No, full coverage auto insurance doesn’t cover everything

This article looks at what is included and what is not in so-called full coverage auto insurance.

Many people are often confused about auto insurance and the type of insurance they have. Terms like “comprehensive” and “full coverage” can lead people to believe that they are insured for everything related to an incident with their car. The truth, however, is that despite these names such policies still exclude many types of coverage that can prove very useful. Because a motor vehicle accident can happen at any time, it is important to know what full coverage insurance actually covers and what it doesn’t.

What does full coverage cover?

As The Balance points out, full coverage is a bit of a misleading term since there is no actual policy referred to as full coverage. Instead, each insurer has its own definition of full coverage, but generally speaking it includes the state’s minimum requirements (which in North Carolina means liability insurance), comprehensive coverage (which covers damage to the vehicle aside from a collision, such as theft, vandalism, and fire), and collision (which covers damage to the vehicle resulting from a collision).

Some full coverage policies also cover medical payments. This is insurance that will help cover medical costs for drivers and passengers following an accident. In some full coverage policies, however, this important coverage is not included.

What isn’t covered by full coverage?

Despite its name, as esurance points out, there’s actually quite a bit that isn’t covered by full coverage auto insurance. Uninsured/underinsured coverage, for example, helps pay for the bills if the other driver in an accident has no insurance or his or her insurance has low coverage limits. This coverage is extremely important and often not included in full coverage.

Many full coverage policies will also not cover towing or roadside assistance in case of a breakdown nor will they cover the cost of a rental car that is needed after an accident that is otherwise covered. Many full coverage policies will also not cover the cost of replacing a car’s custom parts nor will it provide gap coverage to help pay off the remainder of a car loan if that car is written off after an accident. These are all exclusions that many people do not put much thought into when they purchase insurance, but which could prove extremely useful in the aftermath of an accident.

Getting help

In our professional opinion, drivers should have at least $100,000 to $300,000 in auto coverage. For those drivers who have been in an accident, dealing with insurance companies can be difficult, to say the least. We can help drivers pursue the compensation that they may be entitled to by dealing with the insurance companies directly on their behalf. Because of our experience in personal injury law, we know how insurers work and what tactics to expect from them so as to fight to ensure our clients have the best chance of getting the a fair settlement.