Car insurance is mandatory in many states of America and optional in some others where a car insurance policy can be substituted by uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage that can also be added to a regular auto insurance policy as additional clauses. By adding this protection to a regular policy, the premiums to pay may increase dramatically.
In states where law does not enforce car insurance to drive a car, the uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is taking out alone to cut the cost of premiums, but many people have found a different workaround by removing comprehensive and collision coverage from their insurance policies to pay cheaper premiums.
What Is Comprehensive and Collision Coverage
Many people are scared to think of adding extra coverage to their car insurance when someone mention comprehensive and collision coverage, but this protection comes included with any standard car insurance policy. Comprehensive coverage refers to the protection that your car receive for damage that does not result from collision, natural disasters, or civil disturbance, besides minor issues such as broken windshield or resulting from hitting accidentally an animal on your way. On the other hand, collision coverage applies when your car hits any object on the road, or two vehicles collide.
Importance of Having Comprehensive and Collision Coverage
You have seen on TV those commercials that exaggerate suggesting that you could be parked and suddenly a gorilla will fall from the sky. Yes, if this event happens, or a kid playing soccer breaks your car’s window, comprehensive and collision coverage will benefit you. A gorilla may no come out from the sky, but there are many other events that may happen, particularly in cities with complex traffic, or rural areas with road hazards. So it is important to keep both of these options in your insurance policy, or request their addition if they are not included.
When Comprehensive and Collision Coverage Might Not Be Worth The Cost
When it comes to protection, nothing can be considered too much regardless the context you apply the protection. In car insurance, there are many considerations to take into account to get as much coverage as you can. However, when premiums are you main concern, comprehensive and collision coverage could be removed from your policy, but only if you are absolutely sure of what you are doing and you answer these questions:
Is your car too old to be worth the premiums you pay against the cost of the repair if collision happens?
Do you rarely drive your car away of the safe environment of your neighborhood? o Is your car parked in the garage most of the time throughout the year?
Because there are very few chances to answer affirmatively to at least one of the above questions, you can understand why having comprehensive and collision coverage is important. Moreover, even if you answer “yes” to one of these questions, nobody can guarantee you that a gorilla will land over your car sometime in the future, so do not push your luck.