Car Insurance Coverages

Get more peace of mind while driving knowing you, your car, your passengers, other cars, people and property are covered in an accident through car insurance. Read on to explore how auto insurance can give you more protection on the road.

Protection for your car

When your car is damaged in a covered accident, your car insurance coverage can help you get it repaired or replaced with two key types of coverage - collision and comprehensive coverage. 

Collision coverage

If you are in a car accident and you collide with another car or something else, like a tree, highway guardrail or mailbox, your auto insurance collision coverage would cover the cost to repair your car, subject to the limits in your coverage and minus the deductible.

Comprehensive coverage

Your comprehensive coverage protects you when something happens to your car causing damage. If your car is stolen, vandalized or damaged by something, like a tree branch falling on it, your auto insurance comprehensive coverage would cover the cost to repair your car, subject to the limits in your coverage and minus the deductible.

Remember, general maintenance and mechanical repairs are not covered by auto insurance. 

Protection for you and your passengers

Medical payments coverage

Medical payments coverage pays for medical expenses for you and your passengers following a car accident, regardless of who is at fault. This coverage is sometimes referred to as MedPay.

Medical payments coverage typically covers expenses for:

• Medical and hospital bills including cost for emergency room care, hospitalization, surgery, and other medical expenses related to the accident

• Dental expenses resulting from dental injuries in an accident

• Ambulance and paramedic services needed for transportation to the hospital

Medical payments coverage is optional in most states, and only covers medical expenses up to the limit of your policy. You set those limits when you buy your car insurance. Once medical bills for an accident reach that limit, you will be responsible for any additional costs.

Personal Injury Protection coverage

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage, which is required in some states, extends coverage beyond just medical costs. In addition to medical expenses, PIP provides coverage for:

• Lost wages if you or your injured passengers are unable to work due to injuries

• Rehabilitation costs for physical therapy, occupational therapy, or other services needed for recovery

Liability protection to cover damage to others

If you own a vehicle, in most states you're required by law to have liability coverage. If you're in an accident and are found to be at fault, your liability insurance will cover the damages that you're responsible for up to your policy limits. Again, you set those limits when you buy or update your policy with your insurance agent. There are two types of liability protection - Bodily Injury and Property Damage.

Bodily Injury Liability

If you cause an accident and others are injured, your bodily injury liability coverage can provide protection for cost related to that injury including:

• Medical expenses including the cost of hospitalization, surgery, and other medical treatments

• Lost wages if the person injured is unable to work due to their injuries

• Pain and suffering resulting from the accident

• Legal fees and judgments

Property Damage Liability

If you cause an accident, your property damage liability coverage can cover the damage to property resulting from the accident.  That could include the following expenses:

• Cost to repair the other driver's car

• General property damage including items such as buildings, fences, and other structures that were damaged in the accident

• Legal fees and judgment if the other person files a lawsuit against you

Protection for when others are not properly insured

When you're in an accident with someone who is at fault and doesn't have liability insurance to cover the damage, your insurance can provide two levels of protection - Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist Coverage.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

If the other driver doesn't have insurance at all, your Uninsured Motorist Coverage can help cover the damage to your car and medical cost and lost wages resulting from any injuries you incurred in the accident. This is optional coverage that can provide you with peace of mind knowing you're covered even when the other driver isn't. 

Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Underinsured Motorist Coverage protects you when you're in an accident with someone who has auto liability insurance, but it's not enough to cover the damage.

If the accident was the other person's fault, their car insurance should pay the expenses. But if they are carrying their state minimum coverage, the amount required by law in their state, it may fall short of your car repair cost or medical expenses. Your Underinsured Motorist Coverage can help fill the coverage gap to help you recover from the accident. 

You may also want to add more coverages to your car insurance to provide extra protection. Consider these add-ons to customize the coverage based on your needs. 

The Keeper® 

This coverage helps protect your investment in a new car purchase. If your new car sustains severe damage in a covered accident, most insurance companies will only pay you the current market value of your car. COUNTRY will pay you for a brand-new car, same make and model as long as the cost of the damages exceeds the new car pricing¹. Ask your insurance agent about The Keeper for full details on how this coverage works. 

Emergency Roadside Assistance 

When you're stranded on the side of the road or you lock your keys in the car, your roadside assistance or emergency road service coverage can help. You’ll be reimbursed up to $100 total for towing, delivery of fuel, repair parts and labor charges. 

Rental car coverage

Vehicle rental and trip interruption coverage helps if you have an accident away from home.  Get reimbursed up to $800 for a rental car if you have a claim. If you have an accident more than 100 miles from home, this coverage also applies to travel expenses like transportation, lodging, and meals. These expense limits are different for each state, so ask your rep what this coverage looks like where you live.  

Personal effects coverage

Personal effects coverage protects you if things like your phone or laptop are stolen from your car. Just remember, the limit is $800.

Windshield replacement insurance

Safety glass coverage helps if your windshield, car windows or headlight covers need repair. If you have this additional insurance, you don’t have to pay your Comprehensive coverage deductible. 

Umbrella liability insurance

Umbrella insurance is an extra layer of liability insurance over what you have in your auto and home insurance. The additional insurance is designed to protect you and your finances against large liability claims such as major accidents or legal settlements. 

Your auto and home insurance liability protection has limits. An umbrella policy extends those limits and could provide coverage you need. Talk with your insurance agent about your personal situation.

Your COUNTRY Financial insurance agent can help you get more value from your auto insurance coverage by applying any car insurance discounts you qualify for. Your agent will want to learn all about your car insurance needs, so be prepared to answer these questions. 

• How old is your car? 
• What is the make and model of your car?
• Who drives the car/cars in your household? 
• How old are the drivers in your household? 
• How often and how far do you drive?
• What assets do you need to protect? This will help you decide your amount of liability coverage.