When Are Car Repairs Covered by Insurance?

If you’re like many people, you purchase car insurance once and never think about it again. But do you know what your policy covers if you’re involved in an accident? The different types of coverage — liability, comprehensive, collision, and more — can be difficult to understand. If you have questions about auto insurance, we’ve put together this guide to help you out. Keep reading for an explanation of auto insurance policies, the coverage you should have, and the factors that can impact what your policy covers after an accident.

Understanding Auto Insurance Policies

Unfortunately, accidents happen every day. If you’re involved in an accident, car insurance can protect you financially, whether you’re at fault or not. Nearly every state requires drivers to have auto insurance, but the types and amounts vary depending on where you live. The basic types of coverage include:

• Liability: This type of coverage pays for injuries or damages you cause to another person or vehicle. It doesn’t cover your own expenses after an accident.
• Collision: If you’re involved in an accident, collision insurance will cover damages to your vehicle, regardless of fault.
• Comprehensive: This insurance provides car repair coverage if your vehicle becomes damaged from a natural disaster, vandalism, animals, or other occurrence besides an accident.

Most states require drivers to have liability insurance at a minimum. It’s a good idea to have other types of insurance, including collision and comprehensive coverage, to protect yourself further. Shop around for insurance policies to find one with good coverage and affordable premiums.

Collision Coverage and Car Repairs

Collision coverage pays to repair your vehicle if it’s damaged while driving. It covers this damage regardless of whether you cause an accident with another vehicle. It also covers vehicle damages if you hit another object or get into a single-car accident, such as a rollover.

For example, if you lose control of the vehicle and veer off the road, hitting a tree, collision coverage will pay for the necessary car repairs. While states don’t mandate collision coverage, many lenders require you to have this insurance if you finance your vehicle. In general, you may also want to have collision coverage if you’re worried about your ability to pay for car repairs if you’re involved in an accident.

Comprehensive Coverage and Car Repairs

Many drivers bundle collision and comprehensive coverage, though they’re different types of insurance. Comprehensive coverage will pay for damages to your vehicle caused by factors other than an accident. Typically, comprehensive insurance covers weather-related damages like hail, fire, flooding, and earthquakes. Additionally, it usually covers repairs due to theft, vandalism, and animals, such as hitting a deer.

Similar to collision insurance, many lenders require you to carry comprehensive coverage. You should also consider getting this coverage if you’d be unable to pay for unexpected damages to your car.

Liability Coverage and Car Repairs

No matter where you live, you’ll probably be expected to have liability coverage on your vehicle. Liability insurance covers medical expenses and property damages to another person if you’re at-fault in the accident. In Ohio, you need to have an insurance policy with these mandatory minimum liability amounts:

• $25,000 in bodily injury per person: If you cause an injury to someone else in an accident, your insurer will pay up to $25,000 for their injuries.
• $50,000 in bodily injury per accident: This is the maximum amount your insurer will pay if you cause injuries to two or more people in an accident.
• $25,000 in property damage per accident: Your insurer will pay up to this amount for property damages, such as car repairs, in an accident you cause.

While liability coverage protects you from these expenses, it doesn’t cover any damages or injuries you might suffer in an accident. In addition, if you only carry the minimum liability coverage, you’ll have to pay out-of-pocket for any remaining expenses that exceed those amounts. For this reason, it’s beneficial to have higher liability amounts and additional coverage to protect yourself after an accident.

Factors Affecting Insurance Coverage for Car Repairs

The type of coverage you have on your auto insurance policy can determine how much you pay out-of-pocket after an accident. Different factors can affect this coverage, including:

Your Vehicle’s Age and Condition

The age and condition of your vehicle can impact the insurance policy you choose. For example, if you drive an older car and you don’t finance it, you may choose to have only liability coverage on the car. In this case, you’d have to pay for damages to your car after an accident. On the other hand, a newer car with all the bells and whistles may cost more to repair after an accident. If you drive this type of vehicle, you may choose to have additional coverage to cover accident-related expenses.

Insurance Deductible

Some types of car insurance, including collision and comprehensive coverage, usually have deductibles. That’s the amount you pay out-of-pocket before the insurer will cover the rest. For example, if you have collision coverage with a $1,000 deductible, you’ll pay that amount to repair your vehicle after an accident.

Cause of Damages

After an accident, your insurer will usually inspect the vehicle to determine the cause of damages. If they determine an accident caused the damages, they will pay for the repairs under the terms of your policy. However, if the damage occurred due to normal wear and tear, it typically won’t be covered by your insurance.

Our Role in Facilitating Your Car Repairs

If your car has been damaged in an accident, bring it to Cochran Buick GMC Youngstown. We understand the frustrations an accident can cause, and we do our best to make the repair process as simple and stress-free as possible. We’ll work directly with you and your insurance company to repair your vehicle and get you back on the road as quickly as possible.

Car Repairs in Youngstown, Ohio

Being involved in a car accident can be scary and overwhelming, especially as you navigate your car insurance. At Cochran Buick GMC Youngstown, we strive to take some of that stress off your plate. We offer full-service repairs to get your car running like new again. If you need help with car repairs and insurance claims, trust our expert team to guide you through the process. Schedule an appointment today.

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