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Auto Insurance Glossary
Online Auto Insurance Tips
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Your
auto insurance policy will provide protection under a
variety of circumstances. The following example may help
you understand which auto insurance coverages are designed for a given
event.
John is driving his new car on Main Street, more concerned
with the vehicle's gadgets than watching the road. Unfortunately,
he collides with a car in front of him stopped at an intersection.
The car is occupied by Michelle and her two sons. The
collision deploys John's airbag. He incurs a broken nose
and his front fender is severely damaged. Michelle suffers
a strained neck, her car is damaged and both boys bruise
their knees. How will John's auto insurance policy come
into play and will it protect his financial well-being?
Because John is clearly at-fault, the bodily injuries
sustained by Michelle and her sons are covered by John's
bodily injury coverage. Michelle's damaged car will be
repaired under John's property damage coverage. Medical
expenses for John's broken nose and his loss of income
if he misses time from work will be taken care of by his
personal injury protection coverage. John's new car will
be repaired through John's collision coverage, subject
to the selected deductible. If the car is towed to a garage,
the costs will be covered through his towing and labor
coverage. If the car is in the shop for an extended period
of time, John will need to rent a car. The rental reimbursement
coverage he selected will help defray these expenses.
All of these coverages will be paid subject to the selected
limits and/or deductibles of the insurance policy. If
expenses incurred are greater than John's purchased limit,
John's assets may be sacrificed. Although this example
is extreme, it should help you to better understand the
importance of auto insurance.
Active Anti-theft Device
An active device disables the vehicle by making the fuel,
ignition, or starting system inoperative. A disabling
device is classified as active if a separate manual step
is required to engage the device. An example of an active
step is the use of a remote control on the ignition key.
Alarm
An alarm is considered to be an audible sounding device,
such as a motor vehicle's horn, bell, siren, or other
sounding device, that can be heard at a distance of at
least 300 feet for a minimum of 3 minutes.
Anti-hot Wiring Anti-theft Device
A circuit or method that prevents a motor vehicle from
starting, including ignition interrupts, starter interrupts,
or fuel interrupts.
Anti-theft Device
An anti-theft device is a manufacturer-installed or after-market
device that triggers upon entry to the vehicle. It prevents
operation of the fuel, ignition or starting systems. It
must be permanently installed. Portable equipment does
not qualify for this discount.
Anti-theft - Manual Alarm
The driver must set a manual alarm.
Anti-theft - Passive Alarm
A passive alarm sets automatically.
At-fault Accident
An at-fault accident is one in which you are legally held
responsible for the accident.
Auto Shutoff And Reset Anti-theft Device
A system by which an alarm device sounds for not more
than 4 minutes, shuts off, and immediately rearms itself.
Bodily Injury Coverage (BI)
This coverage pays for bodily injury incurred by others
and caused by you (i.e. you are at fault and therefore
liable). Bodily Injury can be referred to as a third-party
coverage, since it will not pay for your own bodily injury.
Some expenses resulting from bodily injury include ambulance
service, emergency treatment, doctors' fees, physical
rehabilitation, and loss of income or earning capacity
as well as legal and court costs. Bodily Injury limits
are in a 'split' form (i.e. 100,000/300,000). For example,
split limits of 100,000/300,000 mean the company will
pay as much as $100,000 to each injured person, but not
more than a total of $300,000 per accident. Bodily Injury
protects your assets. If you have significant assets to
protect, such as home, cars and savings, we strongly recommend
purchasing high limits (i.e. 100,000/300,000 or more).
If expenses incurred by the third party are greater than
your purchased limit, your assets may be sacrificed. In
general, the higher the limit selected, the more expensive
the coverage. Bodily Injury is mandatory, and therefore
a minimum limit must be purchased.
Collision Coverage
This coverage helps pay for repairs to a vehicle damaged
by a collision with another vehicle or object. Examples
of this include a collision with a tree, trash can or
garage door. Collision may also provide coverage if a
car rolls over even if another vehicle is not involved.
To obtain this coverage, please choose a deductible, which
represents the portion of damages you would pay before
your insurance coverage would activate. If you do not
wish this coverage, simply choose "No Coverage."
