If you get into an accident, you expect full coverage car insurance to help you cover the cost of damage and medical expenses. But what does full coverage actually mean?
Each different insurance company has a different definition of full coverage. A combination of comprehensive and collision coverage with a deductible is usually the minimum requirement to be full coverage. However, there are many extra types of coverage that full coverage may not include:
- Medical coverage/personal injury protection – This type of coverage helps cover your medical costs relating to the crash. This can also cover income you lost being out of work while recovering.
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist – This covers your medical costs if the driver who hits you either has no insurance or the insurance doesn’t cover your costs.
- Gap insurance – If you just bought a car with a longer loan term, you may want gap insurance. If an accident destroys your vehicle, gap insurance covers the difference between the actual value of the car and what you have left to pay.
These are just a few extra coverages that full coverage may not automatically include. Insurance companies also offer extra coverage for things like car rental, full glass coverage, roadside assistance and towing.
Insuring against the other driver
Oklahoma only requires insurance coverage for bodily injury liability and property damage liability. Some drivers may choose to drive without insurance as well.
If an uninsured driver hits you, you can try to sue the driver for the money. But lawsuits can take a long time. And if the person can’t afford to buy insurance, he or she probably can’t afford to cover your costs.
If you get into an accident, you want to make sure you have coverage that protects you from other drivers. Otherwise you could end up paying out of your pocket for an accident that isn’t your fault.