What is the Difference between Third Party Liability and Full Coverage Insurance?

What is the Difference between Third Party Liabilitymuch coverage is required in your state.
and Full Coverage Insurance?Full coverage insurance, on the other hand, will cover
Insurance can be very confusing for those of us whoyou, your boat, your motor, your trailer, and your
are not in the insurance business.passengers.
Often, our insurance agents start babbling about liability,It is often referred to as comprehensive insurance, and
comprehensive coverage, third party liability, and moreit is available in different coverage amounts, with
- and we feel like they are speaking a language wedifferent options that are available for the policy. This
have never heard before. Well - in a sense they are.type of insurance will be required by most lenders who
Again, it is very confusing to those who are not in thefinance boats, and most lenders will have their own
insurance business. Unfortunately, if you are to get therequirements as to which optional insurance is
coverage that you need, at a price you can afford,purchased.
you must start learning some of the terminology.Essentially, what it comes down to is that third party
For instance, many people do not understand what theliability insurance coverage protects other people and
difference between third party liability insurance and fulltheir property in the event of an accident that is your
coverage insurance is. Third party liability coverage andfault, while full coverage insurance protects you and
full coverage insurance are much the same, but inyour property - in the same way that the third party
other ways they are uniquely different. Before youinsurance protects others.
determine which one you need, it is important toIn fact, full coverage insurance will cover you whether
understand exactly what each type of coverage is.the accident was your fault, someone else's fault, or
Third Party Liability Coverage is essentially coverageeven no-fault. In most cases, it is in your best interest
that protects you in the event of an accident that isto have both third party liability insurance coverage -
your fault.which is required - as well as full coverage insurance -
It generally covers other people and their property thatwhich may be required if you have financed your boat.
is damaged in a covered accident. It does not coverAgain, even if the boat has not been financed, you
you, your passengers, your boat, your motor, or yourshould strongly consider purchasing a full coverage or
trailer. Furthermore, third party liability coverage onlycomprehensive policy. Many people even continue to
goes into effect if your boat is in an accident thatcarry the full coverage policy long after the boat has
occurred when the boat was being used in a privatebeen paid off.
capacity, as opposed to a commercial capacity.Boat repairs are expensive, and anything can happen.
Third party liability coverage is required by most states,Most full coverage policies will cover you in the event
and each state will have its own requirements as toof mechanical failure, theft, and vandalism, as well as
the minimum liability coverage amounts that you have.losses caused by storms, fires, explosions, sinking, and
This type of insurance is generally required whethermuch more. Talk with your insurance agent to find out
your boat is financed or not. Third party liabilityabout the different options available for full coverage
insurance coverage is often simply referred to aspolicies, and make sure that you get the coverage that
liability insurance, or in the case of boats, watercraftyou need!
liability insurance. Talk to your agent to find out howCopyRight Ian D. Major 2005.