Comprehensive Coverage
This helps cover damage to a car resulting from incidents
other than those governed by collision coverage. Examples
of this may include damage or loss resulting from fire,
theft, vandalism, falling objects or certain natural disasters
or accidents resulting from a collision with an animal.
To obtain this coverage, please choose a deductible, which
represents the portion of damages you would pay before
your insurance coverage would activate. If you do not
wish this coverage, simply choose "No Coverage."
Deductible
A deductible represents the amount paid by you (in other
words, your out-of-pocket expense) before the insurer
will pay benefits. In general, the higher the deductible
you select, the lower your premium cost.
Driver Fitness Discount
Operators who are 70 years old or older are classified
as 'with Driving Fitness' if all such operators listed
on the policy have provided, within the last year, certification
from a licensed physician that the operator's vision,
health and physical condition permit the safe operation
of a motor vehicle.
Driver Training Discount
Valid in certain states, this discount is applied when
insured submits proof of voluntary attendance and successful
completion of a motor vehicle driver-training course approved
by your state. The course must have been completed within
your state's designated time frame from the date of application
in order for the discount to be valid.
Drugs And Alcohol Awareness Training Discount
Available in Texas only, this discount is applied when
insured submits proof of voluntary attendance and successful
completion of a drug and alcohol driving awareness program
that has been approved by the Texas Education Agency under
the Texas Driver and Traffic Safety Education Act.
Extended Transportation Expenses
See Rental Reimbursement
Extraordinary Medical Benefits, Pennsylvania
Provides coverage for medical and rehabilitative expenses
that exceed $100,000 per person subject to a yearly limit
of $50,000 per person and an aggregate maximum of $1,000,000.
The $50,000 annual limit does not apply to expenses incurred
within the first 18 months of an insured's eligibility.
First Party Benefits, Pennsylvania
Options within this coverage include:
-
Basic First Party Benefits: pays for necessary medical
expenses with a $5,000 limit. The laws of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania mandate you carry this minimum coverage.
-
Combination
First Party Benefits: provides a combination of medical
expense, work loss, funeral expenses and accidental
death coverage with a maximum combined limit of $177,500.
-
Added
First Party Benefits: provides coverage for higher limits
of medical expenses and includes coverage options for
work loss benefits, funeral expenses and accidental
death benefits.
Full
Glass Coverage
In the event of a glass claim, the deductible is waived.
Glass Sensor Anti-theft Device
An electronic device that activates the alarm device if
it detects the sound of breaking glass or metal in contact
with glass.
Good Student
Available in Georgia only, this discount is applied to
an unmarried rated operator who is at least 16 years old
and under 25 years old if the operator is a full-time
high school, college, university, or vocational/technical
school student and the operator is an 'honor student'
as dictated by one of our criteria.
Group Discount
Applied when the named insured maintains membership in
or association with an approved group that has established
a relationship with Response Insurance.
Hood Restraint And Backup Battery Anti-theft Device
The hood restraint is a device preventing full access
to under-hood components, including chain restraints that
allow hood opening a maximum of four inches, a mechanical
or electrical device that physically locks the hood down,
or a mechanical or electrical device that prevents the
factory-supplied hood mechanism from operating. The backup
battery is an auxiliary power source that trips an alarm
device if the main power source is disconnected or if
wires to the alarm device are cut or disconnected.
Household Members
Household members are considered those who live in the
same household with the named insured other than the spouse.
Income Loss, Virginia
Pays toward the loss of income incurred by an injured
person if the injured person had an income when the accident
occurred. This loss must occur within one year after the
date of the accident and be a result of disability caused
by the accident.
Insured's Spouse
The insured's spouse usually is entitled to receive the
same coverage as the named insured if he or she lives
in the same household.
Limits
Limits, or limitations, are caps on the dollar amounts
of coverage you are entitled to receive under the policy.
Different types of coverages, such as bodily injury, property
damage and medical payments, among others, have different
limits set. Within the range of limits offered, the policyholder
generally chooses the limits for each coverage type.
