Comprehensive Car Insurance Coverage

What type of car insurance to get is something that many people struggle with. There are a number of things that need weighing up, decisions that vary from individual to individual. This means there is no ‘cover all’ right answer… it is very dependent on the needs of the individual.

For example someone who uses a number of different cars and travels a lot is likely to need a very different insurance policy to someone who only drives to the supermarket and back once a week.

Which means before you decide what sort of auto insurance you need, whether it be comprehensive car insurance coverage or just third party coverage, it is important that you consider what factors will effect what your needs are.

So what should you be looking at when deciding on whether comprehensive car insurance coverage is for you or not?

• What can you afford.  The one many ‘insurance tipsters’ leave out.  You should not break the bank for insurance… it is vital yes, but there are other important demands on your money as well.  Make sure that you can afford any cover that you get out – for the duration of the policy, not just for now.
  
  
• How often do you drive?  If you are using your car a few times a day then obviously it is vital to you, so you may well need car insurance that offers a replacement car when your is being fixed/replaced.
  
  
• How expensive is your car?  If you have a very cheap car you may be better off getting third party insurance as replacing the car could be cheaper than the premiums.  However if you have an expensive car then you want to make sure that it is fully covered so you don’t risk losing considerable sums of money.
  
  
• How far do you drive?  If you do a lot of long distance travelling in your car then it is likely to be important that you have a replacement whilst it is getting fixed AND that you have breakdown assistance.  You don’t want to be left stranded with a broken down car hundreds of miles from home.
  
  

What other coverage do you have?  In many cases insurance cover you have can overlap – especially in the case of personal injury protection cover (PiP).  The last thing you want to do is pay for insurance you don’t need.  So look at ALL your insurance policies and see if they overlap anywhere.

So now you know the sort of questions you need to be asking yourself it is time to see if comprehensive car insurance is for you.  Unfortunately I can’t answer the question for you (though I’d love to help you out like that if I could) – everything depends on what your needs are.

What is important here is that you are honest answering these questions – and that you ask your own questions.  Too many people just blindly accept what their car insurance company, or their insurance broker, are telling them.

Yes they are experts, but they are experts that have their own interests in mind as well as your own.  What you need to do is look past all that to see what best fits for you.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and don’t be afraid to negotiate.

Car insurance is a business, and like all business they want your custom.  This puts you in the drivers seat so to speak – so use that advantage to find out everything you can before making the decision as to whether comprehensive car insurance is for you.