AssureInsure:RSS Feed For Articles

What is Double Dipping in Auto Insurance

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 04:54:22 GMT

In the event of an accident, when an insured person claims the losses from his own insurance company and also collects the damages from the other person involved, this act is known as ‘Double Dipping”. A study on auto insurance claims reveals that 1.07% of all recognized insurance claims involve double dipping by the insured knowingly or otherwise.

Normally, when you are injured in an accident, your medical insurance company will pay your claims and then recover the amount from the insurance company of the other person involved who caused the accident. This procedure is known as subrogation which is widely used as a standard practice in the US. But according to US law, you are not entitled to double benefits from your insurance to protect against loss due to expenses on injuries. Your attorney would be able to advise you about your options in such as situation.

The normal practice of all medical insurance companies is to cover the client’s cost of medical expenses on injuries resulting from an auto accident. Your medical insurance company will get the necessary documents signed by you and make the payment for the treatment of your injuries. Later on they will recover the amount from your auto insurance company. This process is known as subrogation. When your auto insurance company pays you the claim and then recovers it from the at-fault driver. This process is also called subrogation. But if you go after the other driver who caused the accident and collect the costs you suffered, after having got your own auto insurance claim you are double dipping. Due to the delays in the follow up of these processes by insurance companies some people take advantage of the delays and indulge in double dipping. Normally your auto insurance company will get your signature on the policy agreement with a clause that says that the insurer can recover any claim they paid you from the other driver’s insurer who caused the accident. So you have given the right of getting the amount reimbursed by your insurer from the other party who is at fault. You are not entitled to collect your losses from the other driver in this case. Your insurance company will step into your shoes and make a claim from the other driver’s insurer.

Auto insurance companies try to put in place systems that would prevent the insured from double dipping as it is on the rise in the recent times.

Things to Know about Auto Insurance SR22

Wed, 27 May 2009 10:59:21 GMT

The SR-22 Filing is a document or electronic certification issued by an auto insurance company to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). It verifies to the state that you have an auto insurance policy with the state minimum liability limits. This is essentially a financial responsibility certification required by the DMV for high risk auto insurance policyholders if an accident is caused by your driving violations to reinstate the driver’s license that was suspended. Auto insurance SR 22 is also needed in case of a suspended driver’s license if you need ‘ignition interlock’ as a result of a second drunk driver conviction.

AIG, 21st Century, AllState, SafeCo, Unitrin Specialty Insurance, Insure.com, Liberty Mutual, Nation Wide, Amica , Mercury Insurance, USAA are some of the leading auto insurance companies that provide auto insurance SR22. To obtain a free no obligation Auto insurance SR22 quote fill out the online form of different insurers. To select the right policy you must take into consideration not only the price but also the coverage amounts offered, terms and conditions, down payment and lapse in policies.

When you request your free quote, inform the company that you need SR22 filing. At the time of purchasing, the company will provide the auto insurance SR22 in the appropriate form along with your auto insurance policy online within minutes. The insurance company also monitors your insurance and will notify the court about any lapse or cancellation of your policy.

SR-22 auto insurance is a type of high risk auto insurance policy by which the auto insurance company guarantees to the DMV that the policy holder has the minimum auto insurance coverage that is required by the state. The auto insurance company files the SR-22 certification on behalf of the policyholder. This is mandatory for reinstating your driving license by the DMV. SR-22 should be kept on file for a minimum period of 3 years from the date of reinstating your driving privileges. The SR-22 filing is a form known as Form SR22 that is filled out by the auto insurance company to be sent to the DMV. Most of the states allow you can get them filed electronically so that your driving license is restored early enabling you to resume driving.

The typical requirement of auto insurance SR22 is three years but vary from state to state. If you cancel your policy before this period, the insurance company has to file an SR-26 to inform the state that you do not have auto insurance coverage.

In most states, the insurer automatically sends SR22 to the DMV. The SR-22 is a certificate from the insurer verifying that you have auto insurance.

What is Medpay Subrogation in Auto Insurance

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 21:56:49 GMT

MedPay is the short form for Medical Payment Reimbursement which is a provision of the Medical Expense Coverage of auto insurance. Med-Pay laws vary with each state. In California the law protects the right of reimbursement to the insured.

This can be explained through an example. When you are involved in a car accident damaging your car and you are injured. Since you have auto insurance coverage you will be paid by your insurer for both your injuries and the damage to your car. After paying you your insurance company will seek reimbursement from the other at fault driver’s insurance company, knowing that he is covered. This is known as subrogation.

The insurance company seeks reimbursement for the medical payment from the person who is legally responsible for the accident after paying out the claim of its insured client. Having made the payment to you your insurance company is subrogated to the rights with respect to your policy and steps into your shoes to demand reimbursement of the medical expenses on your behalf.

Auto insurance subrogation is advantageous to you only when the other driver is at fault. If you are found at fault for the accident, your insurance policy rate will go up in addition to loss of huge amounts of money. When the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance cover or not insured at all, subrogation will still be attempted by the injured driver’s insurer for recovery to the extent permitted by law. In the case of both drivers insured by the same insurance company, the adjusters of both sides meet and decide the percentages of liability of each driver. If they cannot arrive at a decision, a supervisor will make the decision on the responsibility for the crash. If the at-fault driver does not have auto insurance, the subrogation will be collected directly from the party. These processes take a long time and involve payment plans as well.

It is therefore important to know the state laws and insurance requirements so that you can get all the coverage that would make you feel protected and comfortable in the event of an accident.

Grace Period for Buying Insurance for a New Car

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 07:09:28 GMT

Grace period in auto insurance is an extended period of time granted to the vehicle owner to pay the auto insurance payment. The grace period may differ with each policy varying between 24 hours to 30 days. You may or may not be required to pay a penalty when you make your insurance payment during the grace period. According to common practice, the policy will stay in effect during the grace period.

