insurance terms that start with ‘a’
Accident
An accident (also known as a car accident or wreck) is the term used to define a vehicle unintentionally colliding with another vehicle, person, or object.
See also: collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, liability
Related link
What should I do if I get into an accident?
Accidental death coverage
Accidental death coverage may be a part of your car insurance policy's personal injury protection (PIP) or first party benefits (FPB) coverage. If someone who's covered dies from accident-related injuries, this type of car insurance coverage may provide a payment to the insured's designated beneficiary.
See also: personal injury protection, first party benefits
Act of God
In terms of insurance coverage, an act of God is an unpreventable natural occurrence that causes damage to your insured property. Examples include natural disasters and heavy storms.
See also: natural disaster insurance
Related links
Esurance blog: how to disaster-proof your insurance
Protecting your car from flood damage and filing a claim
How to keep your car safe from high winds, tornadoes, and hurricanes
Actual cash value
Your car's actual cash value (also known as its ACV) is calculated by determining its original value minus the amount your car has depreciated since you bought it. If your car is totaled, most car insurance coverages reimburse you only for the actual cash value of your car.
See also: depreciation, total loss
Actuary
An actuary is an insurance professional who analyzes various types of data and statistics to determine insurance risks and premiums.
See also: insurance score, Motor Vehicle Report, insurance claim report
Related link
Why car insurance rates vary
Additional interest insured
Additional interest insured refers to another person or organization listed on and protected under a policyholder's car insurance policy. If you lease a vehicle, you may need to list your leasing company as an additional interest insured to protect the company from future lawsuits due to accidents you may cause. Parents might also list their teenage drivers as additional interest insured parties on their policies.
See also: endorsement, insured
Adjuster
An adjuster (also known as a claims adjuster, field adjuster, or insurance adjuster) is an insurance professional who determines the monetary compensation an insurance company will pay a claimant. When someone files an insurance claim, an adjuster examines the damaged property and determines how much the insurance company should pay to repair the property and/or reimburse the claimant for his or her losses.
See also: accident, claim, fender bender
Related link
Esurance claims information
Aftermarket parts
Aftermarket parts (also known as replacement parts, generic parts, or aftermarket auto parts) are vehicle components produced by independent companies rather than the original manufacturer or dealership. For example, NAPA car parts and accessories are considered aftermarket parts, while Honda car parts (installed on a Honda) are not.
See also: adjuster, claim
Agent
An agent (also known as an insurance agent) sells insurance coverage and helps manage customers' policies. Insurance agents are the authorized representatives of an insurance company or multiple companies.
See also: broker
All-terrain vehicle insurance
All-terrain vehicle insurance (also known as ATV insurance, quad insurance, quad bike insurance, 3-wheeler insurance, or 4-wheeler insurance) is insurance for vehicles with 3, 4, 6, or 8 wheels that are made with off-roading in mind. All-terrain vehicle insurance can include collision, comprehensive, bodily injury, and uninsured rider coverages.
See also: recreational insurance
Related link
ATV insurance quotes
Animal health insurance
See pet insurance.
Annual transit
Annual transit refers to insurance that covers all shipments a policyholder makes throughout the year. In general, goods are protected in transit as long as they are within the territory specified by the policy. Some policies may exclude certain waterways or types of peril from their contract.
See also: peril, named peril
Antique cars
Antique cars are defined by the Antique Automobile Club of America as any vehicle that's more than 45 years old. Many collectors, however, only view cars built by or before the end of World War I (1918) as antiques.
See also: collector cars, brass era, classic cars
Related links
Collector car insurance
FAQs on collector car insurance
Apartment insurance
See renters insurance.
Antitheft recovery system
An antitheft recovery system consists of an electronic device installed in a concealed area of your car. If your car is stolen, you can activate the device and it'll emit a signal that can be used to locate your car. Such systems can be effective over a radius of several miles, depending on local geography.
By installing an antitheft recovery system, you may also be eligible for a car insurance discount.
Related link
Car insurance discounts
At fault
An at-fault driver is a driver who's deemed legally responsible for damage caused in a car accident.
When an insured driver is declared at fault in an accident, his or her insurance company pays for all covered damages incurred by the other party (or parties) up to the policyholder's coverage limits. If limits have been exceeded, the at-fault driver is financially responsible for any excess amount.
In some cases, fault may be assigned on a percentage basis (such as 51 percent at fault).
See also: liability, collision coverage, driving record
Related links
Accident and car insurance claims procedures
Facts and figures behind accidents and claims
ATV insurance
See all-terrain vehicle insurance.
Auto insurance
See car insurance.
Auto insurance companies
See car insurance companies.
Automated Clearing House payments
Automated Clearing House payments (also known as ACH payments, automatic payments, or electronic payments) are electronic withdrawals from a policyholder's bank account or credit card used to pay insurance premiums or other types of bills.
See also: credit union, renewal letter
Related link
What payment methods does Esurance offer?