Category: Auto Insurance

If you are like most people, you probably don’t think a lot about your auto insurance except when it renews or when you need to use it. But, you don’t want to find out when you are in an accident that you don’t have the right coverage. At Heimgartner Insurance Inc in Sioux City, IA, we make it our responsibility to get to know you and your auto insurance needs. 

Auto Insurance: What You Need To Know

Deductibles

Your auto insurance has a deductible. You can choose the amount of your deductible, usually either $500 or $1000, depending on what you would be comfortable paying out of pocket. But keep in mind that the lower the deductible the higher the premium. It is a gamble. Will it benefit you more to pay less every year or pay less if you have an accident? 

Liability Coverage

A basic auto insurance policy has a state-mandated amount of liability coverage. In Iowa, it is 20/40/15. That means that for one person injured in an accident you are responsible for, $20,000 will be paid for bodily injuries and $40,000 for all injuries, with $15,000 for property damage. This is pretty basic when considering what a hospital stay can cost and could leave you with many out-of-pocket expenses. 

You can increase the amount of coverage you have, and you can also get an umbrella insurance policy to give you even more protection. 

Read your policy

Read the declaration page of your auto insurance policy. You need to know if you have full glass coverage and rental car coverage. Both of these are valuable, and you may or may not have them depending on your carrier. 

Get Auto Insurance Today

Contact Heimgartner Insurance Inc in Sioux City, IA for all your insurance needs. 

Car insurance is something that is mandated by almost every state. The mandated insurance is liability coverage which is to protect other people from an accident you might cause. It covers damage to the vehicle but also medical care if it is needed. At Heimgartner Insurance Inc in Sioux City, IA, we are a local independent agency owned by locals. We are your neighbors and we want to make sure you have the right coverage. 

What coverage is required in Iowa?

In Iowa, you need to have liability coverage. The required amount is 20/40/15. That is $20,000  bodily injury for the first person injured in an accident you caused and a total of $40,000 for the complete accident. $15,000 is for damage to the property of the other person. 

Is basic coverage enough?

It may not be enough for several reasons. First, $20,000 is not much for bodily injuries and $15,000 is not going to pay for a lot of vehicle repairs. Beyond that, pain and suffering have to be taken into account. If you want to be able to keep your assets, you should consider a higher amount than basic. Also, basic coverage does nothing for your vehicle.  If you want to protect your vehicle, you need comprehensive and collision coverage. 

Differences between collision and comprehensive coverage?

Collision coverage protects your vehicle in an accident where you are at fault or are the victim of a hit and run.  Comprehensive is non-collision coverage. Many other things can damage your vehicle. It can be a weather event like a strong wind or hail. It could be flooding or it could be theft or vandalism. If a deer runs into or in front of your car, comprehensive covers that. 

Contact Heimgartner Insurance Inc in Sioux City, IA if you want to get a personalized insurance plan.