Car insurance coverage types hit me like a brick the first time I actually read my policy—sitting in a Taco Bell parking lot in Phoenix, salsa dripping on the fine print, realizing I had no clue what “bodily injury” even meant. I’m talking full-on brain freeze, like, worse than the brain freeze from the Baja Blast I just chugged. Anyway, I’m breaking this down like I wish someone had for me—zero jargon, just my dumb mistakes and what I actually learned.
Why Car Insurance Coverage Types Still Trip Me Up (Liability Edition)
Liability is the bare minimum, the “please don’t sue me” coverage. I skimped on it once in college—thought $15k/$30k sounded fine until I sideswiped a Tesla in a Whataburger drive-thru. Dude’s bumper cost more than my entire car. My premium doubled, and I ate ramen for a month. Lesson? Bump those limits to at least 100/300 if you drive anywhere near people with money. Check state minimums here.
- Bodily injury: Pays if you hurt someone. I thought “hurt” meant broken bones only—turns out migraines from whiplash count too.
- Property damage: Covers the other guy’s car (or fence, or mailbox—ask me how I know).
Car Insurance Coverage Types I Ignored Until I Needed Them (Collision & Comprehensive)
Collision is exactly what it sounds like—your car vs. anything solid. I totaled my Civic hugging a curb during an iced-coffee spill. No collision coverage = me paying $4,200 out of pocket. Comprehensive is the “act of God” stuff—hail, theft, that time a javelina in Tucson rammed my fender. (Yes, really. Google “javelina car attack.”)
The Time I Learned “Gap Insurance” the Hard Way
Bought a new (to me) truck, financed $22k, wrecked it two months later. Owed $18k, car worth $14k. Gap insurance would’ve eaten that $4k difference. Instead, I sold plasma. Twice.
Car Insurance Coverage Types That Sound Fake But Aren’t
- Uninsured/underinsured motorist: Saved my butt when a dude with no insurance T-boned me at a yellow light.
- Medical payments (MedPay): Paid for my ER visit after I sneezed and rear-ended myself. Okay, not really, but it would have.
- Rental reimbursement: Gave me a Dodge Charger for a week when my car was in the shop. Felt like a drug dealer.
My Current Car Insurance Coverage Types Setup (Don’t Judge)
- 100/300 liability (learned my lesson)
- $500 deductible collision/comprehensive
- $100/day rental
- Zero roadside assistance (I have AAA, fight me)
I still overpay for comprehensive in Arizona because monsoon season turns hail into golf balls. Worth it? Maybe. My neighbor’s windshield looked like a spiderweb last July.
The One Car Insurance Coverage Type I’ll Never Drop Again
Roadside assistance through my insurer is trash—$150 to change a tire—but MedPay? Clutch. Last month I sliced my hand on a broken taillight (long story, involves a raccoon and a Costco rotisserie chicken). $800 ER bill, MedPay covered it, zero copay.
Final Thoughts (From My Couch in Sweatpants)
Car insurance coverage types aren’t sexy, but neither is explaining to your mom why you’re biking to work. Start with state minimums, then add collision/comprehensive if your car’s worth more than a fancy espresso machine. Call your agent, ask dumb questions, send them a photo of your dog—they’ll quote you better if they think you’re human.
Your move: Pull your policy, Google your coverages, and text your agent “explain this like I’m drunk.” Works every time.
(And if you’re in Arizona, watch out for javelinas. Seriously.)
