Shopping for Philadelphia car insurance has gotten much easier in recent years. While it is still possible to shop around by visiting local agents at their office, often times you can find exactly what you need online. You can either visit insurance web sites individually, or use one of the numerous sites designed to search various vendors for you. Either way, you will likely receive several quotes to compare options and pricing.
The first step to shopping for Philadelphia auto insurance is to determine what kind of coverage you need. There are several different types of coverage to consider:
Liability:
In the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Liability coverage is mandatory for anyone who operates a vehicle. Liability is only basic coverage that will cover any damages or injuries that you cause to someone else.
First Party Coverage:
First Party Coverage, which was formerly called “Personal Injury Protection”, is also mandatory in Pennsylvania. This coverage will cover the cost of medical bills you incur during any accident.
Collision Coverage:
Collision coverage will cover damage done to your vehicle during an accident. This applies whether you are at fault or not. You will have to pay the deductible, but if you are not at-fault, then your insurance company should pursue the at-fault party for the amount of the deductible and reimburse you that amount. Collision coverage is optional.
Comprehensive Coverage:
Comprehensive Coverage covers your car in case of damages not related to an auto accident or in cases of theft. This coverage is optional.
Uninsured Motorist Coverage:
Uninsured Motorist Coverage will cover you in case you are in an accident with another driver who does not have insurance. This coverage is optional.
Under-Insured Motorist Coverage:
Under-Insured Motorist Coverage will cover you in the event you are in an accident with another driver who does have insurance, but does not have enough to cover the cost of your injuries or damage. Under-Insured Motorist Coverage is only applicable if you are not at fault. This coverage is optional.
In addition to choosing coverage types, while shopping for Philadelphia car insurance, you will also need to select the coverage amounts. This is the amount of money that your insurance company will provide for damages and injuries. In the case of injuries, you will select an amount per person and per incident, which is usually displayed as $30,000 / $60,000. In the previous example, you would be covered for $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident. Higher coverage is safer for you, but also results in higher premiums.
With some types of coverage, you will also need to select a deductible amount. This is the amount you will have to pay out of pocket before the insurance company dispenses any money. Lower deductibles result in higher premiums, while higher deductibles result in lower premiums.
One final thing to be mindful of is that some Lienholders and finance companies will require you to carry comprehensive coverage on your vehicle until the loan is paid off. Make sure to check to see if this is a requirement if your car is financed.
Shopping for Philadelphia auto insurance will not be difficult at all if you plan ahead and know what you want.
