The time has come for a driver to purchase an automobile insurance policy, and they don’t know where to start. Luckily finding coverage in Tennessee is typically pretty easy. What is slightly more challenging is finding a policy that is not only affordable, but also offers the right kind of protection. A driver should have some basic understanding of what degree of protection they will need based off of their income, driving habits, and type of car they drive; though naturally, there are many other factors that may change what a motorist will be looking for. The next step is usually to look in to getting a series of online quotes.
Finding the right Tennessee auto insurance means knowing what specific types of coverage a motorist must have. The Volunteer State, like many others, has a series of requirements that must be met when purchasing a plan. Tennessee’s Financial Responsibility laws were first implemented in 1977 which required that motorists have to carry documentation proving that they will be able to accept financial responsibility for damages which they may cause in an automobile accident in which a person or persons were injured. In addition to this, drivers must also have at least $25,000 worth of Bodily Injury Liability (BI) coverage per person, and $50,000 BI for an accident as a whole. Additionally, policyholders must carry $15,000 worth Property Damage (PD) liability to cover the property damages of another party that may have occurred during an automobile accident. Typically, this entire array of requirements can be abbreviated as 25/50/15.
After finding and choosing the basics in an insurance policy, there are still many different forms of additional protection that might spark interest in many motorists. Just like finding a standard plan, obtaining additions requires a fair amount of thought. Drivers should consider their environment and the severity of weather they often drive through. Additionally, they may want to investigate Tennessee crime statistics to calculate the likelihood of vandalism or auto theft. If either of these qualities pose a potential risk, then getting comprehensive coverage may be a good choice. This covers damages that are caused by anything other than an automobile collision, including falling objects, vandalism, windstorms, or flooding. It’s important to note, however, that some providers may exclude certain types of damages, so finding out exactly what these are before hand may prevent some future headaches.
Apart from recognizing one’s own surroundings, it is sometimes also a good idea to consider other drivers on the road. If a driver is struck by an uninsured motorist, then most likely they would end up paying quite a bit of money out of pocket. If the same motorist had uninsured motorist protection, however, their damages would probably be covered. In 2007 the percentage of drivers who were uninsured in Tennessee was roughly 20%, which is amongst the highest percentages in the nation. Statistically, there is a fairly good chance that a vehicle owner could find themselves in a collision with someone who does not have a policy; getting the proper coverage safeguards from having to pay certain expenses that may arise from such an unfortunate incident. According to the Tennessee Department of Safety the state doesn’t require insurance beyond liability; however, motorists are still encouraged to consider uninsured motorist protection because of the high percentage of uninsured motorists living in TN.
Source: http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/tennessee/
