1. 375 POINTS
    Tony Canas, CPCU, MBA
    Financial Leadership Rotation Program, Nationwide Insurance, Columbus, OH
    The only way to find out is to request an actual quote, there are too many variables for anyone to be able to give you a price unless you request a quote and give them all your information. Also, it's important to understand that there's no such thing as "Full Coverage". There is Liability coverage which covers you in case you damage someone's property or injure another person. There is Collision coverage which pays for repairs to your vehicle in case of an accident. There is also Other Than Collision coverage which pays for repairs to your vehicle in case something other than a collision happens. When people say "Full Coverage" they're usually referring to a combination of Liability, Collision, Comprehensive and a few other overages.
    Answered on March 16, 2013
  2. 37376 POINTS
    David G. Pipes, CLU®, RICP®
    Business Development Officer, T.D. McNeil Insurance Services, Fresno, California
    As I illustrated recently to a class of high school freshmen, that is really a complicated question but let me clarify “full-coverage” first. Insurance agents only use that term when someone else introduces the subject. We know that full-coverage does not mean that the insurance company will make everything “right” all the time. Policies have limits, claims are adjusted and there are a great many places where there could be misunderstandings.

    An insurance policy has two major sections, liability and property damage. Many people think that if they have coverage in both sections they have “full-coverage.” If they cause an accident and people are injured, they might well be sued. The liability portion of the policy will stand between them and the injured party until the judgments and expenses exceed the liability limits written in their policy. These limits can range from $15,000 to over $1 million. So if someone is injured and sues and wins a judgment in the amount of $50,000, your “full-coverage” policy might not meet your needs and the court might be looking at your other assets to satisfy the judgment.

    A similar disagreement can arise with property damage. This is settled on actual cash value, unless you have a rare policy with agreed value coverage. There are two problems which present themselves. You might really love your little Ford Focus that you bought two years ago and when it is damaged disagree with the adjuster on the value of the car. When the car is inspected the adjuster may decide that the car cannot be repaired “economically.” The adjusted value presented will probably be less than you expected because there is a deductible which will be taken out of the settlement. Again, your “full-coverage” policy may not cover you in the way that you want.

    However, you asked about cost and in California the cost is dependent on the year, make and model of the vehicle, where the vehicle is registered, the driving record of the members of the household, the annual mileage of the vehicle, and then the coverages that you select. Companies offer discounts and sometimes assess penalties based on driving histories, other types of coverage, the occupation of the principal operator and other factors. The answer to how much it costs is, “it depends.”
    Answered on May 15, 2015
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