It’s quite important to understand your car insurance policy when you purchase it. Obviously, it’s also important to understand what that policy is going to do if you’re involved in an accident. This sounds fairly straightforward – the insurance helps to cover the costs in the event of a crash – but it’s actually very complex.
If you have been wondering about this and how to keep yourself safe on the road, here are three things you need to know about car insurance before you drive.
You have to have some level of coverage
You’re not allowed to legally drive without any car insurance. People sometimes say they should be allowed to do this because they’re willing to take on the risk. But it’s not just the risk to you. Others could be injured or their property could be damaged. As a result, the law mandates that everyone has to have at least the most basic level of insurance to cover these other costs.
Comprehensive coverage and collision are not the same
When you hear that you have a comprehensive coverage policy, you probably think it is comprehensive enough to cover you in the event of a crash. But it may not be. You may actually need to buy collision insurance. There are cases in which comprehensive insurance only covers damage caused by storms, theft or other things of this nature. It may not cover accidents at all. Be very sure you know what you’re buying.
Your record influences your insurance rates
There are a lot of things that influence your insurance rates, and some people will point to the make and model of their car or even the color. For instance, it’s often said that insurance is more expensive on a red car. But some experts dispute this, pointing to the fact that it’s your record that really makes a difference. If you have a lot of traffic tickets or accidents on your record, then it’s going to be more expensive.
If you end up getting involved in a crash this year, be sure you fully understand your legal options.