When it comes to purchasing auto insurance, you need to consider more than just the required liability insurance. You also need to think about coverage that can help you financially in the case of other damages and emergency situations. The amount that you need for coverage all depends on the type of vehicle you have, as well as your driving habits. Here are five tips to help you determine exactly how much you need:

Personal Injury Protection With Limited Medical Insurance: If you have limited medical insurance, then adding personal injury protection onto your auto insurance policy is definitely something to consider. However, if you have decent medical coverage, this additional coverage can be completely unnecessary and lead to you being over-insured, which means money is being wasted. 

Uninsured Motorist Insurance is Necessary: If you are involved in an accident with an uninsured driver, you want to be sure that you still receive coverage. Obviously, the driver without insurance probably won't have the finances to pay for your damages and injuries. Instead, you will need your own uninsured motorist coverage to do this for you. 

Collision Coverage Necessary if You Want to Repair or Replace Your Car: If you have a new vehicle, you are definitely going to want collision coverage, which will allow you to pay a deductible and receive coverage for up to the fair market value of your car for repairs or to use to buy a new car. 

Comprehensive Coverage Depends on Where You Park, Work, and Live: Comprehensive coverage is going to cover your vehicle for other types of damages aside from damages that have resulted from a collision. This includes damages from theft, vandalism, a tree falling on your car, and more. You should definitely consider comprehensive coverage if you park on the street outside of your home instead of in the garage or if you live or work in an area with a high crime rate. 

Choose High Deductibles: No matter what type of coverage you add onto your policy, you always need to be sure that you choose the highest deductible you can afford. This is going to keep the cost of your insurance as low as possible each month, which is going to save you more in the long run since the chances of having to file a claim are small. 

When you consider these five tips, you can be sure that you are not over-insuring yourself, but still making smart decisions to help yourself financially in the case of an emergency.

For more information and options, talk with a local insurance company, like Mascott Insurance Services LLC.