Car Insurance and Why It Is Important

If you have never filed a claim, are a new driver, or are new to car ownership, making car insurance payments can be increasingly frustrating. The high cost combined with the feeling of not getting anything in return makes it seem like a sunk cost.

But believe it or not, car insurance does have a purpose and is not a scam. Understanding what car insurance is for, and why it’s important to have, will alleviate some of your concerns.

Car Insurance Is for Your Financial Protection

If you never have an accident, it is possible that you will never have to file an insurance claim. But it’s statistically likely that you will be in at least one accident in your lifetime, and the consequences can be deadly. According to the Centers for Disease Control estimates indicate, “More than 32,000 people are killed and 2 million are injured each year from motor vehicle crashes.”1.

If you only carry PLPD coverage on your car, the minimum required coverage by law in most states, you will at least be off the hook for a portion of the costs of the damage you cause in the event of an at-fault accident. PLPD does not cover physical damage to your own car. It does, however, offer you protection for other types of losses:

• Injuries, pain, and suffering to others depending on your state’s laws
• Property damage
• Medical costs for you (if you live in a no-fault state)

In short, PLPD car insurance can protect you against financial ruin. If you are at-fault in a car accident, the injured party will want compensation. Without car insurance, you will be held financially responsible and potentially forced to pay for all the damages out of your own pocket. Most people cannot afford to self-insure, which is why most states require at least PLPD to be purchased for all drivers.

Years without a claim may make you wonder if you need car insurance at all. Nothing ever happens, so why keep paying the premiums?

It’s Also for Physical Damage Repairs

Car insurance can pay to repair your vehicle after an accident depending on what coverage you select. A vehicle is often a major expense and you want to protect it. Comprehensive and collision each offer coverage for physical damage, which comes with a lot of rules regarding what is covered and what is not.

• Comprehensive coverage is for anything other than a collision. Fire, theft, vandalism, deer, rats, and storm damage all fall under comprehensive. Usually, comprehensive is required in order to get roadside assistance. It is also required in order to purchase collision coverage.
• Collision coverage protects your vehicle against accidents. Collisions with automobiles, mailboxes, light posts, trees, and any other inanimate object. A deductible is often required to be paid before getting your repaired vehicle back. Collision coverage most often comes into play when you are at fault or do not know who damaged your vehicle.