You need a lot of smaller policies to be considered "fully covered". And even then, the more important your car is to your way of life - the more you drive it, the more you rely on it - the more policies you'll need to be considered "fully covered."
In many ways, car insurance is like an outfit, and to be really dressed, you need more than just pants or a dress. You're going to need shoes, a jacket, a wallet. The more important the occasion, the more clothing pieces you'll need to be considered properly dressed.
The same thing goes for cars. You need a lot of smaller policies to be considered "fully covered", and even then, the more important your car is to your way of life - the more you drive it, the more you rely on it - the more policies you'll need to be considered "fully covered."
Usually, when we talk about comprehensive auto insurance (or "full coverage"), we are talking about a driver who has liability, collision, comprehensive, and uninsured coverage. This causes enough area of policy overlap that every possible contingency can be planned for. Bodily Injury Liability coverage pays for other people's injuries and death, property liability pays for property you and your car damage, collision covers the damage when you hit another car (or are hit by another car), and comprehensive coverage covers all the other accidents that can occur other than a collision (theft, flood or fire damage, etc).
The one area of full coverage that tends to confuse most people is the area of uninsured or underinsured coverage. The logic goes, if I have collision insurance, why does it matter if the other driver was or wasn't insured? Shouldn't I be covered anyway?
When we talk about Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist coverage (UM/UIM), we are generally talking about Bodily Injury coverage, not uninsured property damage. Both types are usually available, but usually, when you are hit by an uninsured vehicle, your collision insurance covers the damage to your car.
The area that gets complicated is if you are hit or injured by a car that doesn't have insurance, or doesn't have enough of it. None of the "full coverage" options listed above will pay for your treatment if you are injured by an uninsured motorist. To get truly comprehensive coverage, you need to add a policy called Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage. This policy pays for medical expenses, lost wages, or other forms of damage when you, an authorized driver, or your passengers are hit by a UM/UIM. In many cases, it will also pay for the damage of a hit-and-run accident. It's also wise to check with your health insurance provider and find out if your health insurance covers car accidents. You would be surprised how many do not. A good place to start would be checking with your health care insurance representative and ask if it is a good idea to add an UM/UIM policy to your auto coverage. That way, you can be sure your auto insurance doesn't leave you exposed.
The 4 Basics of Auto Insurance
For everyone who wishes they knew a little more about insurance, here are the 4 basic facts about auto insurance that everyone should know.
How a Lien and a Lien Holder Affect Your Auto Insurance Policy
There are all sorts of complications that arise when purchasing auto insurance for yourself. The presence of a second party definitely complicates matters further. Here's what it all means and how it affects you.
Tips for Buying Auto Insurance the First Time
Buying car insurance for the first time is a scary situation. After all, you are buying a contract, and any sort of binding contract makes us nervous  and with good reason! But buying car insurance is a relatively painless procedure, and if you follow these tips, your first time buying auto insurance will be nothing to be afraid of.
