Reader’s Question:

Hi I’m Andre from Dallas, Texas. My mom has been pushing me to get collision insurance for my car. Personally, I’d rather not spend for more than I have to on something I may not use. Is he right to ask me to buy more insurance? Do I need this?

Andre

Dallas, TX

Hi Andre, I’m pretty sure your mom down in Sallas, Texas means well. I think to help you to decide, you will first need to understand what this type of automobile insurance is. We get insurance to protect ourselves, our family and the people around us. We also get insurance to protect our possessions that are of value to us. Now collision insurance, specifically covers our vehicle in cases of accidents that occur wherein the owner is found to be at fault. Meaning, if you bumped your own car either against another car or anything else, read: tree, fence, post, etc. In the event that this happens, your insurance will pay according to the fair market value of your car.

There will also be a deductible which is the share that will come from your personal stash to pay for the repairs. In case of a total wreck though, what the automobile insurance companies give may not always cover for the cost of replacing your car. You’re right, you don’t need to buy Collision Insurance as it is not a requirement by law. Although, if you bought your car through a dealership or used a loan to buy the car, these third parties may require you to get one. If this is still not the case, you may want to get this insurance if you have a relatively pricey vehicle that you may not be able to repair or replace on your own should something happen.

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance premium, collision insurance coverage