A deductible is the amount of damages that you agree you will be responsible for if you have a claim.

Most insurance policies have a deductible which states that a portion of the amount paid for the loss will be subtracted (deducted) from the amount the insurance company would otherwise pay. This amount is not paid to the company; it simply becomes your share of the loss and is deducted from the payment.

Under an auto policy, typically, Collision and Other Than Collision (comprehensive) coverage are subject to a deductible.

Deductibles serve several functions. Shifting the cost of small claims to the person buying the insurance (insured) enables the insurance company to reduce premiums. Small dollar claims often cost more to adjust and settle than the claim itself. The cost of insurance would be much higher if there were no deductibles. The higher the deductible, the lower your premium cost.

Collision and Other Than Collision (comprehensive) coverages are subject to a deductible. Several options are available, including a reducing deductible option. With this option, your deductibles reduce by 100 for each annual loss-free period. The amount of the deductible is shown on your declaration pages. Please check your policy or contact your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent to see if you have a deductible and how much it is.

Yes. Missouri state law requires you to carry at least the minimum financial responsibility liability limits of $25,000 per person for Bodily Injury, $50,000 per occurrence for Bodily Injury, and $10,000 for Property Damage to others. This is sometimes referred to as $25/$50/$10.

Missouri State law requires all motorists to have

• Bodily Injury
• Property Damage
• Uninsured Motorist coverage

If your vehicle is financed, your lender may require that you buy two more coverages: Collision and Other than Collision (comprehensive). These will protect you and the lender if your vehicle suffers damage or loss.

Here are a few suggestions to keep your rates as low as possible:

• Most importantly, drive carefully and protect your driving record
• Select your car carefully
• Choose higher deductibles
• Examine your coverages
• If you have an older car, consider the necessity of carrying Collision and/or Other Than Collision (Comprehensive) coverages
• Explore available discounts

Premiums are based on many factors. These include but are not limited to:

• Driving record
• Number of miles you drive
• Type of car you drive
• Where your vehicle is garaged
• Age

Collision provides protection for the upset of a covered automobile or its impact with another vehicle or object.

Other Than Collision covers damage to the covered automobile from risks such as falling objects, fire, theft, explosion or earthquake, windstorm, hail, water or flood, vandalism, riot, contact with a bird or animal or glass breakage.

These are referred to as "split" liability limits. The coverage would apply like this:

• The first number represents the maximum payable per person injured in any one accident.
• The second number represents the maximum payable for all injured persons in any one accident.
• The third number, which may also be listed separately, represents the maximum payable for property damage of others in any one accident.

For example 25/50/10 or $25,000/$50,000/$10,000 limits would indicate that for bodily injury in any one accident, the maximum amount payable per person is $25,000. The maximum payable for bodily injury for all persons is $50,000. And finally, the maximum payable for property damage is $10,000.

For 100/300, the maximum amount payable per person for any one accident is $100,000 while the maximum payable for all persons is $300,000. In this example, the property damage limit is separately listed.

If you carry combined single liability limits, this would mean that you choose a limit and that could be distributed in any combination in the case of an accident. Example: You select $100,000 combined single limit. That $100,000 is the maximum payable for all bodily injury/property damage claimed in any one accident, whether paid for one person, several people, or property damage; or any combination.

Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability coverages are either “split limits” or Combined Single Limits. “Split Limits” for liability are represented by a series of three numbers representing the per person bodily injury liability limit, the aggregate bodily injury liability limit and finally, the property damage liability limit.

Combined single liability limits represent a total limit that could be distributed in any combination in the case of an accident. Example: If a $100,000 combined single limit is elected, $100,000 is the maximum payable for all bodily injury AND property damage claimed in any one accident. This may be paid for bodily injury of one person or several people or for property damage; or any combination.

Your policy covers you while driving anywhere in:

• the United States of America, its territories and possessions
• Puerto Rico; or
• Canada.

It will not provide coverage in any other country. You should purchase coverage from the country you are visiting or the rental company prior to driving, if not in the US, Puerto Rico, or Canada. There is NO coverage for driving in Mexico!

Our personal auto policy does extend coverage to rented private passenger automobiles* for temporary use by the named insured or family members who reside in the insured’s household. There are several factors to consider when determining your need to purchase coverage through the rental agency:

• Vehicles with certain weights may not meet the definition of private passenger auto and may not be covered under your Farm Bureau policy if you rent them. Two examples of types of vehicles with higher weights are motor homes and large moving trucks. Check your policy for specific coverage details.
• Vehicles rented for business use are not covered.
• Check your policy language for coverage regarding rented or borrowed trailers.

Please check with your Missouri Farm Bureau Insurance agent for more specifics.

*"Private passenger automobiles" is a defined term in our personal auto policy. Please see your policy for specific definition.