There are no specific state laws to guide the auto insurance companies about extending the existing insurance cover to new cars. This makes way for the insurance companies to make their own rules with regard to adding a new car to your existing auto insurance policy. According to the state laws no grace period is granted for you to get auto insurance for a new car that you have bought. But most of the states definitely require that you buy your auto insurance before you operate it on public roads.

It is important to know the exact length of your grace period in which you can pay your premium without having to pay interest on the amount to be paid. For availing this facility your policy should be valid during this period which is usually 30 or 31 days from the due date of premium payment. In the event of death of the insured, the beneficiary is entitled to receive the amount equal to the full policy value and minus any premium that is owed. Grace period is thus beneficial as it provides protection of auto insurance even when the premium is yet to be paid.

When you want to add a new car to your auto insurance policy to your car insurance policy, you should verify with your state insurance regulatory body to know the rules governing the addition of a new car to your current car insurance policy and the grace period if any and the related terms,. To find out if the current policy would extend to your new car and if it does, the amount of time allowed etc. You can talk to your insurance broker to know the grace period allowed for this purpose and other rules connected with grace period.

If the new car is your first car, there is no state law that offers a grace period for obtaining insurance on your new vehicle. Since it is your first car, and it does not replace a car that is already on your policy there is actually no grace period. The only condition is that you should get it insured before you drive it off from the dealer’s showroom. However, if you are leasing this car, the lender would require you to purchase a policy with collision and comprehensive insurance coverage.

When you get a new car in exchange for your old vehicle, your insurance company will extend the old car’s insurance to your new car for a short period of time allowing you to give the change of information regarding the new car. This also depends on your state laws to find out how much is the grace time for obtaining insurance for a new car you obtained through a trade in.

Make sure to inform your insurer about the change of vehicle within the allowed time according to your state laws or the insurance company regarding the grace period for obtaining auto insurance and act accordigly. This would help you in having your auto insurance cover in effect on the new car. So it is better to ensure that you have a policy cover on the new vehicle to be protected against any unforeseen mishap.

Know about Buying Car Insurance Online

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:22:08 GMT

Car insurance is one of the significant factors that keep your life safe and protected. So you should spend adequate time shopping for the policy best suited for your needs, wants and budget. Once you know which company and policy suits you best fill in the easy online form and pay for the policy. The best deal is the one that is affordable, offers just the kind of coverage you are looking for and makes you feel happy and safe when you drive your car.

Why you should buy car insurance online?

You can shop anytime of the day in the comfort of your home
Paperless processing of insurance policy is a way of going green.
Online quote applications are user friendly and easy to complete. With your existing policy for reference, you can complete several quotes in a matter of minutes.
Several websites providing rates offered by other companies. For instance they may tell you rates of highly reputed companies simultaneously to help you decide on the right option in a more effective manner.
Auto insurance websites have a good article resource for you to learn more about buying auto insurance online and its pros and cons
If you want to make modifications to your insurance plan you can again do it online without wasting time for unnecessary paper work and innumerable visits to the company.

The disadvantages of buying car insurance online

· If you confront a problem or obstacle while going through a deal, a well experienced California car insurance agent may help you solve it. This kind of help may not be available online.

· Trying to contact online insurance agencies for help can be frustrating if your emails are not answered and telephoning them on toll-free numbers results in only recorded messages and instructions for generalized problems.

However, some websites provide the most recent list of the best car insurance quotes. There may also be a provision for finding car insurance agents, by entering the zip code of your city. It is seen that the rules, regulations and terms and conditions for buying car insurance online is more flexible in California as compared to some other states.

How to find a car insurance deal online?

Before surfing for quotes offered by any company you have check on the company’s rating. It makes sense to consider buying auto insurance online from those companies with a solid reputation and a good name for fair play. Look out for special discounted quotes based on the information you have provided. For instance you can avail the Low Mileage Discount if you are a regular car pool person and drive for a lesser number of hours.

Information you have to provide

Auto insurance companiespost all information related to auto insurance policies. To get free quotes in California car insurance sites, you have to provide your name, address, and age and vehicle details.

Paying for the policy

You can pay for the policy online using your credit card. The minimum amount of a policy varies according to the state.

Average Cost of Car Insurance for Teenagers

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 05:19:49 GMT

It is common knowledge that teenagers are more likely to be involved in auto accidents than grown-ups. As a consequence, most insurance companies set a higher premium for the adolescents, on an average. Though the average auto insurance for a teenager may be high, it will gradually come down as the person grows older and learns to drive even better.

As a driver if you do not have any claims for the insurance company, then you can avail the No Claims Discount coverage that has attractive premiums. In fact, you can avail 75% discount on the annual premium! However, at one point of time, you can receive a ‘no claims’ premium from one company.

When parents include coverage for one or more of their offspring within their policy then the cost would rise by 50%. For instance if the parent would pay $1000 as an individual premium, then he would have to pay $1500 when including his child in the insurance policy. If another child’s name is added then the premium increases again. However, these costs are considerably lesser than if the teenager would opt for an individual coverage.

There are various aspects that determine the average cost of car insurance for a teenager. The most important among them are

Why the person wants to purchase an automobile in the first place
What kind of coverage is required
Whether a high deductible is required (This helps lower premium costs)
How old the person is
What make of car has been purchased
What is the price of the car
Whether it is a brand new car or a used vehicle
The location of the garage
What safety accessories have been installed in the car
What is the distance travelled (mileage) for a given period of time
Whether the person is a primary driver or will only take the car out on rare occasions
Whether the teenager has a good academic record. (There is a general belief that excellence in academics is directly related to responsible driving; some insurance companies offer a discount of up to 25% for students with a proven academic record; say a 3.0 GPA or an average of B)

To know the specific amount of premium for a teenager there are several websites that give you accurate and reliable information online, absolutely free of cost. By filling in the details required, one can get an estimate of the coverage and the average premium. Usually the average premium is about $1200 for a teenager.

