Liability insurance is neither comprehensive nor collision coverage. Comprehensive and collision coverages are physical damage coverages that are optional; though if the car is financed and has a lien holder this entity will normally require you to carry these coverages on the vehicle.

Physical damage coverages cover your vehicle if it is damaged while liability coverages cover others that you may cause damage, property or bodily injury, to in an accident. Comprehensive covers your vehicle, and sometimes other vehicles you may be driving for losses resulting from incidents other than collision. For example, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car if it is stolen; or damaged by flood, fire, or animals.

Collision covers damage to your car when your car hits, or is hit by, another vehicle, or other object. Pays to fix your vehicle less the deductible you choose.

Most state laws require you to have liability coverage or another type of financial responsibility on your vehicle so that if you cause an accident the person or property that you damage can seek monies to repair their damage or injuries from your insurer.

State minimum liability coverages differ from state to state however many states require both property damage liability (known as PD or PDL) and bodily injury liability (BD or BDL). PD covers you if your car damages someone else's property. Usually it is their car, but it could be a fence, a house or any other property damaged in an accident. It also provides you with legal defense if another party files a lawsuit against you. It is a good idea to purchase enough of this insurance to cover the amount of damage your car might do to another vehicle or object.

BI covers other people's bodily injuries or death for which you are responsible. It also provides for a legal defense if another party in the accident files a lawsuit against you. Claims for bodily injury may be for such things as medical bills, loss of income or pain and suffering.

In the event of a serious accident, you want enough insurance to cover a judgment against you in a lawsuit, without jeopardizing your personal assets. Bodily injury liability covers injury to people, not your vehicle. Therefore, it's a good idea (and usually a company requirement) to have the same level of coverage for all of your cars. Bodily Injury Liability does NOT cover you or other people on your policy. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.

You can see all of the US auto insurance requirements on our interactive map that lists the car insurance laws in the United States. You can get an auto insurance quote here with us so that your son's vehicle is properly insured.