When it comes to car insurance, many people wonder what the basic components of a policy are, and what they mean. A car insurance policy is made up of six basic coverages. Each meets a specific need, and some coverages are legal requirements in some states. The main components are:

• Bodily Injury Liability
• Property Damage Liability
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
• Collision
• Comprehensive
• Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage

Bodily Injury Liability
This covers damages that you cause to external people (not yourself or passengers) in an auto accident. It will pay for items such as medical bills and lost wages.

Property Damage Liability
This covers damages that occur to property such as the other person’s car, fences, buildings etc. Anything that is over the limit will be out of pocket expenses.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
PIP covers and medical expenses or lost wages for you and the passengers in a car. This coverage will also protect you if you are borrowing a car and happen to get into an accident, or even if you are pedestrian and are struck by a vehicle. This coverage is required in 16 states, so you will need to check with your carrier to make sure that you meet the minimum state requirements.

Collision
This covers accident-related damages to your own vehicle. Though it is not required by any state, your bank may require it if you are financing your car. This is to ensure that the bank can receive their money in the event of an accident. Once your car is paid off, you can drop this coverage, if you decide that the value of the vehicle is not high enough to warrant maintaining the coverage.

Comprehension
This covers damage to your car that is not accident related. Theft, vandalism, natural disasters and collisions with animals fall under this coverage. Depending on your state windshield replacement can be covered under comprehension as well.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage
This is required in many states and covers you if you are involved in a hit and run accident or if the driver of a car that strikes you has too little or no insurance to cover your medical expenses. In the case of an underinsured motorist, their insurance will pay for medical expenses up to their limit, and then your insurance company will pay for the rest under your underinsured policy.

While it is only necessary to have the basics for car insurance, agencies do offer many other types of coverages and riders to protect against all types of damage. For more information about the basics and add-ons, contact a Poliseek representative today. For more information or to request a free quote, please visit the Poliseek free insurance quote page.

 
This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Do you plan on taking a road trip to Mexico this summer and driving your own car? If so, you will need to purchase Mexico vehicle insurance. Mexico will not recognize your current policy as sufficient when traveling in the country. Without this very specialized insurance, your car will not be covered if it is damaged or stolen. Worse yet, you and your car could be detained or jailed in the event of an accident.

Poliseek.com offers many types of coverage to make sure your car is insured in Mexico. The coverages are broken down into the amount of time you need a policy for. The coverage’s offered include:
• Daily policies
• 6-12 month policies
• Policies to cover the exact duration of your trip
• Longer policies or ones for frequent or unpredictable trips in and out of Mexico

Our coverage’s are not just for vehicles. We offer Mexico insurance for motorcycles, recreational vehicles and watercraft. To make sure your vehicles are protected on your next trip to Mexico, be sure to contact the insurance specialists at http://www.poliseek.com/mexico-vehicle-insurance.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Personal effects coverage is insurance covering the loss of personal property from a rented car. This is a very important type of coverage for several reasons. When renting a car, people often do not take into account their personal belongings and do not realize that items such as cell phones, children’s toys and luggage will be all lost if their rental car is stolen or damaged.

Your individual car insurance may not cover loss of property resulting from damage or theft involving a rental car. That’s why it is very important to understand the individual components of your rental agreement and ensure that personal effects coverage is part of the rental insurance coverage. If it is not part of the rental insurance, is it a component that can be purchased separately?

Also, most homeowner’s insurance policies will not cover anything that is stolen or damaged outside of the home, so it is still important to shop around and find the best personal effects coverage before going on that long trip to the other side of the U.S. or out of the country.