Once a teenage decides to own a car and proceeds to get it insured, he must understand that the most significant factor is safe driving. Parents should ensure that they instill in teenage children the concept of safe driving and its benefits. Teenagers should fully realize the consequences of rash driving, the trauma that triggers from it and the enormous damage it causes physically, emotionally and economically.

Teenagers should also guard against the temptation of speed driving. If, at a point, they get hauled up for speeding, nothing can prevent the premium rates from increasing.

Affordable Car Insurance for the 17-year old

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 05:13:27 GMT

You get your first automobile when you are about 17 years old. Suddenly you start feeling more responsible and more independent! Some 17-year olds also feel that their new found driving privilege empowers them to enjoy the exhilaration of high speeds and snazzy sports cars. When you start thinking of the first car you are about to buy, you should also start thinking about the kind of auto insurance that is suitable for a 17-year old and how it can be chosen.

As people of this age would still be students or in the process of finding a job, the most affordable auto insurance plans would be the most welcome. 17-year olds should not be disheartened by the fact that the premiums are higher for them as they are relatively inexperienced drivers, with a higher probability of getting involved in accidents.

The first step towards finding an affordable policy for a 17-year old car insurance is to search the Internet thoroughly for companies that offer coverage for 17-year olds and the characteristics of these policies. Another thing you should bear in mind is that it is not necessary that the policy that appealed to your friend would appeal to you too. Only consistent research for information can yield a good amount of information that will be helpful for you to choose the apt policy.

There are several parameters which form the framework of the insurance plan for a 17-year old. One of them is the area in which the youth lives in – for instance if there have been many claims from that particular area, the premium for a person from the same area would be considerably higher than for one from a “safe” zone. Another important parameter is the year of manufacture, model and price of a car and how well it has been installed with safety devices. Premiums will be higher for those living in crime prone areas.

Follow these five steps to find affordable auto insurance for a 17-year old

First of all a 17-year old should enroll for a defensive driving course to help him drive well. After the course the youth should endeavor to maintain an excellent driving record, so that as he grows older, he would be able to pay lower premiums.
He should maintain a good academic record in his school. Quite often auto insurance companies consider students with better grades as less prone to be involved in accidents
The car chosen should be preferably a used one with a lot of accessories for the protection of the driver and the vehicle. Coverage of these type of vehicles has considerably lower premium that new, expensive or sports cars
17-year olds can be included in their parents’ auto insurance policy. This ensures considerably lower premium than if one takes an individual policy
If, on the other hand, the youth prefers an individual policy, a high deductible can be opted for to lower the premium amount

The legal age for driving a car in the US is now between 14 to 17 years depending upon the state. Generally, 17-year old auto insurance costs can range between $1500 and $3000 based on the various parameters that have been discussed earlier.

Is SR22 Compulsory to get my Driver License

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 05:44:27 GMT

Yes, filing SR 22 is the only way you can get your suspended driver’s license re-instated after you have been found guilty of DUI or any such traffic violation. The Department of Motor Vehicles will not accept any other form of proof of your carrying auto insurance. So there is no use showing your insurance ID card or bill of purchase to the traffic official. Penalties for a DUI can be more extreme as it can result in injury or death and property damage. The Californian insurance law intends to protect the other road user’s life and property and to keep the roads devoid of erring drivers.

The certificate to show proof of insurance is in form SR-22 as defined by the DMV. This is a Department of Motor Vehicle form (similar to SR-1). This required when you have an accident or are ticketed for not having proof of insurance. Under these circumstances you are required to prove “future financial responsibility” by having an SR-22 on file with DMV.

Filing of SR22 arises when you are involved in the following driving related issues:

· For reinstating your driving privileges following a DUII - Driving under Influence suspension

· You fail to provide proof of liability auto insurance to DMV

· You are involved in an uninsured accident

· You repeat traffic offenses or get multiple tickets within a short period

· When your license is suspended or revoked for any other reason

· If you apply for a hardship or probationary permit

California SR-22 will only be valid for California as they are state specific. If you move to another state you must obtain a different SR-22 to show proof of financial responsibility in that state. SR26 form is filed to cancel the SR22 when future proof is no longer needed.

According to Californian law, SR-22 is the mechanism that authorizes the DMV to oversee the insurance of problem drivers. The DMV will suspend the driver’s license of the driver guilty of DUI on failure to file SR22 as proof of auto insurance. An SR-22 is a certificate issued by an insurance company and kept on file Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This document is a guarantee that the driver has obtained the required minimum liability coverage. The insurance company will notify the DMV if the insurance coverage lapses or is cancelled for some reason. On receipt of this the DMV will immediately suspend the driver’s license of the person.

Adding My Teenager to Car Insurance Policy

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:47:04 GMT

Adding your teenager to your auto insurance is extremely important to avoid the risk of having an uninsured driver in the family. Do not assume that your policy will include the newly licensed driver automatically. Adding a teenager on your policy will definitely increase your premiums up to a100% or more. The average cost of car insurance for a teenager is always high and you will still save by adding a teenager to your car insurance policy. But the cost of not insuring your teenager can cost you a fortune as drivers below the age of 25 are found to pose the greatest risk to insurers due to their high level of accidents they cause. Call your auto insurance carrier and find out how adding your teenager affects your policy and the premium. Some insurers automatically add a newly licensed driver to your policy and others may require you individually to add each person. The regulations vary from state to state, so you must be sure to go through your policy carefully to verify the status. You should first notify your insurance company about your intention to add your teenager to your auto insurance policy. Check your policy guidelines for the procedures regarding the process.

When you add the teenager to your auto insurance policy there are a few things you can do to save money on your premiums.

1. Increase your deductible so that the premium will be lesser than before. Let the teenager know that now accidents will cost much more.

