By Madeline Klein on June 28, 2019 in Insurance Basics
We know there can be parts of auto insurance that are not the easiest to understand. It takes time to learn the difference between Collision and Comprehensive, how Roadside Assistance really works, and all that jazz.
We hope that we can clear up the confusion and help make sense of car insurance. That’s why we’ve gathered some of the auto insurance questions we hear a lot and have explained the answers to them.
1. Does my car insurance with roadside assistance cover a tow after an accident?
If you get into an accident and your car isn’t drivable, you should absolutely call a tow truck. That tow, however, wouldn’t be covered by your Roadside Assistance Services through Say. Instead, the cost of the tow would become part of your claim when you file it.
You can use your Say Roadside Assistance for all non-emergency things, like a jump because of a dead battery, or tow to a mechanic after your car breaks down. It also would help you out if you need the following:
- Extraction of a vehicle if it’s within 50 feet of a paved road
- Removal of a flat tire and replacement with your spare
- Fuel, oil, or water delivery if that’s what’s needed
- Lockout services
Remember Say’s Roadside Assistance will pay up to $100 per incident. So if you get towed and it costs $120, we would cover $100 of it, and you’d be responsible for the remaining $20. Just be sure to call Agero for any help you may need.
2. Do I have full coverage car insurance?
Full coverage is a tricky term. Here at Say, we don’t really like to say anyone has full coverage necessarily. It’s actually not possible to have “full coverage” car insurance because there will always be some scenario where you could be uncovered, or at least responsible for part of the bill.
You can peruse all of our coverage options here, but to keep your bases covered, we highly suggest starting with the following:
- Collision
- Comprehensive
- Liability (all states require some amount of this)
- Roadside Assistance
- Uninsured Motorist
While this isn’t exactly “full coverage,” it is a good start to covering a lot of your bases. So much of your coverage depends on your specific situation, so if you have questions, be sure to talk to your provider.
3. Why do I need all household members with a driver’s license on my policy?
It may seem weird to some, but insurance providers typically require you add everyone in your household who has a valid driver’s license to your policy. This is because, at the end of the day, any of these people could end up driving your car, and it’s important for your provider to know who they are. That way if one of them happens to get into an accident in your vehicle, it’s not a shock, and we can hopefully quickly and efficiently get you through your claim.
4. Does my insurance cover rental cars?
There’s your regular, everyday insurance, and then there’s specific rental car insurance. We’re talking coverage for rental cars when you’re cruising on a coastal highway or exploring a new city for the first time. Your everyday policy, like with Say, has some rental car insurance coverage. For example, your Liability Insurance with Say will keep you covered even if you’re driving a rental car and not your own vehicle. Medical Payments is another coverage that could step in to help cover medical bills after a covered accident in a rental car.
But, a Collision Damage Waiver may be something you want to purchase, as there isn’t any typical auto insurance that covers you the same way. And then keep in mind that your homeowners or renters insurance likely cover your personal items in a rental car.
We’ve broken down all parts of rental car insurance coverage and have some suggestions on if your everyday insurance policy could protect you, or if you should spring for the rental car insurance.
5. Does getting towed affect insurance?
Good news! Getting towed won’t affect your insurance rates, but it depends on the reasoning. If you have to use your Roadside Assistance for a tow because your car broke down and needs to be driven to a mechanic, that shouldn’t impact your rate.
However, if you have to get your car towed because you’ve parked illegally 17 times and never paid your parking tickets, that could make your rate go up from the tickets, but not the tow. That factors in because your financial history impacts your insurance score, and in turn, your rate.
6. What happens when a car is totaled?
A totaled car can be a headache to deal with. First, an insurance provider will determine if the car is a total loss or a repairable claim. If it is decided that your car is totaled, that means your car isn’t worth the cost to repair it. And if that’s the case, hopefully, you have the coverage you need, and you’d start the claims process to get some money to help pay for another car. Your insurance provider should walk you through how to file your claim and will most likely pay you for the current value of the car.
And if it’s a repairable claim, you’ll again start the claims process, and your provider will help you hopefully get your car repaired so you can be back on the road in no time.
Understanding car insurance
There’s a lot of mumbo-jumbo when it comes to insurance, but we’re here to help put a stop to that. Still confused on something about your auto insurance? Give us a ring at 1-800-225-5729, and we’ll help talk you through it. We’re here to be helpful!