How does car insurance work?

Car insurance is an agreement between you and an insurance company that may help financially protect you if: 

• You’re involved in a covered accident and injure another person and/or damage their vehicle or property

• You’re injured in an accident

• Your car is damaged, vandalized, or stolen 

Several different types of car insurance coverages exist, each intended for specific scenarios. For example, some coverages help pay for other people’s injuries and vehicle damage if you’re at fault in an accident with them. Other coverages, help pay for your medical expenses and repairs to your own vehicle—even if it’s damaged by something other than an accident.

After an accident, the people involved typically file claims with their respective insurance companies. Regardless of your degree of fault in the accident, here are some important steps to take immediately following the accident—once it’s safe to do so: 

• Exchange insurance information with any other drivers involved

• Report the car accident to the police

• Take pictures of the accident scene, including damage to any vehicles involved 

Once the insurance company receives this information, they’ll review and process the claim. They may contact you or the other driver if they need additional information. Depending on the outcome of the claim, you or the other party could receive payment or reimbursement for damages or other expenses related to the accident.

No-fault car insurance—sometimes known as Personal Injury Protection (PIP)—can help protect you and your passengers following an accident, regardless of who was at fault. This coverage can help reimburse you for medical payments, lost wages, and other related expenses. 

PIP is sometimes referred to as “no-fault” car insurance because it applies regardless of fault, often allowing drivers involved in an accident to avoid expensive, drawn-out investigations and court cases to determine fault in the accident.

It’s worth noting that some states require resident drivers to carry PIP, while other states don’t offer it at all.

Yes. Most states have laws that require you to carry car insurance. It’s up to you and your insurance provider to ensure you carry the specific coverages—and amounts of coverage—you need, and determine the rates and insurance deductibles that fit your budget. 

Each state sets its own rules for what coverages a driver is required to carry, and the minimum limit amounts they need. The following coverages are required in many states:

• Bodily injury liability

• Property damage liability

You can incur costs from driving without insurance. Not only could you be responsible for damages that result from an accident when you’re at fault, there are also penalties and fines to pay for not following state regulations if you're caught driving without insurance.

Driving without insurance can also increase the cost for you to drive in the future. If you’re caught driving without insurance, insurers may categorize you as high-risk driver, which can make purchasing auto insurance more expensive. You may also need an SR-22 certificate to verify that you meet your state’s car insurance requirements.

Different types of car insurance coverage exist to protect against a variety of risks associated with driving a vehicle.

Collision insurance helps cover damages to your car when the cause of the damage is an accident involving another car or stationary object. Collision generally covers the damages regardless of who’s at fault for the accident. The coverage limit will usually be the value of your vehicle, minus your established insurance deductible.

If it’s determined you’re not at fault, your insurance company may collect the cost to repair your vehicle—including your deductible—through a process called subrogation.

For bodily injury to the drivers and passengers in your vehicle, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and medical payments insurance apply to help cover medical costs, loss of income, and other post-accident expenses. 

PIP is required in some states but is unavailable in others. Medical payments coverage, meanwhile, is only required in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Maine, and is optional (or at least rejectable) in almost all other states.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage helps protect you against loss from accidents where another driver is at fault and doesn’t have—or has insufficient—liability coverage. 

Nearly one in eight drivers on the road are uninsured, and even more are driving around with insufficient insurance. If you’re involved in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured driver and you don’t carry this coverage, you could end up paying for your expenses out of pocket.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage may also offer a more efficient process for compensating your losses compared to pursuing legal claims in court.

While there are insurance coverages available to help cover most costs and incidents related to driving, auto insurance policies often don’t cover certain items such as:

• Costs for standard maintenance to your vehicle, like oil changes and new tires

• Damage from normal wear and tear on the vehicle

• Intentional damage you cause

• Theft of personal property in your car (usually homeowner’s or renter’s insurance covers this)

You can always review the terms of your policy to confirm insurance coverage exclusions.

Car insurance providers usually consider your driving history when setting your rates. This includes any prior citations for traffic violations, past accidents, and other insurance claims you’ve made. The cleaner your driving history, the more favorable your rates will typically be.

The type of vehicle you drive may also impact the cost of auto insurance. Simply stated, the more expensive the vehicle, the more your insurance coverage will probably cost to cover its repairs. Repair costs for damages to your own vehicle are typically covered by comprehensive and collision.

Vehicle type can also impact insurance costs due to its risk of bodily injury. For example, the cost of coverage for a convertible may differ from the cost of coverage for an SUV since one provides more protection than the other in an accident.

The amount of damage a vehicle can cause is also an insurance cost factor—for instance, a larger vehicle can typically do more damage than a smaller vehicle.

The types of insurance coverage you want, including their policy limits, will influence the overall cost of your rates. For example, car insurance with high limits will usually correlate to higher rates.

Your deductibles will also impact your rates—just keep in mind that the variability often depends on the coverage itself. With some coverages, you can choose your limits; with others, you can choose your deductible. You’ll rarely, if ever, choose both.

Car insurance add-ons for covering custom accessories or towing and labor also tend to increase your total cost.

Car insurance deductibles usually apply on a per-claim basis. This means you must pay the deductible amount every time you make a claim before insurance will help cover the remainder up to the policy limit. Deductibles often range from $100 to $1,000, with a higher deductible corresponding to a lower premium.

Car ownership is not a prerequisite to buying car insurance, and policies exist to help protect you if you occasionally get behind the wheel of cars you don’t own.

For example, non-owner car insurance can help provide coverage for injuries and damages to other people’s vehicles or property if you cause a covered accident. It can also supplement any coverage that might exist with the car’s primary insurance.

In some cases, a non-owner policy may be a good solution if you don’t own a vehicle and need an SR-22 because of prior violations involving a vehicle. 

Car insurance claims usually begin when someone who was hit in an accident submits notice and details about the incident to the at-fault party's insurer. A claim adjuster will then evaluate the claim to confirm the policyholder’s coverage and determine the appropriate payout.

The mechanics of a car insurance claim will always depend on the specific process outlined in the policy, so read your contract or get in touch with your insurance provider for details.

Ready to get your quote and drive protected? Let us be your source for affordable coverage that includes online and mobile account management tools, giving you 24/7 access to your insurance information.