2. Get the teenager to take the defensive driving course

3. Add other policies like home insurance and combine them to be with the same insurance provider

4. Avail good student discount for students

5. Let the teenagers drive a safe such as old car to get lower insurance rate

6. By maintaining a clean driving record you can instill the importance of safe drive in your teenagers

7. Shop around to find the best deal for the appropriate auto insurance

Lien Holder Rights and Auto Insurance

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:25:49 GMT

Many complications can arise when you buy car insurance. If there is a second party involved on the title, it will worsen the situation a bit. Many policy holders who have a lien against their car feel the burden that they can not make their own decisions about their car insurance or that they are not truly responsible for what happens to their car because they don't own the same. To overcome these sorts of problems you should analyze who and what are external factors that affect your policy. Two important questions to be answered are: what is a lien and what is a Lien holder? A lien is a claim on your car as security for the payment of a debt. This means if you fail to pay your debt, whoever has placed the lien (the lien holder) can take possession of your car.

A lien can be placed on your car either by choice or by external force. By choice is when you lease a car or when you are borrowing money. You are voluntarily making an agreement with someone else and agreeing to pay that person, and by using your car as a security promising that you will pay. It is important to understand that if you don't pay, the holder can come in and reclaim your car. A lien placed on a car by force is usually the result of the government - particularly the IRS. If you owe the government money, they will often place liens on your home or against your car until you pay all dues and taxes to the government. Depending on your state laws, a lien can be collected whenever you sell your car, or the car itself can be forcibly taken after a period of time.

Rights of a Lien Holder

1. Lien Holder has all the rights to get paid first, out of insurance checks or insurance payments or sale proceeds

For example, if your car sells for $6,000 and your lien is valued at $4,000, you will only get $2,000 from the sale of the car. Your holder gets paid first. If the car sells for $6,000 and the lien is valued at $7,000, then you get nothing from the sale of your car, and you still have to pay the lien holder $1,000.

2. The insurance rate is determined at the discertion of the Lien Holder

In cases of voluntary liens, such as leasing, a policy holder is required to purchase the car insurance is usually what the lien holder dictates. This could often be over and above the standard damage and collision coverage. This is done with the intention of retaining the lien for a longer duration. In most cases, the auto insurers give special names for these kinds of additional policies, such as Loss Payee Clauses, or Lien holder Clauses.

3. Responsibility of meeting deductible vests with the auto insurance policy holder

The policy holder has to remember that he has to pay the deductible; even if he is involved in a minor accident, the lien holder has no responsibility. Only the policy owner is required to pay the deductible in full.

DUI Auto Insurance - What You Should Know

Wed, 27 May 2009 10:57:14 GMT

As driving under influence (DUI) or drunken driving is a serious offense, if you had any conviction most certainly you will face humiliating and expensive consequences. This can also cause a long term impact on your insurance by way of higher insurance rates as well as coverage. Some insurance companies cancel your insurance or increase your premiums outrageously as you will be treated as a ‘high risk driver’.

If your DUI is not known to your insurance company, and you have been a long time customer without any other blemishes, your insurer may continue to maintain your low premiums though it is most unlikely. However, insurance companies do a random check of driving records of policy holders and if there is a DUI in your record your insurance will definitely not be renewed at the time of its expiry. In these circumstances other non-standard insurance companies may provide you insurance coverage for a ridiculously high rate. It is better to stay with the same insurer because if you go for a new policy companies usually ask for driving record and will come to know about your ticket.

Many auto insurance companies refuse to provide coverage to people with DUI conviction or for driving under the influence of drugs (DUID). Auto insurance becomes a significant issue when you happen to be charged with DUI, etc. If you have been arrested for DUI, DUID or any such offense you should seek expert advice from a renowned insurance provider who will not turn you down for being a DUI driver with a pending case or conviction. This advice is free of charge and you also get a free DUI auto insurance quote.

Those who are charged with DUI but are defending their case in the court have to consult an attorney who is well versed in this subject. The law presumes that those who are charged are innocent until they are proven guilty in a court of law. So it is advisable not to reveal the pending case to the insurer as there is no need for it as there is no conviction. The record of DUI conviction on your driving record means cancellation of your insurance or becoming more expensive. To avoid getting into this trap, you have to search online or enquire with brokers for DUI auto insurance policy.

It is also possible that sometimes DUI and other offenses might not appear on your driving record or escape the insurer’s attention as the insurers normal practice is to check the driving records once in three years at the time of your application for a new auto insurance policy. In most states it is required of the DUI convicted drivers to get SR22 from their insurance company. If the insurer provides proof of your auto insurance to the department of motor vehicles, DMV with the SR-22 form. The insurance companies label you as a high risk driver and will hike your premiums.

Can I get Auto Insurance with Suspended License

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:03:52 GMT

The answer is yes, but subject to conditions. The US law requires that you must carry auto insurance to drive a vehicle. Your driver’s license will be suspended for not carrying valid auto insurance. The guidelines may vary with each state in this regard. The laws governing driving with a suspended license also vary. They mostly require you to pay the fine and obtain auto insurance. Normally your driver’s license is suspended or revoked due to a DUI or for getting too many tickets for traffic violation or for accidents. You can still get insured and get your license reinstated.

Many insurance carriers will offer coverage on a suspended license or for having higher points on your driving record. You can request a quote from these companies where they are available and get your auto insurance. They will give you 45 day’s time to get your license back if you have started the process of getting your license re-instated. So you need to mention the status of your driver’s license in the quote request form.

You can get this type of insurance from auto insurance companies such as Progressive, Safeway, Nationwide, USAA etc.. They recognize the fact that there may be times when your license may get suspended and you have to drive with the suspended license. They help you to obtain auto insurance on the condition that you obtain your license within a stipulated period according to the state laws. Some insurance carriers will provide coverage for drivers without driver’s license and may not require you to reinstate too. Look for the information for the right insurer that will be best for your situation.

It is to be understood that all vehicles must be insured according to law regardless of your circumstances for your not having a valid driver’s license. Auto insurance is needed even if you do not drive your car but allow someone else to drive it. This is to take responsibility financially for anything that may happen when the vehicle is being driven.

