If you own a car, you need to have some form of auto insurance on your vehicle. There is a minimum amount of coverage that you must have, but it is different from one state to the next. The insurance agent you are getting your policy from will know what the minimums for your area are and you can get that information from the department of motor vehicles in your area. 

Insurance First

Insurance coverage and how it works is not standardized at all. The amount of coverage is different, the type of coverage often changes, and when you need to buy it is different depending on where you live. In some states, you must insure the car before you can register it, and in others, they don't care if your vehicle is insured at all. Most states require you to buy your insurance policy before you go to the DMV to register the car. 

Insurance Amounts

Again, this is not standard, but if there is a loan on the car, you can bet the bank will require you to have full coverage on it. The state may only require that you carry liability insurance that protects other drivers and property you may damage, but as soon as there is a loan on the vehicle, the lender has the right to require you to carry enough insurance to cover the replacement cost or the repair of the car after an accident. Talk to the lender and find out what the minimum coverage is when you sign the papers on your loan. 

No Coverage

There are just two states left that do not require you to have insurance on your car or truck: New Hampshire and Virginia. In New Hampshire, you are liable for damages, and if you cause the accident and can not pay, you can expect the state to suspend your registration and license until you can. In Virginia, you have to pay the state a fee of five hundred dollars to opt out of insurance, and you are still liable if you cause an accident. So while you can drive without insurance in these states, doing so may not be the best idea.

Buying The Right Insurance

To get the right insurance when you are ready to buy it, you can sit down with an insurance agent, like those at Affordable Insurance, and discuss the coverage options. Let them know what you want to cover and if you want full or partial coverage on it. The agent will be able to tell you how much insurance is needed in your area and help you pick a policy that is a good fit for you. The best insurance is not always the cheapest policy, but there are so many different tiers of coverage that it may be best to have someone help you sort out the options.