Important Information about Insurance for your Automobile

When you own and drive a vehicle in Seattle, you are obligated by law to have auto insurance, so you should learn as much as you can about insurance coverage for your vehicle.  Many insurance companies online and in Seattle offer insurance for your car and it can be confusing and difficult to try to discern the differences between the types of coverage that companies offer.  The two main things you want to know about when you are getting auto insurance are the cost of your insurance and the coverage that your insurance policy includes.

Premium Amounts for Auto Insurance

The premium amounts for automobile insurance vary according to several factors.  

• Age of Insured
• Number of Miles Driven per Year
• City in which you are Insured
• Driving Record

If you are over twenty five, your insurance premiums will be reduced and if you drive fewer miles or are part of a car pool, you could get lower premiums.  If you are mainly driving in Seattle, your premiums will be a little higher than people who drive mainly in a rural setting.  If you have not been in recent accidents or gotten recent moving violations, your premiums will also be reduced.

Six types of Automobile Insurance Policy Coverage

• Bodily Injury Liability
• Personal Injury Protection
• Property Damage Liability
• Collision
• Comprehension
• Uninsured Motorist

Bodily Injury Liability covers injuries the policyholder causes to someone else. Personal Injury Protection covers medical treatment for drivers and occupants of the policyholder's car.  Property Damage Liability covers damage that the policyholder causes to someone else's property.

Collision covers damage to a policyholder's car from a collision, whereas Comprehension covers damage to the policyholder's car not caused by a collision and theft.  Damages that riots, earthquakes, floods and fires cause to a car are included in Comprehension coverage.  Uninsured Motorist covers damage to the policyholder's car that a hit-and-run or a motorist who has no insurance causes.  

In the state of Washington, the law requires you to carry Bodily Injury Liability and Property Damage Liability Insurance on any vehicle that you drive.  However, as there are many uninsured motorists in your city, you should also strongly consider at least uninsured motorist coverage for your car.  If your vehicle is new and has a lien on it, many lenders require you have Collision and Comprehension to protect the vehicle for as long as you owe them money for the vehicle.

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