Car Insurance: What You Need to Know (2024)

Find answers to your car insurance questions, including what policy is right for you, insurance rules, and pricing. Get important information on how to save money while getting the coverage you need.

Guide to Car Insurance

Car InsuranceByStaff AuthorUpdated Jun 06, 2019 How to Buy a CarByRebecca LakeUpdated Aug 06, 2023 Best Rideshare Insurance CompaniesByElizabeth RivelliUpdated Aug 10, 2023 Car InsuranceByStaff AuthorUpdated Jun 06, 2019 Car InsuranceByStaff AuthorUpdated Jun 06, 2019
What Is a Car Insurance Premium?ByLorraine RoberteUpdated Apr 11, 2024 Liability vs. Full-Coverage Car Insurance: Which Is Better?ByJessica WalrackUpdated Jan 07, 2024 Car Insurance for Transgender and Nonbinary PeopleByMichael EvansUpdated Apr 12, 2024 Do I Need Rental Car Insurance?ByLora ShinnUpdated Jan 03, 2024 How Much Is Car Insurance for Teens?ByJessica WalrackUpdated Jan 03, 2024

Explore Car Insurance

AllCar Insurance CompaniesCar Ownership

Collision vs. Comprehensive Auto Insurance: What's the Difference?ByMichael EvansUpdated Feb 25, 2024 How to File an Auto Insurance ClaimByMichael EvansUpdated Jan 01, 2024 What Does Auto Insurance Cover?ByMichael EvansUpdated Mar 12, 2024 What Is Full Coverage Car Insurance?ByJessica WalrackUpdated Feb 25, 2024 What Is a Deductible in Car Insurance? ByJessica WalrackUpdated Mar 05, 2024 What Is an Auto Insurance Quote?ByMichael EvansUpdated May 17, 2023 Auto Insurance Review MethodologyByHolly JohnsonUpdated Mar 12, 2024 Best Boat InsuranceByMegan GlossonUpdated Mar 09, 2023 When Is the Best Time to Buy a Car?ByAndrew MartinsUpdated Aug 07, 2022 What Is Accident Forgiveness?ByJennifer NelsonUpdated Aug 10, 2022 How to Cut Car Insurance Costs ByDan MillerUpdated Feb 22, 2024 How Much Should I Spend on a Car?ByKat TretinaUpdated Dec 28, 2023 Does Car Insurance Cover Theft?ByDan MillerUpdated Sep 29, 2023 How Inflation Has Affected the Price of CarsByGreg McFarlaneUpdated Aug 30, 2022 How to Write a Bill of Sale for a CarByKat TretinaUpdated Mar 01, 2022 How to Get a Car Loan with Bad CreditByKat TretinaUpdated Jan 05, 2022 Why Is My Car Insurance So High?ByAndrew MartinsUpdated Aug 13, 2022 Should I Buy a New or Used Car?ByLisa SmithUpdated Jan 06, 2024 How to Save for a CarByAndrew MartinsUpdated Aug 15, 2022 How to Get a Suspended License ReinstatedByKat TretinaUpdated Jun 19, 2023 How to Cancel Car InsuranceByAndrew MartinsUpdated Feb 22, 2024 Can You Lease a Car with Bad Credit?ByJennifer NelsonUpdated Jul 24, 2023 What Is a Branded Title? What It Means, Types, and RisksByKat TretinaUpdated Sep 28, 2023 Pay-Per-Mile Car InsuranceByDan MillerUpdated Aug 26, 2023 Property Damage Liability Insurance: What It Means and How It WorksByKat TretinaUpdated Mar 02, 2024 How Car Insurance Treats a Total LossByDan MillerUpdated Jan 19, 2023 What Credit Score Do You Need to Buy a Car?ByKat TretinaUpdated Feb 26, 2022 How Does Car Insurance Work?ByAndrew MartinsUpdated Sep 28, 2023 How to Trade in a Car That Is Not Paid OffByDan MillerUpdated Jul 24, 2022 Proof of Insurance: An Essential Document to Keep in Your CarByKat TretinaUpdated Mar 02, 2024 What Is a Good Interest Rate on a Car Loan?ByDan MillerUpdated Jul 25, 2022 What You Need to Know About Auto InsuranceByJim ProbascoUpdated Feb 22, 2024 Car Insurance for Teens GuideByRebecca LakeUpdated Mar 08, 2024 How a DUI or DWI Can Affect Your Car InsuranceByRebecca LakeUpdated Mar 02, 2024 No-Fault InsuranceByRebecca LakeUpdated Mar 