Root Car Insurance is best for those who don’t have much time to make a personal appointment for insurance and for those who would like to skip all paper work included. Because of its integration to the mobile app, everything is simpler and easier for both parties. Aside from this, some may argue that your performance is better rated as they can better see your performance on the road and specific cases like drunk-driving are thoroughly observed.
Last updated April 19, 2024
You can’t drive a car nowadays without having some sort of insurance to cover you in case of any accidents. Driving without car insurance is illegal in most states worldwide. In the United States there are only 2 states that don’t require car insurance: Virginia and New Hampshire, but even in those, you are held responsible in case of any damage: up to $50,000 for liability and $25,000 in case of property damage.
And instead of mandatory insurance, resident drivers of Virginia have to pay the state an annual fee of $500 anyway. And this fee does not cover you financially in case of any accidents, you still have to have money at hand in case of any damages you might cause.
Aside from the legal implications, even though car insurance is another expense to think about, it is extremely important for any driver. We take a lot of car trips in our lifetime and you never know when you are going to be involved in an accident. Car insurance is a vital form of financial protection for any driver, because it can save you a lot of money and time in the long run. Depending on the car insurance you choose, it can cover collision, bodily injuries, property damage and so on.
Time is another factor to consider when talking about car insurance and you will save a lot of time if you get one. If you are involved in an accident and you don’t have car insurance, you have to make a lot of trips, go through a lot of paperwork, negotiate with the other party involved in the accident and so on. Bouncing back on your own from a car accident can be a tedious and stressful job. On the other hand, if you have car insurance, you can avoid dealing with the other driver and the car towing, repairs, paperwork, reimbursements and so on, will all be handled by your insurer.
Here are the most important reasons why you should have car insurance:
It is quite difficult to give a general answer to the question: what kind of coverage do I need? That is because you can’t really know that in advance, but rather on a case to case basis. Your coverage needs depend on the accident you are involved in and that’s impossible to know before it happens. What you can do however is to get at least the basic types of coverage that are important to have, especially for scenarios in which you are at fault for the accident:
Liability or bodily injury coverage: this coverage will pay for any medical expenses in case you get in a car accident.
Property damage coverage: this type of coverage helps pay for any damage you might cause, whether you damage someone’s car, you hit a traffic sign which is city property and so on.
Then there are also coverages that protect you and your property. Collision coverage pays for damages on your own car, whether they are the result of an accident with another vehicle, whether you hit a tree, traffic sign and so on. With this type of coverage you also have to pay a deductible, which varies in value from policy to policy, and can be from $250 to $1,000 or even more.
Comprehensive coverage pays for any type of damage resulted from anything except a collision: theft, fire, vandalism, glass damage, to give you just a few examples.
The cost of your car insurance or “insurance premiums” is influenced by several factors. For instance, the make and model of your car can determine a lower or higher cost of the car insurance. The more expensive and luxurious the vehicle is, the more expensive it will be to insure it, because in case of any damages, the car will cost more money to be repaired than a minivan or a SUV for instance.
There are also some car brands and models that are considered at a higher risk to be stolen than others, so if you own a car that is known to be constantly on the lists of car thieves, you will be charged more for your insurance.
The age of the car is also important when it comes to car insurance cost. The older the car is, the lower the insurance cost, because it will be easier and more affordable to fix and doesn’t have such a high market value.
There are some tips you can try if you want to pay less for your car insurance. One of them is to try to be a safe driver and have a good driving record. The fewer points you have, the lower your insurance premiums will be.
Some car insurance companies also offer discounts for drivers who take defensive driving classes, so it wouldn’t hurt to take one.
Another thing you can do is to drive less, as car insurance companies have mileage thresholds and ask you in their questionnaire how many miles per year you usually drive your vehicle. The more you rely on your car to move around, the higher the premium, because the higher the risk of you getting into a car accident. Try to use public transportation or alternative means of transportation as much as possible.
Opting for a higher deductible will also lower your premium.
Your credit score also matters when it comes to the cost of your car insurance. Car insurance companies often check your credit score when calculating your rate, because a good credit score conveys that you are responsible in your personal life, which means there’s a lower chance for you to file claims.