Though it may not be easy to get insurance without a valid driving license you can find the insurer who will provide insurance for drivers whose license has been suspended but with the condition that you should get your license reinstated within a certain period of time. You should truthfully explain to the insurer why you got your license suspended or why you do not have valid license. They will verify your driving records and know why you have a suspended license. When they are satisfied they will provide your with a new auto insur5ance policy.

Farmers Insurance Auto Claims - COD

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 05:29:03 GMT

Farmer’s Insurance Group, the third largest insurer in USA of private passenger vehicles and homeowners insurance, has received mixed opinions on a customer survey. The company has been doing business for more than 80 years. The website of Farmers is convenient and easy to use. The company streamlined its claim process system by creating the Farmers Circle of Dependability (COD) program in the year 1992. The streamlining effort has earned the support of numerous customers as their claims are settled within hours instead of days. Thus Farmers has become a great choice for anyone looking for auto insurance.

Farmers Auto Insurance automation of claims settling process

This program has standardized the claims handling process which was mainly paper based before. There was the time consuming shifting of papers from one department to another department. It took many days to go through all the procedures of claims processing and manual handling was the reason for the delay. So Farmers took the help of technology to streamline their claims process to speed up their service their customers. This effort has lead to the formation of Customer Restoration Network CRN in short. The ClaimsPort is also notified simultaneously and the customer information is sent to the repair shop.

They have enlisted 2000 repair shops into their preferred vendor program. The repair shops have access to ClaimsPort and receive this information and get ready to attend to attend to the customer even before he arrives at the shop. Then the repair shop assesses the damages, the cost of labor for repair, replacement if any including photos they upload along with their report in an electronic file format. Farmers then approve the estimate.

They also took steps to reduce the time their customers would go without cars, while their car is getting repaired. Farmers also automated its claims resolution process and several other organizational and process improvements as well. The claims are processed by centralized office at Oklahoma with customized and automated business rules. Then they are routed automatically to the appropriate claims representative. Minor claims are thus handled electronically. This eliminates the need for field claims adjusters saving much time and work for small routine claims. Other serious claims are sent to the specialized processing.

Advantages of streamlining the auto insurance claims process

Due to streamlining Farmers has achieved better streamlining of operations and better use of its claims staff. By monitoring repair shop performance Farmers could eliminate inefficiencies and bring new dimension to the key systems of functioning. The ClaimsPort solution is based on the .NET framework and has automated the system of claims processing restricting the claims settlement in just 4 hours.

The quick process and efficiency is seen as value addition as the customers. 83% of customers have rated the claims processing service of Farmers as 6 or 7 on a 1 to 7 scale. The policy holders of Farmers auto insurance, the website offers multiple options on the website to manage their accounts and make payments file claims or even track the status of their claims. New visitors to the site can make use of the free quotes and the detailed information on the range of products offered by Farmers insurance group.

More than One DUI and still Insurance Coverage

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:40:43 GMT

Yes, you can still get your auto insurance coverage despite having more than one DUI. But the insurance rates will be far higher than what it was prior to the DUI. Drunk driving is a serious offence and more so when it causes an accident. When you are charged with drunk driving, DUI or DWI, your auto insurance becomes a serious issue. This is because after a DUI, you will be placed under the high risk driver category. The insurance premium will be increased steeply after the DUI and the insurance company may not renew your auto insurance policy or cancel it altogether. The rate increase following a DUI will depend upon your state, age, gender and the insurance carrier.

Drivers charged with DUI and some others will increase their premiums significantly. But they need to continue driving which is not possible without auto insurance. If you are convicted of a DUI, you are left with limited options regarding your auto insurance if you are looking to obtain one. Having more than one DUI can make it more difficult to find affordable auto insurance. By doing an extensive research and comparison shopping you can arrive at an informed decision about the best auto insurance for you under these circumstances.

The increased rates of auto insurance will apply as long as seven years depending on the duration for which DUI stays in your driving record. If there is more than one ticket or accident in your driving history it will cause the insurance rate to be even higher.

When faced with a drunken driving arrest, you should consult drunken driving defense attorney who is experienced in handling such cases. Unless proven guilty and convicted, you are innocent as per the American law and you need not inform your insurance company about the DUI arrest as there is no need unless there is a conviction.

High Risk SR22 Financial Responsibility Insurance

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:08:21 GMT

According to California Vehicle Code Sections16000-16078, which is also known as the Compulsory Financial Responsibility Law, drivers and owners of vehicles are financially responsible for any property damage or personal injury caused by a traffic accident, regardless of who is at fault.. Anyone in California arrested for Driving under the influence, DUI, even if he/she is not convicted, becomes a "problem driver" considered as high risk. Though this insurance requirement of the problem drivers is similar to the normal liability insurance, they must file proof their coverage to show future financial responsibility.

The driver is required to file a California Insurance Proof Certificate, in form SR-22, from the insurance company with the Department of Motor Vehicles as proof of his having minimum liability coverage ensuring future financial responsibility.

SR22 is a document that guarantees that the person has obtained the minimum liability insurance coverage. SR22 is a certificate issued by the insurance company and is kept on file by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). In the state of California, a driver is required to carry minimum liability insurance and the levels of coverage are defined:

$15,000 - covers injury/death for one person.
$30,000 - covers injury/death for more than one person.
$5,000 pays for damage caused to property.

You must show proof of financial responsibility to the officer when you are stopped due to a traffic violation. You must also provide other motorists this proof when involved in an accident.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles will not accept any other form such as your insurance ID card or a copy of your policy for purposes of identifying an insurance policy. All states in the US have similar laws and regulations, SR-22 forms are state specific. A SR22 form filed with any other state will not be acceptable in California.

How Speeding Ticket affect Car Insurance

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 07:16:40 GMT

State laws differ regarding auto insurance in the US. Generally no insurance company is allowed to increase your auto insurance rates after just one speeding ticket. So your premium rate will remain the same if you have just one speeding ticket.

