How Does Car Insurance Work? (2024)

Car insurance works as a safeguard for your financial well-being in case of car accidents, theft, or other auto incidents beyond your control. Depending on your coverages, your car insurance company can help pay for vehicle repairs, medical expenses, and damages or injuries you cause others while driving. Keep in mind that basic car insurance doesn't cover maintenance or general wear and tear.

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How Does Car Insurance Work? (2)

What is car insurance?

Car insurance covers damage to your vehicle and protects you financially if you're liable for someone else's injuries or damages. Auto insurance can also pay for medical bills if you or your passengers are injured in an accident or if you're hit by a driver who is uninsured or underinsured. Your policy protects you up to certain limits, as agreed upon by you and your insurer.

Watch this quick guide to how car insurance works. The video includes definitions of important terms, what's required by law, and more.

Do I need car insurance?

Auto insurance is required in nearly every state. Driving without insurance can result in a fine, license suspension, or even jail time. Progressive, like most other insurers, will make sure any policy you select meets your state's requirements.

What does auto insurance cover?

Auto insurance covers certain driving-related mishaps that occur on or off the road, as defined by your selected coverages. Although coverages may vary by state, these are the standard coverages on most auto insurance policies:

  • Liability

    Auto liability coverage is required in nearly every state. If you're found at fault in an auto accident, liability coverage can pay for damage to other vehicles, damage to objects, bodily injuries to other drivers and their passengers, and lawsuits if you're sued due to an accident.

  • Comprehensive

    Auto comprehensive coverage protects against damage to your car caused by events that are your control, including theft, windshield and glass damage, vandalism, falling trees, and more.

  • Collision

    Auto collision coverage covers your vehicle if it overturns or collides with another vehicle or object, including trees, guardrails, and fences.

  • Medical payments/Personal injury protection (PIP)

    Medical payments coverage is offered in most states, while personal injury protection is a broader coverage that's available only in the states that require it to be offered. Both cover medical bills if you or your passengers are injured in a car accident (regardless of fault).

  • Uninsured/Underinsured motorist bodily injury (UM/UIM) and property damage (UMPD)

    UM/UIM can pay for vehicle damages and injuries caused to you and your passengers when you're hit by a driver with no insurance or not enough coverage.

Other optional coverages

  • Rental car reimbursem*nt

    Rental car reimbursem*nt coverage can pay for a rental car while your vehicle gets repaired or replaced after an accident.

  • Roadside assistance

    Progressive's Roadside Assistance provides help if your vehicle is disabled on the road, for instance from a flat tire, dead battery, running out of gas, and more.

  • Loan/lease payoff coverage

    Similar to "gap insurance," loan/lease payoff coverage may cover the difference, up to certain limits, if you owe more on your vehicle than it's worth and your car is stolen or totaled. Progressive's loan/lease payoff coverage covers up to 25% of your vehicle's actual cash value.

Explore more auto insurance coverage options with Progressive.

What does car insurance not cover?

A basic car insurance policy won't cover:

  • Maintenance or mechanical failures

  • Wear and tear

  • People who regularly drive your car but aren't listed on your policy

  • Driving on a ridesharing platform

However, you can sometimes add coverage or purchase a separate insurance policy or car warranty to cover the things your auto policy doesn't. For example, you can add rideshare coverage to your Progressive auto policy if you drive for a ridesharing service.

How much car insurance do I need?

When deciding how much auto coverage to get, you'll need at least your state's required amount of car insurance, which typically includes a minimum amount of liability coverage. Your state might also require some amount of UM/UIM and PIP or medical payments coverage. If you have a car loan or lease, your lender might require comprehensive coverage and collision coverage as well.

How is car insurance priced?

Insurers consider many factors when determining your auto policy rate, including your age, driving history, and location. For instance, yourcar's make and model can impact your insurance rate, especially if you carry comprehensive and collision coverage. Check out our car insurance discounts and tips for getting cheap car insurance.

What is a car insurance premium?

Your auto insurance premium is the amount of money you pay your car insurance company in exchange for coverage. You generally have the option to pay your premium monthly or all at once for your policy term.

What is a car insurance deductible?

Your car insurance deductible is the out-of-pocket expense you need to pay before your insurer will cover your claim.

Example:You have collision coverage with a $500 collision deductible. You hit a telephone pole, and your car repairs cost $2,000. If you file a car insurance claim, you'll pay for $500 of the repairs, and your insurer pays for the remaining $1,500.

You can choose your deductible amount from the options offered by your insurer. The higher your deductible, you'll be responsible for more when you make a claim, but your premium will be lower. If you choose a lower deductible, your premium will be higher but you won't have to pay as much when you make a claim.

Explore more insurance terms and definitions.

How to get car insurance

How Does Car Insurance Work? (3)

Go online

We ask easy questions, and you customize your coverages.

Get a car insurance quote

How Does Car Insurance Work? (4)

Call a rep

Talk with a licensed representative who can guide you through the process.

Call 1-866-749-7436

How Does Car Insurance Work? (5)

Through an agent

Connect with an independent agent in your area.

