Insurance Basics: Everything You Need to Know

The Best Car Insurance Policies Have These Extra Coverages

All car insurance policies come with state-mandated minimum coverage, and many policies have additional coverage that protect the vehicle itself. The very best car insurance policies go beyond these protections, adding extra coverage that might seem trivial -- until you need to use it. Look for this extra coverage in the best car insurance policies.

Emergency Roadside Assistance for Roadside Breakdowns

Emergency roadside assistance might not be traditional insurance coverage in the truest sense of the term, but it's helpful protection to have if you're ever broken down on the side of the road. The protection won't pay for damage to your vehicle like most insurance coverage, but it will send a tow truck to bring fuel, change a tire or take your car to a mechanic.

You'll find emergency roadside assistance offered as optional protection in the best car insurance policies. If you have roadside assistance through an automotive organization, you can forgo this protection. If you don't have roadside assistance via another means, though, add it to your policy. The additional premium that the protection adds is much less than what a tow costs.

Rental Car Coverage for Extended Bodywork

Instead of protecting your car against damage, rental car coverage will give you a different car to use while yours is fixed after a covered accident. The coverage will usually pay a set fee per day, allowing you to rent a vehicle without paying anything out-of-pocket.

Rental car coverage is a nice luxury to have if your car needs to go into a mechanic's shop for some quick repairs following an accident. Should your car need extensive bodywork done after an accident, however, this protection is all but necessary. Extensive bodywork can take days to complete, as technicians need to disassemble damaged sections, order replacement pieces, install those replacement pieces and paint everything so that it matches.

When your car's in a body shop for several days in a row, rental car coverage ensures you have an alternative vehicle to use during this time.

Glass Coverage for Window Damage

Glass coverage is a specialized protection within comprehensive coverage, which itself is a fairly common protection that guards against damage to your vehicle. Glass coverage ensures that your car's windshield and windows can be replaced with no out-of-pocket cost to you if they're broken.

Glass coverage won't make or break most budgets because repairing a car's window costs much less than replacing a totaled vehicle. If a branch falls on your car's windshield or window, however, it's nice to be able to get the glass fixed without worrying about even a smaller out-of-pocket expense.

To learn more, contact a resource like Illinois Insurance Center Inc.


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