Insurance companies consider a driver with speeding tickets as high risk. In their opinion those who speed are irresponsible drivers and are more likely to cause accidents. Accidents mean the insurance companies have to pay for the damages and even administrative costs. To set off this loss, the insurer will levy a surcharge for speeding tickets. This raised fee will also discourage the driver concerned to be careful in driving and not to be ticketed for speeding.

Some insurance companies have different guidelines on raising insurance premium rate due to a speeding ticket based in the severity of the violation. Some other insurers will hike their rates after a specific amount of penalty imposed for the speeding violation. Depending upon the various parameters that go into the increase in rates for speeding tickets, the average increase can be around $50 for a year. This raised rate will apply for the next three to five years, so as to make the drivers to mend their driving habits and avoid speeding in future, according to the insurer’s point of view. Anyway if it is the first time, the rise will be smaller and will be steeper for repeated violations.

In addition to the raised rate a court charge of $250 will be imposed on the erring driver. But some states have ticket forgiveness in exchange for attending defensive driving classes. This may save you hundreds of dollars against a small fee for the driving classes. If the ticket is for minor moving violation for driver with a good driving history the states may even allow dismissal of the ticket if the driver exceed the limit by a few miles which is considered a minor moving infraction. The driver can approach a court to defend himself as if the violation is a minor one as the judge will dismiss the ticket.

As many people have infractions insurance companies tend to ignore them and will try to get your business and would offer good deals on your car insurance. With such blemished driving history it is not the end of the road as you can get a better deal from a different insurance provider. So by being proactive you can avoid being trapped in one rate for fear that no other insurer will cover you. Shop around so that you can get a cheaper premium rate for your auto insurance. This is a money saving step that you can take under these circumstances and avoid being penalized by higher rates.

Why do I need to maintain an SR22

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:24:01 GMT

SR22 is a certificate showing proof that a certain driver has automobile insurance. No other proof such as your insurance ID card will be accepted for this purpose. This is required by most states in the US and is normally associated with issues concerning your driving. They are

· Repeated traffic violations and getting multiple tickets in short periods of time

· To re-instate your driving license if you are convicted of DUI violation

· To re-instate a License suspended or revoked

· When you are involved in an uninsured accident

· If you cannot provide proof of liability insurance to the DMV

· When you apply for hardship or a probationary permit

Financial responsibility for drivers

California Vehicle Code Sections16000-16078, or Compulsory Financial Responsibility Law, declares that drivers and owners of vehicles are financially responsible for any damage or injury resulting from a traffic accident, regardless of who is at fault. It also puts the burden of proof of carrying insurance on certain designated drivers who have been arrested of some crimes. If you are arrested for Driving Under Influence, (DUI) you become a "problem driver" even when you are not convicted and so are required to file a Certificate Proof of California Insurance, with the Department of Motor Vehicles in Form SR-22 issued by your insurer.

Most SR-22 forms relate to drivers arrested for DUI, but they are also required for other problem drivers, who may have been involved in an uninsured accident or are cited for repeat traffic offenses in a short period of time, or whose driver’s license has been suspended or revoked.

The process for re-instating drivers licence

Once your license is suspended due to DUI violation, the DMV suspends your driver’s license and pronouncing you a high risk driver. To re-instate the license, you must file SR22 with the DMV to prove your future financial responsibility. Your insurance company issues the SR22 to you to file with the DMV as proof of your having the minimum liability auto insurance. After accepting the SR22, the DMV will remove the suspension of your license.

How long SR22 should be maintained?

When you are found guilty of DUI, SR-22 proof of insurance is required for the next three years. If the insurance policy lapses and if you do not renew it during this period, your insurance provider will file a SR-26 form notifying the DMV of the fact, upon which your license will be suspended or revoked.

The purpose of the California SR-22 law is to ensure that all drivers are insured and it also prevents financially irresponsible drivers using the road.

Short Term Auto Insurance

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 06:23:42 GMT

The most important thing to understand about short term auto insurance is that it is not a substitute for the regular annual auto insurance as it serves the purpose of short term use only. The short term auto insurance can be useful when you are on holiday providing you with the temporary coverage. Short term auto insurance is also helpful when you need to drive somebody else’s car or when you plan to add a new driver to your vehicle’s policy. When you travel frequently and leave your state often, you can avoid taking risk by having appropriate auto insurance coverage. It is too expensive to take travel insurance each time you travel especially when your trips are more frequent. There is the option of yearly traveler’s insurance plan which can be far cheaper.

The short term auto insurance applies to temporary needs and is a good option for a short term. This is to make sure that your vehicle remains covered in all situations even those not covered by regular insurance plans. Its convenience makes it worthwhile to consider having it when you are undecided about your auto insurance plan. It helps you to be covered while you still weigh your options on auto insurance coverage.

Benefits of short term auto insurance

1. Covers additional vehicles you use on a temporary basis or a new car can be added to an exiting policy.

2. Offers different time periods to choose according to your needs that is a useful feature. You can avail the short term auto insurance for one day to 11 months. This means you can have the policy for exactly the duration for which you use the vehicle.

3. It can be had even if you have a long term policy without having to make any change to your current plan.

4. The process of obtaining short term car insurance is short and does not take much time. You can buy it online after going through the many options to choose the one that suits your requirements.

Many occasions require us to drive a different vehicle for a temporarily for a short period of time. During this period you need insurance cover of some form. There may be occasions when we need larger vehicles or a van and may need coverage for that. During travel abroad, you may need to drive rented car. You can opt for a short term auto insurance in these situations so that you will feel protected against any damages arising from an accident.

In these days of rising costs, short term auto insurance is a perfect choice for your temporary needs. As it has gained popularity among the families, major insurance companies have come up with attractive offers. You can get as good deal on a short term policy if you already have a permanent policy with them.

All said short term auto insurance is good for occasions for weekend trips or when an extra driver is needed for a couple of days. It is a cheaper option and convenient to obtain.

Short term Auto insurance is quite famous in Florida as hundreds of visitors come to stay in Florida on temporary basis.

