Auto insurance can be confusing. It’s preparing for something that not only hasn’t happened but might not ever happen. You are just waiting for something dreadful to happen to you and your car, a duo destined for disaster. It feels like the whole “Chicken Little” mentality, except the sky is falling straight for your car.

However, what it comes down to is that bad things happen, and when it does happen, you don’t want to be left high, dry, and without a penny, much less a pair of tires, to your name. Auto insurance can cover the basic risks (like hitting another car) and the not-so-basic risks like a runaway rhino crushing your car Jumanji style.

By understanding the different types, you can pick and choose what you feel like you need in your insurance policy, besides what your state requires. This knowledge can help you avoid paying high premiums each month but keep you safe at the same time.

Because insurance policies differ from state to state and company to company, outlining every insurance policy would be impossible and quite frankly, would bore you to death. (I’ve already had to shock myself with an AED twice to keep going.)