Tips That Guarantee Affordable Car Insurance Rates

Monday, March 2, 2009

Comprehensive Auto Insurance: Stuff You Should Know

By Chimezirim Odimba

If a car undergoes severe damage or is totaled but it is unrelated to an auto accident, comprehensive insurance will pay for the damages or even offer dollar replacement. Possible harm that may be covered by comprehensive insurance may possibly include wind, flood, earthquake or weather damage of other types, or commonly random events for which the driver can't be held accountable. If you have a lien against your car then you will have to buy comprehensive insurance as a requirement.

Countless financial institutions request that borrowers hold comprehensive coverage for the duration of the loan. People who have purchased moderately expensive cars or luxury vehicles without a loan may still want to purchase comprehensive coverage to protect their investment. It's hard to put an amount on comprehensive insurance since it is so unpredictable.

A few things can bring down the price. Comprehensive policies always have deductibles that have to be met. Once damage has gone above the deductible amount that is required, protection would begin.

$250 US and $500 US for each claim are the most common amounts for deductibles. In general you will spend more for a comprehensive plan when your deductible is less. Quite often a collision shop will bypass the deductible if it is a lower amount and there is quite a bit of work that needs to be done to your automobile.

Prior to picking a deductible, think about the funds that you will have to produce if your car becomes badly damaged. When you can easily afford a high deductible, it may make sense to choose this and thus save money on comprehensive insurance. Additionally, you should consider the value of your car.

After you have made all of the payments on your car, particularly if the car doesn't have much value, comprehensive coverage may cost you more than you stand to save. It might not be terribly important to purchase comprehensive insurance on a car only worth a couple thousand USD, since in a few years' time, you might pay more for the insurance than you would to replace or repair the vehicle. More often than not, collision and comprehensive car insurance is presented in a package, though it is possible to buy the two kinds of coverage individually.

Theft, fire, vandalism, weather damage, riots, missiles, and other similar circumstances that usually cause damage are what comprehensive covers. Comprehensive car insurance usually doesn't protect from acts of God, theft or vandalism by family members or employees, contents of the car, tires, or damage from inappropriate maintenance.

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