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Accidental
Death
Accidental death coverage is
sometimes a part of Personal Injury Protection or First Party Benefits
plans.
If a covered individual dies from
accident-related injuries, this coverage provides a payment to the insured's designated
beneficiary.
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Actual Cash ValueThe
current value of property, which is the cost to replace that property less the amount it
would have depreciated since the original purchase date.
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Adjuster
An adjuster is the person who
investigates and settles claims on behalf of the insurance company.
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Agent/Broker
Agents and brokers both sell and manage
insurance for clients. Agents are the authorized representatives of an insurance company
or companies, while brokers are the authorized representatives of parties seeking
insurance.
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Anti-Theft Recovery
System
This system consists of an
electronic device that is installed in a concealed area of your car. If your car is
stolen, you can activate the device and it will emit a signal that police cruisers
equipped with appropriate sensing equipment can use to locate your vehicle.
The system can be effective over a
radius of several miles, depending on local geography. Ask your car dealer or nearby
police department which brand of recovery systems are supported in your area.
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Benefit
A benefit is the amount paid by an insurance
company to you or your beneficiary when you file a claim.
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Bodily Injury Liability
Coverage
Bodily injury liability coverage protects you if
you are held responsible for injuring someone else in an auto accident.
This coverage helps pay for the injured party's
medical expenses and lost wages. Bodily injury liability also helps pay your expenses in a
related lawsuit.
The amount paid by bodily injury liability
coverage is capped at the limit you purchase.
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Broadform Collision
Coverage
This coverage is available only in
the state of Michigan.
Broadform works like standard
collision coverage, but also pays for collision damage to your insured auto regardless of
who is at fault.
Although the coverage will pay up to
the car's actual cash value regardless of fault in an accident, you will
be responsible for the deductible amount you select if you are found to be more than 50
percent responsible for the accident. If you are less than 50 percent responsible, you
will not have to pay this deductible.
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Business
Use
This means that you use your car for
business purposes such as sales, service, or delivery calls, work-related errands (such as
trips to the bank or post office), and other work-related driving. Commuting to and from
work is not considered business use.
Esurance does not currently provide
insurance for vehicles driven primarily for business use.
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Claim
A claim is a policyholder's request for
reimbursement of a loss that is covered by the their insurance.
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Collision Coverage
Collision coverage helps pay for auto repair or
replacement costs if your car hits another vehicle/an object or if your car rolls over.
The maximum amount paid for repair or
replacement is the car's actual cash value, less the amount of the deductible you select.
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Collision Deductible Waiver
This coverage pays the deductible
for your collision coverage if you are involved in an accident in which
an uninsured motorist is held legally responsible for the accident.
The collision deductible waiver is not available
in all states Where available, this coverage must be purchased in conjunction with
collision coverage.
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Commuting
If you primarily use your car for
commuting, this means that you are typically driving it to and from work or school on a
regular basis.
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Comprehensive Coverage
Comprehensive coverage helps pay for damage to
your car resulting from fire, certain natural disasters, falling objects, and vandalism.
Theft is also covered.
The maximum amount paid for repair or
replacement is the car's actual cash value, less the amount of a deductible you select.
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Continuously Insured
The length of time you have been continuously
insured is the number of years you have been covered by one or more insurance companies
without any lapse in coverage.
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Declarations
The declarations page shows the factual
information essential to the insurance contract: the policyholder's name and address, a
description of the insured property, the premiums to be paid, as well as the limits and
deductibles for different coverages.
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Deductible
For some insurance coverages, you are asked to
choose a deductible. The deductible is the portion of losses that you agree to pay in the
event of an accident.
Though choosing a higher deductible can
substantially lower your insurance premium, if an accident occurs, you must pay the full,
pre-established amount of the deductible in order to receive payment from your insurance
provider.
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Defensive Driver
and Driver Improvement Courses
These courses consist of defensive
driving training for drivers of all ages as well as "mature driver safety
courses" intended for drivers age 55 and over.
You may qualify for a discount on
your insurance premium if you have completed such courses.
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Depreciation
Depreciation is the decline in an object's value
due to age, wear and tear, or obsolescence.
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Effective Date
The effective date is the date your insurance
coverage begins. You are not covered prior to a policy's effective date.
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Emergency Road Service
This optional coverage pays a fixed amount
toward vehicle towing if your car breaks down or if it is disabled in an accident.
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Endorsements
Also known as riders, endorsements are changes
to the original insurance contract, such as a different deductible or an additional car or
driver.
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Exclusions
Exclusions are situations that are not covered
by a given insurance policy. Specific exclusions are listed on your insurance policy.
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Extraordinary
Medical
Extraordinary medical coverage is
sometimes a part of Personal Injury Protection or First Party Benefits plans.
Extraordinary medical coverage
protects you in the event you suffer accident-related injuries that require serious and/or
long-term medical care. Extraordinary medical coverage begins once you have exhausted the
limit on your standard medical benefits coverage.
