At the risk of further complicating the picture, this article will touch on and explain collision, comprehensive, property damage liability, bodily injury liability, uninsured/underinsured coverage and personal injury protection. Some states require coverage that another state does not. It is in your best interest to understand your state’s minimum requirements.

In order to make an informed decision about what coverage to buy, here is a quick explanation of the above terms. Collision, as you might guess, covers your car if you have an accident. Collision comes with a feature called a deductible. If you select a higher deductible, your premium should be less expensive.

Comprehensive is that part of the coverage that covers loss or damage that doesn’t involve a collision. For example, let’s say someone hits a baseball through your windshield or your vehicle is stolen, the comprehensive portion of the policy covers you. Like collision, comprehensive comes with a deductible and like collision, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium.

If you cause damage to someone else’s car or any of their other property, property damage liability is the part of the policy covering those events. Always discuss this coverage with your agent.

If you cause injuries in an accident, the portion of the policy that covers those injuries is called bodily injury liability. Another feature to discuss with your agent.

A coverage called uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is a coverage almost all people have at least heard about. It works like this, if the person who hit you doesn’t have insurance or doesn’t have enough liability insurance, this will pick up the difference. This is coverage some states require while others don’t. Another ask your agent coverage.

We all should be concerned about personal injury in an accident. Fortunately, a coverage called personal injury protection will pay if someone in your car is injured. This helps you keep your liability low.