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Overview
Full coverage auto insurance generally means coverage for your vehicle in addition to the liability insurance required by your state. When talking to your insurance company, be sure to specify what you mean by full coverage. Your insurance agent will need to know if you just want Comprehensive and Collision or if you want additional coverages. Aside from basic liability, you can add coverage to replace/repair your vehicle, medical coverage for you and your passengers or roadside assistance. You need to narrow down exactly which coverages are important to you, before purchasing.
Full Coverage for Your Car for At Fault Accidents
Collision insurance pays to replace or repair your car in the event that you hit something. It also pays if you have a one-car accident such as flipping your vehicle. The exception to that is if you hit an animal, which would be covered under your Comprehensive coverage.
Full Coverage for Your Car for Not At Fault Accidents
Comprehensive insurance pays to repair or replace your car for almost anything that is not a collision. Coverages include theft, fire and wind damage. In some states, you can get Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Property Damage coverage. This covers your vehicle if someone hits you and they are at fault and don't have insurance or not enough. If you are leasing or financing your car, your leasing/financing company may require that you carry all or some of these coverages.
Full Coverage for You
Full coverage could also mean that you want your and your passengers medical bills covered in the event of an accident. Uninsured/Underinsured Bodily Injury coverage covers medical bills, possibly loss of wages and sometimes funeral costs up to the policy limits if someone hits you and has no insurance or not enough, if they are at fault. If you want coverage regardless of who is at fault, you can get Medical Payment coverage.
Full Coverage Convenience Options
You may want to add some convenience coverages to your policy. If you will need a car immediately and can't afford to pay for it all out of pocket, try Rental Reimbursement, which covers a rental car up to a set policy limit. The good thing about Rental Reimbursement coverage is that you don't have to wait for the insurance companies to decide who is at fault. Many companies can set up the rental for you when you call in your claim. Another convenience coverage is Roadside Assistance. This coverage pays to tow your vehicle to the nearest repair shop. The very first time you use it, you will probably pay for the cost of having the coverage over 10 years. It is usually inexpensive to add to your policy.
Full Coverage for Your Assets
Full coverage might mean you want to make sure you are fully covered against liability. State minimums are very low, and are usually not enough to protect your assets if you are at fault in an accident. The rule of thumb is to have enough insurance to cover all your assets and any you may have in the future. Ask your insurance agent what the price difference is to raise your liability coverage. For most companies, you can add $100,000 or more to your coverage for less than the price of a fast food dinner.
