Types of car insurance coverages

Car insurance consists of individual coverages, each designed to protect against a specific type of loss. Some are required by your state, while others are optional. Knowing how each auto insurance coverage functions can help you choose the right level of protection and avoid paying for more than you need.

5 to readUpdated August 20, 2026

Explore Progressive Answers' auto editorial guidelines to find out why you can trust the car insurance information you find here.

Key takeaways

The three main types of car insurance coverages are often considered liability, comprehensive, and collision
PIP, medical payments and UM/UIM coverages might be required by your state in addition to liability coverage
Comprehensive and collision protect against damage to your vehicle and are often required by auto lenders

Main types of auto insurance coverage

These are the main types of car insurance coverage offered by most insurers. Some are required by your state, and others are optional but commonly carried.

Liability coverage

Auto liability coverage is required by law in nearly every state's minimum car insurance requirements. It's made up of two parts:

Bodily injury liability coverage can help pay for another person's medical expenses if you're at fault in a car accident, up to your policy's limits.
Property damage liability coverage can help pay to repair or replace another person's damaged property if you're at fault in a car accident, up to your coverage limit.

Each state has a minimum liability requirement for auto insurance. You're responsible for injuries or damages in a car accident that exceeds those limits. Carrying more than the state minimum may help protect you from out-of-pocket costs.

Comprehensive coverage

Auto comprehensive coverage can protect your vehicle against damage caused by events outside of your control: theft, vandalism, fire, glass breakage, collisions with animals and weather-related damage, and falling objects. A comprehensive deductible often applies.

Comprehensive is never required by law, but it's usually required by your lender if you're leasing or financing your vehicle.

Collision coverage

Auto collision coverage isn't required by law in any state, but lenders typically require it if you lease or finance your vehicle. Collision can pay to repair or replace your vehicle if you collide with another vehicle or object, regardless of fault, and minus your collision deductible.

Medical payments (MedPay)

Medical payments coverage is available in most states and can help pay for medical expenses for you and your passengers due to injuries from an accident, regardless of fault.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage is required in some states and optional in others:

UM/UIM bodily injury can help pay for injuries to you and your passengers if an uninsured or underinsured driver is liable for injuries.
UM/UIM property damage can help pay to repair your vehicle if an uninsured or underinsured driver is at fault.

Personal injury protection (PIP)

Personal injury protection can cover a broad range of costs, such as medical bills, lost wages, rehabilitation, and other accident-related expenses. PIP is mandatory in some states and optional in others or not available in states that offer medical payments coverage.

Pro tip:

"Full coverage" isn't an official coverage type. It's an informal term commonly used by lenders and auto dealers that typically means your policy includes liability, comprehensive, and collision coverage. No policy covers every situation, and your state may require additional coverages beyond those three. If you're unsure what you have, check your declarations page or ask your agent or insurer.

Other types of car insurance coverage

Most insurers offer additional options that can provide more specific protection:

Gap insurance

New cars may lose value quickly. If your car is totaled or stolen, your insurer may pay you the actual cash value of the car, which may be less than what you still owe on the loan. Gap insurance may cover the difference and could be required by your lender.

Progressive offers loan/lease payoff coverage that can pay the difference between your vehicle's current value and what you owe on your loan or lease, up to your coverage limit. While loan/lease payoff coverage works similarly to gap insurance, it's not the same thing. With Progressive, loan/lease payoff pays up to 25% of your vehicle's actual cash value toward your remaining balance. Exact limits vary by state.

Rental reimbursement coverage

If your car is damaged in a covered accident, rental reimbursement is an optional coverage that can help pay for a rental vehicle while yours is being repaired. Coverage pays up to a daily dollar limit for a set number of days.

Roadside assistance

Roadside assistance coverage provides help if your vehicle is disabled and may pay for the following:

Towing
Battery jumpstarts
Flat tire changes
Fuel delivery
Lockout service

Rideshare coverage

Standard car insurance policies typically don't cover you when you're using your car for ridesharing. Depending on your state and insurer, rideshare coverage can be added to your personal auto policy to help fill the gap between your coverage and what your rideshare company's insurance provides, including when you're waiting to match with a rider.

If you drive for a rideshare or delivery service, contact your insurer before you start.

Vehicle protection

Some insurers offer additional vehicle protection options. Progressive Vehicle Protection, where available, can cover a newer car's major systems for non-accident-related issues, minor dents and dings, and lost, stolen, or damaged keys. Custom parts and equipment (CPE) coverage is also available to help pay for aftermarket parts and upgrades like custom wheels, a stereo, or a paint job, typically up to a $5,000 limit.

Find out how much car insurance you may need or use our car insurance calculator to estimate coverage for you and your vehicle.