New York Auto Insurance
New Yorkers, particularly those who live downstate and on Long Island, don’t have to go far to understand how congested and dangerous their local roadways can be. It’s not enough to just be a safe driver and hope for the best; you need to have the benefits provided by a strong auto insurance plan in order to make yourself truly secure behind the wheel.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does car insurance cover?
Your car insurance coverage depends on the policy you purchase, but a typical car insurance policy includes:
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Bodily injury (BI) and property damage (PD) liability coverage for damage caused to other people or property.
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Personal injury protection (PIP) to cover medical expenses and other damages.
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Collision and comprehensive coverage for damage done to your vehicle in collisions, and in non-collisions (i.e., fire, vandalism, or theft).
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Uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage protects in the event of an accident where the at-fault driver doesn’t have insurance.
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There are other types of car insurance available that can help you in a number of situations, such as MedPay and roadside assistance, so be sure to talk to your agent or insurance representative to make sure you have all the coverage you need.
How much car insurance do I need?
At a bare minimum, you need to carry the amount of car insurance required in your state. However, that likely won’t be enough to protect you in a serious accident.
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Drivers who want to be fully protected should buy the highest levels of insurance they can comfortably afford. For the vast majority of at-fault car accidents, liability limits of 100/300/100 would be more than enough coverage to pay for all of the damage you caused. Coverages like UM/UIM and PIP can help pay your medical expenses if you are hit by someone who doesn’t have insurance. Adding comprehensive and collision insurance is an excellent way to make sure your car is protected if it is damaged, totaled, or stolen.
What does car insurance cover?
Car insurance is great for covering repair costs after an accident, but it won’t cover the costs of general wear and tear. That means when you take your car in to get the oil changed or the tires rotated, you’re footing that bill yourself.
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There are a number of other things that aren’t covered by car insurance, including personal belongings that are stolen from your car and any damage that exceeds the limits of your coverage.
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Does my car insurance cover other drivers?
It depends on the situation and the specifics of your policy. Your policy may have an “omnibus clause” that covers any driver who has permission to use your vehicle (known as permissive drivers). If an insured driver who isn’t listed on your policy drives your vehicle, yours will be the primary insurance and theirs will offer secondary coverage.
What is liability insurance?
Liability insurance is the portion of your insurance policy that pays for damage you cause to another driver or their property in an at-fault accident. Liability insurance is typically broken down into two parts: bodily injury liability coverage and property damage liability coverage.
What is gap insurance?
When your leased or financed car is totaled, gap insurance fills the gap between what your insurance company pays for an accident or theft and what you still owe on an existing car loan or lease.
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Car insurance pays out depending on your car’s current value. Because many cars lose value quickly, you may find yourself in a situation where you owe more on a loan than what the car is actually worth after it has been totaled in an accident — for instance, you buy a $30,000 car and in one year it is valued at $22,000, but you still have $25,000 left on your loan. Gap insurance covers that $3,000 difference so you aren’t stuck owing money on a totaled car.
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What is personal injury protection (PIP)?
Also referred to as no-fault insurance, PIP covers the costs if you or your passengers are injured in an accident, regardless of who was at fault. PIP insurance provides coverage for medical bills, lost wages, funeral expenses, and other essential services after an accident. PIP is a required coverage in no-fault states.
What is comprehensive coverage?
Comprehensive insurance covers the cost of damage to your car caused by something other than a collision, like theft, vandalism, fire, natural disasters, falling objects, and animal damage. Comprehensive coverage is typically sold with liability insurance and collision coverage as part of a full coverage insurance policy.
What is collision coverage?
Collision coverage pays for damage to your car in the event of an accident, no matter who is at fault, including accidents with other cars and accidents where you hit a stationary object, like a tree or a telephone pole. Collision coverage is typically sold with liability insurance and comprehensive coverage as part of a full coverage insurance policy.
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