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First
Party Benefits
First Party Benefits, or FPB, is an
optional set of coverages available in Pennsylvania.
Depending on the specific FPB
coverages you select, if you are injured in an accident, FPB covers you and relatives
residing in the same household for medical expenses, lost income, accidental death, and/or
funeral costs.
Payments for losses are capped by
limits that vary for each coverage you purchase.
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Full Coverage
Full coverage denotes an insurance policy
containing all coverage legally required in a given state. It does not imply the
policyholder will always be fully covered.
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Funeral Benefits
Funeral benefits coverage is
sometimes a part of Personal Injury Protection or First Party Benefits plans. If a covered
individual dies from accident-related injuries, this coverage pays for a portion of
funeral expenses.
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Garaging Location
The garaging location is where an insured
vehicle is primarily parked. This location is usually the ZIP code of the policyholder's
primary residence.
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Income
Loss
Income Loss coverage is sometimes a
part of Personal Injury Protection or First Party Benefits plans.
Income loss coverage protects you if
you are unable to work due to accident-related injuries. It helps you recover portions of
your lost salary and other expenses you may incur as you try to return to work.
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Indemnity
An indemnity is a pre-determined sum
paid for a covered loss.
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Insurance Claim Report
Insurance claim reports provide details about
claims you or other insured drivers have filed with insurance companies. These reports are
provided by independent consumer reporting agencies that collect claim information from a
variety of insurance companies. One of the most common agencies issuing such reports is
C.L.U.E., the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange.
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Insurance Score
Insurance scores are based on analytical models
that objectively measure the relative likelihood of future insurance losses based on your
credit history. These scores and analyses of their significance are provided by
independent consumer reporting agencies.
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Insured
The insured is an individual covered by a given
insurance policy.
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Liability
Liability is a term that broadly
means legal responsibility. If you run a stop sign and hit another car, you may be found
liable for the damages to the other driver's auto.
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Liability Coverage
Liability coverage protects you from having to
deplete your assets to pay for damages if you are held responsible for injuries or damages
arising from an auto accident.
The two main types of liability coverages in an
auto insurance policy are bodily injury and property damage.
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Limits
Limits are the maximum amount an insurance
company will pay for a covered loss. While you can choose the limits you want to purchase
for certain coverages, some states require you to buy limits no lower than a certain
amount.
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Medical Benefits
Medical Benefits coverage is
sometimes a part of Personal Injury Protection or First Party Benefits plans.
Medical expenses that are the direct
result of accident-related injuries are covered. Covered medical expenses are limited to
the amounts you specify.
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Medical Payments
Coverage
This coverage pays medical bills
and/or funeral expenses if a covered driver and/or accompanying passengers are injured or
killed while in an insured vehicle, regardless of fault in an accident.
This may also cover policyholders
and their family members when in others' vehicles, or when policyholders and their family
members are on foot and hit by a car.
The amount paid by medical payments
coverage is capped at the limit you select.
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Motor Vehicle
Report
A Motor Vehicle Report (MVR)
provides information on your driving record. This report includes accidents and moving
violations. Insurance carriers obtain MVRs from states where you or other insured drivers
have been licensed to drive.
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National
Credit File
The National Credit File provides
objective consumer information regarding the financial history of an individual.
Information contained in this report is often used to calculate insurance scores.
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No-Fault Insurance
No-fault insurance refers to the way
insurance companies settle claims. Generally, a no-fault policy will not require that
blame be assigned in order for a policyholder to be paid.
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No-Fault States
In some states, called no-fault
states, insurance companies are legally required to pay a policyholder's covered losses,
regardless of who is at fault in an accident. Some no-fault states also restrict the right
to sue for damages.
In states without no-fault
regulations, the insurance company covering the person who caused an accident is forced to
pay for covered losses.
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Non-Passive Alarm
A non-passive alarm must be manually
activated every time you leave the car. If someone attempts toyour car, the alarm
sounds, and the system disables the automobile's starter, ignition system, and/or fuel
circuit.
You may qualify for a discount on
your insurance premium if your car is equipped with such an alarm.
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Occasional Driver
An occasional driver is a driver who is not the
most frequent driver of the insured vehicle.
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Passive
Alarm
Passive alarms are automatically
activated and will emit a warning sound when someone attempts toyour car. Once the
passive alarm has been triggered, the system disables the automobile's starter, ignition
system, and/or fuel circuit.
You may receive a discount on your
insurance premium if your car is fitted with such an alarm.
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Personal Injury Protection
Personal Injury Protection, or PIP,
is a set of coverages available only in certain states, where it is often mandatory.
PIP generally includes expanded
coverage of medical costs and, in some states, PIP also pays for lost wages and similar
losses.
Specific protections afforded by
this coverage and limits on PIP payments vary widely from state to state.
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Pleasure
Use
If you use your car for pleasure,
this means that you are typically driving for fun, with no regular commuting or business
use.
