Buy Auto Insurance

People purchase auto insurance to protect themselves and their families against costs associated with vehicle-related accidents and incidents. Depending on your situation, some types of coverage are optional, while others are required.

buy auto insurance

Your driving record, area in which you live, gender and age, marital status, prior insurance coverage, vehicle use and make and model of your vehicle are common factors that can affect the price you will pay for your auto insurance.

Each state must implement either a tort system or a no-fault system. The system your state has implemented will determine what kind of insurance is available to you. The three basic coverages sold under the tort system are bodily injury liability insurance, property damage liability insurance and uninsured motorists coverage. In a no-fault state, coverages will vary, but under a no-fault system your insurance company pays you directly for your losses as a result of injuries sustained in an accident, regardless of who is at fault. Check with your state insurance department for questions concerning tort or no-fault state systems.

The most commonly recognized coverages, in addition to the basic liability package, are collision and comprehensive coverages. Collision coverage pays for physical damage to your car as a result of your auto colliding with an object such as a tree or another car. This is relatively expensive coverage and is not required by law. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your auto from almost all other causes, including fire, severe weather, vandalism, floods and theft. This coverage will also cover broken glass and windshield damage. Comprehensive coverage is less expensive than collision, but is also optional. Other optional coverages include medical payments coverage, rental reimbursement coverage and towing and labor coverage.

Information is available to consumers from a number of unbiased sources. These sources include public libraries, state insurance departments, online resources, consumer groups and consumer publications. Every state insurance department has personnel available to answer questions regarding auto insurance coverage and many departments publish premium comparisons to make shopping around easier.

Search the Internet for insurance companies and agents in your area. In addition, ask your neighbors, relatives and friends for recommendations on insurance companies and agents. In particular, ask them what kind of claim service they have received from the companies they recommend. Remember to shop around to get the best price and service. You can perform a License Lookup on our website to confirm that an insurance company or agent is licensed to sell insurance in the State of Georgia.

You should be aware that an auto insurance policy is a legal contract. It is written so your rights and responsibilities, as well as those of the insurance company, are clearly stated. When you purchase auto insurance, you will receive a policy. You should read that policy and make certain you understand its contents. If you have questions about your insurance policy, contact your insurance agent for clarification. If you still have questions, turn to your state insurance department.

Insurance companies in California are required by law (California Vehicle Code [CVC] 16058) to electronically report private-use vehicle insurance information to DMV. Insurance companies are exempt from electronically reporting insurance information for vehicles covered by commercial or business insurance policies.

If you cannot afford liability insurance, you may be eligible for the California Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program. Additional information is available at mylowcostauto.com or by calling 1-866-602-8861.

Yes. To prevent a vehicle registration suspension, you must notify DMV before you cancel your insurance. If you are not operating your currently registered vehicle, and it is not parked on a California roadway, you may submit an Affidavit of Non-Use (ANU) (REG 5090) to DMV.

If you use your car not just to get to work, but to perform tasks for which you get paid, commercial auto insurance is a necessity. A personal auto policy will not provide coverage if you transport paying passengers through a ride-share service, deliver pizzas, drive as a courier or use your car for other commercial activities.

The information below applies to auto insurance policies issued on or before July 1, 2020. For auto insurance policies issued or renewed after July 1, 2020, please visit www.Michigan.gov/AutoInsurance for updated information.

To drive legally in Michigan, state law requires the purchase of no-fault automobile insurance. If you or your family are injured in an auto accident, your auto insurance will pay all reasonably necessary expenses with no maximum limit, as well as wage loss benefits and replacement service benefits. In a serious accident, injuries can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars in cost to you. The financial security that results from being insured is one of the most important reasons to purchase insurance.

Driving without insurance is a crime. It is punishable as a misdemeanor with a fine of up to $500 and up to one year in jail. The court may also order your license suspended for 30 days or until you are able to provide proof of valid insurance.

If you own a car and you drive it, or allow someone else to drive it without basic no-fault insurance, you can be sued and held personally liable for all injuries and damages that result from an accident, including your own. You may also be convicted of a misdemeanor and fined $200 to $500, put in jail for up to one year, or both. The court may also order your license suspended for 30 days or until you are able to provide proof of valid insurance.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) - PIP pays all reasonable and necessary medical expenses for your lifetime if you are hurt in an auto accident, and wage loss and replacement services for up to three years after the date of the accident.

Residual Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability (BI/PD) - BI/PD pays, up to the limits of the policy, your defense costs and any damages you are found liable for as the result of an auto accident in which someone was killed or seriously injured. The minimum limits of coverage that everyone must purchase are:

Towing and Rental Car Coverage Towing and Rental Car Coverage is available from most insurance companies and generally covers or reimburses the cost of towing and/or a rental car for covered events (accident, breakdown, flat tire, etc.). The cost is usually small in relation to the total policy premium. Alternatively, many insurance agencies offer memberships into clubs that offer these types of benefits to their members.

Insurance companies use underwriting and rating rules to help decide if they will insure you and how much they will charge. Underwriting is a process in which an insurance company determines if the risk you present meets the standards or guidelines it has established for you to obtain or retain auto insurance with the company. These rules may be different for each company, but each company must apply its rules in the same way to everyone.

Yes. Insurance companies do not all use the same factors to group individuals for rating purposes, so the cost of insurance can vary considerably. It is important for consumers to shop around and compare if they are unhappy with the cost or service associated with their insurance company. Michigan law guarantees that auto insurance will be available to all eligible Michigan residents. The law says you are eligible if you have a car registered in Michigan or have a valid (not suspended or revoked) Michigan driver's license. However, there are a few reasons why a company can refuse to insure you. If an agent or company says you are not eligible for coverage, they must give you the specific reason you are not eligible for an auto policy with that company.

If you are ineligible to purchase auto insurance, you may want to ask your agent to apply to the Michigan Automobile Insurance Placement Facility (MAIPF) for you. The MAIPF was created to offer insurance to individuals who have difficulty finding insurance coverage. Alternatively, you may also seek insurance from a company that specializes in writing policies for high risk drivers.

There are a number of ways that you might reduce the cost of your auto insurance. You can ask about premium savings if you increase your deductibles. Doing so will mean you pay more out of your pocket should a loss occur, but it will reduce the premium you pay.

There are many other discounts offered by auto insurance companies. For example, some companies reduce your premium if you have certain safety features such as air bags, anti-lock brakes, or anti-theft devices. You may also qualify for a discount if you are a good student, or if you have more than one type of policy with the same company (such as your auto insurance policy and a homeowner or renters insurance policy).

If you have health insurance, ask about coordinating your health insurance policy with your auto policy to receive a discount. You should confirm with your health insurance company that they will pay primary if you are injured in an auto accident. When your policy is coordinated, your automobile insurance will pay secondary for all reasonable expenses not covered by your health insurance coverage. You may not coordinate if you have Medicaid, Medicare, or a Medicare supplement policy.

You should also refer to the declarations page of your current auto insurance policy for your current coverage and limits. The declarations page is the page of your policy that lists your current coverages, limits, and deductibles, as well as the current premium you are paying. If you are uncomfortable releasing this information, you should be able to answer questions about your current coverage without providing a copy of your declarations page. 041b061a72