Whether you’re a new driver or have been on the streets in Connecticut for years, here’s everything you need to when purchasing the best car insurance in the Constitution State.
The good news is that purchasing car insurance is pretty easy and filing for a claim even more. After an accident, all you need to do is record the damage, take a couple of pictures, and ask for the other driver’s insurance information. Simple as that!
What you should be concerned about is the type of car insurance you need to buy. Let’s have a look at some of the basic car insurance coverage.
Liability Insurance
Every state has different requirements regarding the financial responsibility of drivers when it comes to car insurance. Car owners do have an option to assume responsibility through other means like a surety bond.
With that being said, following are two liability insurance coverage that come under car insurance:
1. Bodily Injury Coverage
If during an accident, the other driver is injured in the collision, you will have to pay for the hospital bills. This goes the same other way around
2. Property Damage Coverage
Property damage coverage from car accident covers one aspect of a car accident: the damage your car caused to someone’s property such as a fence or front yard.
You are probably wondering about the damage to your car, right? Well, this does not come under liability unless you were the one injured in the accident. Even then, the other driver’s insurance covers you.
Depending on your state’s insurance requirements, you are only allowed to purchase a minimum amount of coverage. This is why you need to look into optional car insurance coverage.
Optional Coverages
Any insurance coverage can be extended beyond the basic limits by making some additions. You can talk to your insurance agent about your needs, and he/she will direct you to the one policy that provides additional coverage.
Let’s have a look at the most common optional car insurance coverage types:
Collision Coverage
Have you financed or leased your vehicle?
Is the lender asking you to purchase insurance for the car until the loan is fully paid?
In this case, you will need collision coverage. This addition to your insurance policy will protect your car from damages in the event you are in an accident
Comprehensive Coverage
This type of insurance policy covers everything outside the car in the event of a collision. It includes damages to your car by vandalism, theft, animal collisions, weather conditions, and natural disasters.
Comprehensive coverage is good for those car owners who live in heavy traffic areas and depend on their car for daily commute. However, if your car is old, then comprehensive and collision coverage will not suit your future needs. You will end up paying a high premium, which will be much more than what you pay for car repairs.
There are two scenarios when it comes to choosing any one of these or both insurance coverage: if the car is low-value or second-hand, then you might not need much coverage. It the car is new and high maintenance, you will need more coverage.
Underinsured Motorist Coverage
What if you were in accident and later found out that the other driver does not have insurance? In this case, underinsured motorist coverage protects you from the damages if the driver does not have enough insurance stability to pay for the repairs.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
This insurance coverage protects you from the other driver if he/she doesn’t have insurance at all.
Personal Injury Protection
Let’s assume that you were driving your car on the highway and a wrong turn resulted in an accident. Here, you are at fault and injured. This optional car insurance coverage applies to all the medical expenses for the injuries you sustained in the accident. The best benefit this coverage offers is that it will cover your medical expenses even if the accident was your fault.
Other Coverages
You can also include the following optional car insurance coverage in the policy:
- Roadside emergency assistance coverage
- Rental reimbursement coverage
- Medical payments coverage
- Towing and labor coverage
Car Insurance Premiums and Rates
It’s important to ask for quotes from different car insurance providers to find out what they are offering. Following are the factors that insurance agencies consider before setting the premiums and rates on their car insurance coverage:
- The type(s) and amount of coverage you need
- Your motor vehicle record (MVR) that outlines your driving history (this helps insurance agencies determine the risks they will be exposed to if they decide to insure you)
MVR covers the following information:
- Driver license
- Traffic violations
- Driving record points
- Car’s make and model
- The possibility of the car being vandalized or stolen
- Cost of repairing the vehicle
- Overall safety rating of the vehicle
- Safety features installed in the vehicle
- Where the vehicle is parked
- Where you live
- How often the car is driven
- Your credit score
- Other information such as gender and age (for example, 25 year old females are given lower premiums on insurance as they are less likely to get into accidents)
Just like you research on a product thoroughly before buying it, you need to do the same before purchasing car insurance. Check out the company’s website, read reviews, talk to customer service representatives, and then compare the optional car insurance coverage offered to get a premium that is affordable and covers all your needs. If you are looking for a qualified insurance agent who holds years of experience in this field, then visit Pawson. The company provides different types of car insurance policies with additional coverage as well. To know more about their policies, contact them at 203-481-8898.
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Pawson Insurance | Legal Disclaimer |
Informational statements regarding insurance coverage are for general description purposes only. These statements do not amend, modify or supplement any insurance policy. Consult the actual policy or your agent for details regarding terms, conditions, coverage, exclusions, products, services and programs which may be available to you. Your eligibility for particular products and services is subject to the final determination of underwriting qualifications and acceptance by the insurance underwriting company providing such products or services. Statements on this website as to policies and coverages provide general information only. This information is not an offer to sell insurance.