With the advent of Facebook Faces and the ability it gives the social media behemoth to track the location of a user via their iPhone, it seems only a matter of time before several things start happening. First came the break-ins as intrepid thieves learned that certain users were out of their homes. Suddenly, it seems obvious that for every new application under the sun, someone is plotting a devious usage of that technology. Other crimes might be enabled, or deterred, by new technology.

Is that utilitarianism limited to hackers and identity thieves? As the technology improves, it seems obvious that even large companies would use it to their advantage. In this case, the iPhone’s GPS capabilities make it a potentially unwitting partner in causing you some futuristic feeling grief. In time, as Facebook Faces manages to track its users’ locations to the square yard of the Earth’s surface, more than thieves will have their day.

An example would look like this: your auto insurance company, long your friend as they utilize social media, tracks your driving down the freeway on a road trip. Suddenly you decide it’s time to show your pal the full acceleration capabilities of your new car. Stepping on the gas, you’re quickly driving at well into triple digit speeds in the middle of nowhere. There’s not a soul to be seen, especially not a state patrol cruiser.

But eyes could be watching you through the GPS capabilities in your phone. And when they notice that you’re moving across the desert at 130 plus miles per hour in a 75 mph zone, something unusual happens. A few days after your return from the road, you get an email from your insurer. You’ve been dropped. No explanations, no begging for leniency. Ultimately, you’ve been seen in the commission of a major violation. You didn’t get away with your crime this time.

When times are tight, one of the first things cut is auto insurance. While a reduction in coverage can save money at times, it’s important to make sure you’re not cutting back too much. If you have too little coverage, you may be under legal limits for your state, and you may be putting your other assets at risk, as well. So how much auto insurance coverage do you really need?

If you’re just starting out in life and have a beater of a car and nothing else to worry about, then minimum state coverage is fine for you. Most states have laws that mandate liability coverage, but some states also require coverage for medical expenses for you and others and pain and suffering. Some states will make you carry insurance to protect you in the case an underinsured or an uninsured motorist hits your car. You should know what exactly your state requires. Minimum requirements under state laws cover bare minimum accidents. If you have a serious accident and someone else is injured, minimum coverage may not be enough to protect you if the injured person’s attorney decides to recover loss via your other assets. When you have a family and home to care for, choose at least 100/300 limits on injury liability for adequate protection. 

Besides these types of coverage, there are many other add-ons for any policy. Collision coverage will cover damage to your vehicle if you collide with anything, such as a curb or a retaining wall. Comprehensive coverage will pay for repairs if something like a tree falls onto your vehicle or your car suffers damage from fire, floods, or theft. Before buying auto insurance, make sure your other insurance policies don’t cover some of what your new policy would. While cutting back to save a few bucks may seem like a great idea, consider what you’re giving up.