Auto Insurance



Policy Types

  • Personal auto
  • Collector auto
  • Motorcycle
  • ATV
  • Golf Cart
  • Motorhome
  • Snowmobile

Definitions of Coverage

Not all insurance policies are the same and it's important that you fully understand the coverages you have or may be without. Below are brief explanations and recommendations regarding your options.

Bodily Injury Liability: pays for damage you do to another person's body or property. For example: hitting a person in a cross walk, driving into a house, colliding with another vehicle.
It does NOT cover you or your stuff. We recommend at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident.

Property Damage Liability: protects you from suit for damage to another person's property.
We recommend at least $100,000 as you could cause serious damage involving multiple vehicles, tractor-trailers, or significant damage to buildings.

Medical Payments: like health insurance, this coverage pays for medical treatment you sustain in an auto accident or injuries sustained by anyone occupying your vehicle. However, there are no "co-payments, deductibles, primary physicians, etc." that you may be subject to with healthy insurance.
We recommend at least $5,000.

Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist: protects you, your passengers, and your assets. Protects you and the people you love from a run-in with someone who is less responsible and less insured than you are.
We recommend at least the same coverage limits that you carry for Bodily Injury Liability.

Physical Damage: provides coverage for damage to your vehicle(s). Policyholders accept some responsibility for managing premiums by utilizing deductibles. In order to save on your premium, you may wish to consider adjusting your deductibles- the higher the deductible, the lower the premium. Consider the age and value of your vehicle when selecting this coverage.

Comprehensive: often referred to as "other than collision" and includes fire, theft, vandalism, hail, glass, and hitting animals.
We recommend a deducible of at least $250.

Collision: pays for repairs after collision with another vehicle or object as well as uninsured drivers or "hit & run".
We recommend a deductible of at least $500.

Lease/Loan: if you purchase a new vehicle, there can be a significant difference or gap between the "insurance value" and the "loan or lease value" if you total the vehicle. This protection covers that gap.

Rental Car: provides alternate transportation if your vehicle is being repaired due to a covered accident. This protection has a daily and aggregate limit.
We recommend at least $30 per day.

Road Service: will reimburse you for road service expenses, most commonly towing.

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ATVs

Many policyholders, we are finding, believe their homeowners coverage also extends to 4-wheelers, snowmobiles, etc. Unfortunately, there is some mis-truth to this statement.

Liability coverage is only provided through your homeowners policy when the vehicles are ridden or operated on your personal property. If the vehicle(s) will be driven on property you do not own - public roads, state parks, friends property, etc. - that coverage must come from your auto policy. Coverage for the vehicle itself is NOT provided under any circumstances by your homeowner policy. Coverage for comprehensive perils (fire, theft, vandalism, hail, etc.) and collision, MUST be scheduled on your auto policy.

Ohhhh Deer! Presentation

Vehicle Safety Ratings

Consumer Information Center

Erie's 2006 Car Guide

Insurance Institute for Highway safety