There are so many options when it comes to Alaska auto insurance that it can be very difficult to understand what you do and do not need. Alaska is a tort state, which means that in every accident, someone is found at fault, and that person’s insurance pays for the damages. In many cases, Alaska auto insurance companies cannot determine a single person at fault. Instead, fault is assigned in percentages. General insurance covers the following:

• Bodily Injury: This insurance covers medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation, and pain and suffering

• Property Damage: Anything non-human that you damage in an accident is covered under property damage liability.

Although 50/100/25 insurance is all that is required, you should consider also investing in the following types of insurance:

• Uninsured/underinsured Motorist: If the other person causes the accident, but doesn’t have insurance or at least doesn’t have enough insurance to cover the expenses, your insurance will cover your costs where their insurance was lacking. Your insurance company will then try to collect these funds from them. This avoids you having to sue the other person and wait for the money you need for medical bills or repairs.

• Personal Injury Protection (PIP): If you are hurt in an accident that you cause, this insurance covers you like bodily injury liability would otherwise.

• Collision: If you cause an accident, collision insurance will cover damages to your vehicle. It doesn’t make sense to buy collision if your car is old or otherwise not valuable.

• Comprehensive: Comprehensive insurance is basically a “catch all” type of insurance. Things covered under comprehensive may include floods, fires, vandalism, theft, collision with an animal in which you were not at fault, and other types of damages. Like with collision coverage, it doesn’t make sense to purchase comprehensive if your car is old or otherwise not valuable.