How to Find Cheap Car Insurance

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:20:13 GMT

It is a common practice for vehicle owners to ask around for the cheapest car insurance rates. But it is not possible to determine which is the cheapest because the insurance needs and the qualifying criteria vary from person to person based on the personal statistics of each person. Shopping around online is the best way to get a really cheap car insurance that suits you best. You can compare the rates of competitors to obtain the lowest rate. Many websites allow you to compare quotes from many different companies to choose the one that cheapest that fits your needs. This process is quick and easy and ensures that you get the best deal.

Ways to find cheap car insurance rates

Consider checking the low cost auto insurance companies and companies providing car insurance to local residents. The rates they offer are far cheaper than the rates of big names.
Auto Insurance companies offer special discounts on car insurance for members of certain organizations such as AAA and credit unions etc. Being a part of group insurance costs less so find out the list of organization affiliations that entitle you for this discount.
Combining all your insurance policies into a bundle will bring down the rate of your car insurance greatly. So combine your home, life and health insurance to your car insurance with the same provider so that you are eligible for a much lower rate of car insurance. You can save about 10 to 30 percent of the normal rate.
When you purchase collision and comprehensive coverage, remember that they provide coverage only up to the blue book value of the car. If your car is older than five years there is no point in purchasing them. You should also choose a higher deductible so that your premium will be less.
Ask for discounts on as many grounds as possible. Discounts on car insurance is available to drivers with good driving record, students with high grades, for having anti theft devices in the car, having safety devices such as safety belts, air bags and more.
Multiple car discounts can also lower your car insurance rates to a large extent. Insure your other vehicles also with the same insurance company.
Choose the yearly insurance policy to ensure that rate does not go up for a full year. You can avoid rates being increased after expiry of a six month policy.

Is Florida A No Fault State For Auto insurance

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:13:36 GMT

When you buy a new car or move to a new state, you ned to know what auto insurance coverage is mandated by the state is absolutely essential. By making PIP, Personal Injury Protection mandatory, Florida gets the no-fault tag for auto insurance.

The Florida no-fault auto insurance system focuses on compensation of medical expenses on personal injury due to auto accident. Your auto insurance company will pay for your medical expenses for your injury irrespective of who is at fault in the accident. The at-fault party will cover the damage done to your vehicle.

‘No Fault Insurance’ is defined as “an auto insurance policy that covers the insured for stated risks whether or not he or she is at fault in an accident”, It is in fact akin to the first party coverage of a policy.

By means of this the policy, the holder is restricted to get a recovery via a civil judicial system for damages caused by third parties, besides being compensated by the policy holder’s insurance company itself. The advantage of a no-fault insurance is that you can bring down the legal costs considerably in the case of accidents by providing immediate compensation for injury caused. through Personal Injury protection (PIP) insurance. The victim’s insurance company pays him for his claim while the company that covers the policy of the person responsible for accident would also pay the claim on vehicle damage and charge the driver at fault a considerably higher premium as he has now become a driver with an accident record.

In the case when both drivers are at fault, this kind of insurance is still advantageous as it quicken the damages and compensation payment processes, by increasing the premium payments. There are an equal number of critics and supporters of the no-fault concept of an insurance policy. Some feel, for instance, that the perpetrators of the accident are let off rather leniently, while others feel accidents are inevitable given the present day scenario and no driver should be stringently or unduly punished.

According to the present no-fault auto insurance rules, the motorists who are the victims of the auto accident may sue for extensive injuries, the suffering and the pain within a specified framework of conditions. It could be a verbal description within a verbal threshold or as a monetary compensation amount in dollars within a monetary threshold. In some states however, there are complaints of the verbal threshold being “eroded” by its legal connotation and instances of dishonest medical practices like inflation of medication and treatment bills.

At present Puerto Rico and twelve states in the US including Florida have verbal thresholds providing a framework for claiming no-fault policies.

In reality Florida’s no-fault law expired on 1^st October2007 due to difference of legal opinion as regards the reforms to be implemented in the law. Barely three months later though, in January 2008, certain reforms were included in the existing no-fault law in order to guard against possible attempts at fraud.

One of the reforms is that the personal injury policy (PIP) can be claimed only when authorized by authorized health care providers. Another part of the legislation provides a ceiling limit for the claims made for medical expenditure.

These and other reforms have helped reimburse claims for those who have genuinely in need of the compensation. It has been observed that among those patients who are admitted to hospitals and trauma centers for treatment of injuries caused by auto accidents depend heavily on PIP as they have little or no health insurance. These laws have also effectively brought down the incidence of fraudulent claims.

What is Diminished Value Claim Settlement

Sat, 22 Aug 2009 05:43:46 GMT

Diminished Value can be defined as the loss in value a vehicle suffers after an accident and followed by repairs. When a vehicle gets into an accident and is damaged, it loses its value even though it is repaired and is road worthy again. This vehicle can never have the same value as it was before the accident. This concept applies anything that is damaged or suffered injury. Auto Insurance companies have been in the practice of putting to good use the term ‘Diminished Value’ for decades.

Recent studies show that 43% of people surveyed would avoid buying a car that has been an accident. It at all they buy such a car they would go for the one which comes at a deep discount. According to a study conducted by AAG, the car dealers diminished the car’s value by 10 to 50 percent for having been involved in an accident. Even though the car is repaired properly, the car will be getting a lesser value due to the general belief that cars loose their value after they have been in an accident. This is known as inherent diminished value. For vehicles that had not been repaired to industry standards and need further repairs, they will have a repair related diminished value.

The difference between your vehicles’s worth before the accident and after being in an accident and repair is the diminished value. Diminished value is of three different categories namely the inherent diminished value, shop related diminished value and insurance related diminished value.

Inherent diminished value

It is general belief that the value of a car that has met with an accident and been repaired is not the same as it was before the accident. This is because the general opinion is that the car loses its original value when it is damaged and repaired which is known as the inherent loss of value. The reduced value is called the inherent diminished value.

