When you ask for “full coverage” car insurance, you’re asking for an insurance policy with everything on it. It isn’t a special type of policy; it just describes that you took all the options. Keep reading to learn more about what you’ll be covered for.
What Does Full Coverage Include?
Full coverage includes all of the optional and mandatory insurance coverage.
- Liability coverage for bodily injuries and property damage to others.
- Collision coverage for damage to your car in an accident.
- Comprehensive coverage for theft or damage to your car from other causes.
- Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to reimburse you if the other driver didn’t buy insurance or have high enough limits to cover your claim.
- Medical payments and Personal Injury Protection to cover your medical expenses.
Keep in mind that you need to opt into each coverage when you buy your insurance policy. You don’t want to just say “full coverage,” because the insurance rep might not know what you mean or leave something off. Always read the exact details of what you’re buying.
What Are the Limits on a Full Coverage Policy?
Full coverage often means that you’ve chosen the highest limits the insurance company offers for each type of coverage. Keep in mind that one insurance company may offer a higher maximum limit than another, so “full coverage” could vary by provider. Also, if you have other insurance, such as health insurance or an umbrella liability policy, you may be able to have all of your insurance needs fully covered even if you don’t opt for the maximum car insurance limits.
What Doesn’t Full Coverage Cover?
Even though it’s called full coverage, it doesn’t mean anything you can think of. It just means everything the insurance company is offered. You’ll need to read your specific policy for what’s covered and what’s not, but here are some of the general exclusions.
- Racing and other illegal activities. Legal races may need a special policy.
- Driving off-road. This generally doesn’t mean dirt roads or unpaved parking lots. It’s more the type of recreational driving you might see in a Jeep or pickup truck commercial.
- Ridesharing or other business use unless you purchased a separate rider or commercial car insurance policy.
- Intentional damage you cause.
- Routine maintenance or mechanical repairs.
- Most tire damage.
Do You Really Need Full Coverage?
You need enough insurance coverage to pay potential medical bills, protect your assets and future earnings from a lawsuit, and be able to repair or replace your car if something happens to it. This can often be through a combination of car insurance or other insurance. So you may not need full auto coverage, but you do want to make sure you’re fully covered.
Mooney Insurance can help you review your current insurance coverage and financial situation to see if you have everything you need at the best price. Contact us now to learn more.
