Types of Car Insurance

The five types of car insurance are liability, comprehensive, collision, uninsured/underinsured motorist, and personal injury protection/medical payments. These are the most common types of car insurance, though many insurance companies sell other types of coverage as well, like gap insurance and rental reimbursement.

The 5 Types of Car Insurance

1. Liability

Covers other people's expenses after an accident caused by the policyholder.

2. Comprehensive

Repairs or replaces the policyholder's car if it's damaged by something other than an accident, like vandalism or a natural disaster.

3. Collision

Pays to repair or replace the policyholder's car after any accident, regardless of fault.

4. Uninsured/underinsured motorist

Covers the policyholder's repair and medical expenses if they're hit by a driver without insurance or without sufficient liability limits.

5. Personal injury protection (PIP) and medical payments (MedPay)

Cover the policyholder's medical expenses after an accident, regardless of fault.

Liability insurance is required in nearly every state, and some states also require additional coverage like PIP and uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance. There are no states that require comprehensive or collision insurance, but those types of insurance are usually mandatory for vehicles that are leased or financed.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to the different types of car insurance.

You need enough liability insurance to cover the full value of your assets. Your bodily injury liability coverage should be as much as your net worth, while your property damage liability insurance can be slightly lower since property damage claims are usually less expensive. Purchasing enough liability insurance to cover the value of your assets protects you from financial ruin if you cause a serious car accident.

When to Carry Only the Minimum Liability Coverage

Although almost every state requires drivers to carry liability insurance, the minimum coverage is not always enough to cover the cost of an accident. It's always best to carry as much liability coverage as you can afford, especially if you have a high net worth.

If you don't have many assets or think the risk is worth it, you might be comfortable with carrying only the minimum coverage. But no matter what, make sure you're carrying enough insurance to comply with state law and avoid paying fines for driving uninsured.

Liability Limits on Auto Insurance

Liability limits on auto insurance are the maximum amount that your insurance company will pay for injuries and property damage in accidents that you cause. Liability limits are typically written as three numbers divided by slashes.

For example, Arizona's liability coverage requirements are 50/30/10. That means drivers need to carry $50,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident, and $10,000 in property damage liability coverage overall.

Why You Need More Liability Insurance Than the State Minimum

Your insurance company will never pay for anything beyond the limits of your policy. Using the Arizona example, if you cause an accident that leads to $70,000 in medical bills for the other driver, you will have to pay for $40,000 if you are only carrying the minimum insurance required. And if you can't afford to pay the full amount, the other driver can sue, and you can have your assets seized or wages garnished to cover the remainder.

PLPD is shorthand for Personal Liability and Property Damage insurance. PLPD insurance covers injuries and property damage for the other driver if you are found to be at fault in a car accident but it does not reimburse you for your own medical expenses or damage to your own property, however.

The term PLPD is most commonly used in Michigan; it is known as “basic liability” in the rest of the nation. Because PLPD auto insurance is mandatory in almost every state, it is the most basic form of car insurance.

How PLPD Insurance Works

PLPD insurance is divided into two groups: personal liability (PL) and property damage (PD). 

How Personal Liability Insurance Works

Personal liability insurance covers medical costs for the victim of an accident. If you are the victim of a crash, the other driver's PLPD will cover your costs. If the other driver is the victim, your PLPD will cover theirs.

Also called “bodily injury” coverage, personal liability insurance is often referred to in a split numeric form—$15,000/$25,000, for example. The first number to appear—in this case, $15,000—is the most an insurance policy will pay per person for injury care after an accident. The second number ($25,000 here) refers to the maximum payout per separate accident. The minimum amount of personal liability insurance a motorist must purchase varies by state.

How Property Damage Insurance Works

Property damage insurance covers the physical damage to other objects caused by your vehicle. The PD portion of PLPD can cover damage to another car, as well as government or personal property. That can include street lamps, landscaping, lawn furniture, or signage.

Property damage insurance is usually listed after the two maximum payouts for personal liability. So, for example, if a policy offers $15,000/$25,000/$20,000, the PD coverage is a maximum of $20,000.

Does PLPD Insurance Cover Theft?

PLPD insurance does not cover theft, as this is considered damage that affects you, not another driver or owner of property you might have damaged with your vehicle. Instead, theft falls under what's known as comprehensive insurance, which addresses any repairs to your car which might take place outside of a collision. That includes hail damage, falling trees, vandalism, and theft. However, even comprehensive insurance will not cover the items stored in your car when it was stolen.

While PLPD does not cover theft, it does provide coverage in the event of an accident. As a result. if you are involved in an accident, and especially if the accident is your fault, the premiums for your PLPD insurance will likely rise. That means it's more important than ever to comparison shop for the best rates. Know what's required in your state, and compare quotes from several insurance companies.