02, 2024 SR-22 Insurance: What It Is and How It WorksByRebecca LakeUpdated Jan 03, 2024 Understand Your Options for a Totaled CarByRebecca LakeUpdated Mar 02, 2024 What to Do After a Car AccidentByRebecca LakeUpdated Mar 02, 2024 How Much Car Insurance Do You Need?ByChuck TannertUpdated Mar 19, 2024 How Much Does Car Insurance Cost?ByThe Investopedia TeamUpdated Mar 02, 2024 Non-Owner Car Insurance: Who Needs It?ByGreg DaughertyUpdated Mar 08, 2024 What Is Classic Car Insurance?ByDaniel KurtUpdated Feb 22, 2024 How to Find ‘No-Down-Payment’ Car InsuranceByGreg DaughertyUpdated Jun 30, 2022 What Is Temporary Car Insurance?ByRebecca LakeUpdated Jun 28, 2022 Can You Get Car Insurance Without a License?ByRebecca LakeUpdated Jun 24, 2022 Car Repair Insurance: Do You Need It?ByRebecca LakeUpdated Jan 31, 2022 Commercial Car Insurance: What It Is and How It WorksByRebecca LakeUpdated Mar 08, 2024 Subrogation in Insurance: What it Is and Why It's ImportantByJulia KaganUpdated Feb 28, 2024 15 Tips and Ideas for Cutting Car Insurance CostsByGlenn CurtisUpdated Jan 20, 2024 How Car Insurance Companies Value CarsByGreg DePersioUpdated Feb 25, 2024 Standard Auto Insurance: What It is, How It WorksByAlexandra TwinUpdated Aug 13, 2023 Metromile Insurance Review: Is Pay-Per-Mile Worth It? ByTim ParkerUpdated Jan 05, 2024 Third Party Liability Insurance TypesByJulia KaganUpdated Jun 15, 2023 Personal Injury Protection: What it is, How it WorksByJulia KaganUpdated Sep 04, 2023 Do You Need Gap Insurance?ByDaniel KurtUpdated Apr 18, 2023 Collision Insurance: What it is, How it WorksByJulia KaganUpdated Aug 20, 2023 Underinsured Motorist Coverage: Definition, Example, BenefitsByJulia KaganUpdated Sep 28, 2023 Adverse Selection in Car Insurance: What It Is, How It Works, and ExampleBySean RossUpdated Mar 19, 2024 Cars That Depreciate the LeastByLinda McMakenUpdated Apr 27, 2022 Luxury Automobile Limitations: Meaning, Overview, ExamplesByJulia KaganUpdated Mar 15, 2021

Insurance

Life InsuranceHealth InsuranceHome InsurancePet InsuranceBusiness InsuranceDisability InsuranceLiability Insurance

Car Insurance: What You Need to Know (2024)

FAQs

What are the most important things to look for in car insurance? ›

What Type of Coverage do I Need or Want?
  • Liability Coverage. When operating a motor vehicle, liability coverage is probably the most important coverage you will need. ...
  • Comprehensive and Collision. ...
  • Medical coverage. ...
  • Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist. ...
  • Uninsured Motorist Property Damage. ...
  • Rental Reimbursem*nt.

What is necessary in car insurance? ›

Minimum Liability Insurance Requirements for Private Passenger, Commercial and Fleet Vehicles. Here are the minimum liability insurance requirements (per California Insurance Code §11580.1b): $15,000 for injury/death to one person. $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person. $5,000 for damage to property.

What are the three things to know about insurance? ›

These are: Premium: How much they need to pay for coverage. Policy term: How long the policy lasts. Policy limit: The maximum amount the policy will pay out for a covered peril.

What are the three types of car insurance? ›

The three key types of car insurance are liability insurance, collision coverage and comprehensive insurance. Liability insurance covers damages caused to other people, while collision and comprehensive coverage take care of repairs that must be done for your car.

