Friday, January 29, 2010

Automobile Liability Insurance To Protect Your Assets

By Adriana Noton

Car Liability Insurance is required by state law in every state of the U. S. This insurance is designed to pay for the damage that you cause to other vehicles, property or persons in an automobile accident. Each of the states has their own requirement for liability insurance. Some states have a very minimal amount of insurance that is required, while others have tried to update their requirements to closer meet the actual costs of an accident.

Liability insurance is required by law, but it also protects other assets that you own. If you were to have an accident that caused major damage to persons or property and your insurance coverage were inadequate, it is possible that the persons suffering the loss could file a lawsuit and take properties that belong to you. They could even file a lien against your home which could prevent refinancing of your home and would need to be satisfied before selling the home.

Many times you will hear liability referred to using three numbers such as 25/50/25. The first 25 refers to the amount of money the policy would pay for medical expenses and other personal injury expenses ($25,000) for any one person that was hurt in an accident. The 50 is the maximum amount payable to all persons hurt in the accident ($50,000) and the second 25 is what the policy would pay for property damage ($25,000).

Since most state limits are too low, it is a good idea to carry more insurance than is required by the state laws. Your insurance agent can give you a good idea of the amount of insurance that is needed to protect your assets.

If you are unsure of the required amount of liability insurance that is required by your state, you should check with your department of motor vehicles. They can let you know the requirements for your state. In addition, you should check to see what the penalties are for driving without insurance. In many states, the insurance company is now required to report to the DMV if you insurance lapses for even one day.

States are finally penalizing persons with more than a slap on the hand for driving without a license. Many states will cancel your registration for the lapse in insurance until you can prove that you have insurance and pay an administrative fee. With subsequent incidents the penalties become larger. Some states will impound your vehicle for six months and charge you for storage.

Persons needing to purchase liability insurance can request quotes using the internet. You can often get instant quotes for the insurance you need. By comparing the quotes, you can find the best coverage for your vehicle and the best possible price for your insurance.

If you want to keep the cost of your liability insurance low, learn to drive defensively. This can save you money in a couple of ways. If you drive defensively, you are less likely to get a traffic ticket. In addition, you will avoid accidents. In addition to saving money you may save your own life or the life of family members.

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