Major Violations
Examples of major violations are:
-
Driving
under the influence
-
Leaving
the scene of an accident
-
Driving
while license suspended or revoked
-
Drag
racing
-
Reckless
driving
-
Filing
a fraudulent insurance claim
-
Permitting
an unlicensed driver to operate a motor vehicle
Medical
Payments Coverage
This coverage pays for necessary medical and hospital
expenses. You, household relatives, and other persons
occupying your car are protected. Individuals covered
under the policy may also be protected when injured as
a pedestrian. This coverage may vary depending upon the
state.
Motion Sensor Anti-theft Device
A mechanical device that activates the alarm device if
the vehicle is jacked up or towed.
Named Insured
The named insured is the individual who is primarily insured
under the policy and generally receives the most extensive
coverage under it.
No-fault Coverage
No-fault coverage pays for injuries to you and certian
other eligible individuals regardless of who is at-fault.
Optional Basic Economic Loss (OBEL), New York
Optional Basic Economic Loss (OBEL) is an optional coverage
that will pay certain expenses, up to $25,000, above the
Personal Injury Protection limit of $50,000. Optional
Basic Economic Loss is different from your other coverages
in that you can select the kinds of benefits to be paid
under OBEL. If you select OBEL, we will contact you when
it appears likely that you may use up the Basic Personal
Injury Protection coverage of your policy to find out
how you wish to apply your OBEL coverage.
Passive Device
A passive device disables the vehicle by making the fuel,
ignition, or starting system inoperative. A disabling
device is classified as passive if a separate manual step
is not required to engage the device.
Personal Injury Protection Coverage (PIP)
This coverage pays for reasonable medical expenses, as
well as a percentage of your lost earnings, if not specifically
excluded, and is subject to the limit you select. You,
household relatives, and other persons occupying your
car are protected. Individuals covered under the policy
may also be protected when injured as a pedestrian. Therefore,
PIP is first-party coverage, since it will not pay benefits
for those injured in another car (protection is provided
through bodily injury coverage). This coverage is also
referred to as "No-fault" coverage since benefits are
awarded regardless of fault.
Personal Injury Protection Deductible, Florida / Delaware
The deductible represents the amount you will pay out-of-pocket
in the event you have selected personal injury protection
coverage and an incident occurs that falls under this
category. In general, the higher the deductible you select,
or the more operators and household members it is applied
to, the less expensive the coverage.
Property Damage Coverage (PD)
This coverage pays for property damage incurred by others
that was caused by you (i.e. you are at fault and therefore
liable). Property Damage can be referred to as third-party
coverage, since it will not pay for your own property.
For example, it covers damage to another car, a garage
door, or a lamp post. Property Damage serves to protect
your assets. If you have significant assets to protect
(i.e. home, cars, savings), we strongly recommend purchasing
high limits (i.e. 50,000 or more). If expenses incurred
by the third party are greater than your purchased limit,
your assets may be sacrificed. In general, the higher
the limit selected, the more expensive the coverage. Property
Damage is mandatory, and therefore a minimum limit must
be purchased.
Rental Reimbursement
This coverage pays toward the expenses to rent an auto
if you have a loss (covered under your Comprehensive or
Collision coverage) and your auto is disabled longer than
24 hours. Rental Reimbursement may also be referred to
as Extended Transportation Expenses, dependent on the
state, which provides the same coverage.
Stacked Or Non-stacked Coverage, Florida
Stacked coverage means that the Uninsured Motorists limits for
each vehicle insured by this policy can be added together. For
example, if each vehicle has $10,000/$20,000 coverage and there
are two vehicles, the coverage would actually be equivalent to
$20,000/$40,000 limits.
Non-Stacked coverage means that the stated limit applies per
accident regardless of the number of vehicles insured. For
example, if a vehicle has $10,000/$20,000 non-stacked coverage
on a single or multicar vehicle policy, that is the amount that
would be covered if there is a loss.
Stacked Or Non-stacked Coverage, Pennsylvania
Stacked coverage means that the limits for each car owned
and registered in the state of Pennsylvania can be added
together. For example, if each vehicle has $10,000/$20,000
coverage and there are two vehicles, the coverage would
actually be equivalent to $20,000/$40,000 limits. If you
are currently purchasing a multi-vehicle policy or a single
car policy but have another vehicle registered in Pennsylvania
that is insured by another insurance company, you may
purchase stacked coverage at an additional charge.
