Understanding insurance basics

These definitions provide a brief description of the coverages we offer and some of the terms and phrases used in connection with vehicle insurance

Directory

A
Additional Interest Insured
Anti-Theft Device
B
Bodily Injury Liability Coverage
C
Collision Coverage
Comprehensive Coverage
Consumer Report
Continuously Insured
D
Declarations Page
Deductible
Driver Improvement Course
Driver Status
G
Garaging Location
L
Limits
Loan/Lease Payoff Coverage
M

N
Named Insured
Medical Payments (Med Pay)
O
Occasional Driver

P
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Policy Expiration Date
Policy Term
Premium
Primary Residence
Primary Use
Principal Driver
Prior Address
Property Damage Liability Coverage
R
Roadside Assistance
S
Salvage Titles
Second Named Insured
Social Security Number
SR-22
U
Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage
Underinsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage
V
VIN

Additional Interest Insured
Another person or company who may be liable for an accident involving an insured or an insured vehicle and who has been named as an Additional Interest Insured under the policy.

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Antitheft Device
Select Recovery Device if the system has a device that is capable of tracking (homing) and recovering the vehicle. These systems must automatically contact a response center where the process of vehicle recovery begins. This does not include alarms that do not have contact with a center or vehicle tracking. To receive an anti-theft discount, comprehensive and collision coverage must be present on your policy.

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Bodily Injury Liability Coverage
Pays when an insured person is legally liable for bodily injury or death caused by your vehicle or your operation of most non-owned vehicles. This coverage also pays for your legal defense if you are sued.

Common Exclusions: No coverage for (1) bodily injury/death when you are using your vehicle to carry persons or property (including magazines, newspapers, food) for compensation or a fee; (2) liability assumed under a contract; (3) bodily injury/death to an employee; (4) bodily injury/death caused by an intentional act; (5) property owned by, rented to, or in the charge of an insured person; (6) bodily injury/death to you or a relative; (7) bodily injury/death or property damage resulting from a relative’s use of a vehicle, other than a covered vehicle, owned by a person who resides with you; or (8) bodily injury or property damage resulting from your operation or use of a vehicle owned by you, other than a covered vehicle.

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Collision Coverage
Pays for loss to your covered vehicle when it collides with another object or overturns. We will also pay for a collision loss to any non-owned vehicle, or to a vehicle you have rented other than a vehicle rented for use in connection with your business or employment, while that vehicle is in your custody, or while you are operating it.

Common Exclusions: No coverage for damages or loss (1) to a vehicle while being used to carry persons or property for compensation or a fee; (2) resulting from intentional acts, racing, or preparing for a race or stunting activity; (3) to custom parts or equipment, including electronic equipment, in excess of the value declared in the application; or (4) to tapes, compact discs, other media or their carrying cases.

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Comprehensive Coverage
Pays for loss or damage to your covered vehicle caused by any event other than collision. This includes damages due to events such as fire, theft, windstorm, flood, and vandalism. We will also pay transportation and loss of use expenses under this coverage if your motor vehicle is stolen.

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Consumer Report
Consumer reports include your credit history, accident history and driving record. These reports are helpful for predicting future accidents and for verifying driving and claims records. We order consumer reports in order to give you an accurate rate for a Drive insurance policy.

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Continuously Insured
Insurance coverage was in effect from an insurer or more than one insurer at all times, without a break or lapse in coverage for any reason.

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Declarations Page
The report from your insurance company listing:
  • the types of coverage you have elected;
  • the limit for each coverage;
  • the cost for each coverage;
  • the specified vehicles covered by the policy;
  • the types of coverage for each vehicle covered by the policy; and
  • other information applicable to the policy.

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Deductible
The amount of each loss you agree to pay. Generally, choosing a higher deductible will lower your premium.

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Driver Improvement Course 
A voluntary refresher course available for drivers age fifty-five (55) and older to enhance their driving skills. Participants are eligible for a discount if they can provide a certificate to Drive as proof of completion. The course must have been completed within three (3) years of the date the policy is to begin.

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Driver Status
Provides information concerning whether the driver has been rated or listed on the policy.

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Garaging Location
The ZIP code where your vehicle is parked when not in use and usually corresponds to your primary residence.

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Limits
The most we will pay for a specific insurance coverage. You may choose the limit that meets your needs. Most states have laws that specify the minimum limits you must purchase.

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Loan/Lease Payoff Coverage
Loan/lease payoff coverage, sometimes called "gap" coverage, pays the difference between what you owe on your vehicle and what your insurance pays if your vehicle is damaged beyond repair (totaled) or stolen and not recovered.

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Named Insured
The first person in whose name the insurance policy is issued.

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Medical Payments (Med Pay)
Optional insurance that pays for reasonable and necessary medical and funeral expenses for covered persons. These expenses must be incurred as a result of an auto accident.

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Occasional Driver
The person who is not the primary or principal driver of the vehicle.

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Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Coverage in which an insurer pays, within the specified limits, the medical, hospital and funeral expenses of the insured, others in his vehicles and pedestrians struck by him. The basic coverage implemented under No-Fault Automobile.

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Policy Expiration Date
The date when your current insurance policy expires. This date can be found on your current policy, Declaration (or "DEC") page, insurance identification card or recent cancellation notice. This date is not to be confused with the date of your next payment or when your renewal payment is due.

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Policy Term
The length of time that the policy is in force. In most states, Drive offers annual and semi-annual policies.

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Premium
An amount of money paid to an insurance company in return for insurance protection.