Liability-only insurance is car insurance that pays for other people's injuries or damage to other people's property, but not the policyholder's injuries or property. The term “liability-only car insurance” is used to distinguish policies with basic coverage from those with collision insurance and comprehensive coverage.

Liability insurance is the only type of auto insurance that is mandatory in almost every state. It's split into two main categories of coverage: bodily injury liability and property damage liability.

What Liability-only Insurance Covers

• Medical expenses
• Legal fees
• Loss of income
• Pain and suffering
• Funeral costs
• Repairs to/replacement of cars
• Repairs to/replacement of items in the car during an accident
• Repairs to/replacement of other property, like a mailbox, fence, or house

Liability-only insurance is the least expensive car insurance since it provides such minimal coverage. However, driving with only liability insurance can lead to expensive bills for your own property or injuries.

Liability-only car insurance is not always an option, either. Some states require drivers to carry other types of insurance as well, like uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage (UM/UIM) and Personal Injury Protection (PIP). And if your car is leased or financed, your lender will likely require you to purchase collision and comprehensive insurance.

For tips on whether liability-only insurance is enough for your situation, check out WalletHub's guide on how much car insurance to get.

Yes, you need collision insurance if your car is leased or financed. Collision insurance is not required by any state laws, but most lessors and lenders require drivers to have it until the car is paid off. Even if you're not required to have collision insurance, you should still purchase it if you cannot afford to pay for damage to your vehicle after an accident.

Why You Need Collision Insurance

Collision insurance pays to repair or replace your car after an accident, regardless of who is at fault. If you cause an accident, collision coverage is the only way to have your repair costs covered by insurance. Even if you are not at fault for an accident, you can file a collision claim to pay for your repairs while you wait for a final determination of fault. Your insurance company will then recoup your costs from the other driver's liability insurance.

Factors to Consider When Deciding if You Need Collision Insurance

• Price of coverage
• Car value
• Likelihood of an at-fault accident
• Cost of repairs

When to Consider Dropping Collision Insurance

A general rule of thumb is that if your collision insurance premium is more than 10% of your car's value, you can consider dropping the coverage. However, this is just a general guideline. If you can't afford to pay out of pocket to repair or replace your car after an accident, then you should continue to carry collision insurance. You should also keep it if your car is particularly valuable or you live in a high-traffic area where you are more likely to get into an accident.

Yes, you can get car insurance without a license from some small local insurers. To get car insurance without a license you need to exclude yourself as a driver on the policy and list a licensed family member, friend, or caretaker as the primary driver. It's possible, with some effort, to insure your car so someone else can drive it.

How to Get Car Insurance Without a License

1. Contact regional insurance companies or a local independent agent.

Focusing on smaller companies will give you the best chance of finding coverage as an unlicensed driver. Most national companies will not insure you without a license. The risk is too high, in their eyes, that you will drive the car yourself.

2. List yourself as an excluded driver on the policy.

This is a legal statement that, as an unlicensed driver, you are not going to drive the car. Note that if you do drive illegally and get into an accident, the insurance company will not cover any claims. If you get or regain your license while the car is insured, you must notify your insurance company and provide your new license number before you are legally insured on the policy.

3. List the person who will operate the vehicle the most as the primary driver on the policy.

This can be a spouse, family member, roommate, caretaker or friend. They may live with you or not. They must, of course, have a valid driver's license.

4. List the primary driver on your registration as part-owner.

Try this step if you can't find any company that will insure the car for you without a license. There should be no trouble insuring the car with a licensed driver listed as co-owner.

Why You Might Need Car Insurance Without a License

• Your license is suspended and you need to file an SR-22 or FR-44 to reinstate it
• You only have a learner's permit
• You are insuring a collectible vehicle that you won't drive
• You own a car that is driven by a caregiver or chauffeur
• You need to co-sign a policy for an underage driver

If no one is going to drive the car, but you want to protect it against accidental damage while it's stored, you have the option of purchasing comprehensive-only or parked-car coverage. You will have to cancel your registration and turn in your plates to do this, but it is cheaper than buying a policy that also offers liability coverage. This type of insurance is offered by many national firms such as Allstate and State Farm.

Comprehensive insurance is a type of car insurance coverage that pays to repair or replace a vehicle when it is damaged by something other than a collision, like vandalism or animals. Comprehensive car insurance coverage is never required by state law, but it is usually needed for cars that are leased or financed.

What Does Comprehensive Insurance Cover?

• Theft
• Vandalism
• Damage from falling objects
• Flood damage
• Fire damage
• Damage from animals
• Damage from natural disasters
• Glass damage, such as a cracked windshield

Comprehensive Insurance Cost

Comprehensive car insurance costs an average of $162 per year. The exact amount you'll pay depends mostly on your car's value and your deductible amount. The higher your deductible is, the less your policy will cost. You can buy comprehensive coverage by itself, but it is usually purchased with collision insurance, which covers damage caused by accidents.  

