What is Auto Insurance

Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an auto accident. It is a contract between you and the auto insurance company. You agree to pay the premium and the auto insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy. Auto insurance provides property, liability and medical coverage:

  1. Property coverage pays for damage to or theft of your car.
  2. Liability coverage pays for your legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage.
  3. Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses.

An auto insurance policy should at the minumum cover third party liabililty e.g your auto insurance company will cover the cost of the third party in case of accident. Most countries require you to buy at least third party auto insurance. If you’re financing a car, your finance company may also have requirements that you fully insure your auto for retail value.

Insurance Fraud

Insurance fraud is any act committed with the intent to fraudulently obtain payment from an insurer.

Insurance fraud has been in existence  since the start of insurance as a commercial business. Fraudulent claims account for a significant portion of all claims received by insurers, and cost billions annually.

Insurance fraud occurs in all areas of insurance, like house hold insurance,medical insurance and auto insurance. Insurance related crimes also range in severity, from slightly exaggerating claims to deliberately causing accidents or damage.  Insurance fraud poses a big problem, and governments and other insurance companies are making efforts to deter such activities.

How does insurance fraud affect you ?

Quite simply, all the honest insured people will pay more for their insurance premiums. So if you suspect or know of someone who commits insurance fraud you are helping yourself and others by reporting this. If there was no insurance fraud our insurance premiums would be lower.