What Do Car Insurance Dollars Pay For?
Whether you pay for car insurance monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or yearly, you probably are paying quite a bit for car insurance. You may also be wondering what you get in exchange for the dollars that you pay for car insurance. In short, the answer is peace of mind, but the longer answer may help you to understand where those insurance dollars go.
Purchasing car insurance fulfills your state’s financial responsibility laws. These laws are different in each state. Some states only require drivers to have very little liability insurance, while others require more liability insurance and other coverage as well. In some states, the insurance company is required by law to report if you allow the coverage to lapse by even one day and the state can cancel your vehicle’s registration or your driver’s license until you submit proof of insurance and pay a fine or the administrative cost to reinstate.
Driving without car insurance, however, can cost you much more than just a fine. If you are in an accident, you can be held financially responsible for the other person’s vehicle and medical expenses. In addition, you will likely be ticketed for driving without insurance. These expenses can far outweigh anything you might pay in insurance fees.
In addition you will have to pay to have your own vehicle repaired or replaced. In the interim time, you may have to pay for a rental vehicle to take you to and from work and fulfill other duties for which you need a vehicle. This can sometimes be several weeks. The cost you pay for the rental vehicle is often a significant amount of money.
In addition, the comprehensive coverage on your vehicle covers it in the event of vehicle theft, vandalism or if windows are broken and need to be replaced. In many areas car theft is far more common than we would like to think. If your car is stolen, it is not usually recovered without some damage. Many stolen vehicles are eventually wrecked and then abandoned. Others are stripped and sold for parts.
Persons that drive newer vehicles often find that their finance company requires that they carry insurance on the vehicle. The coverage needed is full coverage insurance and there may be a limit to the maximum amount of deductible on the insurance you are carrying on your vehicle. If you do not have insurance, the finance company can take out an insurance policy on your vehicle, but the price you pay for this insurance is very high when compared to the price you would pay for your own insurance. In addition, it does not meet any state’s financial responsibility laws.
Comparison shopping for insurance is a great way to save money that you pay for insurance. There are many companies that offer free insurance quotes. You will find several of these companies online. For the most accurate quotes, go ahead and give your personal information. Then once you have collected three to five quotes from different companies, take time to compare each quote to find the best price for your insurance.
When you think about it, the price you pay for peace of mind is not all that much.
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