Should You Carry Comprehensive Auto Insurance In Georgia?
Reader question:
Should I add comprehensive and collision coverage to my Georgia auto insurance policy? What is it anyway?
Gloria
Thank you for your question, Gloria.
Whether or not you add comprehensive and collision coverage to your Georgia auto insurance policy should depend on several factors. Before we cover those, though, let’s first look at what comprehensive and collision coverage are.
- Comprehensive coverage is…
Comprehensive coverage is the kind of coverage that takes care of damages that result from things that aren’t automobile accidents. For example, if you were living in New Orleans at the time of Hurricane Katrina, then any flood damage caused to your car would fall under your comprehensive coverage. This is because comprehensive coverage takes care of damage resulting from natural disasters.
It also takes care of damage that results from criminal activity. For example, if your car is stolen, then it will be replaced if you have comprehensive coverage. If your car is vandalized, then it will be repaired under your comprehensive coverage portion of your insurance policy.
- Collision coverage is…
Collision coverage is like property damage liability, except that instead of being for the person on the other end of your auto insurance accident, collision coverage takes care of damage caused to your own vehicle. This includes repairs if your vehicle is simply damaged, and the actual cash value if your vehicle is totaled.
Collision coverage also applies when you get into an accident that involves your own property. If you’re parked backwards in your driveway, say, and you put your car in reverse instead of drive by accident, and as a result back into your garage, then the damage to your garage and your car will be covered by your collision coverage.
- Why you need them (or don’t)…
Collision and comprehensive coverage can be very useful when you get into an accident or have your car stolen, but not every vehicle needs it. One of the quickest ways to cut the costs on your insurance premium is to drop your extra coverage, after all.
If you have a car that is old and not worth more than a thousand dollars, then you do not need comprehensive and collision auto insurance coverage. You will end up paying more for the coverage than your car is actually worth, and there’s no point in that.
If you are still buying a car, then you are probably required to have comprehensive and collision coverage. If you don’t, then you could end up paying for a vehicle that you no longer have if your car ends up totaled.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
Atlanta Auto Insurance – What You Should Ask Your Agent
When you call an Atlanta auto insurance agent, you need to hand over some information to help you get your insurance policy initiated–much the opposite of Vin Diesel with this unwitting car insurance company agent. The Youtube video is funny, but the disconnect of understanding isn’t too far from what happens between a lot of first time Atlanta auto insurance buyers and their agents. If you don’t want to sound ignorant, go into the conversation prepared.
The first tier of information beyond basics such as your name and age are:
- Mileage–this concerns how many miles you drive every year with some companies, while other insurance companies consider the daily mileage driven on your car.
- Make & Model–not only will the make and model of your vehicle impact your liability rating, but if you have a car that is considered unsafe or in danger of car theft, then you should expect a high insurance rate.
- Coverage–that you will need the minimum insurance coverage for liability is a certainty, but before you call think about what kind of coverage you will require beyond that.
- Location–this is a big factor in your insurance rating, and is why most forms for car insurance quotes online require your zip code.
- Drivers–you will need to give the names and driver’s license numbers of all of those who will be insured on your new automobile insurance policy.
The second tier of information that you should be asked will shape your rating, tailoring it to your specific attributes.
- VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)–this number follows your car around throughout its existence, and it allows the automobile insurance company to see what other claims have been made on it, whether it has been totaled before, and so on.
- Features–things such as anti theft devices and safety features will determine your collision and comprehensive insurance ratings. Some companies won’t even sell you comprehensive insurance if you don’t have an acceptable anti theft device.
- Discounts–you might be asked about this and you might not, but if you aren’t you should absolutely bring it up yourself. Automobile insurance discounts can cut your premium by half or more.
If you have a bad memory, you might consider writing these details down so that you don’t find yourself digging around looking for your VIN number and other details while you’re on the phone with your automobile insurance agent. Whatever you do, make sure you understand these details ahead of time to make the process simpler.
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