Some homeowners policies or renters insurance do cover items stolen from the car, minus your deductible. The best thing to do is to contact your insurance company and ask for the specifics on your policy. The cost of personal effects coverage when purchased separately can differ depending on the individual’s credit and driving history and in some cases can even be denied. This is why planning is of the utmost importance prior to renting your car.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein.  No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

If you’ve ever been in an accident you know that it can be a traumatizing experience. Knowing what to do can really come in handy. Don’t panic. Try to relax and stay calm. The first step is to make sure everyone involved is ok. After you’ve done that and called the police, you’ll need to file a claim with your insurance company. Here are some things you should know if you ever need to file a claim:

* You are required by your policy to report any accidents to your company; even if it is not your fault. Chances are they will find out anyway; whether it is from the adverse party’s company or from your motor vehicle record. You may also be required, depending on your state, to report the accident to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

*Before reporting your claim, try to have as much information at the ready. Your insurance company will need to know who was involved, where it happened, how it occurred and any other pertinent information. Also make sure to have your vehicle information at hand and any information from the police department or witnesses.

*Make sure to know how much time you have to submit a claim. Some companies have different statutes of limitations, so be sure to know the timeframe in which you can file a claim.

*Cooperate with your insurance company in their investigation. Give a recorded statement with as much detailed information as possible. Be sure to disclose any injuries that may have resulted from the accident.

Once the claim is file and liability has been determined, the at fault party’s company will take care of your damages. If the other driver was at fault, you’ll have the option of whether to let their company repair the vehicle or have yours do it and get reimbursed. Whichever way you go, remember that you can choose the shop of your choice. You are not required to go to the insurance company’s recommended body shop; although they might lead you to believe that. Whatever shop you choose, make sure you get a written guarantee for the repair work.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein.  No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Hopefully you’ll never be required to have an SR-22 filing. An SR-22 is not a type of insurance, but rather documentation proving you are insured. Typically, a driver is required to have an SR-22 filing if they have been a habitual offender of traffic offenses, been convicted of a DUI or been caught driving without insurance.

An SR-22 filing is proof that you carry the required insurance for your vehicle and if sought, must be filed with your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. SR-22 requirements and procedures vary by state. If you are required to file one, you must receive it from your insurance company. However, not all companies issue them. And if they do issue them, they may not issue one to you. Each company can use its own discretion to whom they decide to issue these SR-22’s to.

There are a few states that do not require an SR-22 filing. They are Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. However, if you have an SR-22 and move to one of these states, you’ll have to continue to meet the requirements from the state where the SR-22 was issued. If you are required to have an SR-22 filing, you don’t have to carry it on you at all times. Since it must be filed with the State’s Department of Motor Vehicles, it is on your record, which is accessible to all law enforcement.

Hopefully you won’t have to file for an SR-22, but if you do, check here for some good rates.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein.  No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Airbags are designed to save lives. When a vehicle is involved in an accident, sensors automatically measure the impact. If the crash is severe enough, these sensors will send a signal that inflate the bags and cushion the occupants. This all happens in a fraction of a second.

Although airbags are designer to prevent and limit injuries; there have been instances where an airbag has injured occupants. Most injuries caused by airbags are minor scrapes and bruises. In an effort to reduce injuries arising from airbag deployment; the Federal government started allowing manufacturers to reduce the energy of force in which frontal airbags are employed, without sacrificing the effectiveness.

There are certain measures a motorist can take to avoid an airbag related injury. For drivers, it’s recommended to sit with your chest at least 10 inches away from the center of the steering wheel. However, as technology advances, manufacturers are developing new airbags that sense where the driver is sitting and deploy accordingly. If the driver is sitting closer than 10 inches, the airbag would deploy with less force. If you have an older vehicle without this feature, you can purchase pedal extenders which would allow you to sit a bit further away from the steering wheel.

It is also important when traveling with children and infants to take extra precautions to reduce their risk of being injured by an airbag. Never sit your infant, especially with a child seat, in the front. This would put the infants head too close to the airbag, possibly resulting in an unnecessary injury. Rear seats are always best for children and infants. If for some reason you are traveling with many children and one must sit in the front; make sure the oldest child is the one sitting there. Have the child sitting in the front sit with the seat as far back as possible.

Airbags are safety measures that have saved so many lives over the years. To be extra safe, make sure to follow these recommendations next time you get in your vehicle.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein.  No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.