Cars, trucks, Hybrids, Motorcycles – any vehicle that is licensed to drive on the streets – is required to have insurance. While everyone knows that the insurance is designed to help pay for repairs to your own vehicle after an accident in which you were found to be at fault, it also covers the cost of repair or partial replacement for vehicles that you may have damaged.
Your car insurance also protects you should you damage someone’s property or lawns in an accident. It also covers the potentially catastrophic health care that may be needed from passengers in your vehicle or in other vehicles in the wreck in which you were found to be at fault.
Someone with a claim following an accident in which you are found to be at fault would contact your insurance company to file claims. They would not interact directly with you. In addition, should you be in an accident with someone who is driving illegally without insurance, your insurance company would provide protection for you and would deal with the uninsured driver to try to recover those funds. You would not have to be involved.
While personal auto insurance is similar for different types of on-road vehicles, motorcycle insurance requires a specific type of policy to recognize the open and two—wheel differences of the risk of the ride.
Car insurance does not cover routine maintenance for your vehicle. There are other types of insurance policies you could consider if you want to protect yourself from surprises at the dealer or your mechanic’s garage.