Auto Insurance

What is auto insurance?
Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company. You agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy.

Auto insurance provides property, liability and medical coverage:

• 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.

An auto insurance policy is comprised of six different kinds of coverage. Most states require you to buy some, but not all, of these coverages. If you're financing a car, your lender may also have requirements.

Most auto policies are for either six months or a year. Your insurance company will notify you by mail when it's time to renew the policy and  pay your premium.

Why do you need auto insurance?
It's really all about protecting yourself financially.

• If you're in an accident or your car is stolen, it costs money, often a lot of money, to fix or replace it.
• If you or any passengers are injured in an accident, medical costs can be extremely expensive.
• If you or your car is responsible for damage or injury to others, you may be sued for much more than you're worth.
• Not only is having insurance a prudent financial decision, many states require you to have at least some coverage.

Questions to ask your agent
Your Independent Agent is an advocate for finding auto insurance that meets your specific needs. Here are a few things to consider as you prepare for the discussion:

• How much can you afford to pay if you get in an accident? (To keep premiums low you may want to have a higher deductible and be willing to pay more for repairs.)
• What is the insurance company's level of service and ability to pay claims?
• What discounts are available? (Ask about good driver, multiple policy and student discounts.)
• What's the procedure for filing and settling a claim? (Ask who to call and what happens after you file a claim.)

If you've been in an accident, follow these general guidelines:

• Stop at once. Never leave the scene of even a MINOR accident.
• Seek medical assistance and summon police.
• Do not admit fault. Do not comment about the accident to anyone but your insurance representative and the police.
• Never accept or make an offer of cash, check, or "private" settlement.

Gather accident information:

• Note the date and time of the accident.
• Obtain information on the other driver including: name, address, phone#, make of car, vehicle license# and insurance company.
• Record a description of what occurred, and draw a diagram of the accident showing the direction of both cars and the point of the accident. Include street names and location of traffic signs/signals.
• Report the accident promptly to Summit Insurance Agency.

Summit Insurance can help you with your coverage needs for all types of automobiles, be it car, truck, SUV, motorcycle, watercraft, RV, ATV, dirt bike, moped, scooter, snowmobile, golf cart, Segway, or a commercial automobile. We know how to find the best company and coverages for you. We'll explain all you need to know about insuring your vehicle - review your coverage options and needs, what to do if you have a claim and more!

We also know your auto insurance needs change with time. So if you get married, add a teenage driver, buy a new car, sell an old car, store your car for the winter, or even move, we can help you change your auto policy.

What are some of the Auto Insurance discounts and advantages available for me?

• good driver and good student discounts
• safe car discounts
• multi-policy discounts (home/auto/etc. with the same carrier)
• free windshield repair
• 24/7 claims service
• guarantee on repairs
• flexible payment options and discounts

Bodily Injury & Property Damage
The State of Ohio requires that every car owner maintain minimum limits of bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. Liability insurance is the only coverage you must purchase. You want to be responsible if you hurt someone in an accident or if you damage someone's property. You can do this by purchasing bodily injury and property damage liability insurance. To be legal you must buy at least $12,500 each person and $25,000 each accident for bodily injury liability and $7500 for property damage liability. Although this is the least expensive amount of coverage and the only type that theState of Ohio requires, this may not protect you in the event of an at-fault accident or if you are sued.

Medical Payments
This optional coverage pays for the injuries to the driver and passengers in the car, and could be very important if a person doesn't have health insurance. It also covers the insured and his/her family as a pedestrian.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Reimburses you or your family members or a person you allow to drive your car if you're in accident that's not your fault and the at-fault party doesn't have any or enough liability coverage. This reimbursement is for injuries and other damages.

Physical Damage Coverages
If you have a loan or are leasing a vehicle, the bank will require you to carry comprehensive and collision. If your car is damaged or is a total loss, one of the following coverages, if purchased, will pay to repair or replace it. By having comprehensive and collision coverage, you are known to have "full coverage", meaning you are responsible to others for accidents where you are at fault. In addition, your car will be repaired should it be damaged.

Comprehensive
Known as “comp” for short, this coverage pays to repair your vehicle if it is damaged or destroyed while not being driven or if you hit an animal. It also pays to repair or replace your windshield. Common claims are fire, theft, hail, windshield and deer collisions. Comprehensive is usually written with a deductible, meaning you share in the claim cost with the insurance company. The higher the deductible you choose, the lower the premium.

Collision
Collision pays to repair or replace your car if it's damaged in a collision, meaning the driver has hit another car or object. If you are hit by a hit-and-run driver, and the driver isn't identified, your collision deductible will apply. Collision coverage is always written with a deductible. The higher deductible you choose, the lower your premium is.