A car is a fine convenience and these days, it is a convenience most of us can’t imagine living without. But with the fun and accessibility of owning a car comes responsibility. Oh yes, I’m talking about car insurance. Everyone has heard of car insurance, but is it really necessary, and how much coverage is really needed?

Many states have their own guidelines set up for what amount of care insurance coverage is needed. Several states require you to only care liability insurance, while other states may demand a higher coverage. Liability insurance dictates that if you are in an accident and are found at fault, you have insurance to cover the other person’s bills. While many younger drivers may not see or understand the benefit of liability insurance, it is also in place to protect the driver at fault. The insurance company does all of the legal legwork should injuries occur, and in most cases this results in legal ramifications of the accident being settled out of court.

There are benefits to carrying coverage other than the minimum liability insurance. For instance if you are in an accident and the other driver is at fault but without insurance, your insurance will likely help cover any medical or repair costs. There is always the option of suing the other driver, but if he/she can’t afford insurance there is a good chance they will be unable to pay your bills.

Consider also the possibility you are in a one-person accident. The road is slippery with ice or there is so much fog you can’t see and your car goes off the road, hitting a pole. Families have gone broke trying to pay for medical bills or car repairs in such accidents, but with car insurance you will have help. So, while making the monthly payments may not be ideal and may seem more of an inconvenience than not, there are many more upsides to having car insurance than going without.