Auto Insurance
All New Jersey and Pennsylvania drivers are required to have a minimal amount of auto insurance if they are driving. The key is distinguishing between the minimal amount required by law and understanding the full amount of car insurance required to provide you with peace of mind while on the open roads.
Why Isn’t the State Minimum Coverage Enough?
The states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, among others, require you to carry a certain amount of auto insurance to protect other drivers from you. This does little, if anything, to protect you from other drivers. Plus, we all know that despite laws in place requiring people to purchase insurance there are those that have too little coverage as well as those who have none at all.
Minimum coverage is a liability only policy. It covers only the damage you’re responsible for to other vehicles on the road and injuries caused to other people. On top of that, it is woefully inadequate if you are in a serious accident with injuries. That means you could still be on the hook for horrendous medical fees, legal expenses, and property damage.
What Types of Auto Coverage do You Need?
Because the purpose of insurance is to protect yourself from the critical financial fallout the can result from auto accidents, your insurance needs to protect your interests and not simply protect other drivers on the road. The following coverages will help you by doing just that and more.
- Bodily Injury Coverage
- Personal Injury Protection
- Comprehensive Coverage
- Collision Coverage
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist
- Medical Payments Coverage
Depending on where you live, your personal history with accidents, and the level of protection you feel comfortable having, you might want to consider investing in umbrella liability coverage. This helps provide additional investment if you’re in a bad accident where damages exceed the limits of your existing liability coverage. Many drivers also choose to purchase liability coverage that goes beyond what’s included in their standard auto policies. It’s about finding the coverage you’re most comfortable with.
Cutting Costs on Your Auto Coverage
One of the biggest concerns drivers have today when it comes to insurance is the cost. You don’t want to sacrifice coverage, but it has to be affordable or there’s no point. We understand this dilemma. We encourage you to consider these things carefully as they can impact the cost of insurance coverage for your vehicle.
Choose a Safe Car
The safety of the car you drive has a substantial impact on your insurance costs. Check out the safety ratings of your car for the year, make, and model. See how it stacks up to other vehicles on the road and choose one that offers the features you want, but the safety you need to bring insurance costs down.
Improve Your Driving Skills
The best way to do this, for the sake of insurance, is by taking defensive driving or driver safety classes approved by your insurance. These classes can help to remove points from your record resulting in lower insurance rates for you.
The key to getting the right coverage for the right rate is working with an agency you trust. Frank P. Licato Agency LLC has been helping New Jersey (and Florida and Pennsylvania) families sort out their auto coverage needs since 1957.
Our strong commitment to customer service and our continuous efforts to build relationships with multiple insurance companies means we can shop around on your behalf to find the best combination of coverage and cost. You don’t have to get quotes from 20 different companies. We’ll do the heavy lifting for you.