Calculating your insurance needs

The Lowdown: Car Insurance Terms Explained

Deductible

The deductible is the portion of the damages you’ll have to pay for before your coverage kicks in. Let’s say you have a fender bender and the repairs cost $1,500. If your deductible is $500, all you have to pay toward that repair is $500. Insurance would cover the remaining $0,000.

On the other hand, if you have a $1,000 deductible and only need $750 worth of repairs, you’re responsible for the entire amount because the repair cost doesn’t exceed your deductible.

You will likely have two different deductibles under your auto insurance policy—one for collision and one for comprehensive coverage.

"The average driver files a collision claim once every three years, and a comprehensive claim once every 10 years. Increasing a collision deductible on your auto policy from $200 to $500 can save up to 30% annually."⁽¹⁾

Car Insurance Premium

A car insurance premium is simply the dollar amount you pay for your coverage. Depending on your insurance company, you may pay monthly, quarterly, semiannually or even annually. Car insurance premiums can vary based on things like your deductible, your age, the make and age of your car, your driving history, credit history, how many miles you drive annually,and the type of insurance you purchase.

Coverage Limit

Your coverage limit is the maximum amount your policy will pay for each type of coverage you have. Work with your agent to make sure you have the maximum amount of coverage. If you exceed your policy’s limits, you’ll be responsible for any remaining costs.

Types of Auto Insurance Coverage

Basic Coverage

So how much car insurance do you really need to protect you, your passengers, and your car? Three of the most important types of auto insurance you can have are liability, comprehensive and collision coverage. Think of these as the basics—or coverage you can’t afford to do without.

Liability Coverage

Though liability coverage doesn’t protect you or your car, it does protect your wallet! If you’re in an accident that’s deemed "your fault," liability insurance covers third-party costs you’d typically be responsible for—medical or auto-repair costs that others might sustain due to the accident.  Without this coverage, you'd likely find yourself in court to hammer out the financial ramifications of the accident.

So how much liability insurance should you have? The simple answer is as much as you can afford! Arizona require minimum liability limits of 15/30/10, soon to go up to 25/50/15 on July 1, 2020. It's a good idea to have at least $500,000 worth of coverage that encompasses both types of liability coverage—property damage liability and bodily injury liability. That way you’re covered for costs related to getting the other driver’s car fixed (property damage) as well as costs related to their lost wages or medical bills (bodily injury) that resulted from an accident where you’re at fault.

Without liability coverage, you would be responsible for paying the other driver’s property damage and bodily injury costs out of your pocket. That could put you at serious risk financially—and potentially even cause your future wages to be garnished until the damages are paid. No matter what kind of car you drive, liability auto insurance is a definite must-have.

How Does My Car Insurance Coverage Break Down?

When looking at your auto insurance coverage limits, you may see something like $250,000/$500,000/$250,000 or 250/500/100 for your liability coverage.

Here is how your liability car insurance coverage would break down:

$250,000 of coverage for bodily injury (per person)

$500,000 of coverage for bodily injury (per accident)

$100,000 of coverage for property damage (per accident)

Comprehensive Coverage

Remember that hail storm last year that left a lasting impression on the hood of your car? Or that time your car wasn’t where you parked it because someone else decided to claim it as their own? With comprehensive coverage, you’re covered! Whether it’s theft or damage from a fire, a storm, a natural disaster, or even a limb falling on your car, comprehensive coverage will pay to replace or repair your car as long as the damage isn’t due to a collision.

Collision Coverage

Whether it’s the kids screaming in the back seat that makes you hit the brakes a second too late or monsoon rains that turns your sedan into a slip and slide . . . accidents happen. The good news is, no matter who is at fault, collision coverage pays to repair or replace your car if you’re in an accident with another vehicle, object, or even yourself.

You may be wondering, But what about liability insurance—wouldn’t that cover any damage to my car? The answer: Only if another driver is at fault and they have enough liability insurance to cover the damages. That’s why nearly 70% of drivers make the decision to purchase collision coverage.⁽³⁾

Let’s say your car is totaled in a wreck that happens to be your fault. The other driver’s liability coverage (if they even have it) won’t pay for your car repairs because they’re not "liable" (at fault) for the wreck—you are. Without collision coverage, you’d have to pay out of pocket to repair or replace your own car.

