15 Mins
Aug 12, 2024

Auto Transport Insurance vs. Personal Auto Insurance: What's the Difference?

It is essential to know the differences between transport insurance and personal insurance whenever it has to be shipped. These two coverages serve two different kinds of insurance, which also provide completely different coverage options. This article should shed some light on those differences and assist you in making better decisions about your vehicle's protection. Be it relocation, buying a car from an out-of-state dealer, or having a vehicle sent for a relative, knowledge of the suitable types of insurance shall help cushion a big blow.

What is the difference between Auto Transport Insurance and Personal Car Insurance?

Basically, transport insurance is specifically formulated to provide coverage to vehicles being transported by some sort of carrier. On the other hand, personal insurance will cover a vehicle when it is driven on public roads. Therefore, what differs is basically the degree of coverage required. Transport insurance protects the vehicle against damages that may occur during transit while personal insurance does not cover transportation scenarios.

As it can be easily seen, these are totally different; transport insurance is bought by a transportation company to cover its vehicles while the personal insurance is bought by the car owners to cover their vehicle while they are driving.

Auto Transport Insurance: How it works

Car transport insurance refers to the use of a regular type of insurance intended to protect transporting automobiles. Usually, such insurance is taken by a company that carries out the transportation and becomes part of the price for this service. It covers all imaginable risks connected with actual vehicle transportation, and so it protects both the carrier and the owner of the transported vehicle from possible damages.

The process usually starts when one hires a transport company. It then appraises the value of the vehicle and determines what should be covered for the trip. In the event of an accident or damage while the vehicle is being transported, the insurance will trigger to pay the bill based on what is in the policy.

What is included in Auto Transport Insurance?

Car transport insurance generally includes coverage for:

  • Physical Damage: This insurance covers any damage that may occur through accidents, theft, or vandalism during transit. It is important because vehicles face a host of risks when being loaded, offloaded, and transported aboard open or enclosed carriers.
  • Liability Coverage: It indemnifies one in case of damage to other vehicles or property in the course of transportation. Indemnity or this clause, therefore, assures that a client, whenever their transport vehicle is involved in an accident, enough costs associated with damage to third parties are availed.
  • Total Loss Coverage: It pays the full value to owners in case a car is totally lost or damaged beyond repair. This becomes key in high-value vehicles to be able to cushion someone's investment.
  • Loading and Unloading Coverage: Many policies also include coverage for damages that occur during the loading and unloading process, which is often a vulnerable time for vehicles.

Auto Transport Insurance – What’s not covered

Although car transport insurance does cover almost everything, there are a few exceptions:

  • Mechanical Failures: Damage caused by a pre-existing mechanical condition generally isn't covered. So if you have a car that has a known condition before it ships and subsequent damage occurs, it likely wouldn't be covered.
  • Personal Items: Generally, personal items left in your vehicle during transit are not covered. We advise that all personal items be removed before handing the vehicle over to the transportation company.
  • Acts of God: Depending on the policy, it may not cover natural calamities or extreme weather conditions. Always look into the terms and conditions in order to know to what extend the coverage goes in such incidents.
  • Negligence: If the vehicle owner has not properly secured the vehicle or disclosed pre-existing damage, claims may be denied.

Personal Car Insurance: How it works

Personal insurance covers your car while in usage. It protects the owner from damages that may occur due to varied incidences of accidents, theft, and other eventualities at the time the vehicle is being used. By law, the auto insurance covers you to use on the public roads, giving coverage to liabilities held if such damages are caused to others.

Most of the time, it is a policy holder that buys personal insurance which best suits one's driving habit and type of vehicle with respect to one's budget. Everyday use is important in terms of not only keeping the vehicle safe but also for securing you financially from any accident.

What is included in Personal Car Insurance?

Personal insurance typically includes:

  • Liability Coverage: Protection from damages to other vehicles or the medical expenses of injuries to others resulting from an accident, liability coverage is mostly a legal requirement and is very important in any personal auto policy.
  • Collision Coverage: This kind of coverage will insure the damages if you'll collide with another vehicle or object. The coverage is necessary if your car is new or has high market value.
  • Comprehensive Coverage: This would include non-collision-related damage to a vehicle during theft, vandalism, or natural catastrophes. This type of coverage helps you protect against various risks.
  • Medical Payments Coverage: Optional coverage that pays for the necessary medical and funeral expenses for you or anyone else as a result of an accident.

Personal Car Insurance – What’s not covered

Certain contingencies are normally exclusions to personal insurance. For example:

  • Business Use: Any amount of business use of the vehicle will exclude it from insurability under a personal-only policy. Business use frequently requires its own auto policy.
  • Intentional Damage: Any damages done willingly by the driver are not covered at all. This falls within the crime of insurance fraud and is punishable under law.
  • Racing or Speed Trials: Coverage is voided if the vehicle is involved in racing or speed trials. This is a common exclusion in most personal auto policies.
  • Driving Under the Influence: If an accident occurs when the driver is intoxicated from drugs or alcohol, it may be conceivable that there will be a refusal of coverage.

Conclusion

It is important for owners to know the difference of such types of insurance: while auto hauler insurance provides necessary protection when a vehicle is under transport, personal insurance protects a vehicle in transit on public roads. A more efficient way of safeguarding vehicles and making informed decisions on what's needed for insurance can be arrived at by understanding the explicit provisions and exclusions of each. It is always best to check with your insurance company to make sure you are covered for your specific situation, whether you are hauling a vehicle or driving it on the roads.

FAQs

Does personal car insurance cover damages during vehicle transport?

No, this is usually excluded in personal vehicle insurance when it comes to the carrier's liability regarding damages happening while in transport. Ask more to your local car insurance companies about covarages.

Is auto transport insurance included in the cost of transportation services?

Indeed, car hauling insurance cost would generally be factored into the overall cost associated with having one's vehicle transported by a carrier. Checking a car is insured or not is of real importance in these situations.

Do I need auto transport insurance if I already have personal car insurance?

Yes, you would need car transport insurance for that period. Personal insurance policies do not include damages during transportation.

How do I know if my car is covered during transportation?

Ask the car shipping company for the details of their car transport insurance so that your vehicle is properly insured.

What should I look for in an auto transport insurance policy?

To make a vehicle insurance check, talk more with the company specifically about the coverage, such as physical damage, liability coverage, total loss coverage, and exclusions applicable to be fully covered.

Can I purchase auto transport insurance separately?

Car shipping insurance is usually provided by the transport company itself, though one can ask about other extra coverages available. In order to get information about the prices, you can use the car shipping cost calculator on Bold Auto Transport website to get an estimate.

What should I do if my vehicle is damaged during transport?

Inform the auto transport company about the damage briefly and proceed to the insurance company for a claim as quickly as possible to start the process of claims.

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