27 Feb Choosing the Right Insurance Coverage: What Vehicle Damages Does Insurance Cover?
Before you ever need collision repair, you should understand what types of damage to your vehicle your insurance plan will cover. Insurance coverage varies depending on your insurance provider and your specific plan. Full coverage insurance will give you the most coverage for any incident that may damage your vehicle, but there may still be some exceptions to be aware of. With National Auto Collision Centers, we routinely work with insurance companies and can negotiate on your behalf to get your vehicle repaired quickly while minimizing your out of pocket expenses. However, it’s still essential to make sure that you have the right plan to deliver the coverage you need for your vehicle.
Collision Repairs for Other Vehicles
The minimum legal requirement for auto insurance is liability coverage, which will pay for the cost of repairs to other vehicles minus your deductible in a collision you caused. If your vehicle was damaged, but the other driver was found at fault for the accident, then their insurance policy will cover your repair costs. However, if you only have liability coverage, and the accident was your fault, you’re on the hook for your entire repair bill. Liability coverage also pays for medical expenses for other drivers if anyone was injured outside your vehicle during an accident for which you were at fault.
Collision Repair for Your Vehicle
To ensure that your vehicle repairs are covered regardless of who is at fault in a collision, you should carry collision coverage. Not only will this cover repairs for your vehicle if you get in an accident with another vehicle, but it will also cover expenses if you hit an object like a tree, wall, or guardrail.
Non-Collision Damage
Auto body repair may be necessary when there is no collision at all in cases of hail damage, fallen objects, vandalism, or animal strikes. In these situations, you’ll need comprehensive coverage to ensure that your insurance provider pays for the cost of repairs.
What Insurance Won’t Cover
Even if you have full coverage with your auto insurance policy, there may be some circumstances in which your insurer may refuse to pay for vehicle repairs. For example, if you are using your vehicle for commercial purposes without upgrading from a personal insurance policy (such as driving for Lyft or Uber), your insurer will not cover the cost of an accident. Insurance companies may also refuse coverage if you were driving recklessly or committing a crime at the time of the accident, have deliberately damaged your vehicle, or have custom parts/upgrades to your vehicle that increase overall repair costs.
At National Auto Collision Centers, we try to make the process of collision repair as simple and stress-free as possible. We have three convenient auto repair shops in Tucson staffed by ASE and I-Car Platinum certified technicians, and we know the process of working with insurance companies and helping you navigate your coverage. Contact us to schedule your collision repair services.