Broad form car insurance

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9 min read Published October 09, 2023

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Insurance Disclosure

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in states where it is licensed. Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way.

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If you are looking for a policy with the cheapest price, your research may lead you to broad form car insurance. This type of auto insurance is relatively inexpensive; however, it only provides minimal liability coverage. Broad form insurance could be a good option in some circumstances, but if you opt for this minimal coverage solution, you should understand this type of policy and its limitations. Bankrate’s insurance editorial team explains broad form car insurance in detail so you can make an informed decision about whether it’s right for you.

Broad form car insurance

A standard personal auto insurance policy generally covers any driver and vehicle listed on the policy declarations page. In contrast, a broad form car insurance policy only provides liability coverage for the named insured while driving a car, regardless of ownership. In most cases, no vehicles are included in the policy since broad form car insurance covers a specific driver rather than a specific vehicle, allowing the policyholder to drive any legally registered vehicle. When a driver borrows a vehicle that is covered on someone else’s insurance policy, their coverage will act as excess.

Availability of broad form car insurance

Broad form car insurance is available in certain states, including Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Tennessee and Washington. Since this is not a standard type of car insurance, it is not available with every provider that writes coverage in these 11 states. Insurance companies that specialize in high-risk or nonstandard insurance, like Bristol West or Dairyland, are more likely to offer this coverage over standard providers.