Liability limits (the most important line):
- Aim for $250k/$500k/$250k (BI per person/accident/PD) if you have income/assets, or $100k/$300k/$100k at minimum.
- Pair high limits with a $1–5M umbrella (usually requires 250/500 underlying).
UM/UIM (uninsured/underinsured motorist):
- Match your liability limits where allowed. This protects you from poorly insured drivers—arguably the best dollar-for-dollar coverage.
PIP vs. MedPay (state-dependent):
- No-fault/PIP states: buy enough to cover lost wages + deductibles from health insurance.
- MedPay works everywhere, is cheap, and pays regardless of fault (great as a supplement).
Collision & Comprehensive:
- Choose deductibles you’d truly pay today (common: $500–$1,000).
- If financing/leasing, your lender may cap max deductibles.
Gap / Loan-Lease:
- Critical on new or heavily financed cars. Consider new-car replacement or better-car replacement riders if your insurer offers them.
Specialized riders:
- OEM parts (factory parts vs. aftermarket), full glass (no deductible), custom equipment (aftermarket wheels/tech), diminished value (some states/insurers), rideshare (Uber/Lyft Period 1 gap), Mexico/Canada endorsements (if you cross borders), classic/collector “agreed value.”

Pricing levers (that actually change your premium)

Telematics/usage-based: Big discounts for gentle driving & low mileage, but it can also raise rates if you brake hard or drive late. Opt in when you can drive “like a demo” for 60–90 days.
Deductibles: Moving from $500 → $1,000 often saves meaningfully; beyond that the savings taper.
Bundling: Auto + home/condo/renters + umbrella can stack 10–25% in many markets.
Annual mileage & garaging: Verify these are correct—errors here quietly overcharge.
Driver profile hygiene: Remove old cars, list real primary driver of each car, and exclude truly non-drivers (where permitted).
Credit (most states): Lower utilization & on-time payments can materially reduce premiums over 6–12 months.

Claims strategy (to protect both wallet and record)

After a crash: Photograph everything (scene, plates, VIN stickers, dash screen), gather witness contacts, and pull a police report when possible.
Whose insurance to use?
- If you’re not at fault, consider opening with your collision for speed, then let your insurer subrogate—often faster than waiting on the other carrier.
Total loss & valuation: Ask for the valuation report, challenge comps (trim, mileage, options), and add recent receipts for value-adding work (tires, ADAS calibration).
Diminished value: Viable in some states for not-at-fault claims—ask early.
Recorded statements: Keep it factual; don’t speculate on injuries or fault.
Preferred shops vs. OEM: You can usually choose your shop; OEM parts require the right rider and depends on vehicle age/state rules.

Rideshare & delivery: Personal policies exclude “Period 1” (app on, no passenger) unless you add a rideshare endorsement; food/gig delivery often needs a business use rider.
Teen drivers: Put them on the safest, cheapest-to-insure car; require telematics/defensive-driving; shop every 6–12 months.
Small business use: If you carry tools/clients or have employees driving, you likely need a Business Auto Policy or Hired/Non-Owned Auto (HNOA) for rentals & employee cars.
Out-of-state moves: Re-shop. New garaging ZIP, DMV points systems, and state mandates can swing pricing dramatically.
SR-22/FR-44 states: If required, file through your insurer; switching mid-term can lapse the filing and suspend your license.

Your personal policy’s liability usually extends to rentals in the U.S./Canada; collision/comp may extend too—but not the rental company’s loss-of-use and diminution unless your policy or credit card covers it.
Many travel credit cards cover Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) on rentals when you pay with the card—confirm whether it’s primary or secondary, country exclusions, and car class limits.

Budget but protected: 100/300/100 + UM/UIM 100/300 + MedPay/PIP (modest) + Comp/Collision $1,000 + Gap (if financed).
Family with assets + umbrella: 250/500/250 + UM/UIM match + PIP/MedPay robust + Comp/Collision $500–$1,000 + OEM parts + $1–2M umbrella.
New EV/lease: High liability + UM/UIM match + low glass deductible + new-car replacement or lease-gap + OEM parts (battery/ADAS costs are high).

Check for stacking UM (where legal) and umbrella eligibility.

Confirm drivers, garaging address, and mileage.

Re-quote with a credit union and at least one regional and one national carrier.

Test a $1,000 deductible scenario.

Add/remove telematics based on last year’s driving.