Personal Auto Insurance

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Liability coverage is mandatory in the state of Georgia, and is the part of the policy that pays other parties if you or a driver on your policy cause an accident and damage someone else's property or injure them. In Georgia, the minimum legal limits are $25,000 per person/$50,000 per accident for bodily injury; and $25,000 in property damage. For many people, you will want more than minimum limits because the majority of vehicles on the road cost more than $25,000 to replace, and medical bills can quickly exceed $25,000 in a bad accident. With personal auto liability, limits from $25,000/$50,000/$25,000 to $500,000 are available, depending on your needs. Additionally, you can add excess liability coverage with an umbrella policy, adding increments of $1,000,000 in limits to your auto insurance coverage.

This is an optional coverage, however we always recommend it, because the latest data from the GA Department of Insurance shows an estimated 1-out-of-5.5 drivers on the road is driving without insurance. Uninsured motorist coverage protects you, your vehicle, and your passengers if you are hit by an uninsured driver, and have damage to your vehicle and/or medical bills from injury. Typically, uninsured motorist limits match your liability limits. For example: Let's say your auto insurance limits are $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident for bodily injury; $100,000 property damage; generally, your uninsured motorist limits would also be $100,000 per person/$300,000 per accident for bodily injury; $100,000 property damage, which would pay you up to those amounts if you are hit by a driver who does not have insurance.

Med pay is an optional, inexpensive coverage to add to your policy, generally from $1,000 to $10,000 in coverage per person. By definition, it is used to pay medical services for any party in the accident, regardless of fault, which require immediate cash payment. An example of this would be visiting a chiropractor after an accident. However, the primary benefit to you the insured is, if you cause an accident, your auto insurance policy does not pay for your medical bills -- your health insurance does. But, med pay can be used to offset your health insurance deductible. So we generally recommend to have a med pay limit that matches your health insurance deductible. This helps prevent a large out-of-pocket expense if you were to be found at-fault for an accident.

Collision coverage is an optional coverage, however if your vehicle is financed, most lenders require it. Collision coverage insures your vehicle for physical damage from an accident where you are the at-fault party. Meaning, if you cause an accident, and your car is damaged, your auto insurance will pay to have your car repaired, or pay you the totaled value if the vehicle is deemed totaled by a claims adjuster. With collision coverage, there is a deductible, which is the portion that you contribute to the cost of repairs/totaled vehicle. Most people opt for a $500 collision deductible, however with most of our carriers, we have options ranging from $250 to $2,500 for the collision deductible.

Comprehensive coverage is an optional coverage, however if your vehicle is financed, most lenders require it. Comprehensive insures your vehicle for physical damage, from things other than an accident, sometimes called an "Act of God." Some examples are: Hitting an animal in the road, hail damage, water damage, theft of the vehicle, and fire damage. Like collision coverage, comprehensive has a deductible -- the part you contribute to repair/replace your vehicle. With most of our carriers, we have deductible options ranging from $100 to $2,500.

If you have your vehicle(s) insured with comprehensive and collision coverages, you can also elect to add rental car reimbursement coverage. Rental coverage reimburses you for the expense of a temporary rental car while your vehicle is being repaired after a covered claim. Example: You have a car accident, and you had comprehensive and collision coverages, as well as rental. You car is damaged and being repaired, but you need another vehicle to get to the store, work, etc. while yours is in the shop. Rental car reimbursement would reimburse you the cost of this rental car. With most carriers, the available limits for rental range from $30/day to $60/day and will pay the amount you select in coverage (ex: $40/day) for up to 30 days. 

Like many of the other coverages,  roadside coverage is an optional coverage, but generally inexpensive to add to your policy. In the event that your vehicle is disabled, keys are locked in the car, damaged in an accident and cannot be driven, etc., your policy would pay for a wrecker service, up to a set dollar amount. 

If you have made expensive modifications to your car, such as aftermarket bumpers, racks, rims, rock sliders, lift kits, etc., additional equipment coverage will insure those parts to be replaced if your vehicle is damaged in a covered claim. Typically, aftermarket additions such as those above are not covered without this coverage, and if damaged, would be replaced with OEM or OEM similar parts by the insurer. Any additional costs to replace them with like-items would come out of your pocket. Additional Equipment coverage prevents this headache by making sure your aftermarket parts are replaced to their original status.