A Quick Refresher On Auto Insurance Terms
PalmettoSoft • June 23, 2026
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For those of us who work in the insurance industry, terms like collision, deductibles, copay, liability, and comprehensive are very, very familiar. We use them multiple times every day in conversations with our clients, and they’ve become a common part of our vocabulary. We also understand, though, that the same cannot be said for our clients! It’s our goal to understand these insurance topics thoroughly so that our clients can focus on other things. 


However, you will feel more confident about your own homeowners and
auto insurance in Greenville, SC if you have a basic knowledge of what these terms mean and how they affect your insurance. Here’s a quick refresher about the most important car insurance terms.


1. Deductible


A car owner quickly realizes how important this term is when they become involved in an accident and their insurance has to pay a claim. Many people assume that if they have insurance, that means they will never have to pay anything out of pocket for an accident. Not necessarily! The deductible is the amount of money that the client has to pay personally before their auto insurance policy will pay the remaining amount. 


If you have a high deductible (meaning you must pay more money out of pocket before your insurance kicks in), your monthly premium is lower. On the other hand, if you want to have zero deductible in the event of a claim, you will pay more for your policy each month. Which is best for you? Your representative at Priority is the best advisor to talk you through the considerations and establish the best balance for your policy.


2. Liability


Specifically within the context of auto insurance in Greenville, SC, liability insurance refers to what your insurance company will pay to cover property damage or injury to others, if you are found to be at fault in an accident. If you are involved in an accident and the other driver is found to be at fault, your liability insurance would not come into play. 


When setting up your insurance policy, liability is usually divided between coverage for property damage and personal injury. You may want to set different parameters for these different categories, with the help of your insurance agent.


3. Collision


Many car owners misunderstand just what collision coverage refers to, and for good reason! It’s easy to get confused about what’s covered and not covered by this specific category. A short answer is that it covers damage to your vehicle when that damage is not covered by any other type of insurance coverage.


The most common application of collision coverage is when you are found at fault in an accident, and your vehicle suffers damage that needs to be repaired. The other driver’s insurance does not cover your damage since you were at fault, and your liability insurance only applies to the other driver’s vehicle and injuries. Therefore, your collision coverage determines how much your insurance company will pay for you to get your car repaired–or replaced, if it is a total loss.


Going without a collision component to your
auto insurance policy means that you assume the responsibility for all repairs to your own vehicle in the event of an accident caused by you. Many people take this risk simply because they want their monthly premiums to be manageable. However, an expert at Priority Insurance may be able to help you find a way to add this important coverage and still keep your payments low.


4. Comprehensive


In general terms, the word “comprehensive” means all-encompassing, or leaving nothing out. Does the same apply when we’re talking about auto insurance in Greenville, SC? Sort of, but only after all other types of applicable coverage have been ruled out.


If liability, either yours or another driver’s, and your collision coverage do not cover damage to your vehicle, the next step is to consider whether or not you have comprehensive coverage. Usually this point is reached when damage to your car was caused by an unavoidable or totally unexpected incident. 


Common examples include weather related damage, like a tree branch falling on your car, a violent hailstorm denting its roof, or even something rare like an earthquake. Comprehensive coverage is also used to cover damage caused by criminal activity, like vandalism. If a car thief steals your vehicle, your comprehensive coverage will also kick in to cover the loss.


It’s easy for a car owner to pass on comprehensive coverage because it feels like the potential incidents that would require it are very rare. However, those incidents also tend to be quite costly, so having no comprehensive coverage can cost the car owner a lot of money in the long run.


 This is sort of a “bonus term” in this list. That’s because it’s not a technical definition in the area of auto insurance, but clients tend to use it a lot. We find that when people talk about wanting full coverage, what they have in mind is having to pay very little or nothing out of pocket if they are involved in an accident. As you can see from the preceding definitions, this involves lots of different types of coverage, and you need to calibrate your coverage amounts in each of those areas to cover your potential costs if an accident occurs. 


It would be impossible to ensure that you would never have to pay out of pocket no matter what happens to your vehicle or someone else’s property. Your ideal insurance policy will always be a balance between your monthly premium and coverage levels. As always, an expert at Priority Insurance is the best person to consult to find out what levels are realistic for you, what your budget is for auto insurance, and how you can get the best deal for the coverage you need.


Are you spending too much for your auto insurance in Greenville, SC? Find out in a conversation with one of our experts. We look forward to giving you our assessment of your insurance and explaining any other terms that you have questions about.


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