What's the best car insurance coverage to have? ›

You should carry the highest amount of liability coverage you can afford, with 100/300/100 being the best coverage level for most drivers. You may need to carry additional coverages to protect your vehicle, including comprehensive, collision and gap coverage.

What are 4 things you should look at when choosing an insurance plan? ›

4 Factors to Consider When Choosing a Health Insurance Plan in...
  • Open Enrollment.
  • Types of Plans.
  • Total Cost & Financial Assistance.
  • Monthly premium: the price you pay the insurance company each month.
  • Deductible: the amount you pay for covered services before your health insurance plan begins to pay.
Dec 19, 2023

What type of insurance should you choose? ›

Most experts agree that life, health, long-term disability, and auto insurance are the four types of insurance you must have. Employer coverage is often the best option, but if that is unavailable, obtain quotes from several providers as many provide discounts if you purchase more than one type of coverage.

What is the difference between a premium and a deductible? ›

Monthly premium x 12 months: The amount you pay to your insurance company each month to have health insurance. Deductible: How much you have to spend for covered health services before your insurance company pays anything (except free preventive services)

What is the deductible in an insurance policy? ›

The amount you pay for covered health care services before your insurance plan starts to pay. With a $2,000 deductible, for example, you pay the first $2,000 of covered services yourself.

What are the 5 C's of insurance? ›

The 5Cs of transformation in insurance are – communication, customization, connection, cognition and consensus. Let's look at each in turn: Communication At its core, insurance is a promise. Now, there isn't much value in a promise if you can't communicate it!

How do you explain insurance for dummies? ›

At its core, insurance is a form of financial protection that helps cover the costs associated with various risks—be it a car accident, a house fire, or a medical emergency.

What are the basics of insurance? ›

Insurance is a way to protect yourself from financial risks by paying a company a small amount of money, called a premium. If something bad happens, like a car accident or a house fire, the insurance company helps cover the costs so you don't have to pay for everything yourself.

Which type of car insurance is best? ›

Comprehensive Car Insurance Policy

This type of insurance policy provides complete protection. It covers both third-party liabilities as well as damages to your vehicle. Also, with a comprehensive cover, you can get compensation if the accident results in your death; the family members will receive the benefit.

What type of car insurance is the cheapest? ›

Typically, fully comprehensive insurance is the least expensive, though prices are influenced by individual circ*mstances.

Which category of car insurance is best? ›

Comprehensive car insurance gives you the highest level of protection available.

What is the most important part of auto insurance? ›

Liability Coverage and California Law. Liability coverage helps pay for injuries or damage that you cause to others . If you own and drive a vehicle, you must follow the financial responsibility laws in the state Vehicle Code. The most common way to do this is to buy auto liability coverage.

What are 3 factors that insurance companies look at to determine how much your insurance is going to cost? ›

Understanding what determines your auto insurance premiums can uncover new ways to save. Auto insurance rates depend on factors such as your age, gender, location, the kind of car you drive, your driving record and possibly even your credit score. Here are 12 things that can influence the cost of your car insurance.

What five factors are most important in determining car insurance rates? ›

These factors may change over time, but some are harder to manipulate than others.
  • Age. Age is a very significant rating factor, especially for young drivers. ...
  • Driving and claims history. This rating factor is straightforward. ...
  • Credit score. ...
  • Location. ...
  • Other personal demographics.

What to look out for in insurance? ›

Inclusions & exclusions

Any insurance policy will outline exactly what you are covered for – what's 'included' – and exactly what you're not covered for – what's 'excluded'. Make sure you know what these are before you sign up to a policy because you won't be able to make a claim on anything that is excluded.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6678

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Birthday: 1996-01-14

Address: 8381 Boyce Course, Imeldachester, ND 74681

Phone: +3571286597580

Job: Product Banking Analyst

Hobby: Cosplaying, Inline skating, Amateur radio, Baton twirling, Mountaineering, Flying, Archery

Introduction: My name is Kimberely Baumbach CPA, I am a gorgeous, bright, charming, encouraging, zealous, lively, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.