What is an Auto Policy?

This coverage applies to any physical harm you, the designated driver, or policy holder cause to someone else or some thing. You and family members listed on the policy are also covered when driving someone else’s car with their permission. When buying this it is important to consider buying more than the state-required minimum to protect assets such as your home and savings.

This coverage pays for the treatment of injuries to the driver and passenger’s of the policyholder’s car. PIP can also cover lost wages, medical bills, and the cost of replacing services normally performed by someone injured in an auto accident.

This coverage pays for the damage you or someone driving you car caused to another vehicle. This also includes damage to other’s properties (lamp posts, mailboxes, fences, buildings, etc).

This coverage pays for damage to your car resulting from a collision with another car or object; it also covers damage caused by potholes. Collision is usually sold with a deductible of $250 to $1,000. The higher your deductible, the lower your premium. Loss caused by the following is considered other than collision:

  • Missiles or falling objects
  • Fire
  • Theft or larceny
  • Explosion or earthquake
  • Windstorm
  • Hail, water or flood
  • Malicious mischief or vandalism
  • Riot or civil commotion
  • Contact with bird or animal
  • Breakage of glass

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, falling objects, missiles, explosion, earthquake, windstorm, hail, flood, vandalism, riot, or contact with animals such as birds or deer. Comprehensive insurance is usually sold with a $100 to $300 deductible, although you may want to opt for a higher deductible as a way of lowering your premium.

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. 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. Underinsured Motorists Conversion Coverage If the Schedule or Declarations indicate that Underinsured Motorists Conversion Coverage applies, the following provisions apply: The definition of underinsured motor vehicle is replaced by the following: “Underinsured motor vehicle” means a land motor vehicle or trailer of any type for which the sum of all payments received by or on behalf of the insured, from or on behalf of any persons or organizations who may be legally responsible, is less than the fair, just and reasonable damages of the insured. Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage is very important in case you have an accident with someone who is under or not insured at all. The conversion option will protect you in that your policy will pay from dollar one, not being offset by the other policy regardless of amount. If you have an accident and your policy doesn’t have conversion and the other party’s insurance is exhausted, your policy will not pay without this coverage. This is a nuance of insurance that is very inexpensive but also critically important. With respect to coverage provided under the above definition of underinsured motor vehicle, Paragraph B. of the Limit Of Liability provision does not apply.

The following are key terms and definitions you will find associated with all “Auto Policy” agreements: