Updated June 1, 2026
Let’s face it, sometimes car insurance is confusing. We know we need it, but we don’t always know what it covers. Do I have enough coverage? Who is allowed to drive my car? What happens if I need to file a claim? These are common questions drivers have, so we’ve created this post to help clear the air on auto insurance.
1. How Much Car Insurance Do I Need?
At the most basic level, you need enough vehicle liability insurance to meet the minimum requirement of the state you live in. Liability insurance covers damage you cause to people or property when you’re in a car accident. It helps cover any financial responsibility you have for damage or injury to others.
Car Insurance Minimums in Ohio
In the state of Ohio, at the date of this blog post, minimum requirements are:
- $25,000 – for injury/death of one person
- $50,000 – for injury/death of two or more people
- $25,000 – for property damage in an accident
For the most up-to-date numbers, visit the Ohio BMV website. It is important to understand that state minimum coverage requirements are exactly that: minimums. While meeting Ohio’s legal requirements keeps you compliant, minimum coverage may not provide enough financial protection in a serious accident involving major vehicle damage, injuries, or lawsuits.
Calculating Additional Car Insurance Coverage
While the state minimum is required, ideally you should look at upping your coverage for better overall financial protection in case of an accident (lawsuits and medical bills can be expensive)! Some additional factors to consider when contemplating coverage levels are:
- The value of your vehicle
- How often you drive
- How much your assets are worth (home, property, etc.)
- Do you have a car loan or lease
We recommend adding collision and comprehensive insurance to your policy because it covers damage to your own vehicle. Even better, consider an umbrella policy which adds an additional layer of protection across the board. We’ve linked to our blog posts about these topics above, so you can explore them in depth.
2. Are Full Coverage and Comprehensive Auto Insurance the Same Thing?
While the names might sound similar, full coverage and comprehensive insurance are not the same thing. In fact, comprehensive insurance falls under a full coverage policy.
What is Comprehensive Insurance?
Comprehensive insurance covers situations involving your vehicle that are not caused by a collision with a vehicle or object (like a fence). Comprehensive coverage protects your car from incidents outside of your control like damage caused by: weather, accidents involving animals, fire, falling objects, and theft.
What is Full Coverage Insurance?
Full coverage insurance combines multiple types of auto coverage into one full insurance package. Typically this includes the following insurance:
- Liability – covers damage you cause to someone else in an accident. Helps cover the cost of medical bills and repair costs.
- Collision – covers damage to your car from a collision. Example: you back into a pole and damage your bumper. Collision coverage helps pay repair costs.
- Comprehensive – covers damage caused by incidents other than collision, such as a deer hitting your car.
- Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist – protects you if you’re hit by a motorist who doesn’t have insurance or not enough insurance. Helps cover your vehicle repair costs and medical bills.
Overall, the key takeaway is that comprehensive insurance is part of a full coverage insurance policy.
3. Do I need Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage in Ohio?
Some states require drivers to carry uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. In Ohio, this coverage is optional, but it is well worth including in your auto insurance policy.
Why Should I Add Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage to My Auto Policy?
You can’t control someone causing an accident, and you can’t guarantee they have the proper insurance to cover the costs of an accident. This is when uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage steps in to cover your medical costs. It applies to your passengers’ medical costs too. Depending on your policy, it may also cover the repair costs of your vehicle caused by the at fault driver.
4. Does Modifying My Vehicle Affect Insurance?
Both aesthetic and performance-related vehicle upgrades normally affect your insurance policy. When you invest in improvements, the cost to repair or replace your vehicle increases, making it more expensive to insure.
With that being said, some modifications may actually offer discount opportunities. Some insurance companies offer better rates when you add alarms, security features, cameras, or parking sensors to your vehicle.
If you choose to modify your vehicle, speak to your agent about obtaining a special coverage endorsement or custom car insurance policy. If you don’t, you could find yourself in trouble! When you don’t inform your insurance company about changes it could lead to claim denial, limited payouts, or even an invalidated insurance policy.
5. What Factors Affect My Car Insurance Premium?
There are a few key factors insurance companies use to measure the level of risk they take when offering you car insurance. The more likely you are to make a claim, the higher your premiums will be. Insurance companies consider:
- Your age – young drivers and elderly drivers usually have higher premiums. Those in their middle age tend to have better rates.
- Driving and claims history – the more tickets and claims you’ve had, the more risky you are to insure. Your driving history is a big indicator of whether you’re a safe driver, thus safer to insure.
- Credit score – statistics have shown that people with a lower credit score file more claims and more expensive claims. Keep that credit score up if you want a better premium.
- Location – if you live in a zip code with higher crime rates or bad weather, you’ll pay more because it’s more likely damage or theft will occur to your vehicle.
- Vehicle Model – the type of vehicle you drive matters. The more expensive your car is to repair or replace, the higher your premium will be.
- Mileage – the more miles you drive, the greater the opportunity for accidents. If you clock a lot of miles each year, this could impact your premium.
6. What Happens If Someone Drives My Car and Gets in an Accident?
Most car insurance policies cover people driving your car whom you gave permission to use the vehicle. Here are a few caveats to consider:
- Some policies don’t cover your relatives living with you UNLESS they are named in the policy
- Your policy may provide coverage to unnamed drivers, but it could be for a lesser amount
- Most likely your coverage won’t cover anyone using your vehicle for commercial or ride sharing purposes
- Coverage issues may also arise if you knowingly allow someone to drive your vehicle who has a suspended license, no valid license, or no insurance coverage of their own
We recommend you review the fine print of your policy with your agent so you understand the exact terms of your agreement and avoid any surprises.
7. How do I file an auto insurance claim?
We hope you never need to file an insurance claim, but life happens, and this is why you invest in auto insurance to begin with! Each insurance agency will have a slightly different way they manage claims, but generally speaking, to file an auto claim you should:
- Report the accident straight away to your insurance company. You can normally find the number on your insurance card or online.
- Gather the information to support your claim: accident details like date, time, location, damage, injuries incurred, the other driver’s insurance details, police report, medical bills, photos of the damage, witness statements, etc. The more information you can gather, the better!
- Complete any claims paperwork required by your insurance company. Be sure to keep your records in order and have your claim number to hand. Make sure you take this step seriously and complete it promptly. Some companies require you to file a claim within a certain amount of time.
- Find out if your policy includes a rental car. This is going to be especially helpful if your vehicle will be off the road for a while.
For more information about what to do after a car accident, check out this article.
Car Insurance in Ohio with Ianniello Agency
We hope this article gave you a better understanding of car insurance, but we’re here to help if you have more questions! Whether you need vehicle insurance for your car, truck, RV, ATV, golf cart, fifth wheel, or commercial vehicle in Ohio, we’ve got you covered. Find out more about our auto insurance offerings today, request a quote, or contact us to start the process.
