Auto Insurance

Photo by Sarah Brown on Unsplash

Photo by Sarah Brown on Unsplash

What is Auto Insurance?

Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident.

Auto Insurance provides property, liability and medical coverage:

  • Property coverage pays for damage to or theft of your car.

  • Liability coverage pays for your legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage.

  • Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses.

An auto insurance policy is comprised of six different kinds of coverage. Most states require you to buy some, but not all, of these coverages. If you're financing a car, your lender may also have requirements.

  • There is quite a bit of data needed for an auto insurance quote, however, for an initial quote an agent would need:

    • Vehicle Details

      • Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) (if available)

      • Vehicle year, make and model

      • Vehicle’s ownership status (owned, leased or financed)

      • Vehicle use (estimated annual or weekly mileage)

      • Information about safety and anti-theft features

    • Personal Information

      • Owner’s full name and date of birth

      • Owner’s driver’s license number

      • Owner’s contact information

      • Owner’s property address or where the vehicle will be stored

      • Owner’s Social Security number (with certain insurance companies the agent may be required to run a soft credit check)

      • Owner’s marital status and gender

      • The information for other household occupants and/or family members with access to the vehicle

    • Claims History and Driving Record

    • Desired Coverages and Deductibles

  • There are strict state laws that require vehicle owners and drivers to maintain liability auto insurance in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Drivers may be required to purchase auto  insurance before registering a vehicle or operating a vehicle on public roads. We have listed the minimum liability covered required by each state.

    Louisiana drivers are required to carry the following coverage limits:

    • $15,000 for bodily injury per person

    • $30,000 for total bodily injury per accident

    • $25,000 for property damage per accident

    Mississippi drivers are required to carry the following coverage limits:

    • $25,000 for bodily injury or death liability of one person

    • $50,000 for total bodily injury or death liability per accident

    • $25,000 for property damage liability per accident

    Texas drivers are required to carry the following coverage limits:

    • $30,000 of bodily injury liability per person

    • $60,000 of total bodily injury liability per accident

    • $25,000 of property damage liability per accident

Auto Insurance Quote Form

Complete the form below to receive a FREE competitive Auto Insurance quote. State law requires all licensed vehicles to maintain a minimum level of liability insurance coverage. Our agents will provide you with a quote based on your vehicle(s), driving history and coverage requirements. If you have any questions or you would prefer to fill this form out over the phone, you can reach one of our sale team members at (504) 835-1602.

Important Notice

Coverage cannot be bound, amended, or cancelled via online forum.  You cannot bind, alter, or cancel coverage without speaking to an authorized representative of Expert Insurance Services.  Coverage cannot be assumed to be bound without written confirmation from an authorized representative of Expert Insurance Services or your insurance company. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.

Per the terms of our online privacy policy we will not resell your information to any third-party.

What does auto insurance cover?

  • Liability Coverage (often required)

  • Collision Coverage

  • Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Coverage

  • Medical Payments / Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

  • Comprehensive Coverage

  • Liability Auto Insurance covers the bodily injuries and property damage an authorized driver causes to other vehicles or people when they are in an at-fault accident. It is mandatory for vehicle owners and drivers to carry liability coverage before operating a vehicle in most states, although minimum coverage limits may vary. Vehicle owners are excluded from Liability Coverage and may be responsible for property damages or bodily injury payments above the limits of their policy.

    Bodily Injury Liability Coverage:

    • Medical Expenses

    • Lost income

    • Funeral expenses

    • Pain and suffering

    • Related lawsuits and lawyer / court fees

    Property Damage Liability Coverage:

    • Damage to other cars

    • Damage to public and private property

    • Related lawsuits and lawyer / court fees

  • Collision Auto Insurance covers the damage to an owner’s vehicle after a crash or collision with another car or object.

    Property Damage Collision Coverage:

    • Damage caused by collision with another car (at-fault or not at-fault)

    • Damage caused by collision with an object

    • Damage caused by road hazards

    • Damage caused by vehicle rollovers

  • Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Auto Insurance covers the bodily injury to an authorized driver and their passengers and the damage to an owner’s vehicle if they are in an accident with an uninsured or underinsured at-fault driver. Uninsured motorist do not have liability auto insurance. Underinsured motorist do not have enough liability auto insurance coverage to pay the entirety of the medical expenses or the property damages caused by the accident. This coverage also applies to hit-and-run accidents where the at-fault driver flees the scene. Your insurer may offer separate Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury (UMBI) Auto Insurance Coverage and Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Property Damage (UMPD) Auto Insurance Coverage.

    Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury Coverage:

    • Medical expenses

    • Lost income

    • Pain and suffering

    • Funeral expenses

    Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist Property Damage Coverage:

    • Damage to the owner’s vehicle

  • Medical Payments Auto Insurance covers the medical expenses for an authorized driver and their passengers for a designated time following an accident. Coverage is not dependent on who is at-fault in the accident. Medical payment coverage may also apply if the policy holder is a passenger in another vehicle or a pedestrian at the time of an accident. Personal Injury Protection is not available in Louisiana and may offer additional coverage.

