January 29, 2010
Automobile Liability Insurance To Protect Your Assets
Drivers of automobiles are required by state law to have automobile liability insurance in every state of the United States. The purpose of this coverage is to cover the cost of damage caused to other vehicles in an auto accident when you are at fault. Every state has its own requirements for the amount of Car Liability Insurance that is needed. Some of the state have a low amount of insurance requirement that is required. Other states have adjusted the minimum to account for inflation as it applies to medical bills or property damage.
In addition to being required by your state\’s laws, liability insurance also protects other properties that you may own. When damage is done or injuries are caused in an accident, if your insurance coverage is found lacking, you can be held personally responsible and your personal property can have liens placed against it. These liens can prevent your from getting a loan or must be satisfied before the property can be sold.
When you purchase liability insurance it the policy is often referred to in three numbers, such as 10/20/10. These numbers would indicate that the policy offers ten thousand dollars in personal injury protection for each person that is involved in the accident with a cap of twenty thousand dollars per accident. Additionally, the coverage would pay up to ten thousand dollars in property damage. While these limits seem low, there are states that actually have lower limits.
Since most state limits are too low, it is a good idea to carry more insurance than is required by the state laws. Your insurance agent can give you a good idea of the amount of insurance that is needed to protect your assets.
If you are unsure of the required amount of liability insurance that is required by your state, you should check with your department of motor vehicles. They can let you know the requirements for your state. In addition, you should check to see what the penalties are for driving without insurance. In many states, the insurance company is now required to report to the DMV if you insurance lapses for even one day.
The penalty for allowing the insurance to lapse even one day is cancellation of the registration of your vehicle or of your driver\’s license. You will have to show proof of insurance and pay an administrative fee or fine to have them reinstated. The penalties grow progressively higher with each time the insurance lapses and some states will confiscate your vehicle on the third offense for six months. You are responsible to pay for the state to store your car.
If you do not have liability insurance, you can get quotes using your home computer and the internet. Compare those quotes in order to find the best prices and coverage for your vehicle. There may be several hundred dollars per year difference in the same coverage from different companies.
The best way to keep the cost of liability insurance low is to learn to drive defensively. Defensive drivers save in two ways. They are able to avoid many accidents as well as traffic tickets. Both of these actions keep the cost of your liability insurance low.
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