Mission Car Insurance
Buying Mission car insurance can be quick and easy if you are an informed consumer who knows exactly what is available to you and exactly what you want in a carrier and policy.
Unfortunately, many people who are on a mission to buy car insurance in Mission, Texas, simply do not know what types of coverage they can purchase and how specific types of coverage protect them.
Luckily, with all of the resources available and the online insurance tools you can access online, you do not have to attend insurance classes designed to teach insurance agents just to learn about Texas insurance.
Enter your zip code now for FREE quotes on the best car insurance coverage options in Mission today!
Car insurance is one of the few products sold on the market that you are required to purchase but that you do not necessarily want to be in a situation where you must use.
The reason that insurance is required is because Texas state law says that anyone who owns a motor vehicle is liable for damages that are caused primarily by that vehicle. The owner of that vehicle must be financially responsible at all times so they are able to pay for the damages that they cause.
Tort Auto Insurance Basics in Texas
Because Texas operates under what is called a tort system, Texans in Mission who own vehicles will need to carry auto liability insurance to pay for damages they are legally liable for.
In a tort system, the at-fault driver is legally responsible for paying for their victims' medical expenses and other damages like vehicle repairs and lost wages.
Paying for these damages out-of-pocket is not always realistic for people, especially in major accidents.
In order to protect your finances and also ensure that you can pay for significant damages, you will need third-party liability coverage that consists of Property Damage and Bodily Injury.
What does third-party liability pay for?
Liability insurance pays for third-party damages and not for your own damages that are sustained in an accident. These damages include medical bills incurred after injuries or death in an accident or repair/replacement bills because of resulting property damage.
In order for your liability to pay for the damages that you are negligent for, the claims investigation must find that you are more than 50 percent at fault.
When you hear the broad term liability coverage when it concerns auto insurance, the term actually refers to two categories of coverage that pay for third-party damages and not just one.
These two categories are Bodily Injury (BI) and Property Damage (PD) and they each pay for their own types of damages that a victim may incur in an accident.
- Bodily Injury - Bodily Injury Liability will pay for the medical expenses for people who are in another vehicle when you caused the accident. It will also provide protection if anyone in your home, listed on your policy or given permission to drive the covered car causes injuries.
- Property Damage - Property Damage Liability will pay for the costs to repair cars, lampposts, street signs, buildings, or other tangible property that no one in the household or the family owns. If the cost to repair is more than the value of the item, the policy will pay for the replacement of a similar item.
What limits must you carry in Mission, TX?
In Mission, all residents must carry at least a minimum amount of BI and PD. These limits are called the mandatory liability limits in the state, and all insurers, regardless of the company, must sell these limits to Texans to do business within the state and to get their license as a producer.
Texans must have at least to satisfy the law:
- Bodily Injury - $30,000 for each injured individual, up to $60,000 for all people injured in the accident.
- Property Damage -$25,000 for all property damaged that is owned by the victim or the public.
What other types of coverage can you buy in Mission?
Just because Texans are only required to buy auto liability coverage does not mean that a basic insurance plan will fit all of your needs.
Some drivers in Mission need much more than just third-party coverage that will only protect their finances and their assets.
Additional coverage options that are available will protect your interests, pay for your medical expenses, or even pay for your car repair bills.
Here are auto coverage options that you do not have to purchase but that you should research to decide if you need:
- Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection
In a state like Texas with a tort-based system, everyone pays for their own expenses if they cause the accident. This includes both medical and physical damage. Even when you are not at fault for a collision, it can take
Even when you are not at fault for a collision, it can take time to collect on Bodily Injury claims payments as the collision is investigated and the insurer attempts to make low-ball offers.
For your protection, it is a good idea to carry Med-Pay. This is a no-fault coverage that pays for the medical bills of you and your passengers right away. It does not involve a long investigation period that can delay the issuance of your payment and affect your ability to seek medical treatment.
This coverage is available in limits between $1000 and $100,000 per person.
- Uninsured Motorist Protection
About 13.3 percent of drivers who are residents in Texas do not have insurance according to the Insurance Research Council.
While this percentage is already higher than the national average, the number of drivers without insurance in Mission is much higher because it is directly on the border of the United States and Mexico.
With many people crossing the border without the appropriate insurance provided by a Texas carrier, the need for Uninsured Motorist Protection insurance is much higher.
Uninsured Motorist Protection (UM) is a special optional protection that will kick in and pay for your medical expenses if you are hit by someone who failed to buy insurance. It will act like Bodily Injury coverage for the party who did not carry it.
The maximum amount of UM that you can carry will match the BI limit that you carry. You can elect to carry lower limits as well.
- Physical Damage
Physical Damage consists of Comprehensive and Collision cover, and each will pay to fix your car or to replace it with a similar car if it is totaled. Comprehensive will pay when the damage or the loss is caused by events like theft, vandalism, hail, fire and more.
Collision pays when the vehicle is being operated and there is a single car or multi-car accident.
You should decide if your car's value is high enough before carrying full coverage. You should always have deductibles that you can afford to cover if you find that carrying physical damage is a must.
Quick Shopping Tips for Buying Mission Car Insurance
It can be very intimidating to visit an insurance agency for the first time.
You may not know the industry lingo or even how much you should expect to set aside for your insurance payments.
Here are some tips to keep in mind so that you are not nervous or overwhelmed as you shop:
- Quote before you buy
If you are shopping for a car, ask for quotes for that make and model and compare the quotes to those of other vehicles. The car's safety record plays a major role in the cost to cover it.
- Gather all of your information
You must provide accurate information to get a quote. This includes the name, dates of birth, driver license number and driving history information of all drivers in the household. Also the vehicle ID number, odometer, and annual mileage. With accurate information, you are more likely to get accurate quotes.
- Find Multi-car and Multi-line Discounts
There are plenty of discounts you may be eligible for. Multi-car and multi-line discounts will help you save twice as much because you will receive the savings on each car or policy.
- Comparison shop to find the best rates
The best way to find the lowest car insurance rates is to comparison shop. All insurance companies set their own rates and they are marketing to their own preferred demographic. Smart consumers will find carriers marketing to them with the best rates.
Comparison shopping can be very difficult when you visit each insurer or call them each individually.
If you value your time, you can request car insurance quotes in Mission from the comforts of your own home by using an online rate comparison tool. Simply log on to the Internet, enter all of your information, and then compare the instant quotes you receive so that you can make a smart buying decision.
Are you searching for affordable car insurance coverage? Enter your zip code below to compare car insurance rates from multiple companies in your area for FREE!