Hollay Ghadery Last Updated On: June 27, 2023

Is Broad Form Insurance Right For You?

The name itself isn’t much to go on, but broad form insurance refers to a type of insurance that offers very limited auto insurance coverage for one driver. To understand this coverage more, first, we need to take a step back and understand that most auto insurance policies are basic or broad. 

A basic form policy covers fire, explosions, storms, vandalism, smoke, etc. A broad form policy adds coverage for broken glass, water damage, and falling objects. 

Broad form insurance is not typically designed to be stand-alone insurance because there’s much that it doesn’t cover. Rather, it’s meant to be a supplemental policy to give you extra coverage. 

Broad form insurance can also be called “named operator insurance”, or “operator policy insurance” because it covers just the operator of the vehicle. 

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Understanding the Risks of Broad Form Insurance

Before we get into the benefits of broad form coverage, let’s run through what this sort of policy does not protect you from. Understanding the limits of your coverage is important because you could put yourself at severe financial risk if something should happen and you’re not properly protected because you did not understand the ins and outs of your coverage. 

Broad form insurance does not cover you in the following situations:

  • Collisions. You won’t be covered if your vehicle collides with another vehicle. You also won’t be covered in accidents with uninsured drivers. 
  • Injuries. The medical costs of injuries to yourself are not covered.
  • Non-collision damage. You won’t be covered for damage to your vehicle from theft, storms, fire, vandalism, and more.
  • Other drivers. You’re also not covered for any damages that occur from someone other than you driving your vehicle.

Broad form auto insurance only covers one driver, so if you often have family members or friends driving your vehicle, then this coverage is likely not for you. 

Why Choose Broad Form Insurance?

Now that you understand the limits of insurance broad form, let’s look at the benefits. After all, there’s a good reason this type of policy exists. One of the main reasons people opt for broad form auto insurance is because it’s significantly more cost-effective than standard insurance policies. In fact, it can be as little as half the cost of regular car insurance, making it an attractive option for people who fit within its scope of coverage. But the benefits of broad form insurance don’t end there. Other perks of this type of policy include: 
  • It allows you to meet the minimum requirements to drive legally in certain states. 
  • You don’t have to pay to cover any other drivers than yourself.
  • If you have a low-value or older vehicle, you’re not paying high insurance premiums for coverage you don’t necessarily want. 
  • You can have low-cost insurance if you don’t own a vehicle but borrow vehicles occasionally.
So, the main draw of broad form auto insurance is the cost, but it is also beneficial to have in certain situations and for certain lifestyles.

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When The Broad Form Insurance Right For You?

Obviously, broad form insurance isn’t meant for everyone, but there are a few instances when it can be exactly what you need—and at a great price. 

It’s important to weigh both the risks and the benefits when choosing broad form insurance coverage, and you can gauge the suitability of this coverage for you by asking yourself these questions:

  • Do you want bare-bones coverage?
  • Do you not want to cover any other drivers?
  • Do you always drive alone with no passengers?
  • Do you not own a car, or do you own a very low-value car that you can afford to replace if needed?
  • Do you have the resources to pay out of pocket for any damage/liability? 
  • Do you have auto insurance coverage and are looking to supplement it?

The last point is typically the ideal use case of broad form insurance coverage because it means you’ll be covered in almost every possible situation. Saving money upfront on a lower-cost policy like broad form car insurance can be very tempting, but it’s important to understand the potential risks and what you might have to pay out of pocket if anything happened. 

However, there are situations where you simply require proof of insurance coverage, and this is a lower-cost option for that. Driving without insurance is incredibly risky, both legally and financially, so broad form insurance can at least help you obtain insurance quickly and affordably. 

How to Get Broad Form Insurance?

Broad form insurance isn’t available in every state, so you might not be able to get this coverage depending on where you live. If you can, make sure you request broad form insurance quotes before you make any decisions. Quotes will help you compare prices so you know exactly what you’ll pay for specific degrees of coverage.

We can help. Based on the information you provide us, we save you time and money by pairing you with the best broad form car insurance provider for you. Our broad form insurance providers are the best in the industry, so you won’t have to worry about getting shoddy coverage. We’ve handpicked these providers based on their reputation, customer service, transparency, and great prices. 

Request a broad form insurance quote now. 

If you want to see how you’ll save with broad form insurance, you could get quotes for both broad form insurance and standard auto insurance. This tact will also show you the differences in coverage. You may decide broad form insurance is enough, or you may decide that you want full coverage. 

It’s also a good idea to get quotes to add broad form insurance to supplement your standard auto insurance policy, especially if you think you might want that extra coverage. 

Again, we can help. Get a safe, secure, and reliable quote here. 

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How to Save on Broad Form Insurance?

Choosing broad form liability insurance will save you money versus a regular insurance policy, although it’s important to note it could potentially cost you more in the long run. Regardless, there are a few key ways to save money on broad form insurance quotes:

  1. Get multiple quotes from insurance providers to compare or go with a single quote from our top providers, tailored to your needs 
  2. Beware of policy add-ons can add up
  3. Bundle insurance policies with one provider for extra discounts 
  4. Simply ask for a discount—it can’t hurt!
  5. Improve your driving record and credit rating to get lower insurance rates across the board

Remember that the lowest cost insurance isn’t necessarily the best one for you; saving a few dollars in the short term might not be worth it if you have to cover expenses out-of-pocket. Make sure to understand all the risks and benefits of a policy before committing to it. 

Final Thoughts on Broad Form Insurance

Car insurance can be expensive, and it’s tempting to try to find a lower-cost option. But comparing a broad form policy to a standard auto insurance policy in terms of cost alone isn’t smart thinking, because the coverage is so different. 

Make sure you assess your auto insurance coverage needs and look at the bigger picture before choosing a type of policy. 

Broad form insurance is great for certain situations and people, but not ideal for others. If you’re just looking to save money on insurance costs, there are ways to save without sacrificing coverage. But if broad form insurance sounds right for you in terms of the coverage it offers and your driving habits, then it’s a great way to get the coverage you need without overpaying. 

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FAQ

Broad form insurance is limited coverage for one named driver. It can be a standalone policy for very limited coverage or added as a supplementary policy.

Broad form insurance only covers the named driver in their personal vehicle or other vehicles. It covers just the liability of that named driver. For instance, in collisions, broad form insurance covers just the other driver’s injuries and damage to their vehicle.

Broad form insurance is just named operator insurance, meaning it’s for one driver only. Other people can’t be added to your broad form insurance coverage.

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