Why You Should Get Comprehensive Insurance

You should consider buying comprehensive coverage if you cannot afford to pay out of pocket to repair or replace your car in a worst-case scenario. Comprehensive insurance is usually considered to be a good investment since it's cheaper than other types of car insurance and covers events that are out of your control as a driver. A good rule of thumb is that if the cost of comprehensive insurance exceeds 10% of your vehicle's value, you can consider dropping it.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to comprehensive insurance.

Collision insurance is a type of car insurance coverage that pays to repair or replace your car if you're involved in an accident, regardless of who was at fault. Collision car insurance is never required by state law, but dealerships and banks usually require it for leased or financed cars. It only pays for damage to your own vehicle, and it does not include coverage for medical bills.  

What Collision Insurance Covers

• Collisions with other vehicles
• Collisions with objects like fences or trees
• Single-car accidents that involve rolling or falling over
• Damage caused by hitting an obstruction in the road, such as a pothole

Collision coverage costs an average of $382 per year. The cost of collision insurance varies based on your driving history, you car's value, and your deductible amount. For example, high-risk drivers with a history of claims tend to pay more for collision insurance because they are more likely to be involved in an accident. And if you choose a low deductible for your policy, you will pay more for coverage.

A good rule of thumb is that you should have collision insurance on your car until the cost exceeds 10% of the vehicle's value. However, even then, you should not drop collision insurance if you cannot afford to pay out of pocket to repair or replace your car after an accident that's your fault. To learn more, check out WalletHub's guide to collision insurance.

Comprehensive insurance is worth it if the premium is a small percentage of the car's value. Comprehensive insurance might also be worth it if the policyholder cannot afford to replace the vehicle without comprehensive coverage, or if the car is driven or parked in a particularly risky area.

Although comprehensive insurance is not mandatory in any state, dealerships and lenders frequently require comprehensive insurance, along with collision coverage, on leased or financed cars. In that case, comprehensive insurance is definitely worth it, because failing to meet the lender's or lessor's requirements could result in expensive force-placed insurance or even repossession.

Factors to Consider When Deciding If Comprehensive Insurance Is Worth It

• Your car's age, mileage, and value.
• The cost of comprehensive insurance premiums.
• The risk of theft, vandalism, and natural disasters in your area.
• Your ability to pay for repairs or a replacement vehicle out of pocket.

An old rule of thumb recommended dropping comprehensive coverage when a car was five to six years old or had 100,000 miles. But this rule is now outdated, since newer cars have increased longevity alongside higher repair costs. Now, the standard rule is that comprehensive and collision coverage are both worth buying if the combined premium is less than 10% of the car's value, minus the deductible.

Cost is only one factor, however, so you should also consider how likely you are to file a claim, as well as what would happen to you financially if your car was stolen or destroyed by something other than an accident and you didn't have coverage. For instance, if theft, animal collisions, or natural disasters are particularly common in your area, you are especially likely to need comprehensive insurance. Similarly, even if your comprehensive premium is 15% of your car's value, for example, comprehensive insurance might still be worth it if you rely on the car and can't afford to replace it yourself.

You will need personal injury protection (PIP) insurance if you live in one of the 12 states that require it. Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Utah all require PIP insurance. You may also need PIP if your health insurance has low coverage limits or if you drive with passengers who could hold you responsible for their medical expenses in the event of an accident.

In the 20 states (plus Washington, D.C.) where it is required or offered as optional protection, PIP covers medical expenses for the policyholder and his or her passengers after an accident, no matter who was at fault. However, PIP is not available at all in the 30 other states.

Always check with your insurance company or an agent for specifics on what coverage is required or available in your state before you determine what to include in your policy.

What Does PIP Cover?

• Ambulance fees
• Health insurance deductibles
• Medical treatments
• Surgery
• Rehabilitation
• Prescriptions
• Lost wages
• Home care such as cleaning or child care
• Funeral costs

If you are in a car accident, PIP often works in conjunction with your health insurance coverage. Most health insurance deductibles must be paid before benefits start to be paid out, but your PIP may have a cheaper deductible, or no deductible at all.

How Does PIP Work With MedPay?

PIP insurance may overlap with another kind of car insurance known as Medical Payments, or MedPay. Like PIP, MedPay covers the costs of medical care resulting from of an accident, no matter who was at fault. Also like PIP, MedPay covers injuries to any passengers in your car. However, it does not pay for lost wages, rehabilitation or home-care services, which PIP would cover.

The way PIP and MedPay may work together depends on your state's laws. If you live in one of the 12 states that require PIP, MedPay could be redundant. State limits on PIP vary widely, from $3,000 in Utah to New York's $50,000 requirement. If your state has a low upper limit on PIP, MedPay coverage could act as a beneficial supplement. In a couple states – namely, Maine and New Hampshire – MedPay is used instead of PIP.