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Primary Residence
The place where you will reside for the majority of your policy term. If you are a homeowner who does not reside in the home you own, please choose the "rent" or "other" option.

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Primary Use
What your vehicle is mainly used for:
  • To/From Work If you use your vehicle to commute to and from your work and/or school.
  • Business If your vehicle is used for one or all of the following:
    • used to make sales calls
    • used as vehicle for business trips to bank or post office, picking up supplies, going to different locations
    • owned or leased by a partnership or corporation that have a business listed as an additional interest on the car
  • Farm If your vehicle is used primarily on a farm, ranch or orchard
  • Artisan If your vehicle is operated by you in a trade or business where the vehicle is:
    • owned or leased by an individual
    • operated solely by the named insured or other resident relatives
    • used to transport tools or other materials where such transport is incidental to the insured’s trade or business
    • at no more than 2 job sites per day
    • not used to transport explosives or flammable materials
    • not carrying equipment weighing more than 500 lb.
      Artisan occupations may include but are not limited to: appliance
      repair, landscapers, blacksmith, painters, cabinet makers, photographers, carpenters, plasterers, carpet installers, pool cleaners, construction workers, pool maintenance, drapery installers, radio/TV repairmen, electrician repairmen, exterminators, roofers, fence installers, tree trimmers, furniture repairmen, upholsterers, heating/AC repairmen, surveyors, interior decorator, welders, janitorial services
  • Pleasure No others apply

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Principal Driver
The person who drives the car most often.

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Prior Address
We ask for your prior address only if you moved within the last 60 days. Drive orders consumer reports to determine the correct rate for you. The prior address provides an additional piece of information to match the consumer report correctly with the customer. If we don’t collect this information, our chance of error increases and we might not calculate your rate correctly.

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Property Damage Liability Coverage
Pays when an insured person is legally liable for damage to the property of others caused by your vehicle or your operation of most non-owned vehicles. This coverage also pays for your legal defense costs if you are sued.

Common Exclusions: Same as Bodily Injury Liability Coverage exclusions, but the exclusions apply to damage to property.

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Roadside Assistance
Provides services such as towing, flat tire change, locksmith service and battery jump-start to customers, who may elect the service for an additional premium if it is not already included with their policy.

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Salvage Titles
State laws determine if a vehicle requires a salvage title.
  • Some states base salvage titles on the extent of damage a vehicle has sustained. For example, in Louisiana, damage to a vehicle must equal or exceed 75 percent of the vehicle’s retail value in order for it to require a salvage title, according to state law.
  • Other states, such as Florida, require a vehicle to have a salvage title if the insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. These titles generally indicate whether the vehicle is “rebuildable” (can be repaired and driven on the road) or “not rebuildable” (must be sold for parts).
  • Other states “brand” or “notate” the vehicle’s title when the estimate of damages reaches a certain percentage of the vehicle’s retail value (in New York, it is 75 percent), even if the vehicle has not been declared a total loss and is able to be repaired.
  • Other states have no guidelines for issuing salvage titles.

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Second Named Insured
The named insured or listed agent/broker on a policy may request to designate any other person listed on the policy as a "second named insured". The second named insured has the same coverage under the policy as the named insured.

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Social Security Number
Drive requests detailed information about you to provide you with the most accurate rate. We order consumer reports to determine the correct rate for you. We need several pieces of information to match the report to the customer appropriately. If we don’t collect this information, our chance of error increases and we might not calculate your rate correctly.

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SR-22
A document required by the court that demonstrates proof of financial responsibility for persons convicted of certain traffic violations.

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Uninsured Motorist Coverage
Protects you, your resident relatives, and occupants of a covered vehicle if any of these insured sustain bodily injury, including any resulting death, in an accident in which the owner or operator of a motor vehicle who is legally liable does not have insurance.

Common Exclusions: No coverage for bodily injury/death sustained by any person while using or occupying a (1) covered vehicle while being used to carry persons or property for compensation or a fee; (2) covered vehicle without the permission of you or a relative; or (3) non-owned vehicle without the permission of the owner.

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Underinsured Motorist Coverage
Protects you, your resident relatives, and occupants of a covered vehicle if any of these insured sustain bodily injury, including any resulting death, in an accident in which the owner or operator of a motor vehicle who is legally liable does not have enough insurance.

Common Exclusions: No coverage for bodily injury/death sustained by any person while using or occupying a (1) covered vehicle while being used to carry persons or property for compensation or a fee; (2) covered vehicle without the permission of you or a relative; or (3) non-owned vehicle without the permission of the owner.

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Uninsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage
Available in some states as an alternative to Collision Coverage. This coverage pays you for damage to the covered vehicle that has been sustained in an accident in which the owner or operator of a motor vehicle who is legally liable does not have insurance.

Common Exclusions: No coverage for property damage sustained by a (1) covered vehicle while being used to carry persons or property for compensation or a fee; or (2) covered vehicle without the permission of you or a relative.

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Underinsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage
This coverage pays you for damage to the covered vehicle that has been sustained in an accident in which the owner or operator of a motor vehicle who is legally liable is an underinsured motorist. This coverage is available in only a limited number of states.

Common Exclusions: No coverage for property damage sustained by a (1) covered vehicle while being used to carry persons or property for compensation or a fee; or (2) a covered vehicle without the permission of you or a relative.

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VIN
The vehicle identification number (VIN) on your vehicle. This number is usually found on the dashboard of your vehicle on the driver’s side, and is usually listed on the vehicle registration and title. The VIN number is a combination of letters and numbers 17 characters in length that can be used to identify the make, model, and year of your car.

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