You may be tempted to skip out on collision coverage to save money if you drive a beater, but can you really afford to? If you’re planning to retire your beater to the junkyard and have enough savings to replace it, opting out of collision coverage may be the right move for you. To be safe, make sure to speak with a local agent to find out if skipping collision coverage is a risk you can afford to take.

Additional Coverage Opitons

So now that you have your basic auto insurance covered, what about an extra layer of protection? You’ll find plenty of options for extended auto insurance coverage, but do you really need them?

For the most part, a healthy emergency fund is a better option than paying for extended coverage you may never use.

Medical Expenses Coverage (MedPay)

Whether you’re covered by health insurance or not, Medical Expenses Coverage (MedPay) covers reasonable medical expenses for you, your passengers or any family members associated with an auto accident—no matter who’s at fault.

Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP)

If you find yourself upside down on a car loan (you owe the bank MORE than the current value of your vehicle) you'll need to purchase GAP coverage.  Think of GAP as filling the "gap" between what the car is worth and what is owed to the bank.  This often times comes into play when you've put none or very little down on a brand new vehicle.  The moment you drive off the lot, the value of the vehicle is less than what you paid for it AND interest is beginning to accrue.  If you got into an accident as you pulled out of the dealership’s lot, collision and comprehensive insurance would only cover the actual market value of the SUV. That means you’d be responsible for up to 25% of the SUV’s value that you lost the second you drove it off the car lot.⁽⁶⁾ Yikes! GAP insurance would fill in the "gap" by covering not only the newly reduced market value of your SUV, but also the remainder of what you still owe on it.

You can purchase GAP coverage not only through the dealer but also through your independent insurance agency.  Often times GAP will cost as little as $25 a year, simply by adding the endorsement to your auto insurance policy.  When you no longer need the coverage, you can easily remove the endorsement from your policy.

Uninsured (UM) and Underinsured (UIM) Motorist

According to the Insurance Research Council, about one in eight motorists drive around uninsured.⁽⁷⁾ Uninsured motorist coverage (UM) covers medical expenses (for you and your passengers) that result from a hit-and-run driver or a driver who’s uninsured, but it does not cover damage to your vehicle.⁽⁸⁾

But what if you’re hit by a driver who has insurance, just not enough? Underinsured Motorist Insurance (UIM) covers you when you’re in an accident caused by a driver whose insurance coverage falls below the state’s required minimums.

Occasionally you’ll find Uninsured Motorist Property Damage, or UMPD, packaged with UM and UIM. Though it usually has a lower deductible than collision coverage, you probably don’t need both UMPD and collision coverage since they essentially perform the same function.  Not many companies in Arizona offer UMPD but there are a few out there that do.

Premium Coverage

Though it comes with all the bells and whistles, premium auto insurance coverage may also come at a premium cost. Here are some of the most common types of optional premium auto insurance coverage and how they may or may not be a good fit for you.

Mechanical Breakdown

If you’re on a first-name basis with your mechanic, you may be tempted to sign up for Mechanical Breakdown insurance because it allows you to choose where your car is repaired, as long as the mechanic is licensed. Our advice? Save your money and skip this coverage. If you still want to use your favorite mechanic, use your emergency fund to pay for emergency repairs—that’s what it’s there for!

Rental Reimbursement

So how exactly do you make do without a car after an accident? Who’s going to pick up the kids from school or take you to work the next day? That’s where Rental Reimbursement coverage was designed to come in. It covers the cost of a rental car (up to a specific dollar amount and number of days) while your car is being repaired for any damages covered by your insurance.

Roadside Assistance

Remember that time you coasted down the interstate on empty, praying you’d make it to the closest gas station? Or that time you hit a pothole and were left with two flat tires? With Roadside Assistance coverage, you’d be covered. This covers having fuel brought to you, getting your battery jumped, having your car towed to the nearest repair shop, or fixing a dead battery. It’s helpful coverage to have in case you find yourself in a pinch!

Umbrella Insurance

You may be wondering, Why would I purchase an umbrella liability policy if I already have liability insurance? Umbrella insurance (or personal liability insurance) is an extra layer of liability coverage that kicks in after you’ve met the limits of your current policy. Coverage is typically available from $1 million to $5 million. In addition to protecting your assets and paying for any damages you’re legally responsible for in the event of an accident, umbrella insurance normally offers a wider form of protection than liability insurance for things like legal fees, false arrests and even slander. If your net worth is $500K or above, umbrella insurance is an absolute MUST to protect your assets!

