The Basics of Insuring a Used Car

by Bianca Villares
Car insurance protects owners from liability and financial problems in the event of an accident or theft. In both cases, getting a car insured follows basic guidelines. If you intend to insure a used car, you may want to narrow down your options. Since used cars are less valuable, you should carefully consider what type of insurance and how much coverage you should get.

Here’s a list of the basic insurance options available for car owners.


Bodily Injury and Personal Property Liability

These are mandatory in most countries. These two components insure and provide financial protection for the policyholder. In the event of an accident resulting in injuries or damage to the property of other parties, the policy enables the at-fault driver to pay for the damage. Most countries and states require a minimum level of coverage. If you’re willing to pay more, you can opt to get a liability coverage which exceeds minimum requirements.


Medical Payments and Uninsured Motorist

Unlike the liability coverage, medical payment coverage is not required in some countries. Since it pays for medical expenses of the policyholder and his passengers injured in a vehicular accident, drivers with adequate health insurance may not need this. The Uninsured Motorist covers injuries and damage incurred from accidents where the at-fault motorist does not have any car insurance. If buying these types of insurance is optional in your country, consider your needs and existing financial commitments.


Collision and Comprehensive

Collision and Comprehensive policies are usually taken on brand new vehicles because of their higher values. For used cars, you should still consider them.

Comprehensive and collision covers the cost of repair or replacement of your vehicle due to collision or other accidents and even theft. The cost of damage incurred through vehicle or object collision is paid through Collision coverage, while Comprehensive pays for the damage caused by an accident other than collision such as theft, vandalism, or fire.

The car’s value is important in assessing the need for this coverage. You should evaluate your car’s total worth compared to what you will have to pay out of your pocket for the premiums.

Identify the insurance that works best by understanding your needs. Determining the value of your vehicle can help you choose the most cost-effective coverage, saving you real money while protecting you from liability at the same time.



About the Author:
Bianca Villares is a member of the IBC Japan Research Team, a company that specializes in exporting used cars from Japan. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication.