what is a full coverage policy and is it worth it?
Since a full coverage insurance policy is two and a half times more expensive than a liability-only policy, you’ll want to make sure the extra cost is worth it.
Comprehensive and collision coverage protects your vehicle from physical damage, while liability coverage protects other drivers’ vehicles.
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You should start considering canceling your full coverage policy with comprehensive and collision insurance when you can reasonably afford to replace your car if necessary.
The exact point at which this occurs depends on your financial situation and your comfort with risk. As a general rule of thumb, you should consider dropping full coverage when your car is worth four to six times the cost to add comprehensive and collision coverage. that tends to be when your car is 8-12 years old and worth about $5,000-$10,000.
what is a comprehensive coverage policy?
The most common interpretation of a full coverage policy is one that includes comprehensive and collision insurance. These coverages are optional, as they are not required by state law as part of an auto insurance policy. may be required if you have a car loan or lease.
Comprehensive and collision insurance have deductibles associated with their coverage. A deductible is how much you must pay before your insurance begins to cover damage to your vehicle. To use a simplified example, if your $5,000 car is totaled and has a $1,000 deductible, your insurer will send you $4,000 to cover the cost of the replacement. you will have to pay the remaining $1,000 out of pocket.
what other coverages could be included in a full coverage policy?
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Sometimes when an insurer uses the term comprehensive coverage, it may be referring to a policy with the full set of coverages available. In addition to liability, comprehensive and collision coverage, this could include:
Depending on the state you live in, you may need to purchase these coverages.
Is a full coverage policy worth it?
Because collision and comprehensive coverage protect the value of your car, it’s worth buying a full coverage policy if your car is still valuable enough that you can’t easily afford repairs. however, full coverage gets worse over time, as the price of full coverage insurance falls more slowly than the value of an aging car. We recommend dropping full coverage when your car’s value (minus deductible) is four to six times what you’ll pay for a year of coverage: Using the average cost of an Erie full coverage policy as a sample, here’s an example in which you would consider abandoning full coverage:
The lower the payment you get if your car is totaled, the lower the value of full coverage insurance. If you’re risk averse, you can wait until your car is worth two or three times the annual premium; If you’re comfortable with the risk or have a healthy emergency fund, you can drop full coverage once your car is worth six or seven times what you pay each year to protect your car.
If you have a lower value car, the extra cost of full coverage won’t really pay off if you’re in an accident. you’re better off saving the money and putting it towards repairs or a new vehicle.
Several factors can affect the math that determines when it makes sense to have full coverage.
how to get affordable full coverage insurance
In the short term, there are two ways to get cheaper full coverage auto insurance: shop around and cut back on coverages.
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Check to see if different insurance companies offer you different rates for comprehensive coverage, with the potential to get the same coverage for a lower price.
reduced coverage you don’t need to lower your rates. you’ll get less insurance protection, but the trade-off may be worth it, depending on your personal situation.
how to find full coverage insurance
The goal of shopping around is to find equivalent insurance protection at a lower price. When comparing policies with different insurers, you should make sure:
If you follow these steps, you’ll find that different insurers will offer the same coverage at different prices. The best and cheapest auto insurance company for your neighbor may not be the best for you.
how reducing your coverage can lower your insurance premium
You can also lower your insurance premium by lowering your coverage. for example, you can:
However, please note that there is a risk associated with lowering coverages. While it may sometimes make sense to drop additional coverages that provide unnecessary protection, you also run the risk of having insufficient coverage after a costly accident.
Increasing your deductible increases your out-of-pocket costs when filing a claim, so you risk paying more of your savings after an accident. and lower liability limits could expose you to unexpected costs if your insurance isn’t enough to cover a serious accident.
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