The Rationale behind Car Insurance

It’s probably safe to say that no one reading this article remembers a day when car insurance was not available. If you’re a senior, you may remember a time when it was not mandatory in your state, but the earliest forms of car insurance go back to the late 1800s. It has been a part of all of our lives to one extent or another.

The first car insurance policy on record was written in 1889 to cover the liability of a man named Truman Martin. Mr. Martin owned an early steam powered automobile which, while it was a great invention, was a source of worry in that it could damage property or injure people.

If you want to know the rationale behind mandatory car insurance, that’s it.

Car insurance is a necessity in order to protect us from the carelessness of other people who might cause injury or property damage. If insurance was not mandatory too many people would be at risk of financial devastation after an accident.

How Car Insurance Evolved

The first policies written in the 1800s were pretty much an experiment, given the fact that underwriters really had no idea how much damage a car could cause. Furthermore, so few people had automobiles that accidents between multiple drivers were unheard of. Those early liability policies were more focused on the possibility of damaging buildings, road signs, and pitching posts.

By 1925 there were enough cars in the road to significantly increase the likelihood of multi-vehicle accidents. That forced the insurance industry to reassess cover drivers and effectively deal with the question of personal injuries. That transition paved the way for what is today’s modern car insurance product.

A Policy for Everyone

Whether or not you agree with the compulsory insurance laws in your state, it can’t be denied that healthy competition among car insurance companies has resulted in a wide range of policies and options. As such, there is a policy out there for just about every driver and every need. That’s a far cry from the “one size fits all” policies of the 1920s.

You and I can shop for the cheapest car insurance possible, purchase a comprehensive policy that will cover everything under the sun, or settle on something in between. We can choose between liability limits, different deductibles, and whether or not we want to add items from a long menu of options. In other words, we have enough options to make car insurance accessible and affordable for everyone.

Next time you’re shopping for a new insurance policy remember the rationale behind it. That may not make things any more pleasant in terms of the shopping experience itself, but understanding why car insurance is necessary may take some of the edge off. And, though we sincerely hope it never happens, you’ll get a full appreciation of the rationale behind car insurance if there ever comes a time when you need to make a claim against someone else’s liability policy.

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