Arkansas Car Insurance
Finding Arkansas car insurance should begin with research to ensure that you understand what the state requires for auto insurance, as well as to make certain it is for an affordable price. This article will walk you through the steps of understanding what policy limits are required, what coverage is available, and even a few tips for saving money on your Arkansas car insurance.
Requirements And Types Of AR Auto Insurance
The majority of states will require you to carry liability coverage on your vehicle. In other words, this coverage protects any potential passengers or vehicles you may cause damage to in an at-fault accident. Arkansas requires you carry the following limits on these types of coverage:
- Bodily Injury: $25,000 per person/$50,000 per occurrence
- Property Damage: $25,000 per accident
- Medical Payments, PIP, and Uninsured Motorists coverage are not required
There are two basic types of coverage that come standard on many auto insurance policies: liability and physical damage coverage.
Liability coverage, as mentioned before, will cover the other vehicle and its passengers in the case that you caused the accident. Physical damage coverage extends to pay for your vehicle if there are damages after an at-fault accident.
Here are the types available in Arkansas broken down:
Liability (Mandatory Coverage)
- Bodily injury will cover the passengers of the opposite vehicle for their injuries and medical bills.
- Property damage will cover the opposing vehicle and pay for repairs, as well as other types of property damage.
Property Damage (Non-Mandatory Coverage)
- Collision coverage will pay for repairs to your vehicle after an at-fault accident.
- Comprehensive coverage will pay for damage to your vehicle after certain types of occurrences: wind damage, glass damage, vandalism, theft, and some natural disasters are covered as well.
Other (Non-Mandatory Coverage)
Don't be fooled into thinking that the mandatory coverage is guaranteed to cover all your needs. When an accident occurs you may need money to cover many things that your basic AR auto insurance policy won't touch. Consider these options:
- Medical payments cover your passenger’s medical bills for injuries sustained in an at-fault accident.
- Uninsured motorists bodily injury protection is for your passengers in the case that you were involved in a not at-fault accident, but the other driver did not have insurance. This will pay for injuries and medical bills for those in your car.
- Rental insurance provides a rental car for up to 30 days if your vehicle is unavailable while it is getting repaired due to an accident.
- Emergency towing is offered by some companies to provide a 24/7 towing service if your car breaks down, keys are locked in the car, or other covered occurrences.
Finding Cheap Arkansas Auto Insurance Rates
Although these rates have most certainly increased, the average policy in Arkansas in 2004 cost $707.74 (for a 6 month premium). In this economy, the numbers have gone up and, if you are like most people, you are looking for ways to save money! Here are some discounts that could save money on your Arkansas auto insurance rates:
- Defensive driver discount applies for drivers typically 55 and over. It’s an easy process; take a course through the DMV (some states offer it online) and receive a discount through most insurance companies for up to three years.
- Good driving discount actually rewards the good drivers that are ticket and accident-free for typically the previous three to five years.
- Multi-vehicle discount rewards households that combine vehicles on to one policy.
- Multi-line policy discounts are offered through certain companies that offer different types of insurance, such as auto, motorcycle, umbrella and homeowners insurance.
There are other considerations to keep in mind that will save money when choosing an AR auto insurance policy. Here are a few while looking for a new auto insurance plan:
- The deductible (if you have collision and comprehensive coverage) matters. The higher the deductible or what you pay out of pocket if an accident happens, the lower your monthly premium will be.
- How long is your commute to work? The longer time you spend out on the road on a daily basis increases your chances of accidents, thus increases your premium.
- Compare, compare, compare! The more price comparisons you do, the better understanding you’ll have for what your insurance needs are and where the best price can be found.
Getting appropriate coverage is both your responsibility, and the smart thing to do. Find Arkansas car insurance by using our free search tools at the top of the page!