Custom Equipment

If you’ve permanently installed "aftermarket" or "performance" parts on your car, you could carry Custom Equipment coverage to help repair or replace enhancements like custom running boards, stereo systems, or even a custom paint job.

OEM Endorsement

To save money, insurance companies often use "aftermarket" parts when they replace or repair parts on your vehicle. OEM Endorsement coverage ensures OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts—the same parts your manufacturer safety tested and used to originally build your vehicle—are used on your car.

Forgiveness Coverage (Accident Forgiveness or Minor Violation Forgiveness)

Did you know that just one at-fault accident can cause your insurance premiums to increase an average of 41%?⁽¹⁰⁾ Though Forgiveness coverage may not be able to turn back time and undo an accident, it can essentially wipe your slate clean by "forgiving" your first at-fault accident. Depending on your insurance company, this coverage may only apply once per policy term, or it may take years of safe driving to go into effect.

Glass Coverage

Living in Arizona we often times contend with rocks hitting our windshields.  Add summer temps combined with running the AC in your car and that's a recipe for a cracked windshield.  Remember that rock that chipped your windshield in the spring?  Summer can easily turn that chip into a crack!  Fortunately in AZ,  insurance companies offer glass coverage with no deductible.  $0 deductible glass is a must in AZ!

Should I Choose a High or a Low Deductible—Which One Is Right for Me?

Now that you know what a deductible is, it’s time to determine if you can afford yours.

If you choose a high deductible, your insurance company looks at you as a lower risk and will reward you with a lower premium. If you choose a low deductible, your premium will be higher because you represent a greater risk to the insurance company.

We recommend a $1,000 deductible because that usually means you’ll pay a lower premium. Before you sign up for a $1,000 deductible, however, work with your insurance agent to make sure it’s worth the extra risk by conducting a break-even analysis as you compare rates. By raising your deductible from $500 to $1,000, for example, you increase your risk by $500. If that reduces your annual premium by $50, you’ll have to go 10 years without an accident to break even—not a great deal. But, if increasing your deductible knocks $150 off your annual premium, you’ll break even in just over three years, which makes more sense.

"A higher deductible reduces your premium because you pay more out of pocket if you have a claim. Hiking your deductible from $200 to $500 can cut your premium on collision by 15–30%. Go to $1,000 and you could save 40%."⁽¹¹⁾

What About a Disappearing Deductible?

Some insurance companies offer "disappearing deductibles" at an additional cost for drivers with a long history of safe driving. The deductible decreases every year you’re accident free. What’s important to remember is that the deductible reappears in full the second you get into an accident.  Weigh the cost of adding the "disappearing deductible" vs. leaving the endorsement off of your policy.

Should I File a Claim?

If your car needs $650 worth of work thanks to a fender bender, should you file a claim? Isn’t that what you have car insurance for? Yes . . . and no. Frequent small claims are red flags that could cause your premium to go up. Plus, if you have a $1,000 deductible on a repair that costs $650, it doesn’t make sense to file the claim. File a claim only when it makes sense.

"Safeguarding your financial security is only one of the reasons it makes sense to purchase car insurance. And the more you know about auto insurance, the smarter the choices you’ll make when it comes time to renew or buy that new policy."⁽¹²⁾

Make Sure Your Insurance Agent Knows

Countless factors affect the type of insurance you need and the premium you’ll pay. Below is a list of key information your insurance agent needs to know to not only pick the right policies for you, but to also save you some hard-earned money in the long run!

• If you’re married—it could help lower your premium!
• If you use your car for both business and personal use, even if it’s a small side business.
• If you have a teen driver who makes good grades or has completed Driver’s Education.
• Who exactly you want included on your policy.
• If you have a college degree—some carriers will give you a discounted rate.
• If your car is leased, or if you still owe money on it.
• If you own a home—it could qualify you for a discount.
• Your occupation and the occupations of others on your policy, or if you are or have been in the military—you may qualify for a discount.
• If you’d prefer to get paperless statements—it may qualify you for an additional discount.

Go With a Pro to Answer Your Questions

With so many variables surrounding the types of car insurance available, it’s easy to spend more money than your coverage is worth. To make the right choice you need an expert who can answer your questions, run the numbers, and help you compare rates.  Tucson Insurance Solutions is here to help you find the best policy to fit your individual needs.