Auto insurance coverages explained: compare your options
Auto insurance coverages are the individual protections bundled into a car insurance policy. Some pay for harm you cause to other people, some help with your own vehicle, and a few are small add-ons for everyday trouble such as a dead battery.
This page walks through the main car insurance coverage options in plain language, so you know what to ask for. When you are ready, one short form lets you compare car insurance coverage offered by partner providers.
Car insurance coverage options at a glance
Most policies are built from the pieces below. Which ones you carry, and at what limits, is up to you and, in part, your state.
Liability
Pays for injury and property damage you cause to other people. Nearly every state requires some form of it.
Collision
Helps pay to repair or replace your own car after a crash, whoever is at fault, minus your deductible.
Comprehensive
Helps with damage to your own car from events other than a crash, such as theft, fire, vandalism or a fallen tree.
Uninsured and underinsured motorist
Can help when the other driver has no insurance, or not enough, to cover what they caused.
Medical payments or personal injury protection
Helps with medical bills for you and your passengers. Which version exists depends on your state.
Optional add-ons
Extras such as rental reimbursement or roadside assistance. They add convenience for a small additional cost.
Explore each coverage type
How to compare car insurance coverage fairly
Two quotes only make sense side by side when they describe the same protection. A lower price can simply reflect lower limits or a bigger deductible, not a better deal.
- Request the same liability limits from every provider.
- Use the same deductible for collision and comprehensive each time.
- Check which optional coverages are included and which cost extra.
- Read the exclusions, the situations a coverage does not pay for.
- Ask about discounts separately, so you can see the price before and after them.
What is the best car insurance coverage for drivers?
There is no single answer. The best car insurance coverage for drivers depends on how much you could afford to pay yourself after an accident, the value of your car, whether a lender requires certain coverage and the rules in your state.
Treat any list of coverages as a guide for the conversation you have with a licensed agent, not as advice about what to buy.
Which coverages tend to matter for different situations
You finance or lease your car
Lenders and leasing companies usually require collision and comprehensive coverage until the vehicle is paid off.
Your car is older and paid off
You might decide that carrying coverage for your own car costs more than the car is worth, and keep liability focused on protecting your savings.
You own assets to protect
If you have savings or a home, higher liability limits may deserve a closer look.
Good to know before you compare
- Coverage names, limits and exclusions differ between providers and states.
- A deductible is the amount you pay before the coverage pays; a higher one usually lowers the price.
- Coverage limits cap what a policy will pay, and you cover anything above them.
- This page is general education, not insurance advice or an offer of coverage.
Auto insurance coverages: common questions
Requirements are set by each state, and most states require liability coverage at a minimum. Some also require items such as personal injury protection or uninsured motorist coverage. Check your state's official requirements for the current rules.
Providers choose their own limits, deductibles and exclusions, and they price risk differently. That is why it helps to compare the details, not only the coverage name.
Generally yes. Many drivers adjust limits, deductibles and add-ons when their car, budget or situation changes. Ask your provider how and when changes take effect.
Choose "Not sure yet" in the quote form. A licensed partner can explain the options and give you quotes for a few different combinations to compare.
Compare car insurance coverage options
Tell us a little about you and your car, and partner providers can share free quotes.
Related coverage
- Liability CoverageHow bodily injury and property damage liability work.
- Full CoverageWhat people usually mean by full coverage and what it can include.
- Minimum CoverageThe pros and limits of carrying only your state's required coverage.
- Roadside AssistanceTowing, jump-starts and lockout help as an optional add-on.
- Cheap & Affordable QuotesPractical, honest tips for keeping your quotes affordable.
- Auto Insurance Quotes in New YorkWhat New York drivers should know before comparing quotes.
- Get Free QuotesFill in one short form to request free quotes.