Common Car Insurance Questions and Misconceptions
Straight answers to common questions about vehicle rates, car color, windshield claims, full coverage, roadside assistance, and coverage for older cars.
Insurance can be confusing. Here are straightforward answers to several car insurance questions I hear regularly.
What is the cheapest vehicle to insure?
There is no single cheapest vehicle for everyone. Your rate can depend on your driving history, location, coverage choices, mileage, and the vehicle’s safety record, theft rate, performance, value, and repair costs. Compare insurance quotes before purchasing a vehicle. Learn more from the NAIC.
Does a vehicle’s color affect its insurance rate?
No. Red, white, black, and silver vehicles are not rated differently because of their color. Insurers generally use information associated with the vehicle identification number—such as its make, model, trim, safety features, and repair history—not its paint color. Read more about this common misconception.
Does comprehensive coverage include windshield damage?
Windshield damage is generally covered under comprehensive coverage. Your deductible may apply, although some policies offer separate glass coverage or waive the deductible for certain repairs. Check your declarations page before filing a claim. See the Tennessee consumer guide.
Will filing a claim increase my rate?
It depends. Insurers may consider fault, the type and cost of the claim, your previous claims, state rules, and whether you have accident forgiveness. Home and auto claims can also be evaluated differently. Filing a claim does not guarantee an increase, but multiple claims may affect your rate, discounts, or renewal eligibility. Learn how claims may affect rates.
What are some practical ways to save?
- Ask about every available discount.
- Maintain a good driving record.
- Avoid lapses in coverage.
- Pay premiums on time.
- Select deductibles you can afford.
- Compare equivalent coverage—not just prices.
- Review your coverage as your vehicle ages.
Can I add roadside assistance to a liability-only policy?
Often, yes. Depending on the insurer and state, roadside assistance and medical payments may be available even when you do not carry comprehensive or collision coverage. Ask your agent which optional coverages are available.
What does “full coverage” mean?
“Full coverage” is not a specific insurance policy. It usually means liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage, but deductibles, limits, and exclusions still apply. Roadside assistance, rental reimbursement, GAP coverage, and other options may need to be added separately.
What coverage should I keep on an older vehicle?
Compare the vehicle’s value with the cost of comprehensive and collision coverage. You may decide to keep comprehensive protection for theft, weather, glass damage, animal impacts, and falling objects while removing collision. If the vehicle is financed or leased, the lender may require both.
Coverage, eligibility, deductibles, discounts, and underwriting rules vary by insurer, policy, and state.