The average cost of Mississippi car insurance coverage in 2011 is $1,112. This amount is lower than the national average, which sits at $1,440.

Even though Mississippi drivers can qualify for relatively low prices on their car insurance coverage, it doesn’t mean that they wouldn’t benefit from shopping around for coverage. Reviewing the existing coverage at least once a year means that a driver can make sure that he or she has the right type and level of insurance protection in place. Insurance needs change over time, and policy provisions which were a good fit for a newly-licensed driver may no longer be the right choice a few years later on.

A good time to start getting quotes for coverage is a couple of months before the existing policy is due to expire. That way, the car owner has the time to investigate different insurance companies, get a number of quotes and compare them carefully. When doing so, the driver should look at more than consider price. An inexpensive car insurance policy that doesn’t provide a good level of protection is really not a good buy for a consumer.

If a driver decides to switch Mississippi car insurance providers, the best approach is to buy the new policy and get confirmation that it is in force before canceling the existing coverage. That way, he or she will not create a lapse in this important protection.

Mississippi is not a no-fault car insurance state. It follows a tort system instead, which means that one driver must be found at fault when a motor vehicle accident occurs. That driver, through his or her car insurance company, is responsible for compensating accident victims for their medical bills and related expenses, as well as economic loss related to the accident.

Under state law, drivers must have third party liability coverage in place to pay for these damages. Bodily injury liability insurance with a limit of at least $25,000 to compensate one person injured in an accident and $50,000 to pay for all medical bills and lost wages incurred because of the event must be put in place. This part of the policy also pays out a funeral benefit if the accident results in one or more fatalities.

Property damage liability insurance with a coverage limit of at least $25,000 must also be purchased by Mississippi drivers. This insurance is used to pay for repairs to the other driver’s vehicle. It also covers the cost of repairs to public property damaged in the accident, such as fences, guard rails, buildings and mail boxes.

Drivers in Mississippi can choose to buy a policy with a higher limit than what is mandated under state law if they wish, and this is something worth considering. In a situation where the level of damages is higher than the insurance coverage available, the at-fault driver is responsible for paying the difference personally.