If you are looking for the best deal available, finding the right auto coverage can be challenging. The fees can vary by hundreds of dollars from company to company. Additionally, rates usually fluctuate depending on your driving history. Finding the best auto coverage requires doing some homework.

What Kind of Auto Coverage Do You Need?

There are several types of coverage available. Deciding what you need is the first step in choosing the right one. How you use your vehicle and its age are a couple of things to take into consideration.  Florida law requires a minimum of $10,000 for personal injury protection in addition to $10,000 in property damage liability.

Other types of auto insurance include:

  • Comprehensive Coverage – This type of insurance may cover damages caused by falling objects, hitting animals on the road, natural disasters, theft, and vandalism. Since each policy is different you’ll need to verify what’s covered.

  • Collision Coverage – Not to be confused with liability coverage, collision pays for repairs to your vehicle in the event that you crash into another car or object, or if your car rolls over. Since Florida is a no-fault state, hit-and-run damage is not covered under collision.

  • Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage – These types of auto coverage are helpful if you are hit by a driver who either has no bodily injury liability coverage or does not have enough to cover your damages.

  • Medical Payments Coverage – Costs that may be covered by this type of insurance include your medical costs and those sustained by passengers in your vehicle. It may also cover any dental care incurred as a result of a car accident. If you are a pedestrian or bicyclist and are hurt by a car, this insurance would cover those damages.

  • Gap Coverage – If you are still paying for your car and you’re in an accident and the car is totaled, you could end up with payments for a car you can’t drive. Gap insurance bridges the gap between what’s owed on the car and the vehicle’s fair market value.

Making the Auto Coverage Determination

Take into consideration the age of your vehicle. Is it newer or older? Most older vehicles are sufficiently covered with liability insurance and comprehensive auto coverage isn’t necessary.  However, some people choose to keep comprehensive until the cost becomes prohibitive when compared to the actual value of the car.

How do you use your car? Do you drive frequently or occasionally? If you spend hours on the road, then you want to make sure you have auto coverage for the unexpected. If you seldom drive and you have an older vehicle, the minimum auto coverage may be the best value for you.

Shop Around

Regardless of what type of auto coverage you are considering, it makes sense to shop around for the best price. Make sure the company you choose is a Florida licensed carrier if you are planning on doing all or most of your driving in Florida. Anyone who plans on driving in Florida for more than 90 days out of the year must carry Florida auto coverage.

Be sure to check the reviews or the Better Business Bureau rating, especially if it is not a well-known company. People have been disappointed with auto coverage policies that had small print that left them in dire straits when they needed the company to come through. Don’t let this happen to you.

Frohlich, Gordon & Beason, P.A. is a law firm you can count on when you’ve been in a car accident and need legal advice and representation. We’re available by phone or email. You can download our brochure for more information about us. We serve residents of Port Charlotte, Florida, and surrounding areas. Contact us today for all your legal needs.