Auto Insurance Protection & Education
Heritage Insurance has you covered. We can help you feel safe on the road by helping you with any kind of car insurance you're looking for. However, we first need to understand what each coverage means and how it can protect you. Then you can make an educated decision as to what coverage you need to purchase.
Car Insurance Explained: Why the Right Coverage Matters
When it comes to car insurance, many people are unsure what they really need. Some think, “I’ll never get into an accident,” while others might assume that the cheapest plan is good enough.
But here’s the thing: accidents happen when we least expect them, and not having the right insurance can cost you far more than just money—it can disrupt your entire life.
Let’s break down the six most common types of car insurance and, more importantly, why they matter to you. Whether you’re a seasoned driver or someone just getting their first car, this guide will help you understand the essentials and avoid the hidden pitfalls of being underinsured.
Bodily Injury Liability
If you cause an accident, this coverage helps pay for the injuries you cause to someone else. It’s not just about medical bills—it also includes lost wages or even legal expenses if you’re sued.
Why it matters: Imagine hitting another car and seriously injuring the driver. Without this coverage, you could be personally responsible for tens of thousands of dollars in medical costs. Could your bank account handle that? This is why bodily injury liability isn’t just required in most states—it’s essential for protecting your financial future.
Property Damage Liability
Accidents don’t just involve people; they often involve property. This coverage helps pay for the repair or replacement of things you damage—whether it’s another car, a fence, or even a building.
Why it matters: Picture this—you accidentally crash into someone’s luxury car. The repair costs alone could run into the thousands. Property damage liability ensures you’re not dipping into your savings to cover such accidents.
Pro Tip: Check your policy limits. If the damages exceed your coverage, you’ll have to pay the difference out of pocket.
Collision Coverage
What happens if your own car is damaged in an accident? That’s where collision coverage comes in. This covers the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle, regardless of who caused the accident.
Why it matters: Let’s say you lose control on an icy road and hit a tree. Without collision coverage, you’d have to foot the entire repair bill yourself. For many people, this could mean being without a car for months.
Comprehensive Coverage
This is for the unexpected—things that aren’t accidents but still damage your car, like theft, vandalism, or natural disasters.
Why it matters: A freak hailstorm can leave your car looking like a golf ball, or worse, it could get stolen entirely. Comprehensive coverage ensures that even these unpredictable events don’t derail your life.
Question to Consider: How would you get to work or school if your car was stolen tomorrow? This coverage gives you the peace of mind to handle life’s curveballs.
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Not everyone plays by the rules. If you’re hit by a driver without insurance or with insufficient coverage, this part of your policy steps in to cover your medical expenses and damages.
Why it matters: Nearly 1 in 8 drivers in the U.S. doesn’t have insurance. Think about that next time you’re on the highway. This coverage is your safety net when someone else’s irresponsibility threatens your well-being.
Medical Payments (MedPay)
If you or your passengers are injured in an accident, MedPay covers medical expenses, regardless of who caused the accident. This includes hospital bills, surgeries, and even funeral costs in the worst-case scenario.
Why it matters: Accidents can leave behind more than just vehicle damage—they can leave lasting physical and financial scars. MedPay ensures you and your loved ones get the care you need without worrying about the cost.
What’s at Stake if You Don’t Have Adequate Coverage?
Here’s a question for you: How would you recover financially if the unexpected happened tomorrow?
Cost of inaction: Without proper insurance, a single accident can wipe out your savings, lead to lawsuits, or even force you into bankruptcy. Insurance isn’t just a legal requirement; it’s a shield for your financial future.
Liability coverage pays for property damage and or medical injuries that were caused in an accident in which you were at fault.
To learn all about bodily injury liability and why it's important on your auto insurance policy, click here for a video and detailed explanation.
Liability coverage pays for property damage and or medical injuries that were caused in an accident in which you were at fault.
To learn all about bodily injury liability and why it's important on your auto insurance policy, click here for a video and detailed explanation.
Collision coverage can help pay for damage to your vehicle that is damaged in an accident due to a collision.
To learn all about collision coverage and why it's important on your auto insurance policy, click here for a video and detailed explanation.
Comprehensive coverage can help pay for damage to your vehicle that has been damaged in an accident that is not a collision.
To learn all about comprehensive coverage and why it's important on your auto insurance policy, click here for a video and detailed explanation.
