What is the best car insurance?
The best car insurance coverage depends on each situation and how much the vehicle is worth. For the most coverage, the best car insurance option would be to carry full coverage.
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Joel Ohman
Founder & CFP®
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo...
Founder & CFP®
UPDATED: Oct 20, 2022
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 20, 2022
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Auto insurance is not a one-size-fit-all solution
- The make and model of your vehicle can impact which type of automobile insurance is best for you
- Full comprehensive coverage protects both you and any passengers in the event of a car accident
What is the best auto insurance? There are many people who want to know whether or not they have to get auto insurance on their vehicle. The simple answer to that question is yes.
While the rules for this can vary states to state, you still have to show proof of financial responsibility to go without purchasing auto insurance from an insurance company.
The answer to this question will vary from person to person, from situation to situation, from vehicle to vehicle, and from state to state.
It’s important to understand up front that there are many different factors in determining what the best auto insurance is for you and even what company that you should choose.
Finding the best car insurance rates is easy! Enter your zip code above to start comparing free quotes!
How Much Auto Insurance Do You Need?
Choosing the amount of auto insurance coverage for your vehicle is determined by a couple of different things. The first thing is the value of your vehicle. The more your car or truck is worth, the more coverage that you want to have.
Think about it this way, how much can you afford to pay out of pocket if you are in an auto accident?
Also, if your vehicle is totaled, can you afford to continue making payments on it or to purchase a new vehicle without total coverage?
Ensuring that you have enough coverage to cover the entire cost of your vehicle is important unless you have the financial means to cover it for yourself.
If you are making payments on your vehicle, whether you purchased it from a “buy here pay here” place or you have a more traditional lender, they are going to require you to carry full comprehensive coverage on your vehicle.
Some will even go so far as to require a particular limit as well, which means you won’t necessarily be able to purchase the lowest comprehensive coverage for your vehicle.
If you are in the market for a vehicle that you plan on financing, it is important that you find out up front what the lender is going to require you to carry.
This coverage requirement will vary from state to state, which is why it is important that you only work with insurance companies that are licensed to sell insurance in your state.
If you drive a vehicle that is old or of little value, then this type of vehicle might be an exception to the rule. You don’t want to pay too much auto insurance on a vehicle that has no value.
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Types of Coverage You Can Purchase
While the type of coverage you will need depends on different factors, there are other types of coverage that you might want to consider purchasing also basic car insurance.
First of all, there is liability insurance. Liability insurance covers bodily injury and property damage that occurs when you cause an accident and damage another vehicle (or property) and cause injury to someone else.
This insurance is not meant to cover your damage or injuries. The exception to this rule is if you have an accident that involves someone’s property but no vehicle.
In this case your liability coverage will cover the damages to your vehicle and any injuries to the people in your vehicle.
If you want to cover your vehicle in case of damage, then you need to get comprehensive and collision insurance. These types of insurance, which may require if you finance your vehicle, cover your vehicle in two different ways.
Collision insurance covers your vehicle for damage if you collide with another vehicle (or if another vehicle hits you). You should always purchase enough coverage to cover the Kelly blue book value on your vehicle, as this is what your insurance company will pay you in the event the vehicle is totaled.
Comprehensive coverage covers your vehicle if you hit something (other than another car), such as an animal, a tree, etc.
Also, comprehensive coverage covers your vehicle in case of fire, theft, flood, vandalism, hail, etc. Basically, anything not covered by your collision coverage is covered by your comprehensive coverage and vice versa.
Personal injury protection (PIP) is another form of insurance that you might want to consider. While PIP is not available in every state, it is required in states like Florida that are no fault states.
This coverage not only covers doctors and hospital bills, but it also covers the funeral costs in the event someone dies during the accident. This coverage can be invaluable, especially if you don’t have medical insurance.
What are Different Types of Supplemental Insurance Plans?
Additional types of coverage that you might want to consider include roadside assistance, rental car coverage, windshield coverage, and gap insurance. Roadside assistance covers the cost of a tow if your car breaks down or you have an accident.
Rental car insurance provides you with a vehicle after an accident while your vehicle is being worked on. Also, if your vehicle is totaled in an accident, most rental car coverage allows for a two-week addition allowing you to purchase another vehicle.
Gap insurance is for those who have financed a car and are upside down on your loan. Without gap insurance, if your vehicle is totaled, you will be responsible for the difference between the actual value of the vehicle and the amount that you owe.
Getting the best price possible on your auto insurance is always important. The key to doing this is to use a free quote tool like the one found at the top of this page.
Because you are under no obligation to purchase auto insurance once you use a quote tool, you can conveniently compare prices between insurance companies (of all coverage types) without fear of solicitation.
So, what’s holding you back? Enter your zip code and give our FREE quote tool a try today?
Free Car Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap car insurance rates.
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Joel Ohman
Founder & CFP®
Joel Ohman is the CEO of a private equity backed digital media company. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™, author, angel investor, and serial entrepreneur who loves creating new things, whether books or businesses. He has also previously served as the founder and resident CFP® of a national insurance agency, Real Time Health Quotes. He has an MBA from the University of South Florida. Jo...
Founder & CFP®
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.