Deductible – The amount of money the insured pays out to the insurance company before their vehicle gets repaired. Common deductible amounts are $250, $500 or $1,000.
Rental Reimbursem*nt – A set amount of money per day to help assist with renting a car when the insured's car is not movable due to a covered loss.
Roadside Assistance – A service for the insured to provide them assistance when their vehicle has run out of gas, lost their keys, needs a jump start or essential fluids, flat tire, etc.
State Minimum Coverage–This coverage meets the minimum requirements set forth by the state. Typically, this insurance includes liability coverage but may not include comprehensive or collision. This may not provide sufficient coverage levels for drivers.
Towing – Pays for towing charges used to tow the insured's car to the nearest facility for repair.
Endorsem*nt – The process of making a change to an active policy that increases or decreases the premium. Common endorsem*nts include adding a second vehicle or a second driver.
Declarations Page – The front page of a policy jacket that includes the name of the insured (s), the premium, the amount of coverage and the name, description and location of the item being covered.
Insurance Contract – The policy paperwork between the insured (customer) and the insurer (insurance company) that explains the details of the contract.
Liability Coverage–Insurance that pays for bodily injury or property damage to another party resulting from an accident that is deemed to be the policyholder’s fault.
Full Coverage Insurance –Full coverage insurance is a type of auto insurance that provides the most comprehensive coverage available and typically includes liability, comprehensive, collision, and sometimes other types of coverage such as rental reimbursem*nt, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and roadside assistance.
Cancellation – The termination of an insurance policy before the policy has expired.
Comprehensive & Collision –Two types of auto insurance that are typically part of a full coverage plan. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to a vehicle caused by theft, weather events, or other non-collision incidents. Collision coverage pays for damage to a vehicle resulting from a collision with another vehicle or object.
Lienholder – The organization or bank that has a financial interest in the property you are insuring, which is typically a finance or leasing company.
Reinstatement – The process of putting the insurance policy back in force after a lapse. If the insured fails to pay the premium on time, the policy will be cancelled, but can usually be reinstated if it is done within a predefined number of days from the cancellation.
Renewal – The process of continuing your insurance policy after it's set to expire. When a policy contract is set to expire after six months or one year, the customer needs to renew their policy to keep it in force.
Actual Cash Value (ACV) – The value of property, less any depreciation or pre existing damage.
Installment Fee – A monthly installment fee charged by the insurance company for breaking up the premium into monthly installments.
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) – A unique code given to each vehicle made up of numbers and letters to help an insurance company get specific details and characteristics of the vehicle.
Effective Date – The date on which an insurance policy starts or goes into effect.
Premium – The price of the insurance policy that the insured pays in exchange for the insurance coverage.
Claim – The request by the policyholder (aka the insured) to have an item fixed or repaired by the insurance policy.
Exclusion – Specific hazards or perils that are not covered on the insurance policy. There are common exclusions like intentional acts that are excluded. You can also exclude a driver so that they are not covered on the auto policy.
Grace Period – The period of time after the due date of a payment during which the policy will remain in force without any penalty. After the grace period runs out, the policy will cancel if no payment is made.
Expiration Date – The ending date of an insurance policy. After the insurance policy expires, the insured would have to restart or renew a policy.
Policy Fee – A fee the insurance company charges to issue the policy, which is non-refundable and fully earned.
Concealment – Failure to disclose the facts which could void an insurance policy
Policy Period – The time frame of a policy that is in force, during the effective and expiration dates.
Underwriting – The process that each policy will go through so that the insurance company can decide to insure the risk or not. Underwriting determines who is insured and how much in insurance premiums to charge the insured.
Insured – The customer or client that is covered by the policy.
Insurer – The insurance company that is covering the customer, or insured.
Uninsured Motorist–Uninsured motorist coverage is a type of car insurance that provides coverage for the policyholder if they are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver.
Customization – Additional equipment that has been added to a vehicle after it has been purchased from the manufacturer, altering or changing the original vehicle model. Coverage can be purchased to insure these additions added by the insured, such as special rims or stereo equipment that has been upgraded.
Artisan – A customer who is a craftsman or skilled worker and using their vehicle at their job to carry tools, or deliver goods.
Non-Standard Insurance–Coverage that is specifically tailored to drivers with unique circ*mstances, such as poor driving records, high-risk vehicles, or other factors that can make it difficult to find traditional coverage. Non-standard insurance typically includes higher premiums and stricter policy requirements.
