Bodily Injury Liability
Coverage provided to persons (other than the policyholder) who are injured in an automobile accident for which the insured individual is at fault and is held legally liable. Damages are paid for injuries caused by the accident. This coverage also pays for legal defense costs if the policyholder is sued for the accident.
Property Damage Liability
Coverage provided for property damaged by the insured person in an automobile accident for which the insured individual is at fault and is held legally liable. Some items that are considered "property" are vehicles, buildings and fences.
Collision Coverage
Collision coverage pays for damage to your vehicle if your insured vehicle overturns or collides with another object, regardless of fault. This coverage is subject to your policy deductible.
Comprehensive Coverage
Coverage pays for damage to your car caused by almost anything other than a collision. Glass breakage, theft, fire, explosion, impact with an animal, vandalism and flood are some of these hazards. This coverage is subject to your policy deductible.
Medical Payments
Coverage provided for medical and/or funeral expenses resulting from injuries received in an automobile accident, regardless of fault. Only those expenses incurred within three years of the accident are covered. The coverage is provided to the policyholder and passenger(s) injured in the vehicle during in the accident.
Personal Injury Protection
Coverage provided for medical and/or funeral expenses resulting from injuries received in an automobile accident, regardless of fault. Only those expenses incurred within three years of the accident are covered. The coverage is provided to the policyholder and passenger(s) injured in the vehicle during in the accident.
Personal Injury coverage provides additional benefits that are not found in the medical payments coverage:
- Loss of income from employment (80% limit, must be employed at the time of the accident and be an income producer)
- Expenses incurred for services that would normally have been performed without pay during the period of disability for care and maintenance of the family or household, such as maid or cleaning service
Uninsured Motorists Bodily Injury Coverage
Coverage for the insured person who is injured in an automobile accident with an uninsured driver, and the insured is not at fault or legally liable for the accident. If the party responsible for the accident does not have insurance to pay for damages, this policy would pay for injuries sustained by the insured person as a result of the automobile accident.
Under-Insured Motorists Bodily Injury Coverage
Coverage for the insured person who is injured in an automobile accident with an under-insured driver, and the insured is not at fault or legally liable for the accident. If the party responsible for the accident does not have insurance that provides enough coverage to pay for damages, this policy would pay for injuries sustained by the insured person as a result of the automobile accident.
Uninsured Motorists Property Damage Coverage
Coverage for the insured person who is in an automobile accident with an uninsured driver, and the insured is not at fault or legally liable for the accident. If the party responsible for the accident does not have insurance to pay for damages, this policy would pay for damages to the policyholder’s vehicle as a result of the automobile accident.
Under-Insured Motorists Property Damage Coverage
Coverage for the insured person who is in an automobile accident with an under-insured driver, and the insured is not at fault or legally liable for the accident. If the party responsible for the accident does not have insurance that provides enough coverage to pay for damages, this policy would pay for damages to the policyholder’s vehicle as a result of the automobile accident.
Towing and Labor Coverage
Coverage for towing and labor costs if your vehicle is disabled, up to the limit shown on the policy. This covers only labor performed at the location where the vehicle became inoperable.
Rental Reimbursement Coverage
Optional coverage that helps pay rental vehicle costs when your insured vehicle is disabled by a covered accident or loss. Daily rental amounts are subject to the limit purchased. This coverage is available to most policyholders for an additional premium.
Mexico Coverage
Coverage is provided for accidents occurring in Mexico within 25 miles of the United States border. This extension of coverage applies only for infrequent trips into Mexico that do not exceed ten days at any one time.
Auto accidents in Mexico are subject to the laws of Mexico, not the laws of the United States. The Republic of Mexico considers an auto accident a criminal offense as well as a civil matter.
In some cases, Mexican authorities may not recognize the coverage and the company may not be allowed to implement this coverage at all in Mexico. You should consider purchasing auto coverage from a licensed Mexico insurance company before driving into Mexico.
Auto Death Indemnity Coverage
Coverage is provided if the covered person dies from injuries sustained in an automobile accident, regardless of who is at fault in the accident. Coverage is available only to the person(s) listed on the policy and only if death occurs within 90 days after the accident or within 52 weeks after the accident and during a period of continuous total disability. The coverage limits are usually $5,000 or $10,000.
Total Disability Coverage
Coverage is provided for an insured person disabled by injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Payment will be $60.00 per week if the injured person is employed at the time of the accident and $30.00 per week if the injured person is unemployed at the time of the accident and will begin 20 days from the date of the accident.
The disability must be continuous in order for payments to continue. The maximum period allowed is 200 weeks. This coverage is provided regardless of who is at fault in the accident but is available only to the insured and any other person injured while occupying the vehicle involved in the accident.
DISCOUNTS AND CREDITS
Optional credits are available on automobile insurance policies as established by the Texas Department of Insurance. The credits vary from company to company.
Academic Achievement Discount
A credit can be applied on a vehicle driven by someone under the age of 25 if:
- He or she is enrolled as a full-time student in the junior or senior year of high school or is taking academic courses in an institution of higher education
- The student maintains a "B" average or better, or 3.0 average or above, on a 4.0 scale
Proof is required to receive this credit. Provide the student’s official scholastic records for the preceding academic grade reporting period.
Anti-Lock Brake Discount
This credit may be applied when a vehicle is equipped with anti-lock brakes, which could lessen the likelihood of an automobile accident. The credit can apply to vehicles with two-wheel or four-wheel anti-lock brake systems.
Anti-Theft Discount
This credit is applied to a vehicle that is equipped with a qualifying anti-theft device. We require written verification of the type of alarm system installed on the vehicle.
Daytime Running Lights Discount
This credit may be given for a vehicle equipped with daytime running lights. The lights can be original equipment or an “after factory” purchase, if installed by a qualified technician.
Driver Improvement Course Credit
This credit is commonly referred to as a Driver Training Course credit or Defensive Driver Training Course credit.
- The driver training credit is available for any male driver under the age of 25 or any female driver under the age of 21 who has completed an approved driver education course.
- The defensive driver training credit is available for any operator who has completed a driving safety course approved by the Texas Education Agency (TEA)
Note: certain additional criteria must be met in order for this credit to be applied as it relates to the rating calculation of the policy.
Passive Restraint Discount
This credit is commonly called an "airbag" or "automatic seatbelt" credit. A passive restraint system is a system that:
- Is continually operative the moment an individual enters the auto and the auto begins movement
- Restrains the occupants from movement in the event of a collision
- Automatically deploys without any manual operation being performed by the occupants of the auto.
Note: this credit applies only to medical payments and/or personal injury protection coverage premiums. If one of these coverages is not selected, the credit cannot be applied to the policy.
Renewal Discount
This credit may be given after a policy has been in force for over six months and is based upon the driving experience of the insured members of a household. Most companies require that the drivers be loss free for at least three years.
Student Away at School Discount
A credit can be applied for a household member who meets the following criteria:
- Male under the age of 25 or an unmarried female under the age of 21
- A student living away from home to attend school, who does not own an auto or have an auto furnished for his or her regular use at school.