Does California Liability Auto Insurance Covers Car Repairs?
Reader’s Question:
Hi there. I got in a bit of trouble last night and bumped the car into a tree. Will my automobile insurance pay for the repairs to my car? How can I ask them to pay? I have liability insurance.
George
Long Beach, CA
Hi George, I hope you are all right after your accident. First of all, you will need to look at your automobile insurance papers or call your agent in California to find out if you are covered for the damage to your car. If you bought just the minimum automobile insurance required by the state, I’m afraid you might not have the right coverage as most states only require liability insurance which will pay for damages to other people or property.
In order for your insurance company to pay for the damages to your vehicle, you must have first signed up for collision insurance. However, they will not pay for the full amount of the bill. You will still have to cough up your share of the deductibles before they will pay for their share of the bill. Before you file a claim, first evaluate whether you actually need to. If the damage is minimal, and you can afford to pay for it, it may be better to take care of the damages yourself. If you do file a claim, know that this will be placed into your record and may affect your automobile insurance rates in the future. If you still wish to proceed, I suggest you ask your agent about your automobile insurance companies’ process for filing a claim. This will most likely involve some paperwork where you will be asked for details of the accident.
Should I Raise My Car Insurance Deductibles in California?
Reader’s Question:
Would a higher car insurance deductible be more ideal in California for lowering my car insurance rate?
Eduardo
Santa Ana, CA
I have to be honest about this, Eduardo. I myself am confused about this. The authorities in car insurance say that we must get a car insurance policy that has a higher deductible in order for the insurance plan holders to enjoy much lower car insurance premiums. It sounds like a fantastic idea, doesn’t it? But here is the catch. You do not have to be a genius to realize that it does not necessarily bring down the cost of the car insurance.
Deductibles are like your slice of the cake, your exposure and participation to the cost of the damages. It is that specified amount of money that the driver has to pay before the car insurance company pays for the remainder of the cost of damages. So, if you get a car insurance premium that has a $2,000 deductible, then that means that in the event an accident happens, you will have to shell out $2,000.
Personally, I do not see it as an advantage because I think that the bottom line would still be the same. Here you are paying for a less expensive car insurance premium that has a high deductible. Come accident time, there you go handing out precious bucks that the car insurance company should have been paying for had you decided on a lower deductible. Then again, this is only my opinion, and it is still best that you ask the expert advice of car insurance agents in California.
Get Full Coverage on Auto Insurance in California
Reader’s Question:
I’m a single mom here in San Jose, California. I’m too busy with work to worry about auto insurance. Is there like a full and complete coverage out there for my car? I try to replace my vehicle with a new one every two years to stay away from headaches.
Rochelle
San Jose, CA
Hey there, Rochelle. I am glad you asked about full coverage auto insurance coverage for your car. Well, I’m pretty sure, since you asked about it, that you probably drive a relatively expensively priced vehicle, and thus are prepared to pay for a good insurance package. But let me just state it again–ultimate coverage doesn’t come cheap, honey. This is not like ordering a burger with everything on it.
I’m guessing you got the state minimums down pat. But just to be sure, let me squeeze in the basics. As a San Jose, California busy single mom, you’re supposed to get at least a 15/30/5 minimum coverage for liabilities. That’s $15,000 for each person injured in an accident of your own doing, with a limit of $30,000 per accident. For property liability, that’s $5,000 damage coverage only. Though California does not require you to get Underinsured Motorist coverage and Personal Injury coverage, you can think about those. Some other types of coverage you can think of adding on for your next vehicle purchase are Collision and Comprehensive coverage. Collision coverage protects you from those smash ups regardless of who caused the accident. Comprehensive coverage, as the name suggests, protects you from everything else like falling trees, animals hitting your car, earthquakes, fires, theft and vandalism. Be sure to ask not only insurance agents but your friends and family, as well. I hope you get the vehicle insurance package that best suits your needs.
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