Under current laws, all drivers are required to carry liability insurance. However, liability insurance is just one of the types of auto insurance that you can choose to purchase. Unlike liability coverage, these other types of auto insurance coverage are optional under the law. In order to ensure your policy truly meets all of your needs, you will first need to understand what type of protection these optional coverage options offer. In this article, you will be able to get all the information you need in order to determine which of these coverage options you may want to add to your auto insurance policy. 

Coverage Option #1: Collision 

If you are at fault for causing an accident, your liability coverage takes care of the other driver's repairs and medical bills. Unfortunately, this coverage will do nothing to help cover the cost of repairing your own vehicle. If you want to make sure your accident-related repairs are covered by insurance, you will need to add collision coverage to your policy. This type of optional coverage will cover the cost of repairing or even replacing your vehicle if it is damaged in an accident where you are the liable driver. This coverage will also cover repair costs associated with single-vehicle accidents. 

Coverage Option #2: Comprehensive

While both liability and collision coverage address damage that is done as a result of an accident, comprehensive coverage addresses coverage that occurs in other ways. For example, if your vehicle is damaged by a falling tree, this damage is covered under comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive auto insurance also typically includes coverage for theft and auto glass damage. In some cases, insurance providers will automatically bundle comprehensive coverage with collision coverage. Other insurance providers will require you to purchase each of these coverage options separately. Consequently, it is very important to talk with your auto insurance agent regarding exactly what is covered by your policy in order to ensure you have all of the protection that you need.

Coverage Option #3: Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist

If you are ever hit by a driver without valid insurance coverage or if you are involved in a serious accident that exceeds the value of the other driver's insurance coverage, you could find yourself dealing with some rather hefty out-of-pocket expenses. Adding uninsured & underinsured motorist coverage to your auto insurance policy will ensure you have your own coverage that can protect you from these types of expenses.  

For more information about auto insurance, contact a local company.