We will pay for towing if you have one of the following optional coverages:

• If you purchase Emergency Road Service Coverage (ERS), it reimburses you for reasonable expenses for towing and labor costs (if the labor is done at the place of disablement) for the covered auto.
• For Emergency Roadside Service or Accident Scene Assistance, please call 1-800-922-4632, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Contact your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent to purchase this coverage.

A variety of coverages are available including but not limited to:

• Other Than Collision (comprehensive)
• Collision
• Rental Reimbursement
• Emergency Road Service

For a complete list, see our Coverages.

Contact your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent for specific details, costs, and other options.

Yes, called a total account discount. This credit is applied at each renewal to your auto policy if you maintain both your property and auto coverages with us. If you are not receiving this discount, consider the savings of insuring with us. Contact your Farm Bureau Insurance Agent for details.

For detailed information on reporting a claim or loss, visit our Claim Center.

We offer the following pay modes:

• Annually
• Semi-Annually
• Quarterly
• Monthly

Quarterly and monthly pay modes are subject to an installment fee. Choosing to receive and pay your bill electronically may reduce these installment fees.

• Cash (at office locations, please do not send via mail)
• Check
• Credit Card (on most types of invoices)
• Electronic Funds Transfer
• E-Check

Payments must be received in our Home Office or County Office by the due date. Online payment options are available including credit card and e-check. To pay your bill online, please visit On-line Payment.

Farm Bureau Town & Country Insurance Company can write insurance to protect your

• automobiles
• home
• farm or ranch
• mobile homes
• business
• motorcycles
• motor homes
• boats
• farm trucks
• and much more.

Through our other affiliates we can provide for all your insurance needs from Life and Health to retirement planning. Contact a Farm Bureau Insurance Agent for details.

Some people think young drivers pay too much for auto insurance. They feel younger motorists are being penalized. But this isn't true. Young drivers are involved in 39% of Missouri's accidents. Over 26% of the drivers under the age of 26 are involved in an accident each year. By comparison, only 8.67% of motorists in the 66 and over age group have accidents annually.

*Source: MoDot 2009 traffic statistics

• Safe Driver Discount
• Multi-Vehicle Discount
• Total Account Discount
• Good Student Discount
• Occupational Discount
• Preferred Driver Discount
• E85/Hybrid Vehicle Discount
• And more

Details on Discounts

Farm Bureau Town & Country Insurance Company of Missouri offers a unique product in the industry. For qualifying youthful operators listed on automobile insurance policies ages 16 to 22, we offer a complementary $50,000 term life insurance benefit issued by the Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company of Missouri. While we hope that none of our policyholders have the unfortunate experience of losing a child, we go one step beyond our competition to protect you financially from that unexpected event. The Farm Bureau Family of Companies is here to protect your family.

What to do in case of an automobile accident:

• Call the police
• Determine if anyone is injured and get their names if possible
• Obtain the name, address, license plate number, and name of the insurance company of other drivers involved
• If possible, write down the names and addresses of any witnesses
• DO NOT admit being "at fault" or discuss your insurance coverage
• Notify us (or your agent) as soon as possible (report a claim)

Occasionally vehicles may be damaged beyond the point they are economically able to be repaired. If this occurs and you have collision or other than collision coverage for the loss, your policy will pay the actual cash value of the vehicle directly before the loss. If your policy has our New Vehicle Replacement Cost endorsement and your vehicle meets the qualifications for this endorsement, your policy will pay you the cost of a new vehicle, identical to your original vehicle.

In many cases your Claims Representative will have specialized automobile estimating software to calculate the damage to your vehicle. Simply give our estimate to your repair shop of choice. If your shop finds additional hidden damage, have them contact our Claims Department directly. In other cases, we may ask you to obtain a written estimate from the shop of your choice and forward it to us for review.

In many areas of the state, we offer a network of auto repair facilities that have been prescreened for your convenience. You are always free to use any shop you like for the repairs. Please see our Auto Repair Network Program page for more information.

Except for individuals specifically excluded under a Driver Restriction Endorsement, your liability coverage extends to other drivers whom you allow to drive your vehicle. Drivers who are not family members residing in your home or whom are not listed as a driver on the policy, are afforded a reduced liability coverage limit. Please see your local Farm Bureau Agent for more information.

We offer a Transportation and Travel Expense endorsement on our auto policies. If you have purchased this option, your policy will reimburse you for rental car expenses you incur during the time your vehicle is being repaired from a covered loss, subject to the insuring agreement and coverage limits.

Upon the conclusion of your claim, we will mail a Sales Tax Affidavit to you. The form gives you sales tax credit toward the purchase of your replacement vehicle and is valid up to 180 days from the date of our payment. You will need to bring this form with you to the license office when you register your replacement vehicle.