How To Save Money on Car Insurance
Learn effective ways to save money on car insurance. Read about tips to reduce your car insurance without compromising your coverage.
What Is Full Coverage Car Insurance?
You may have heard people, and even insurance agents, talk about full coverage car insurance as the best way to protect your car—but what is full coverage car insurance?
Full coverage isn’t really a type of car insurance. It’s a group of coverages that work together to protect you and your car as well as others and their property if something happens.
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What does full coverage car insurance include?
As mentioned, a full coverage auto insurance policy is a package of car insurance coverages. It includes the coverage that's required by the state you live in, plus additional protection that's usually purchased separately. For convenience, a full coverage car insurance rolls them into one policy:
- State-required coverages: Almost all 50 states require other types of car insurance coverages. Each state's requirements are different, but a full coverage car insurance policy would include any your state requires, such as:
- Medical payments coverage (required in some states)
- Personal injury protection (required in some states)
- Bodily injury liability and property damage liability (required in almost every state)
- Uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage (required in many states)
- Comprehensive insurance: Optional coverage that protects your car from things like theft, storm damage, falling objects and contact with animals.
- Collision insurance: Optional protection that helps pay to repair or replace your car if you hit another car or object, such as a tree or guardrail.
No insurance company can guarantee that you will be fully covered in case of a loss. But optional car insurance coverages and policy endorsements can often help limit your risk if something unexpected does occur.
Do I need full coverage auto insurance?
The amount and types of car insurance coverage you get should be based on your specific situation. If you have a new car or limited finances, full coverage auto insurance can give you peace of mind. But if you could replace your car out of pocket, you might not need some optional coverages.
Things to consider when deciding if you need full coverage:
- Age, condition and value of your vehicle
- Ability to pay out-of-pocket
- Affordability of your deductible and premium
- Whether you’re financing or leasing your vehicle
- Your risk tolerance
How does full coverage car insurance work?
Imagine you get into an accident that causes $4,200 in repairs to both your car and the other driver’s vehicle. With a basic insurance policy, you’d be responsible for fixing your own car entirely out of pocket, and you’d still have to pay for the damage you caused to the other driver.
But with full‑coverage car insurance, you may have collision coverage which would help with costs of fixing your own vehicle. You'd still be responsible for paying your deductible, but that's preferable to facing thousands in unexpected costs.
How much does it cost?
Since full coverage car insurance is customizable, there isn't one cost associated with it; it all depends on what kind of coverages you purchase, the deductibles you choose, how many drivers and cars you're insuring and more.
If you are looking into purchasing full coverage, there are ways to save money on car insurance.
What are car insurance endorsements?
Endorsements are add-ons that customize your auto insurance policy to meet your needs. COUNTRY Financial® has a unique endorsement called The Keeper®*, which helps protect your new car if it’s totaled in an accident.
Final thoughts
An experienced COUNTRY Financial rep can help you decide if you need full coverage car insurance, what level of coverage you need and any endorsements that make sense for you. Find your local agent to get started.
Updated 1-21-26
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Start a quote or call us at 866-COUNTRY (866-268-6879). Find out more about car insurance.
Your insurance agent is there to help
Contact your rep or call us at 866-COUNTRY (866-268-6879). Find out more about car insurance.
COUNTRY Financial® is a family of affiliated companies (collectively, COUNTRY) located in Bloomington, IL. Learn more about who we are.
Auto insurance policies issued by COUNTRY Mutual Insurance Company®, COUNTRY Preferred Insurance Company® and COUNTRY Casualty Insurance Company®, Bloomington, IL.
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