When thinking about car insurance, most people tend to evaluate it as an unwanted expense and will take any chance to cut down its price. The most direct and obvious way to do so is to cut down all additional types of coverage, leaving only those required by the law. And one of the coverage types, which is usually sacrificed for cutting the value of the policy is of course collision coverage. People are used to underestimating the importance of collision coverage and overestimating their driving abilities, assuming that they will never end up being at fault in an accident. Unfortunately for most drivers, there are some cold-blooded facts that are really good for a reality check in terms of collision coverage:

• You may consider yourself as the safest driver in the world with the best defensive driving style possible. But don't forget that you're not the only one on the road, and you never know who you'll end up with in traffic. Regardless of how great of a driver you are, you can still cause an accident simply by being distracted or making a mistake because of other drivers on the road. And if you end up in an accident where you're at fault, it will be impossible for you to file claims against the other drivers and obtain coverage. This is only possible through collision coverage. And we all know how much a simple car repair or medical service can cost you when you need it.

• If you end up in an accident where both you and the other party claim being not at fault, it will take a special commission and analysis of the circumstance to determine who really caused the crash. And it could take months and even years, with a lot of additional expenses by your insurance provider. Until then, you won't receive any coverage and will have to either wait for the decision and receive coverage, or pay for repairing your car from own pocket. Having collision coverage would automatically pay for the damage done right after filing the claim.

• In case you crash into a pole, tree or fence, you have no one to claim against and it's still considered as collision. So you'll need collision coverage to pay for the repair.

The situations described above are quite common and many drivers who end up in them quickly purchase collision coverage afterwards, recognizing its usefulness. However, wouldn't it be smarter to get this coverage in the first place? The next time you get busy comparing auto insurance quotes make sure to include collision coverage as well. It won't raise your rates dramatically, however it will grant you useful coverage in a number of cases you can end up any day while being behind the wheel.

Don't forget that the amount of collision coverage depends on the market value of your vehicle. And those of you who are getting auto insurance quotes for a brand new car with many additional features may find it a bit expensive. On the other hand, those who drive mid-level cars that aren't new will have lower cost for this type of coverage. In any case, collision coverage is money well spent and you won't regret getting it when it pays for your repairs after the accident.