    Medical Payments Bodily Injury Coverage:

    • Ambulance and EMT fees

    • Doctor visits

    • Hospital visits or stays

    • Surgery, X-rays, and dental procedures

    • Nursing services and care

    • Health insurance deductibles and co-pays

    • Funeral expenses

  • Comprehensive Auto Insurance covers specific, non-collision, damage to an owner’s vehicle. Typically, Comprehensive Coverage functions as an “Open Perils” or “all risk” policy. That means it covers all causes of loss unless they are specifically excluded.

    Comprehensive Property Damage Coverage:

    • Windstorm and hail

    • Flood

    • Lightning strikes

    • Tornadoes

    • Volcanic eruptions

    • Snow, sleet or ice damage

    • Fire and smoke

    • Explosions

    • Falling objects

    • Road hazards

    • Collisions with an animal

    • Non-collision windshield and glass damage

    • Theft and vandalism

What are Available Add-ons or Endorsements for Auto Insurance?

  • Roadside Assistance Coverage

  • Rental Reimbursement Coverage

  • New Car Replacement Coverage

  • Gap (Guaranteed Asset Protection) Coverage

  • Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Coverage

  • Custom Parts and Equipment (CPE) Coverage

  • Accident Forgiveness

  • Rideshare Add-on

  • Roadside Assistance Coverage is an optional add-on for auto insurance policies that covers the cost associated with receiving emergency assistance for your vehicle.

    • Towing

    • Flat tires

    • Fuel delivery

    • Jump-starts

    • Lockout service

  • Rental Reimbursement Coverage is an optional add-on for auto insurance policies that covers the cost to rent a vehicle or take alternative transit while your insured vehicle is being repaired. This coverage only applies if your vehicle was damaged by a covered accident or peril and often requires you to have a full coverage (Comprehensive and Collision Coverage) auto policy.

  • New Car Replacement Coverage is an optional add-on for auto insurance policies that covers the cost of a brand-new vehicle of the same make and model of your insured vehicle, if your vehicle is totaled or stolen. This coverage is typically more expensive than a standard auto insurance policy and has several vehicle requirements.

    • Original owner (not leased)

    • Vehicle age (average 0-5 years)

    • Mileage cap (under 15,000 - 25,0000 miles)

    • Full coverage (Comprehensive and Collision Coverage)

  • Gap (Guaranteed Asset Protection) Insurance is an optional auto insurance coverage that covers the difference between your vehicle’s actual cash value and your remaining auto loan or lease balance if your car is totaled or stolen. Standard auto insurance policies only cover the current market value or actual cash value of your insured vehicle. Because new cars depreciate rapidly, you may be responsible for paying the "gap" between the vehicle’s actual cash value and your auto loan out of pocket.

  • Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Coverage, also known as Original Parts Replacement Coverage, is an optional add-on (endorsement) for auto insurance policies that covers the cost to repair your vehicle with parts from the original manufacturer. Most standard auto insurance policies cover repairs using “like kind and quality” parts or aftermarket parts, often from third-party manufacturers. This coverage may have several vehicle requirements.

    • Model (private passenger vehicle)

    • Vehicle age (-10 years)

    • Full coverage (Comprehensive and Collision Coverage)

  • Custom Parts and Equipment (CPE) Coverage is an optional add-on (endorsement) for auto insurance policies that covers the cost to repair aftermarket customizations and non-factory upgrades on your vehicle. This add-on requires you to have a full coverage (Comprehensive and Collision Coverage) auto policy.

    Custom Parts and Equipment Covered:

    • Custom paint jobs, decals and deluxe exterior accessories

    • Custom or specialized roofs and roof accessories

    • Custom or specialized lighting

    • Custom or specialized tires and rims

    • Custom or specialized interior details and seats

    • Custom or specialized electronics, stereos and screens

    • Custom engine accessories

    • Upgraded suspension systems and anti-roll bars

    • Anti-theft equipment

    Not covered:

    • Unreported items

    • Illegal modifications

    • Wear and tear

  • Accident Forgiveness is an auto insurance policy feature or endorsement that prevents your auto insurance company from increasing your insurance premium after your first at-fault accident. You will still be required to pay your policy deductibles and the incident will be reported on your official driving record.

  • Rideshare Endorsements or Transportation Network Provider (TNC) Coverage is an add-on (endorsement) for an auto insurance policy that covers the gap between standard personal auto insurance policies and commercial auto insurance policies. While rideshare companies typically offer some liability coverage, drivers who participate in their programs may be vulnerable to gaps in coverage and denied claims. A Rideshare Endorsement goes into effect and specifically insures drivers and their personal vehicles while they are working and logged into the apps for rideshare services like Uber or Lyft. 

  • A standard auto insurance policy’s Liability Coverage will cover damage caused by trailers that are properly attached to an insured vehicle. However trailers and hitches will not be covered under Comprehensive or Collision Coverage, meaning your auto insurance will not cover any damages to the trailer itself. You can receive a quote for Utility Trailer Insurance by completing our Multi-Policy Insurance Quote Form.