We live in a fast-paced world and, especially in California, we all need our cars to help us keep up. With so many of us relying on our cars to get us where we need to go, it’s important to be sure that you’re protected when on the road.

One of the biggest misnomers of car insurance comes from the term: “full coverage.” While “full coverage” car insurance sounds like a great idea – and it can be – that same “full coverage” policy can also have HUGE gaps if not structured properly.

The first part of what many consider full coverage is liability protection. In California, as in all states, each driver is legally required to have a minimum level of liability insurance. Simply buying what the state recommends does not mean you are properly protected. It just means that you can legally driver a car. 

The liability limits on your car insurance reflect the maximum amount your insurance company will pay for injuries you cause to others in an auto accident. For example, if you carry liability limits of $100,000 / $300,000 / $100,000, this means that your insurance company will pay out $100,000 per person injured, $300,000 for all those injured combined and $100,000 for property damage you cause to others. If, however, you cause $175,000 in damages to another individual then you will be responsible for personally paying that $75,000 gap between the $100,000 paid by the insurance company and the $75,000 owed by you. In additional to medical bills for those you injure, you would also be expected to pay for pain and suffering and lost wages. Making it really easy for these liability expenses to add up!

The second part of the “full coverage” myth relates to protection for your vehicle itself and some bonus features. Protection for your car specifically is often referred to as “comp and collision”. While this coverage provides protection for your car specifically, you’re not required by the state of California to carry it. Similarly, drivers also aren’t required to have insurance to pay for towing and rental car. When a driver chooses to have these three coverages – “comp and collision”, towing and rental car – they’ll often describe their insurance policy as providing “full coverage”. Even though it’s often recommended to carry these additional levels of protection, a driver with “full coverage” can absolutely still have a gap in liability protection or other aspects of their coverage. …making the coverage not so “full” after all.

While “full coverage” may sound like it represents quality car insurance coverage, we advise our clients and their loved ones to be aware of this misnomer. Not all “full coverage” insurance translates to quality coverage. 

If you want to be sure that your insurance coverage is appropriate for your lifestyle, please give us a call at 805-984-3777 or send us a message at info@TheWeiserAgency.com to review your existing policies.  We’re always happy to provide a free consultation to get you where you need to go… fully covered!