Non-stacked means that the stated limit applies per accident
regardless of the number of vehicles insured. For example,
if a vehicle has $10,000/$20,000 non-stacked coverage
on a single or multi-car vehicle policy, that is the amount
that would be covered if there is a loss. If you own a
single vehicle registered in the state of Pennsylvania,
you must elect non-stacked Underinsured or Uninsured Motorist
Bodily Injury coverage or opt to have no coverage.
Supplementary Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists (SUM),
New York
This coverage protects you, your household relatives,
and any other persons occupying your auto, if you are
injured by a driver with no liability insurance, or by
an underinsured driver, or by a hit-and-run driver who
is held legally responsible for your injuries. This pays
for your damages after the other driver's coverage has
been exhausted. SUM extends to incidents that occur anywhere
in the United States.
If you prefer Uninsured Motorists Coverage, which is the
minimum mandatory coverage you may choose and is typically
referred to as Statutory Uninsured Motorists Coverage,
please contact our call center. Uninsured Motorists Coverage
protects you only for incidents that occur in New York
and does not cover you for underinsured motorists.
Tort Types - Limited Or Full
Under the "Limited Tort" option, your right and the rights
of your family members to seek financial compensation
for injuries caused by other drivers are limited. Selection
of the "Limited Tort" option will reduce your insurance
premium.
Under the "Full Tort" option, you maintain an unrestricted
right for you and the members of your household to seek
financial compensation for injuries caused by other drivers.
Towing And Labor
If your auto is disabled, this coverage pays up to $50
for the towing or labor at the place of disablement subject
to the selected limit.
Traffic Mitigation Discount
Available in Delaware only, this discount is applied if
the rated driver participates in a Travelink Traffic Mitigation
Act program (employer-sponsored ride sharing). Such a
program must have been approved by the Department of Transportation.
Traffic/Moving Violations
Examples of violations are:
-
Speeding tickets
-
Failing
to signal
-
Improper
turning
Parking
tickets are not considered traffic violations
Ultrasonic Sensor Anti-theft Device
An electronic device that activates the alarm device if
an ultrasonic field is disturbed inside the motor vehicle.
Uninsured Or Underinsured Motorists Bodily Injury Coverage
(UMBI, UIMBI)
This coverage protects you and any other persons occupying
your auto, if you are injured by a driver with no liability
insurance, or by an underinsured driver, or by a hit-and-run
driver who is held legally responsible for your injuries.
This coverage puts the insured in the same position as
if the responsible motorist had liability insurance. If
the insured is not legally entitled to reimbursement from
another motorist, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or
medical payments coverage and/or the insured's health/disability
insurance would be alternative sources of recovery.
Uninsured Or Underinsured Motorists Property Damage
(UMPD, UIMPD)
This coverage protects your auto, if damage is caused
by a driver with no liability insurance, or by an underinsured
driver, or by a hit-and-run driver who is held legally
responsible for the damage.
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN#)
The Vehicle Identification Number is a 17-digit alphanumeric
code that identifies the make, model and sub model of
your vehicle. It also provides information about safety
features that are standard on that vehicle. It does not
indicate the name, address or any other personal information
about the owner of the vehicle. To find your vehicle identification
number, look for a label in your engine compartment or
on the body of your car when you open your driver's-side
door. You may also find it on your bill of sale or your
registration, or you can ask your sales person to provide
the number.
Vehicle Recovery Systems
A vehicle recovery system includes an electronic transmitting
device that allows your stolen vehicle to be tracked and
more easily recovered.
Vibration Sensor Anti-theft Device
A mechanical or electrical device that activates the alarm
device if any part of the motor vehicle is bumped, causing
vibration.
Violation
A violation pertains specifically to a traffic moving
violation and involves an illegal operation of a motor
vehicle.
Some violations include, but are not limited to:
-
Speeding
-
Driving
under the influence of alcohol
-
Leaving
the scene of an accident
-
Failure
to stop at a stop sign or light
-
Illegal lane change
-
Improper
turning
-
Following
too closely
-
Evading
police
-
Illegal
transfer of explosives
-
Failure to obey a safety zone
-
Driving without lights
-
Obstructing
traffic
Window
ID System
A system under which the motor vehicle identification
number is permanently marked on at least two windows of
the motor vehicle other than the small vent windows.
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