Full Coverage Auto Repairs: What State Farm Insures

State Farm offers a range of auto insurance coverage options, including comprehensive, collision, and liability insurance. While the term full coverage is not consistently defined across providers, it generally refers to a package of coverages that meet an individual's specific needs. This can include both liability coverage, which protects against financial losses in the event of an accident, and physical damage coverage, such as comprehensive and collision insurance, which cover repairs or replacement of your vehicle in different scenarios. Comprehensive coverage, for example, helps with repairs or replacement if your vehicle is damaged by something other than a collision, such as theft, fire, vandalism, or hitting an animal. On the other hand, collision coverage assists with repairs or replacement if your vehicle collides with another object or vehicle or overturns. It's important to note that full coverage may not include all optional coverages, such as rental and emergency roadside service, which you may want to consider based on your specific needs.

Collision coverage

When deciding whether to purchase collision coverage, consider the value of your vehicle. Many people prefer to cover newer cars, but as cars get older, their values decrease, and you might consider omitting or dropping this coverage to save money on your auto insurance. You can estimate the approximate value of your vehicle through an online resource like Kelley Blue Book, and a State Farm agent can help you determine the value of your vehicle along with how much extra you'd pay to add collision coverage.

Comprehensive coverage

While "full coverage" is not a consistent, defined offering, it typically includes a package of customer-selected coverages that meet your specific needs. It usually includes both liability and physical damage coverage, such as comprehensive and collision coverage.

If you lease or finance your vehicle, your lender will likely require you to purchase comprehensive coverage until the end of your lease or until your vehicle is paid off. This is to ensure that the lessor or lender is protected in case anything happens to your car during the lease or loan term.

When deciding on the level of comprehensive coverage, you will need to choose whether to have a deductible and, if so, how much it will be. A deductible is the amount you agree to pay upfront when you make an insurance claim. A higher deductible will lower your premium but will increase the amount you must pay out of pocket if a loss occurs.

Liability coverage

Bodily Injury Liability Coverage:

BI coverage comes into effect when you are legally liable for causing injury to another person. It helps cover the costs associated with the other party's medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages resulting from the accident. Additionally, it provides defence and court costs if you are sued by the injured individual.

Property Damage Liability Coverage:

PD coverage, on the other hand, addresses damage caused to another person's or company's property during a covered event. This includes not only repairs to the damaged property but also the loss of use of that property. For example, if you crash into a building, PD coverage will help pay for the repairs to the building wall as well as any temporary accommodations needed due to the building being temporarily unusable. Like BI coverage, PD coverage also provides defence and court costs if a lawsuit arises from the property damage.

It is important to note that liability coverage does not pay for repairs to your own vehicle or for any injuries you sustain in an accident. To ensure coverage for your own vehicle and injuries, you would need to consider additional coverages such as collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, and medical payments coverage.

While the minimum amount of liability coverage required by law varies by state, opting for higher coverage limits can provide added peace of mind and better protect your financial future. In the event that the damages you cause exceed your liability limits, you could be held personally liable for the remaining costs, potentially resulting in financial consequences such as garnished wages or liens against your assets.

State Farm also offers Personal Liability Umbrella policies, which provide additional liability protection beyond your primary auto, home, or boat insurance. This added layer of coverage can be crucial in the event of significant injury or property loss claims, helping to ensure that you have sufficient coverage to protect your assets and financial well-being.

Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage

Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage is an optional add-on to your car insurance policy, although some states may require it. This coverage comes into effect when you are injured in an accident caused by an uninsured driver or, in certain states, a hit-and-run driver. UM coverage can help pay for various expenses, including medical costs, lost wages, car repair bills, pain and suffering, and other losses. It typically consists of two types of coverage: Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI) and Uninsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD). UMBI covers medical and non-medical expenses resulting from injuries, while UMPD covers repairs to your vehicle.

Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage, available in some states, comes into play when the at-fault driver's insurance policy limits are insufficient to cover your vehicle damages or bodily injury expenses. Similar to UM coverage, UIM coverage is divided into two categories: bodily injury and property damage. It is important to check the availability and specific application of UIM coverage in your state.

In California, for instance, Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UMC/UIM) is automatically included in your auto insurance policy unless you specifically waive it in writing. California's minimum liability insurance requirements of $15,000 for bodily injury per person, $30,000 for total bodily injury per accident, and $5,000 for property damage are often insufficient to cover the costs of a car accident. UMC/UIM coverage ensures that you can still collect damages for medical expenses, lost wages, car repairs, pain and suffering, and other losses.

State Farm, as part of its auto insurance coverage options, offers uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage. This coverage helps pay for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and property damage resulting from an accident caused by a driver with insufficient or no liability insurance.

Medical payments coverage

MedPay differs from liability coverage, which only pays for damage caused to others, in that it applies regardless of fault. It also differs from health insurance in that there are no deductibles or copayments, and it will pay for expenses that health insurance may not, such as chiropractic visits or an ambulance ride.

• You're hurt when you accidentally hit another car while driving through a parking lot.
• Your spouse is injured when hit by a car while walking across the street.
• Your child is hurt in an accident while a passenger in a friend's car.
• Injury expenses that exceed your policy's coverage amount.
• Damage done to vehicles or other property.
• Injuries to the driver and passengers in another vehicle sustained in an accident for which you are at fault.

State Farm does not disclose the exact cost of MedPay, but it typically costs less than $10 per month on average.

Frequently asked questions