Question

How much car insurance do I need?

Your car insurance needs primarily depend on the minimum insurance mandated by the state you are in.

The lower limit and the ratio among multiple mandatory coverages you need to keep in your car insurance change from state to state. The mandatory coverage limits for Property liability and Personal Injury protection in Florida are 10/20/10. However, the policyholders can adjust the change as per their desire.

What is the mandatory coverage needed?

The state minimum insurance requirements are different for each state. As the state minimum insurance is mandatory across the nation, coverage does vary. While physical damage coverage is mandatory in 50 states, Bodily Injury coverage is mandatory in 49 states, and 20 states require you to have underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage. At the same time, car owners of 12 states need Personal Injury Protection; 2 states need MedPay, and the state of New Hampshire requires you to show financial responsibility for liability instead of insurance.

Who needs more coverage limits?

The basic state minimum coverage is good for most policyholders. All the same, those who have a history of at-fault accidents will need higher coverage. Research by Way.com suggests that drivers with an at-fault accident have a higher probability of getting into another accident within the next five years.

Those driving a truck, a luxury car, or a sports car require higher mandatory coverage, as the nature and performance of the vehicle are more likely to cause damage to third parties.

Teen drivers are yet another category of policyholders who need higher insurance coverage. The accident rates among the drivers of this age group are threefold higher compared to others. Hence, their individual car insurance can be higher than your expectations. But including them in the family policy can help lower the rates.

How much comprehensive and collision coverage do I need?

Comprehensive and collision coverage are related to individuals. The policyholders may adjust this coverage at their will. Though these are not necessary, purchasing this will cover the expense of repairing the car during an at-fault and no-fault accident or in case of own damage. It is best to decide the coverage limits based on the declared value of your car, average annual mileage, year of car make, and your driving record and claim history.