Terminology
Coverage glossary
Short, general definitions for terms printed on most auto policies. Exact meanings depend on your policy wording.
- Bodily injury liability
- Coverage that may pay for injuries to other people when you are legally responsible for an accident.
- Property damage liability
- Coverage that may pay for damage you cause to someone else's property, such as another vehicle or a fence.
- Collision
- Physical damage coverage for your vehicle after it strikes another vehicle or object, usually subject to a deductible.
- Comprehensive
- Physical damage coverage for non-collision events such as theft, fire, hail, flood, or animal strikes.
- Deductible
- The amount you are responsible for on a covered physical damage claim before the policy pays.
- Declarations page
- The summary page of a policy listing insureds, vehicles, drivers, coverages, limits, deductibles, and dates.
- Endorsement
- A written change added to a policy that adds, removes, or modifies coverage terms.
- Exclusion
- A situation or type of loss that a policy specifically does not cover.
- Named insured
- The person or people listed by name on the declarations page as the policyholder.
- Permissive use
- Policy language describing coverage when someone drives your vehicle with your permission.
- Policy limit
- The maximum amount a coverage may pay, often shown per person and per accident.
- Uninsured motorist
- Coverage that may apply when a driver who causes an accident has no liability coverage.