Drive With Confidence
Across Five States

The term "full coverage" is not an official insurance term, but it is commonly used to describe a policy that includes liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage. Understanding the difference between a liability-only policy and a full coverage policy is critical for making the right decision.

Liability insurance pays for damage you cause to other people and their property. It is the minimum coverage required by law in all five Mid-Atlantic states. If you cause an accident, your liability coverage pays for the other driver's medical bills (bodily injury liability) and vehicle repairs (property damage liability). However, liability insurance does not pay for your own injuries or vehicle damage.

Collision coverage pays to repair or replace your own vehicle when it is damaged in an accident, regardless of who is at fault. If you rear-end another car, your collision coverage pays for your vehicle's repairs minus your deductible. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to your vehicle from non-collision events like theft, vandalism, hail, falling trees, flooding, and animal strikes. If you finance or lease your vehicle, your lender will almost certainly require both collision and comprehensive coverage.

We work with our appointed carriers to compare full coverage rates across all five Mid-Atlantic states. An appointed carrier often provides competitive rates for drivers with clean records, while more than 20 appointed carriers specialize in coverage for drivers who may have had past violations or lapses in coverage.

Despite legal requirements, a significant number of drivers in the Mid-Atlantic region operate vehicles without adequate insurance. According to the Insurance Research Council, approximately 12% of drivers nationally are uninsured, and that percentage can be higher in urban areas like Wilmington, Philadelphia, Newark, and Baltimore.

Uninsured motorist (UM) coverage protects you when you are hit by a driver who has no insurance at all. Underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage protects you when the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance to cover your full damages. Maryland requires uninsured motorist coverage of at least 30/60/15; your insurer must provide UM limits equal to your liability limits unless the first named insured waives the higher amount in writing. In Delaware and Pennsylvania, UM/UIM coverage is optional (Pennsylvania insurers must offer it, and it can be rejected only in writing), while a New Jersey Standard policy must include a minimum amount of UM/UIM coverage, and Maryland and Virginia both require uninsured motorist coverage.

Consider this scenario: you are stopped at a red light and a driver with no insurance rear-ends your vehicle at 40 miles per hour. Without uninsured motorist coverage, you would be responsible for your own medical bills, which could easily reach tens of thousands of dollars. With UM coverage, your own policy pays for your injuries up to your coverage limits. We recommend carrying uninsured and underinsured motorist limits that match your liability limits for maximum protection.

An SR-22 is not an insurance policy, it is a certificate of financial responsibility that your insurance carrier files with the state on your behalf. States require SR-22 filings for drivers who have been convicted of certain offenses, such as driving under the influence, driving without insurance, or accumulating too many points on their license.

Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey all use SR-22 filings, while Maryland uses an FR-19 form that serves the same purpose. The filing requirement typically lasts three years, during which you must maintain continuous insurance coverage. Any lapse in coverage during the SR-22 period results in your carrier notifying the state, which can lead to license suspension.

Not all insurance carriers offer SR-22 filings. More than 20 appointed carriers are among the carriers that specialize in providing coverage for high-risk drivers who need SR-22 or FR-19 filings. As an independent agency, we work with these carriers to find you affordable coverage during your filing period. Rates for drivers with SR-22 requirements are higher than standard rates, but they do decrease over time as you maintain a clean driving record.

Adding a teen driver to your auto insurance policy is one of the most significant rate increases a family will experience. Teen drivers are statistically the highest-risk group on the road, which is reflected in their insurance premiums. However, there are strategies to manage costs without sacrificing coverage.

Most carriers offer a good student discount, typically 10% to 25%, for teen drivers who maintain a B average or better. Defensive driving course discounts are available in all five Mid-Atlantic states and can reduce premiums by an additional 5% to 15%. Some carriers, including an appointed carrier, offer programs that track driving habits through a mobile app and reward safe driving with lower rates.

We recommend keeping teen drivers on the family policy rather than purchasing a separate policy, as this is almost always less expensive. Assigning the teen to the least expensive vehicle on the policy can also help reduce costs. Our appointed carriers offer competitive rates for families with young drivers, and we compare multiple proposals to find the best option.

If you drive for Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare platform in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia, your personal auto insurance policy likely does not cover you while you are logged into the rideshare app. Most personal auto policies exclude coverage for commercial activities, creating a dangerous coverage gap.

Rideshare companies provide their own insurance, but coverage varies depending on your status. When the app is off, your personal policy covers you. When the app is on but you have not accepted a ride, there is a coverage gap where neither your personal policy nor the rideshare company's policy may fully protect you. Once you accept a ride and during the trip, the rideshare company's commercial policy provides primary coverage.

Rideshare endorsements, sometimes called Transportation Network Company (TNC) endorsements, bridge this gap by extending your personal policy coverage to include the period when the app is on but you have not yet accepted a ride. More than 20 appointed carriers all offer rideshare endorsements in our service area. The cost is typically $15 to $30 per month, making it an affordable way to eliminate a potentially costly coverage gap.