Cars are expensive, and driving one is risky. Yet, this remains the primary mode of transportation for most people in the greater Eau Claire area. Whether you use your car for commuting to work, cross-country road trips, or running the kids to soccer practice, make sure it is covered against accidental damages and loss. At Strobel Insurance, we make it easy to shop and compare auto insurance coverage from multiple Wisconsin insurers, so you can find the protection you need at a price you can afford. From highway accidents and passenger injuries to hail damage and roadside assistance, drivers can find themselves in precarious situations or facing extensive financial loss. Our goal is to find coverage solutions that mitigate your monetary risks at competitive rates that fit your budget.
Types of Wisconsin Auto Insurance Coverage
Auto insurance policies can feature several different types of coverage. All policies include liability protection, which is required by law for Wisconsin drivers. However, most drivers need far more coverage than is mandated, including higher liability limits than the law requires. You policy may include protection for:
Collision
This type of coverage protects your vehicle against physical damages sustained in a collision. If you financed your car purchase, your lender may require it until your note is paid in full. Either way, collision coverage is important for protecting the value of your vehicle and compensating your for accident-related damages.
Comprehensive
Comprehensive coverage protects your vehicle against physical damages, too, only it pays for losses due to non-collision events. For example, if you hit a deer in the middle of the road or discover your vehicle has been pelted by hail, comprehensive insurance can help pay for the cost of repairs. Like collision, this coverage is often required by lenders.
Note that claims against collision and comprehensive insurance are generally subject to a deductible. Choosing a low deductible can reduce your financial responsibility for damages, whereas a higher deductible may lower the cost of your policy premiums.
Liability
If you hurt a pedestrian or injure another driver while operating your vehicle, you could be held liable for the damages. Auto liability insurance helps cover third-party injuries and property damages when you are at-fault for an accident. It can also cover the cost of defending yourself against litigation in court. Although the state has minimum liability insurance laws, we here at Strobel Insurance often recommend much higher limits to better protect against out-of-pocket loss. With limits that are too low, you are at higher risk of paying for excess damages yourself.
Uninsured and Underinsured Drivers
All drivers are supposed to be insured, but some drive illegally. If you are injured by an uninsured driver, your uninsured motorist coverage can help pay for your medical expenses. Underinsured motorist insurance offers similar protection, filling in gaps left by drivers with limits too low to cover your loss.
Medical Payments
Your car may be valuable, but it does not come close to the priceless lives inside it. If you or your passengers are injured in an accident, this type of coverage helps you get the medical attention you need regardless of who is at-fault for the injury. Talk to your agent about the medical payments coverage limits available from your insurer and how much coverage may be right for you. (Note that making a claim against your own medical payments coverage does not prevent you from pursuing compensation for additional damages from an at-fault driver.)
Towing and Roadside Assistance
Breakdowns seem to happen at the most inconvenient times and places. With 24-hour roadside assistance coverage, you can call for the help you need with minimal out-of-pocket costs. This coverage varies from insurer to insurer, but many policies offer compensation when you need assistance for things like lock-outs, flat tires, dead batteries, and towing to the nearest mechanic shop.
Rental Car Expenses
Your collision and comprehensive coverage can pay for repairs when your vehicle is damaged, but what will you drive while it is being restored? Many insurance companies offer rental car reimbursement coverage, which compensates you for a limited amount of the daily cost of your rental.
Collector Car Insurance
If you are one of the many people that have an appreciation for older cars, we are able to help you insure your car, or your whole collection.
While much of a collector car insurance policy is similar to a regular car insurance policy, there are a few things that are unique to a collector car policy. Here are a couple.
- Regular car insurance policies insure your car for the actual cash value, which depreciates each year you own your vehicle. Collector Car Insurance can insure your car for an agreed-upon value.
- A typical collector car isn’t driven on a daily basis, and for us in Wisconsin, it is likely put into storage for the winter months. Because of this, you will typically pay less for Collector Car Insurance than you would for a regular policy.
At Strobel Insurance we represent multiple companies that specialize in Collector Car Insurance including Condon Skelly, Hagerty, Grundy & JC Taylor. If you would like a quote for your collector car, contact us today!
Shop and Compare Wisconsin Auto Insurance
If you are in the market for new car insurance, start your search with an independent agency that can do the comparison shopping on your behalf. At Strobel Insurance, we know what matters most to Eau Claire area drivers, and we work hard to prioritize both coverage quality and affordability for all of our customers.
We help drivers save by searching for valuable discounts. Discount amounts and types are different depending on your insurance company. However, many insurers offer savings for drivers who:
- Combine home and auto insurance
- Insure multiple vehicles on the same policy
- Pay policy premiums in full
- Opt for automatic renewal and payments
- Complete an approved defensive driving safety course
- Have good high school and college grades
- Drive less than an average driver
- Maintain a good driving record
- Have no history of recent claims
- And more
As your hometown car insurance agency, we are available to answer your questions and offer guidance face-to-face or over the phone. We build a relationship with our clients and offer a friendly face you can return to again and again as your coverage needs change over the years. For more information or to request your free Wisconsin auto insurance quote, contact our office today.