The good news for car owners is that the average person is only involved in an automobile accident about once every 18 years. The bad news is that there’s no telling when that one rare car crash might occur.
For this reason, it’s very important for those who own cars to have auto insurance. More specifically, it’s important for them to have collision coverage that will protect their cars in the event of an accident.
So, what is collision coverage, and how does collision coverage work? That’s what we’re going to discuss today since collision coverage is one of the most important types of car insurance around.
Continue reading to find out more about collision coverage so that you can get a better understanding of why it’s so essential for you to have it.
What Is Collision Coverage?
Collision coverage is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. It’s a type of car insurance that is designed to help you either repair or replace your vehicle in the event of an accident that causes any damage to it.
Collision coverage will provide you with the protection that you need if you’re ever involved in an accident with another car. It’ll also protect you if you accidentally drive your car into a:
- Guardrail
- Tree
- Fence
- Pole
- House
Additionally, collision coverage will cover any repair or replacement costs associated with a rollover. You’re going to want to have collision coverage in place if you’re ever in any kind of car crash.
Why Do I Need Collision Coverage?
There are some people who are under the impression that, as long as they have an auto insurance policy, they have collision coverage. But this not always the case!
One of the mistakes that car owners make when it comes to auto insurance is assuming that they have collision coverage when they really don’t. You’re going to need to specifically request collision coverage as part of your insurance plan.
If you don’t have collision coverage and you’re involved in an accident, you’re going to be on the hook for repairing or replacing your car on your own. And as you might imagine, repairing or replacing a car that has been in an accident can cost you thousands and sometimes even tens of thousands of dollars.
This is why it’s so important to consider signing up for collision coverage. It’ll prevent you from having to shell out a large amount of money to repair or replace a car following an accident.
How Does Collision Coverage Work?
Now that you know about the importance of collision coverage, let’s talk a little bit about how it works. It’ll help to paint an even clearer picture of why you need to have it.
When you want to get collision coverage for a car, all you’ll have to do is let an auto insurance provider set you up with it. They can add it to your existing auto insurance policy if you have one or create a brand-new policy for you that includes it.
Either way, you’ll pay a certain amount of money for collision coverage every month. And it’ll immediately start providing your car with the protection that it needs.
Then, if you’re ever in a car accident that leaves your car worse for wear, all you’ll need to do is contact your auto insurance provider and let them know about it. They’ll inspect your car for you, see how much damage was done to it, and decide whether they’re going to help you repair it or replace it.
You shouldn’t have to worry about doing anything other than providing them with any information that they might need about your car crash or your car in general. They’ll handle everything else as far as fixing up your car or replacing it with a new one.
How to Get Collision Coverage: Who Should I Trust to Provide It?
If you don’t have collision coverage right now and you want to get it, you should contact your auto insurance provider about it and let them know that you want to add it. They’ll be more than happy to set you up with the right collision coverage for your car.
Or, if you don’t auto insurance at the moment and you’re looking to insure a car, you should reach out to a bunch of different insurance providers to see what collision coverage will cost through them. They should be able to provide you with quotes so that you can see which provider will offer the most affordable policy to you.
You should take this same approach to getting any of the various types of car insurance. From comprehensive coverage to non owner car insurance, you should always take advantage of your ability to shop around for the best rates.
Is Collision Coverage Always Necessary?
While it’s a good idea for you to strongly consider signing up for collision coverage for your car, there are some instances in which you might not need it. You may not need to get collision coverage if:
- You own an older car that isn’t worth very much money
- You have a car that you don’t actually drive at all
- You’ve paid off your car and don’t plan on repairing or replacing it if you’re ever in an accident
You should still carry comprehensive coverage on your car if it falls into any of these categories. But you can usually get away with not having collision coverage on it.
Collision Coverage Will Make You Feel More Comfortable Behind the Wheel
Do you really want to have to worry about how you’re going to pay to repair or replace your car if you’re ever involved in an accident every time you get behind the wheel of it? Of course not!
It’s why you should look into getting collision coverage for your car as soon as possible. It’ll make you more comfortable in your car and put your mind at ease when you’re driving around in it.
Get more car insurance tips and tricks by reading through the rest of the informative articles on our blog.
