When choosing a car insurance quote, many drivers choose low amounts of coverage in order to get lower insurance premiums. Policy holders will elect for only the minimal coverage levels required by state law, and they won’t even take a second look at optional add-on coverage. However, many of these policy add-ons can be extremely valuable, regardless of your driving habits, and many of them won’t add much to the cost of your policy.
For instance, accident forgiveness is a common add-on that car insurance companies love to talk about, but insurance customers rarely decide to buy. It does exactly what it sounds like; a minor accident won’t affect your car insurance rates. Remember, nobody plans on getting into an accident, but every driver makes mistakes. Opting for this add-on can end up saving you hundreds of dollars in annual premiums. It’s also relatively inexpensive. However, accident forgiveness programs are very different from one insurance company to the next. Be sure to read up on this special option before you buy it, and make sure that the conditions aren’t too restrictive (make sure that the limits of your accident forgiveness make sense).
Roadside assistance is another great add-on, and most drivers can benefit from this type of car insurance coverage. It covers your costs if your car breaks down and you need towing or delivery of water and gas. This is an especially important car insurance coverage for drivers that take cross-country trips or spend a lot of time on the road. However, even infrequent drivers should consider roadside assistance, as it’s only a couple of extra dollars per month (again, depending on your insurance provider). The cost of a single tow will easily exceed the cost of many months’ worth of roadside assistance coverage. Drivers of older vehicles should always carry some form of roadside assistance coverage.
Finally, medical payment coverage can be vital in a serious accident, though it’s often ignored by drivers. Medical payment coverage will cover medical expenses for you and any passengers in your vehicle, and although it only covers a certain amount of the expenses (the coverage amount of your policy), it can be absolutely vital. Medical expenses can easily pose a serious issue for any driver, even if injuries are minor–ambulance rides and emergency room visits can climb into the thousands of dollars. In any case, every driver should carefully evaluate every aspect of his or her coverage; add-ons offer drivers invaluable ways to customize their policies, and regardless of the amount of driving you do, they’re worthy of your consideration. These add-ons change your car insurance quote, but safety doesn’t always raise car insurance rates, as noted above.
