If you’re looking for an Ottawa auto insurance quote, you’ll probably notice that there are many different types of coverage, some required for everyone, and others optional. Sorting through all these choices can be difficult, which is why it’s often a good idea to seek a consultation with a licensed professional. However, if you’re not ready to take that step, here are some of the main types of coverage that you’ll be able to chose when getting your Ottawa auto insurance quote.
Liability coverage
All Canadian drivers are required by law to have basic liability coverage. As a result, when you’re seeking an Ottawa auto insurance quote, basic liability coverage will probably be checked by default. While the requirements vary from province to province, the rule in Ontario is that every driver needs to have at least $100,000 in liability coverage.
Basic liability coverage includes both property damage liability and bodily injury liability. The main purpose of this coverage is to take care of any damages that may result from an accident where the insurance holder is at fault. The insurance company will pay for all damages to the vehicles involved in the collision, and they’ll also cover any medical bills that result. For example, if you have $100,000 in coverage, your provider will pay for all bills adding up to $100,000 or less. If the bills go above this figure, the cost will have to be taken on by you and the other people involved in the accident.
$100,000 may seem like a lot of money, but bills resulting from auto accidents can add up very rapidly. Thus, it’s always a good idea to have more than the required amount. How much you get depends upon what you can afford, how high of a deductible you’re willing to pay, and how much you can pay in premiums.
Comprehensive coverage
The purpose of comprehensive coverage is to take care of any damages resulting from incidents other than collisions. For example if your vehicle is stolen or vandalized, or if it is damaged by weather or fire, comprehensive coverage will take care of these charges and enable you to repair or replace your vehicle.
Comprehensive insurance coverage is always optional, but when you’re applying for your Ottawa auto insurance quote, it’s a good idea to at least experiment with different rates of comprehensive coverage. The premiums don’t have to be very high.
Collision coverage
Collision coverage exists to pay for any damages that happen to your car as a result of a minor collision for which no one is at fault and in which nobody gets injured. Drivers are allowed to take out enough collision coverage to pay for the amount of their cars, but no more. For this reason, the rates are usually relatively low, especially if you’re willing to pay a high deductible in the event of an accident.
Uninsured motorist coverage
Liability coverage mainly exists to cover situations in which the policy-holder is at fault. If you get into a collision with an uninsured motorist and the accident is primarily his or her fault, then liability coverage may not enter into the picture. That’s what uninsured motorist coverage is for. It protects you from situations where, for whatever reason, the person at fault can’t financially take care of your damages.
