Auto Insurance glossary
Plain-language definitions of common auto insurance terms.
- Collision coverage
- Auto coverage that pays for damage to your own vehicle from a collision with another vehicle or object.
- Full definition of Collision coverage
- Comprehensive coverage
- Auto coverage for non-collision damage to your vehicle: theft, vandalism, hail, fire, hitting an animal, etc.
- Full definition of Comprehensive coverage
- Deductible
- The amount you pay out of pocket on a covered claim before your insurance starts paying.
- Full definition of Deductible
- Full coverage
- An informal term, not an actual policy type, that usually means liability plus collision and comprehensive coverage. Exactly what it includes varies, so confirm the specific coverages.
- Full definition of Full coverage
- Liability coverage
- Coverage for harm you cause to others. The auto, homeowners, and umbrella policies all have liability components, with different scopes.
- Full definition of Liability coverage
- SR-22
- A certificate an insurer files with the state to prove you carry the required minimum liability coverage. Often required after serious violations, it is a filing, not a type of insurance.
- Full definition of SR-22
- Uninsured motorist
- Auto coverage that pays for your injuries (and sometimes property damage) when the at-fault driver has no insurance. Required in some states, optional in others.
- Full definition of Uninsured motorist