Uninsured and underinsured bodily injury coverage helps protect you in the event that you are an accident and the at fault party does not have enough liability coverage or doesn’t have any liability coverage.
To learn all about uninsured/underinsured coverage and why it's important on your auto insurance policy, click here for a video and detailed explanation.
Medical payments coverage can help pay for you or your passenger’s medical injuries should you be in an accident; regardless of who is at fault.
To learn all about medical payments coverage and why it's important on your auto insurance policy, click here for a video and detailed explanation.
Rental reimbursement helps cover the cost of a rental car, should your normal vehicle be in the shop getting fixed, due to a covered accident.
To learn all about rental car reimbursement coverage and why it's important on your auto insurance policy, click here for a video and detailed explanation.
Having adequate Car Insurance coverage is serious business
If you were ever involved in an accident, and found to be at-fault for someone else's bodily injuries, you could literally lose everything if you're not properly insured.
What a lot of people don't realize is, having great coverage doesn't necessarily mean having higher insurance premiums.
Because Heritage Insurance is 100% independent, we can take your current coverages and compare them with a wide range of insurance providers to see who offers you the best coverage possible.
The best part? It doesn't cost you a penny more to use us. We are compensated by the insurance carriers directly, and work on your behalf to properly cover your needs and make sure that there are no hidden gaps in your policy.
No two insurance contracts are the same, and while two policies side-by-side might look the same, the fine print behind the cover page can vary drastically from company to company.
This means you need someone who truly understands policy contracts, like us, to sort through the exclusions and conditions for you, so you can rest easy knowing that you have the best possible coverage at the best price without having to learn legal jargon.
Have Questions About Car Insurance? We've Got Answers.
There are many discounts available on your car insurance, no matter your circumstance. Check with your insurance agent every year your policy renews to make sure you are getting all the discounts available to you. Below is a list of common car insurance discounts.
- Multi-car
- Paperless
- Pay-in-full
- EFT Billing
- Homeowner
- Good student
- Driver training course
What your car insurance covers depends greatly on the coverage you select. For a list of coverage and what each one covers, scroll up to the top of this page.
Here is a list of things that potentially could be covered with your car insurance:
- Injuries to someone else in an accident you caused
- Medical bills for you and your passengers
- Damage to someone else's vehicle in an accident you caused
- Damage to your vehicle
- Injuries to you caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver
- Windshield or glass damage
- Towing
- Rental cars
It's important to note that not all these things are covered automatically. Check with an independent insurance agent to see what is covered on your specific policy.
There are many things car insurance wont cover, but there's no one-size-fits all approach. Each policy and company are different.
Here is a list of some things that generally are NOT covered under your car insurance:
- Mechanical Breakdown
- Damage from negligence
- Personal belongings in your vehicle
- Intentionally damaging your vehicle or causing medical injuries
- Using your vehicle for rideshare (endorsement available)
- Using your vehicle for business (endorsement available)
Again, check with your independent broker to make sure you are aware of what is covered and what is not covered on your auto policy.
How much car insurance you need depends entirely on your specific situation. The type of car you drive, your net worth, how often you drive your vehicle and even what you drive it for, can all help you determine how much car insurance you need.
The important part is to tune out all the Progressive Flo and Geico Gecko commercials that only talk about saving money. It's important to save money, but it's most important to make sure you're adequately covered come claim time.
To determine how much car insurance you need, give us a call. We're happy to walk you through that process.
For the most part, yes, your car insurance will cover other drivers. However, there are many things you need to be aware of to be sure every driver is covered:
- If the driver lives in your household, they must be listed on your car insurance policy
- If the driver uses your vehicle on a regular basis (at least once a month) they must be listed on your policy
- Each state varies as to what they allow, so check with your specific policy
For most all other cases, someone driving your vehicle should have coverage. For example, your friend is at your house and needs to take your car to go get some food. In most cases, your friend would be covered under your car insurance.
Like all things, don't trust everything you read on the internet. Your insurance policy is what can tell you exactly who is and who isn't covered on your policy. Check with your agent to be sure or give us a call and we can check for you.
Adding a teenager to your insurance policy can increase the price by 125% to 200% or $1800 to $2,600 a year. This is a lot of money!
It's important to do your research before your teenager gets their drivers license, so that you can be prepared and make sure you have the correct coverage at the right price.
We wrote a whole blog post about this very subject. Check it out here!
