Listed below are descriptions of the basic elements available in a typical automobile insurance policy.

Bodily Injury Liability

• Medical costs of injury you cause to other people in the event of an accident.
• Loss of income for someone you injure in an accident.
• Cost of your legal defense if you are sued and determined to be at fault in the event of an accident involving injury or death.
  

Property Damage Liability

• Claims against you for damage to someone else’s property caused by your car.
• Your legal costs if your car damages someone else’s car or property.
  

Collision

• Damage to your car caused by collision or rollover.
  

Comprehensive

• Damage to your car by something other than a collision, including theft, fire, vandalism, flood, riot, and hail.
  

Medical Payments/PIP

• The cost of doctors, hospitals, medical care, lost wages, replacement services, and funeral expenses for you and/or your passengers, regardless of who caused the accident. (Payments are generally stopped two years after the accident.) Coverage varies by state.
  

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Protection

• The cost of injuries or death for you or your passengers in an accident caused by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver.
• The cost of injuries or death caused to you or your family members as pedestrians by uninsured or hit-and-run drivers.
• Expenses not adequately covered by an underinsured driver.
  

Optional Coverage. In addition to standard coverage, optional coverage such as rental reimbursement, towing, and vehicle customization (to name a few) may be purchased, depending on your particular needs.

When requesting price quotes, you’ll need detailed information about your vehicle (e.g., make, model, vehicle identification number, car safety features). You’ll also need detailed information about yourself and your family (e.g., all drivers of the vehicle), including date of birth, driver’s license number, and traffic violations/convictions for the last three years.

Making Choices
As you can see, choosing the auto insurance coverage that’s right for you requires some time and careful thought. You have a lot of choices to make, and there are terms and concepts that may be new to you. To help make it a little easier, this brochure includes some quick-reference pages: Auto Insurance Terms, The Insurance Package, and an Auto Insurance Comparison Worksheet on this page. Time to go shopping!