Nobody wants to pay more for car insurance than they need to, but the lowest price won’t always get you the coverage and protection you and your family need. There are many things standard auto policies will not cover, and after an accident is not the time to find out you don’t have coverage.
Rental auto coverage
Standard auto coverage does offer limited rental auto coverage if your car is in the shop for repairs after an accident. Higher limits may be available.
Stolen or vandalized autos
The personal auto policy will provide the actual cash value of your unrecovered auto that is stolen. Your personal property in your car is likely not to be protected with a standard policy, which means you would need to pay to replace your phone or any other personal property that was in your car when it was stolen or vandalized.
Commercial use of personal autos
The standard personal auto policy covers most business use of personal autos. However, it would not cover use in a garage business or involvement with a transportation network company. Under some circumstances, a commercial auto policy will be required.
Pet protection
Something else that is not standard in auto policies is pet protection. If your dog or cat is injured in an auto accident, a standard policy will not cover your pet’s injuries. However, some carriers offer a policy rider to protect your furry family members.
Simply put
Liability and physical damage coverage provides the basic insurance you need, but there are options for additional coverage to meet your needs and cover many of the noncovered items discussed in this article.
Do you have questions about your personal auto policy, and about the extent of your coverage? Call the office of your independent insurance agent so he or she can review your policy and help you find a new one that is right for you and your family’s needs.
Matt McDonough is PIA Northeast's writer, editor and content curator. Matt joined PIA Northeast in September 2023. Before that, he had been an editor for the online entertainment magazine Collider from 2021-23 as a copy editor for its lists section. Matt entered the world of journalism at his alma mater, SUNY New Paltz, writing and reporting for the college's student run newspaper, The New Paltz Oracle. He graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Creative Writing in 2020.
