Auto Insurance

Liability protects you from financial responsibility if you cause an accident that results

in bodily injury or property damage to others. This coverage is what is commonly required by law for you to carry when owning/driving a vehicle. Coverage is provided as either “split limits” or “combined single limit.” Generally, we recommend purchasing the highest limits that you can comfortably afford. Liability is the most important coverage for you to carry, and purchasing state minimum limits is not sufficient if you cause an accident in which someone is seriously injured or killed.

These provide medical protection for you and passengers regardless of fault. Coverage is usually provided with limits starting at $2,500 and go as high as $15,000. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) provides broader coverage that includes lost wages but is generally more expensive than Medical Payments. These coverages can vary significantly by state and company, so talk with your licensed QuoteSavant expert to clarify exactly what options are right for you.

The term “full coverage” generally refers to an auto policy that has comprehensive and collision coverage in addition to the required liability insurance. However, this can be confusing for customers because comprehensive and collision usually carry a deductible that the insured is required to pay before insurance kicks in. Saying “full coverage” can reasonably cause someone to think that insurance will “fully” cover everything in the event of an accident, but this is rarely the case.

The word “comprehensive” can be confusing as some will interpret this to mean the same as “full coverage,” however, this is not the case. Also known as “Other Than Collision,” comprehensive is a specific type of coverage for damage to your vehicle caused by non-collision incidents, such as theft, vandalism or natural disasters such as hail or flooding.

Collision coverage pays for the damage to your vehicle in case of a collision with another vehicle or object. If you cause an accident, your collision coverage would pay to repair your vehicle. If another driver hits you, then it would be covered through their insurance or your uninsured motorist coverage. This also includes colliding with structures such as buildings, guardrails, traffic signals, and signage. Another vehicle does not need to be involved.

Deductibles are the portion that you are required to pay before insurance pays. These apply to comprehensive, collision and uninsured motorist coverages. Deductibles can range from $0 (full coverage) to as high as $2,000. The higher the deductible, the lower your premium. Raising deductibles can be a responsible way to reduce premiums without having to sacrifice high liability limits. However, you should make sure that your deductibles are low enough that you do not experience serious financial hardship in the event of a claim.

This depends entirely on the insurance company and their methods for calculating rates. We have found that customers who have a high frequency of towing or roadside claims are penalized by carriers when shopping for insurance. Despite the low cost of the claim, the occurrence on the insurance history can cause customers to lose claims-free discounts or compound the impacts of other claims. We recommend using separate roadside assistance clubs or paying out of pocket for these occurrences when they happen. QuoteSavant offers savings on roadside assistance that won’t affect your insurance rates through our SavantSelect Auto Plus Savings Plan.

The insurance industry is very susceptible to inflation pressures. The cost of vehicles and parts, labor rates, rental cars and healthcare costs all contribute to the rising costs of auto insurance. Additionally, the increasing frequency and severity of auto accidents has hit the insurance marketplace hard in recent years. Shopping your insurance across multiple carriers using a licensed QuoteSavant expert can help make sure that you have a competitive rate and the right coverage options that you need.