or email us for
additional information
The information and definitions
contained herein are for informational purposes only and are not
applicable in all states. This is not an insurance contract. As other
terms, conditions and exclusions apply, please read the official policy
issued by us to you for full details about the coverages. The information
and definitions provided on this site do not alter or modify the terms of
any insurance contract. If there is any conflict between these definitions
and the provisions of the applicable insurance policy, the terms of the
policy control.
