Standard auto insurance will not cover repairs or maintenance. Comprehensive coverage will pay for some repairs in the event the damage is the result of vandalism, flooding, or other covered causes of loss.

Some warranties will cover maintenance and repairs, but warranties are separate agreements and eventually run out.

Regarding maintenance - keep in mind a $60 oil change every few months is much cheaper than replacing a $3,000 engine. It’s best to be proactive with automobile maintenance as your car will be more reliable and safer for you and your family.

The best way to understand how your coverage works is with an example.

Let’s imagine you have Colorado minimums – 25/50/15 – and you crash into a new BMW with four people in the car.

The car is brand new and has a replacement value of $55,000. Three people are injured - one with a broken leg, one with a broken arm, and one with a head injury. The injured need an ambulance (on average, an ambulance ride costs between $400-1,200 per mile!). After ambulance rides, CAT scans, and other medical treatment, injured #1’s medical bill is $25,000, injured #2’s bill is $35,000, and injured #3’s bill is $15,000.

Your coverage pays 25/50/15 - meaning $25k of bodily injury coverage per person up to a total of $50k. Injured #1’s $25k is covered by your insurance (you’re lucky - max of 25k). Injured #2’s $35k will only receive $25k of coverage (remember, you elected 25k max per person…) so you’re $10k out of pocket. Injured #3’s $15k is under $25k - so you’re covered, right? Nope.

You’ve now used up the total $50k combined bodily liability coverage provided (remember, you elected 50k total bodily injury liability), so you have to pay the entire $15k out of pocket. You’re out $25k just from someone else’s medical bills.

But what about the car? The BMW you wrecked has a replacement value of $55,000. Salvage value is $15,000. The loss is $40,000, but you elected 15k property damage. So $40,000 - $15,000 = $25,000, which is what you you now have to pay.

**In this example, you would end up paying $50,000 out of pocket because you elected minimum coverage. **

Accidents like this can happen in the blink of an eye. We highly recommend paying a few extra dollars each month for higher limits, like 100/300/50, You’ll pay much less out of pocket after an accident, and it only costs a few dollars more per month.

There is nothing inherently wrong with filming a claim. However, if the cost to repair or replace something is hovering right around the price of your deductible, you should consider not filing a claim (since you’d already be paying your deductible anyway).

If you’re in a fender bender or have minor damage to your home after a storm, it’s better to first get an estimate, then decide if you want to contact your carrier and file a claim.

Accidents happen. If you’re involved in one, there are a few simple steps to take to make sure you handle things correctly.

1) Check to make sure everyone is OK. If someone is hurt, don’t move them unless it’s absolutely necessary and call 911.

2) Be sure to take pictures of the accident because your insurance carrier (and possibly your lawyer or the police) will request documentation to support your recollection of the accident. Take pictures of things like skid marks, the intersection, and property damage.

3) If everyone is OK, and the cars are still operable, move the cars so that they are not blocking traffic. Never abandon your vehicle.

4) For each driver, passenger, or witness involved, get their name and contact information

5) For each vehicle involved, get the license plate number and state. Ask the driver of the other vehicle for their insurance information: carrier name, policy number, and carrier contact information

6) Once you and the other driver are safe, you’ll need to call your insurance carrier. They’ll be able to tell you what the next steps are to film a claim.

If you’re not sure what to do, you can always contact an agent at Covered by calling (303) 302-9927.

After severe weather, cover any holes in your roof or board up windows if it’s safe to do so. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself, hire a professional.

Once your home is secure, call your insurance company’s claims line to find out next steps. If your neighborhood was hit particularly hard, you’ll likely be on hold for a while.

You might get a knock on your door from storm chasers (folks who go to storm-damaged neighborhoods offering “free” roof inspections and other services), but don’t sign anything until you’ve received a recommendation from your insurance company.

Filing one or two claims every year won’t affect most people. But if you file an excessive amount of claims, your insurance company can — and likely, will — raise your rates. They can even deem you too risky and decline to renew your policy once you reach the end of your term.

I know what you’re thinking: “How can an insurance company penalize me for using a service I paid for?”

When it comes to increased premium due to filing insurance claims, it’s not just the severity of the claim that drives rates, but also the frequency of filing claims. This is why it makes sense to avoid filing claims for minor auto or home issues.