Compare liability, collision, comprehensive, PIP, medical payments, uninsured motorist, towing and rental reimbursement before you start a quote.
Auto insurance usually combines coverage that protects other people, coverage that protects your own vehicle, coverage that helps with injury-related expenses and optional services that keep you moving after a loss.
Liability is the required starting point for most drivers. Collision, comprehensive, PIP, medical payments, uninsured motorist, towing and rental reimbursement are separate decisions. The right mix depends on your vehicle, loan status, savings, driving habits and tolerance for out-of-pocket risk.
Coverage terms, availability and exclusions vary by policy and state. This guide is general information, not a coverage determination. Review your declarations page and policy forms, or talk with an agent before changing coverage.
Liability is the foundation of most auto policies. It can pay for other people’s injuries, medical expenses and property damage when you cause an accident. Texas minimum liability limits are commonly described as 30/60/25: $30,000 bodily injury per person, $60,000 bodily injury per accident and $25,000 property damage.
Collision can help repair or replace your vehicle after a crash, whether the accident involves another vehicle or a single-car loss. It usually has a deductible and may be required by your lender or lease company.
Comprehensive, sometimes called other-than-collision, can help with covered losses such as theft, fire, flood, vandalism, hail, flying gravel and animal collisions. It usually has a deductible.
Medical payments coverage can help pay medical bills for you and passengers in your vehicle after an accident. It may also apply if you are hurt while riding in another vehicle, walking or biking.
PIP is broader than medical payments coverage because it can include medical bills, lost wages and some nonmedical costs. In Texas, auto policies include PIP unless you reject it in writing.
UM/UIM can help when the at-fault driver has no insurance, does not carry enough insurance, or leaves the scene after a hit-and-run. Texas insurers must offer this coverage; rejecting it requires written notice.
Towing and labor can pay for towing when your car cannot be driven and for certain roadside labor, such as changing a flat tire or jump-starting a battery.
Rental reimbursement can help pay for a rental car while yours is stolen or being repaired after a covered accident. Some policies may also cover taxis or ride-hailing services.
The cheapest policy is not always the least expensive outcome. A lower premium can still leave you responsible for repair bills, medical costs, rental-car expenses or uncovered liability after an accident.
Make sure the policy meets your state’s financial responsibility requirement. If you are in Texas, remember that minimum limits may not be enough after a serious or multi-car accident.
Collision and comprehensive are usually the first coverages to consider when a repair bill, theft or total loss would create a financial problem. Lenders often require both.
Medical payments and PIP can help with expenses after an accident. PIP may be especially useful when lost wages or nonmedical costs would strain your budget.
UM/UIM can matter when another driver causes a crash but has no insurance, low limits or cannot be identified after a hit-and-run.
Roadside, towing and rental reimbursement are usually lower-cost add-ons, but they are most useful when being without a car would disrupt work, school or family logistics.
Two policies can both say “collision” or “rental reimbursement” and still behave differently because the deductible, limit, covered loss and exclusions are different. Your declarations page is the snapshot of what you bought.
Ask an agent how this applies to your vehicle, limits and deductible choices.
Ask an agent how this applies to your vehicle, limits and deductible choices.
Ask an agent how this applies to your vehicle, limits and deductible choices.
Ask an agent how this applies to your vehicle, limits and deductible choices.
The examples below are common guidelines. They are not a promise that a specific claim will be covered.
Liability generally protects other people when you cause an accident. Full coverage is not a single legal coverage; people usually use the phrase to mean liability plus physical-damage coverage such as collision and comprehensive.
Minimum limits satisfy the basic liability requirement, but they may be too low after a serious accident, a multi-vehicle crash or damage to an expensive vehicle. Many drivers choose higher limits to reduce out-of-pocket risk.
It depends on the car’s value, your deductible and whether you could repair or replace the vehicle without help from insurance. If you have a loan or lease, your lender may require both.
Texas policies include PIP unless you reject it in writing, and insurers must offer uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Talk with an agent before rejecting either because both protect against common accident costs.
Most U.S. auto policies do not satisfy Mexican insurance requirements. If you plan to drive into Mexico, ask about a Mexican liability policy before the trip.
Reference: Texas Department of Insurance, Auto insurance guide.
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