Find an agent online

Looking for more information about auto insurance? Our car insurance resource center has you covered.

How Does Car Insurance Work? (6)

Quote car insurance online or give us a call

  • Or, call 1-866-749-7436

Learn more about car insurance policies.

How Does Car Insurance Work? (7)

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How Does Car Insurance Work? (2024)

FAQs

How Does Car Insurance Work? ›

Car insurance covers damage to your vehicle and protects you financially if you're liable for someone else's injuries or damages. Auto insurance can also pay for medical bills if you or your passengers are injured in an accident or if you're hit by a driver who is uninsured or underinsured.

How do you answer insurance questions? ›

Guidelines for Answering Questions from an Insurance Company

Stick to the facts: Avoid giving an opinion about anything. Write down the adjuster's name and information for future reference. Do not guess answers: If you do not know the answer to a question, simply say so.

How does car insurance work for beginners? ›

The way it works is pretty simple; you pay a monthly premium to your insurance company based on the level of coverage you wish to receive. If you get into an accident, your insurance will step in to take care of the costs of the damage. All you have to do is call your insurance company and file a claim.

How does insurance work? ›

Insurance is a contract that transfers the risk of financial loss from an individual or business to an insurance company. They collect small amounts of money from clients and pool that money together to pay for losses. Insurance is divided into two major categories: Property and Casualty insurance (P&C)

How does car insurance work in the US? ›

Your auto insurance policy may pay for car repairs, medical bills and other accident-related expenses, and provide liability coverage if you cause an accident that results in injury or property damage to others. Most states have guidelines for the minimum amount and type of car insurance coverage you need to purchase.

What is insurance best answer? ›

Insurance is a contract (policy) in which an insurer indemnifies another against losses from specific contingencies or perils. There are many types of insurance policies. Life, health, homeowners, and auto are among the most common forms of insurance.

What is insurance explained for beginners? ›

Insurance is a way to protect yourself from financial risks by paying a company a small amount of money, called a premium. If something bad happens, like a car accident or a house fire, the insurance company helps cover the costs so you don't have to pay for everything yourself.

What is the #1 auto insurance in the US? ›

Based on our research, Geico offers the best car insurance in California. Progressive, USAA, State Farm and Allstate are also reliable options for most drivers. *Our research team considers nationwide factors when rating providers. The ranking order of providers in this table is specific to car insurance in California.

What is the summary of car insurance? ›

Car insurance covers damage to your vehicle and protects you financially if you're liable for someone else's injuries or damages. Auto insurance can also pay for medical bills if you or your passengers are injured in an accident or if you're hit by a driver who is uninsured or underinsured.

How do car insurance premiums work? ›

Your insurance premium is the amount you agree to pay for the coverage detailed in your policy, which is usually the same amount as the quote you received. If you're wondering how to determine what your annual premium will be, it's best to get a quote.

What is insurance in a simple way? ›

What is insurance? Insurance is a way to manage your risk. When you buy insurance, you purchase protection against unexpected financial losses. The insurance company pays you or someone you choose if something bad happens to you.

What determines how much you pay for insurance? ›

Insurance companies set prices to match the cost of future claims. To do this, insurance companies look at your personal risk factors (the type of car you drive or where you live). But they also look at how much they spend on all claims.

How is insurance calculated? ›

All insurance companies use data and statistics to predict levels of risk for various individuals or groups. This risk calculation information is also used to develop rating plans. Generally, higher risk factors will result in higher premium rates and lower risk factors will drive premiums lower.

How does insurance work when it is your fault? ›

If the situation is clear-cut, or one party admits that they caused the accident, the at-fault driver's auto insurance should pay for any property damage and medical bills, and in some cases compensation for other damages, such as pain and suffering. However, often it's not clear who or what initiated the accident.

How much does car insurance cost per month USA? ›

The average monthly premium for minimum coverage in California is $54. The average monthly premium for full coverage is $219 in California.

What are the three types of car insurance? ›

The three key types of car insurance are liability insurance, collision coverage and comprehensive insurance. Liability insurance covers damages caused to other people, while collision and comprehensive coverage take care of repairs that must be done for your car.

What should you say in an insurance statement? ›

Stick to what you know for sure and be clear and concise in your answers. If you do not know the answer to a question, say so, rather than guessing or making assumptions. “I can't be sure, but I'll bet the other driver was on the phone” is classic speculation that is best left out of a statement.

What should I say in an insurance interview? ›

Sample Answer: I've always been interested in helping people and making sure that they are protected. Insurance is a great way to do that. I want to help people understand how insurance works and why it's important to have it.

How do I reply to the insurance company? ›

Promptly respond to letters and requests if they are unreasonable. If they are, say so, in writing. Be proactive: Give your insurer proof of your losses and ask for the dollar amounts you are entitled to. Don't wait for them to tell you how much they owe you.

What is insurance in one word answer? ›

Insurance is a means of protection from financial loss in which, in exchange for a fee, a party agrees to compensate another party in the event of a certain loss, damage, or injury.

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