Personal Auto Insurance

Selecting the right automobile policy coverages, deductibles and limits now ensures that you won’t be surprised by any bumps in the road should a loss occur tomorrow. McMahon Insurance Agency  can help!

The Basics of Car Insurance

Car insurance in NJ and in any state is designed to provide you with a level of protection against property, liability and medical costs if you are involved in an accident.

• Property coverage pays for damage to or theft of your car.
• Liability coverage pays for your legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage.
• Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses.

All About Auto Insurance

BI? UM? PIP? Trying to make sense of your auto policy nj coverage options and the limits that you need? We can help! We’ve covered the basics below, which provides the information you need (including acronyms!) to understand your automobile insurance policy and coverage options.

Comprehensive and Collision Coverage

Collision – Covers damage to your car when your car hits, or is hit by, another vehicle or other object. Collision pays to repair your vehicle, less the deductible you choose. For older cars, you may want to consider dropping this coverage, since it is typically limited to the cash value of your car. This coverage is not required by a state, but if you have a loan or a lease, then the lienholder will require it.

Comprehensive (Other Than Collision or OTC) – Covers your vehicle, and sometimes other vehicles you may be driving, for losses resulting from incidents other than collision. This includes damage to your car if it is stolen or damaged by flood, fire, falling objects or animals. States do not require that you purchase collision or comprehensive coverage, but if you have a car loan, your lender may insist that you carry it until your loan is paid off.

Liability Protection

Bodily Injury Liability (BI) – Mandatory in most states, this covers injuries that you, the designated driver or policyholder cause to someone else. Claims for bodily injury include medical bills, loss of income, or pain and suffering. It does NOT cover the cost of damage to your vehicle, or to you or other people on your policy.

Property Damage Liability (PD) – Covers you or someone driving the car with your permission if the car damages someone else’s property. It also provides you with legal defense if another party files a lawsuit against you.

Medical Payments (MP) or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) – This no-fault coverage provides medical expenses to you and your passengers injured in an accident. Medical payments may also cover policyholders and their family members when injured while riding in someone else’s car or when they are hit by a car while on foot or bicycling. If you and your regular passengers already have health insurance that covers similar expenses, medical payments coverage may be unnecessary. Check your health insurance policy for details.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM or UIM) –  This coverage will reimburse you, a member of your family, or a designated driver if one of you is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver. Underinsured Motorist coverage comes into play when an at-fault driver has insufficient insurance to pay for your total loss. This coverage will also protect you if you are hit as a pedestrian.

Selecting Liability Limits

Most states require car owners to purchase a minimum of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. In the event of a serious accident, you want enough insurance to cover a judgment against you in a lawsuit, without jeopardizing your personal assets, such as your home and savings.

Select from these compulsory auto policy coverages:

• Bodily Injury to Others
• Bodily Injury Caused by Uninsured Auto
• Damage to Someone Else’s Property
• Personal Injury Protection

Choose from these optional coverages on your vehicle:

• Bodily Injury Caused by an Underinsured Auto
• Collision
• Comprehensive
• Medical Payments
• Rental Reimbursement
• Towing

Insure your antique, classic or exotic vehicle:

If you are an owner of an antique, classic car, hot rod or an exotic vehicle and use it on a limited basis, you may be eligible for an Agreed-Amount Classic Car Insurance Program from McMahon Insurance.