Bodily injury liability
Pays for medical expenses, lost wages, and legal costs if you injure another person in an at-fault accident. Required in most states.
Personal Auto Insurance for Every Driver
Your car gets you where you need to go — auto insurance makes sure a collision, theft, or lawsuit doesn't derail everything else. Compare coverage options from top-rated carriers and find the right fit for your vehicle and budget.
What's covered
What does auto insurance cover?
A personal auto insurance policy is made up of several distinct coverages that protect you, your passengers, and other people on the road. Most states require at least liability coverage by law; lenders typically require collision and comprehensive if you carry a loan or lease.
Property damage liability
Covers repair or replacement costs when you damage someone else's vehicle or property in an at-fault accident. Required in most states.
Collision coverage
Pays to repair or replace your vehicle after a collision with another car or object, regardless of who is at fault.
Comprehensive coverage
Covers non-collision losses including theft, vandalism, fire, hail, flooding, and animal strikes.
Uninsured & underinsured motorist
Protects you when the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage to pay for your injuries and damages.
Medical payments / PIP
Pays medical expenses for you and your passengers after an accident, regardless of fault. Personal injury protection (PIP) may also cover lost wages in no-fault states.
Eligibility
Who needs personal auto insurance?
Nearly every driver in the United States is required by state law to carry at least minimum liability coverage. Beyond the legal requirement, the right policy level depends on your vehicle, your financial situation, and your risk tolerance.
- All licensed drivers — Most states require liability insurance as a condition of vehicle registration and operation on public roads.
- Owners of financed or leased vehicles — Lenders and leasing companies require collision and comprehensive coverage for the duration of the loan or lease.
- Households with teen drivers — Young drivers face a higher statistical risk of accidents, making adequate liability limits especially important.
- High-mileage commuters — Drivers logging significant annual mileage have higher exposure to accidents and should review their coverage limits accordingly.
- Multi-vehicle households — Insuring multiple vehicles on one policy often unlocks multi-car discounts and simplifies policy management.
Why Ashmont Insurance Agency
The smarter way to buy personal auto insurance
Compare options from top-rated carriers with the help of a licensed personal lines advisor — not a call center.
Carrier comparison in minutes
Our platform compares personal lines options across top-rated carriers so you see the right combinations of coverage and price side by side — without hours on hold or a stack of paper applications.
Top-rated carriers
We work with highly rated personal lines carriers so you get the financial strength and claims-paying reliability that matters when you actually need to file a claim.
Licensed personal lines advisors
A licensed advisor reviews your coverage, explains your options, and helps you choose the right limits and deductibles — so you're not guessing when something goes wrong.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about auto insurance
Have more questions? Our licensed advisors are available by phone, email, or chat.
What factors affect my auto insurance rate?
Auto insurance rates are determined by a combination of factors including your driving record (accidents, violations, claims history), vehicle make, model, year, and safety ratings, your annual mileage, where you park and drive (ZIP code and state), your age and years of licensed driving experience, marital status, and in states where permitted, your credit-based insurance score. Coverage levels, deductible choices, and optional endorsements also directly affect your premium.
What is the difference between liability-only and full coverage auto insurance?
Liability-only coverage pays for damage and injuries you cause to others — it does not pay to repair your own vehicle. Full coverage is an informal term that typically means your policy includes liability, collision, and comprehensive. Full coverage is generally recommended for newer or financed vehicles, while older vehicles with lower market values may not justify the added premium of collision and comprehensive.
What is gap insurance and do I need it?
Gap insurance (Guaranteed Asset Protection) covers the difference between what you owe on a car loan or lease and the vehicle's actual cash value if it is totaled or stolen. Because new vehicles depreciate quickly, your insurance settlement could fall short of your remaining loan balance without gap coverage. It is most valuable in the early years of a loan on a new vehicle.
Does my auto insurance cover rental cars?
Your personal auto policy's liability, collision, and comprehensive coverages typically extend to rental vehicles you rent for personal use in the United States. However, coverage terms vary by policy and carrier. Always review your declarations page before declining rental company coverage. Some credit cards also provide secondary rental coverage — check with your card issuer.
How can I lower my auto insurance premium?
Common ways to reduce your premium include maintaining a clean driving record, bundling auto with home or renters insurance, raising your deductible, taking a defensive driving course, installing approved safety devices, reducing annual mileage, and shopping your coverage across multiple carriers at renewal. Ashmont Insurance Agency compares options across top-rated carriers so you can see which combination of coverage and price works best for you.
Ready to find the right auto insurance policy?
Compare auto insurance options from top-rated carriers. A licensed advisor will help you build the right coverage for your vehicle, your household, and your budget.