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Policy Expiration Date
The policy expiration date is the date coverage
under a current insurance policy ends if the policy is not renewed. The expiration date
can be found on the declarations page of a policy, on a proof of insurance card, or on a
recent renewal notice.
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Policy Term
A policy term is the length of time an insurance
policy is valid.
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Primary Driver
The primary driver is the person who
drives the car most frequently.
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Primary Use
A vehicle's primary use is how the vehicle is
typically used. This use may be characterized as commuting, business use, or pleasure use.
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Primary
Policyholder
The primary policyholder is the
person who serves as the main point of contact with Esurance. Since he/she is the main
point of contact, the primary policyholder has to provide us with an email address so that
we can send account updates, renewal notices, and other important communication.
Typically, the primary policyholder
is also the person billed for the Esurance policy, though any person listed on the policy
can make the premium payment
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Property Damage
Liability Coverage
Property damage liability coverage
protects you if you are held responsible for damaging someone else's property in an auto
accident.
Property damage coverage helps you
reimburse another person for their damaged property (such as a car, a fence, or a home).
This coverage also helps pay your expenses in a related lawsuit.
The amount paid by property damage
liability coverage is capped at the limit you select.
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Rental Car
Reimbursement
Rental car reimbursement is an optional coverage
that helps pay your rental car expenses if an insured vehicle is damaged or stolen and you
require a rental car.
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SR-22
An SR-22 is a document that shows proof of
financial responsibility. Courts may require an SR-22 for people convicted of certain
traffic violations.
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Secondary Driver
A secondary driver is a driver who
is insured for driving a covered vehicle, but is not the primary driver. A secondary
driver is also sometimes known as an occasional driver.
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Steering Restraint
A steering restraint is a durable
collar or shield fitted to the upper and lower casing of your car's steering column. The
collar makes it more difficult for potential thieves to access, or "hotwire"
your car's ignition system.
You may qualify for a discount on
your insurance premium if your car is fitted with a steering restraint.
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Tort
Tort is a legal term used to
describe instances when someone is deemed legally responsible for injuring another person
or damaging his/her property.
Some states ask you to select a tort
provision. In these states, you can limit your right to sue for non-monetary damages (like
pain and suffering) in exchange for a reduction to your premium.
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Towing Coverage
This optional coverage pays a fixed
amount toward vehicle towing if your car breaks down or if it is disabled in an accident.
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Underinsured
Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage
Underinsured motorist bodily injury
coverage is available in some states, where it may be mandatory.
This coverage pays for your medical
expenses, lost wages, and other damages when you or your passengers are injured in an
accident caused by a driver who has insufficient insurance coverage.
This coverage typically pays the
difference between your coverage and the other driver's bodily injury coverage. The amount
paid by underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage is capped at the limit you select.
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Underinsured
Motorist Property Damage Coverage
Underinsured motorist property
damage coverage is available in some states, where it may be mandatory.
This coverage protects you if your
vehicle is damaged in an accident caused by a driver who has insufficient insurance
coverage. Other specific protection afforded by this coverage varies from state to state.
This coverage pays the difference
between the coverage limit you select and the other driver's property damage coverage
limit. The amount paid by underinsured motorist property damage coverage is capped at the
limit you select.
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Uninsured Motorist
Bodily Injury Coverage
Uninsured motorist bodily injury
coverage is available in some states, where it may be mandatory.
This coverage pays for your medical
expenses, lost wages, and other general damages when you or your passengers are injured in
an accident caused by a driver who has no insurance. Uninsured motorist coverage also pays
for injuries sustained in hit-and-run accidents.
The amount paid by uninsured
motorist bodily injury coverage is capped at the limit you select.
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Uninsured Motorist
Property Damage Coverage
Uninsured motorist property damage
coverage is available in some states, where it may be mandatory.
This coverage protects you if your
vehicle is damaged in an accident caused by a driver who has no insurance. Other
protection afforded by this coverage varies from state to state..
The amount paid by uninsured
motorist bodily injury coverage is capped at the limit you select. In some states, you
will need to pay a deductible each time you make a claim.
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Uninsured/Underinsured
Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage
In some states, both uninsured and
underinsured motorist bodily injury are bundled into a single coverage. In the states
where it is offered, this coverage may be mandatory.
This coverage pays for your medical
expenses, lost wages, and other damages when you or your passengers are injured in an
accident caused by a driver who has insufficient or no insurance coverage. This coverage
also pays for injuries sustained in hit-and-run accidents.
The amount paid by
uninsured/underinsured motorist bodily injury coverage is capped at the limit you select.
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VIN
The VIN, short for vehicle identification
number, is the unique 17-digit number found on every car. It contains the vehicle's serial
number, as well as abbreviations for the make, model, and year.
The number appears on your vehicle registration
card. It is also engraved in your car, near the base of the windshield on the driver's
side dashboard and/or on the edge of the driver's side door.
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