Car Insurance Coverage
With distracted driving accidents increasing and nearly one in eight drivers uninsured,1 having the right insurance coverage is more important than ever. At Amica, we offer car insurance coverages designed to protect you and give you peace of mind on the road. After all, true security comes from knowing you're covered, wherever your journey takes you.
Car insurance coverage options
Taking a few minutes to learn about the different car insurance coverages can help you understand your options. With this knowledge, you can customize your policy to suit your needs and safeguard what matters most.
Vehicle coverages
The first category of car insurance coverages you should know about are those that will cover damages to your vehicle if an accident occurs. There are two different coverages that do this, collision and comprehensive (also known as other-than-collision coverage).
- Collision: This coverage addresses damage to your vehicle from accidental collisions with other cars or objects, regardless of fault.
- Example: If you damage your car door backing out of a parking garage, collision coverage will likely cover the repairs.
- Comprehensive: Often referred to as other-than-collision coverage, it’s designed to cover damages to your vehicle caused by incidents like vandalism, flood, theft and falling objects.
- Example: If your car is stolen, comprehensive coverage may help cover the replacement costs.
Liability coverages
Another important type of coverage, and a coverage that is required in most states, is liability coverage. Liability coverage pays for damages that you may be legally responsible for causing when you’re at fault for an accident. This coverage also includes legal protection for you if you’re sued following an accident.
There are two main types of liability protection your policy can provide: property damage and bodily injury.
- Property damage: This coverage pays for damage you cause to another person’s vehicle or property when you’re at fault for an accident.
- Example: If you swerve to avoid another car and hit a fence, property damage liability coverage may pay for the repairs.
- Bodily injury: This coverage can pay for things like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering if you're found liable for an accident resulting in injuries to others.
- Example: If you accidentally run a red light and collide with another vehicle, this coverage could pay the medical expenses for the injured parties.
Injury and medical coverages
You may also become injured in a car accident. Coverages are available for medical payments or personal injury protection (PIP). One or both of these coverages may be available in your state, and they may sometimes be required.
- Medical payments: Also known as medpay coverage, it covers medical expenses incurred by you or your passengers due to an auto accident, regardless of fault. This coverage includes doctor visits, ambulance fees and funeral expenses.
- Example: If you and a passenger sustain minor injuries in an accident, this coverage will help with hospital bills.
- Personal injury protection (PIP): A comprehensive coverage that extends beyond typical medical expenses. It not only covers immediate health care costs following an accident but also provides support for lost income if you're unable to work during recovery, rehabilitation services and more.
- Example: If you need physical therapy after a car accident, PIP coverage can help cover those costs.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages
Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage insurance is another coverage that protects you. If you're involved in an accident where someone else is at fault and they either don't have liability coverage or enough coverage to cover your damages or injuries, uninsured and/or underinsured motorist coverage can help ensure you aren't left bearing the financial burden.
- Uninsured motorist: This coverage comes into play when the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance, allowing you to recover from the resultant losses such as medical expenses or property repairs.
- Example: If an uninsured driver causes an accident injuring you, this coverage can help pay for your medical expenses.
- Underinsured motorist: Often included in uninsured motorist coverage, this coverage steps in to bridge the gap when the at-fault driver’s insurance fails to cover the entirety of the damages.
- Example: If you’re injured in an accident and the at-fault driver’s insurance is insufficient, this coverage can help cover the difference.
Additional car insurance coverages
Supplemental coverages can enhance your protection in situations not typically covered by standard car insurance policies. Consider these options for more protection:
Roadside assistance and towing
This service aids policyholders with issues like dead batteries, flat tires or towing. Roadside assistance is available with towing and labor coverage.
Rental car reimbursement
If your vehicle is in the shop after an accident, rental car reimbursement can help cover your rental car expenses or other transportation costs.
Auto loan/lease coverage
If you total your car and owe more on it than it’s worth, Guaranteed Asset Protection or gap insurance helps pay the difference between your car’s actual cash value and your loan/lease balance.
Auto glass coverage
There are two types of auto glass coverage: comprehensive and full glass coverage. Depending on your auto insurance policy and type of glass coverage selected, your glass repair or replacement may be fully covered, or a deductible may apply.
Ridesharing or delivery driving
Depending on your state, additional coverage may be available for drivers using their vehicles for rideshare services like Uber or delivery services like DoorDash, as standard policies may have limitations or coverage exclusions.
Understanding your auto insurance policy
Understanding your auto insurance policy can help ensure you’re adequately protected on the road. Familiarize yourself with key terms like deductibles, policy limits and any exclusions.
Deductible
The deductible is what you pay out of pocket before your auto insurance covers a claim. The deductible you choose can also have an impact on how much you pay for your insurance. A higher deductible lowers your premiums, while a lower deductible means you'll pay less money out of pocket at the time you have a loss.
Limits
Selecting the right limits for your auto insurance ensures proper protection. Coverage limits are the maximum your policy pays for a covered loss. An Amica representative can walk you through the minimum limits you must carry and talk you through why higher limits often make sense to give you the best protection.
Declaration page
Also known as the dec page, this is a document that summarizes your auto policy coverages. It lists your name, address, policy period, coverage types, limits and deductible.
Related insurance coverages
Exploring additional coverages can help provide protection across different aspects of your life. Consider these coverages:
Customer service that earns loyalty
Empathy isn’t just a word – it’s woven into every interaction with our policyholders. Their stories are a testament to the trust and loyalty built over decades of compassionate service and support.
1 Insurance Information Institute
AMIC-01-120524