Auto Insurance

• Liability Coverage: Liability insurance is legally required in many US states. This insurance covers the costs of any damage you cause to another driver’s car in an accident. It can also cover medical expenses for other drivers and passengers involved in car accidents in which you are at fault.

• Collision Coverage: This coverage is not required in most states, but it’s still a good idea to have. Collision coverage will provide you with money to repair or replace your own vehicle in the event of an accident.

• Comprehensive Coverage: A comprehensive car insurance policy will cover you in the event of damage to your vehicle outside of an on-road accident. This includes fires, floods, vandalism, natural disasters, flying rocks, objects thrown from other vehicles, and other unforeseeable events.

• Medical Payment Coverage: Like the name suggests, this type of insurance covers medical payments, specifically for you and any passengers in your vehicle in the event of a car accident. It will also cover your medical expenses if you’re hurt while riding in someone else’s vehicle. This insurance also protects you if you’re hurt while running, walking, or biking.

• Personal Injury Protection Coverage (PIP): This type of coverage is very similar to the medical payment coverage we just discussed, but it’s a bit more broad. Personal injury protection coverage will also reimburse you for any lost wages or other nonmedical costs that directly result from an auto accident. In the state of Texas it’s legally required for all car insurance policies to include PIP coverage, but the laws are different for every state

• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage: This type of car insurance coverage must be offered to you by all insurance companies. It protects you if you’re involved in an accident where the motorist at fault as no coverage, or lacks enough coverage to completely pay for your auto repair and medical expenses. It also covers you if you’re involved in a hit-and-run.

• Towing and Labor Coverage: This optional car insurance policy covers any costs associated with towing your vehicle after an accident. It also covers roadside assistance like tire changes and jump starts.

• Rental Reimbursement Coverage: This auto insurance coverage provides you with funds to rent a car in the event that yours is undriveable after an accident. It also covers rentals if your vehicle is stolen. Some policies also include coverage for taxi and ride-hailing services.

This question is tough to answer in general because coverage differs for every unique policy we sell. That said, there are some basic guidelines for coverage that most policies will include. If you have questions or are unsure about your policy’s coverage, please call us toll-free at (888) 888-2600.

Most Constitution car insurance policies will cover:

• Car repair costs, medical bills, funeral costs, lost wages, and pain/suffering for other drivers and passengers involved in accidents that you cause
• Damage to the environment and private property including buildings, fences, signs, trees, statues, displays, traffic lights, and more.
• Any accidents that occur while you’re driving a rented vehicle
• Car accidents that occur outside of your home state
• Lawyer fees resulting from legal cases related to car accidents that you cause
• Damage to your own vehicle sustained during an accident (if you have collision coverage)
• Damage to your vehicle from natural disasters, fires, and theft (only if you have comprehensive coverage)
• Car repairs resulting from animal collisions (only if you have comprehensive coverage)

Most Constitution auto policies will not cover:

• Accidents that occur while you are a driver for a ride-hailing service like Uber or Lyft
• Accidents occurring while you are delivering food or other items in exchange for payment
• Accidents that happen while you’re driving any vehicles you don’t own and don’t have explicit permission to operate
• Accidents that occur outside the United States
• Accidents the occur while driving a company car
• Accidents that occur on a racetrack during a sanctioned racing event
• Damages that you cause on purpose, like brake-checking, bumping, or ramming other vehicles or property of any kind
• Items inside your vehicle that are not a permanent part of the vehicle including aftermarket radios, stereos, and external navigation devices

The answer to this question is different depending on the specific case and type of vehicle being driven.

Rental cars are typically covered by your own auto liability policy, but you should check with your agent to make sure that is the case. In the event that this is not part of your auto policy, most rental car agencies will offer multiple types of insurance including liability coverage that you can purchase for the duration of your rental.

Borrowed cars come with some special restrictions. If you are driving a borrowed vehicle from a friend and you have their permission, their policy will cover any accidents you have. That is, unless that friend doesn’t have enough coverage to pay - in this case, your policy will kick in to cover you. If you borrow a car as a loaner from an auto repair shop, any accidents you have will be covered by your own liability policy.

In the event that you don’t own a car but regularly borrow one with permission, you can apply for a Nonowner Liability Policy. This type of coverage will cover any damage or injuries you cause as a driver of a borrowed vehicle, but it will not cover damages to the borrowed vehicle.

In Texas where we are based, this question is quite common. Unfortunately, most auto insurance policies won’t cover you if you drive in Mexico because Mexican auto laws and insurance requirements are different from those in the USA. In the event that you need coverage while driving in Mexico, contact your agent to discuss the details.

Young drivers are statistically more dangerous than those who have been driving for 5 years or more. For that reason, it can be expensive to get insurance for yourself as a young driver. In most cases, parents opt to include their children as drivers on their own policies because this is almost always the cheapest option.

If your child is living away from your home, at college for example, you need to tell your insurer about this. If the child has a car that is mainly in another city, your rates could change. This is especially important if your child is living outside of Texas.

There are several factors that we use to figure out car insurance rates. We are required under Texas state law to charge fair rates to all customers that adequately cover any risks they might face.

An underwriter will determine your insurance rate based on a combination of these factors:

• Age: The age of a driver is a major consideration. Statistically, certain age brackets are much more dangerous on the road than others.

• Driving Record & Claim History: Accident history, tickets, and past claims are a good indicator for us of the type of driver you are. It helps us determine how safely you drive and how likely it is for you to submit claims in the future.

• Car Location: The place where your car is kept can influence your insurance rate because some areas are more prone to vehicular crime and theft. Rates are usually higher in more populated areas.

• Car Type: The type of car you driver also influences your insurance rate. Any type of performance vehicle will have a higher rate than a basic sedan. Luxury vehicles and vehicles that are known to have high repair costs will also incur higher rates.

• Car Use: Do you use your car only to commute? Do you use it for business purposes? Do you use it only to get around town? Questions like these can help us determine your risk of an accident and will influence your final rate.

• Credit Score: This is a minor consideration, but we still take it into account. It helps us get an idea of how financially responsible you are when it comes to making payments on your policy.