Home, condo and renters
The house, the unit or the apartment, what is in it, your liability as a resident, and somewhere to live while repairs are made.
Home, condo and renters- Home
- Personal insurance
- Auto insurance
Auto insurance
Auto insurance
Liability, physical damage and the coverages that matter after a collision, for the vehicles your household drives.
Who needs it
Who this is for
Every household vehicle, and every driver who may be behind the wheel.
- Families with multiple vehicles and drivers
- Households adding a teen driver
- Owners of collector, classic or high-value vehicles
- Business owners whose personal vehicle sometimes serves the business
- Anyone carrying state-minimum limits with assets to protect
What it covers
Coverage parts, and what to watch on each
Summaries only. The policy wording governs, and every carrier's form is different.
| Coverage | What it does | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Bodily injury liability | Injuries you cause to others, including defense. | State minimums are low. Limits should reflect what you own and earn, and an umbrella usually needs at least 250/500. |
| Property damage liability | Damage you cause to other vehicles and property. | A newer SUV or a storefront can exceed low limits quickly. |
| Personal injury protection | Medical and related expenses for you and your passengers regardless of fault. Required in Minnesota. | Minimums are set by the state. Higher limits are inexpensive. |
| Uninsured and underinsured motorist | Your injuries when the other driver has no insurance or too little. Required in Minnesota. | Match them to your liability limits. |
| Collision and comprehensive | Damage to your own vehicle from a crash, and from theft, weather, animals and glass. | Deductibles trade premium for risk. Consider dropping collision on older vehicles. |
| Extras | Rental reimbursement, roadside assistance, gap coverage on financed vehicles, and agreed value for collector cars. | Gap matters in the first years of a loan or lease. |
The hard part
What it does not cover
- Business use such as delivery or ride-share, unless endorsed
- Intentional damage and racing
- Mechanical breakdown and wear
- Custom equipment beyond a small limit, unless scheduled
- Vehicles titled to a business (commercial auto)
Liability limits are the decision that matters. The rest is detail.
How to get it
From first call to bound coverage
- 01Send the declarations pageWe compare like for like and look for the gaps.
- 02Confirm drivers and useEvery driver in the household, and any business or ride-share use.
- 03Set the limitsLiability matched to assets and future earnings, with an umbrella above it where it makes sense.
- 04Review at life eventsNew driver, new car, new address. Use the policy change form.
Questions
Common questions
What limits should I carry?
More than the state minimum. A common starting point is 250/500/100, which is also the floor many umbrella policies require. If you own a home or have savings, the limit should reflect that.
Will adding my teen driver cost a lot?
It will raise the premium. Good-student and driver-training discounts help, as does assigning the teen to the least expensive vehicle. Leaving them off the policy is not an option if they drive.
Do I need gap coverage?
If you financed or leased a new vehicle with little down, yes, for the first couple of years. It pays the difference between what you owe and what the car is worth after a total loss.
I use my car for work sometimes. Is that a problem?
Occasional business use, such as driving to meetings, is usually fine and should be disclosed. Delivery, ride-share and anything with a company name on the door needs an endorsement or a commercial policy.
What is agreed value?
For collector cars: a value you and the carrier agree on in advance, paid in full after a covered total loss, instead of actual cash value.
Related
Often placed alongside
Personal umbrella
An extra layer of liability, usually $1M to $5M, that sits above your auto, home and other policies for the claim that exceeds them.
Personal umbrellaCommercial auto
Liability and physical damage for vehicles your business owns, leases, rents or borrows, including employees driving their own cars on company business.
Commercial autoSend us your declarations pages.
We compare them line by line and tell you what we would change, if anything.