Repair related diminished value

When a car gets damaged in an accident and is repaired, its value is less than what it was worth before the damage. But if the repairs are not adequate or not done to industry standards requiring further work, this loss of value is categorized as repair related diminished value.

Insurance related diminished value

When claims adjusters of insurance companies leave out any repairs caused by an accident either intentionally or unintentionally, the settlement amount would be affected negatively. There may also be times insurance related diminished value occurs when the repair shops were not paid adequately to carry out the requisite repairs on a car damaged in an accident. When the spare parts fitted are poor fitting and substandard, it will cause insurance related diminished value because insurers find that original parts (OEM parts from the manufacturer) are not used.

To collect your claim amount for diminished value you will carry the burden of proof. Some people prefer a quick solution and would forgo the diminished value and set it off against their income tax with proper documentation to substantiate the loss. If you persist and can prove the loss you stand a good chance of getting paid.

Will My Insurance Premium Go Up after Accident

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:06:30 GMT

Yes, your auto insurance rates could go up if you have an accident and it is entered in the insurance records. Some insurance companies forgive the first accident and some others may charge a little extra at the time of your signing up for offering forgiveness. The specific details of this clause vary from state to state as each state has its own laws and regulations. Some other companies will not increase your insurance rates if the cost of damage due to the accident is less than a specific dollar amount. Whether the insurance rate will increase or not if you had an accident depends on various factors.

If you are concerned about the premium rate increase due to an accident, you can speak to an insurance expert to get help in canceling or minimizing the increase. You can also approach consumer protection groups to get free advice and guidance. Whether you were responsible for the accident is the main factor that determines if your auto insurance rate will go up or not. If you were at fault, your insurance company is likely to add a surcharge on your premium. The amount of surcharge is related to the extent of damage and the insurance company. This may be around 10 percent and will stay for three years. You are at fault to what extent is also a factor to be considered. If you are at fault by a less percentage your surcharge will be less than the one with the higher percentage of fault.

On the other hand an insurance company can increase your rates even if you were not at fault. The average rate increase will be around 20 to 40 percent every six months. This is possible when the insurance company examines your insurance record and looks at factors like past claims, their frequency, the severity of damages and how long you have been with them. This rate increase is due to the fact that you have become a higher risk to the insurer.

If you had availed a discount on the basis of good driving record, the discount will be withdrawn as a result of your accident. This means your insurance rates will go up even if you are not charged a surcharge.

You may also get free accident forgiveness for a slightly higher price from some insurance companies. This is like a prepayment of a surcharge but there may be some other limitations so you should go through your policy carefully and understand these clauses.

Auto Insurance as an International Visitor

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:18:12 GMT

If you are planning to drive a vehicle out of the country you will require an International Auto Insurance policy. The policy should cover collision and comprehensive in addition to third party liability cover. The policy requirements vary from country to country and your policy should be in line with the terms and conditions of those countries. International insurance is also called Expatriate Insurance. Business people often travel beyond borders and they need insurance protection to do business anywhere in the world to be protected against untoward happenings like vehicle accidents. International auto insurance provides exactly the kind of coverage needs of anyone traveling abroad.

Getting Car Insurance While on a visit to the US on a Visa

The auto insurance companies in the US provide different types of policies to the residents and the visitors to the country on a visa. There are state specific policies and terms that you should be aware of when applying for auto insurance when you are a visitor seeking to get auto insurance.

Insurers also provide short term auto insurance for any foreign registered vehicle. Some insurance companies may require you to get a “non-citizen driver’s license” if your stay in the US is longer than 30 days. You will also be required to provide documents such as the vehicle’s title and its registration. The price of short term auto insurance policy will be far higher than the normal policy. The high price is due to the fact that the insurer has no way to assess the risk you pose as they do not have your international driving record. Pricing the policy high is the only option for them to cover their risks when insuring a foreign registered vehicle.

How to obtain auto insurance as an international driver

First of all you should get familiarized with the driving and parking regulations in the US. This information is available on the website of the Department of Motor Vehicles of your state. Make sure that you have an International Driver’s License from your country and produce it when you apply for your car insurance. Contact insurance companies or search online for insurance companies who provide auto insurance to foreigners. AIG, Allstate, GEICO and Progressive are some leading companies that offer auto coverage for international visitors.

You can also enquire if a relative or friend who is a resident of the US can add your name in his auto insurance policy. It is also wise to ask if you can get comprehensive policy that can cover all risks while driving there. If staying with family or friends you can consider driving their vehicle during your stay with them to avoid purchasing auto insurance but still have protected by their insurance policy if they have such a good coverage limit on their policy. You can get auto insurance for your rental car from the car rental agency. Find the best deal by comparing rates of many different auto insurance providers.

Auto Insurance for International Students

If you are an international student studying in the US, you may need to drive a car and need to have car insurance. The cost of dealing with the expenses related to an accident can be ridiculously high. It may be too high to meet as most students are on a budget and more so when they are at fault in the accident. Insurance companies charge high rates for less coverage to international students as they consider them to be inexperienced and so high risk. They insist on at least 3 years of international driving experience to provide lower rates and higher coverage with low deductible.

Driving with Expired Permit or License

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:15:10 GMT

It is illegal to drive without a license or permit and driving with an expired or suspended license. The expired license is an indication that you had a valid license in the past but did not renew it. Depending upon the jurisdiction you will be fined after being pulled over for a moving violation. In California, you must renew your driving license within 60 days of its expiry date without having to pay a late fee. You must also carry proof of financial responsibility to be able to drive on the roads.

How to renew an Expired License

Your can renew your driver’s license in different ways. You may go online or send a mail or go in person to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). It is better to check your renewal date well in advance and renew it in time to avoid penalties. If you are caught driving with an expired license you will be cited by the police and will have to pay penalties and additional charges for renewal.

Penalty for driving with an expired license will vary between $30 and $250 depending on the length of time that has passed after the expiry of your license. You may be detained and your car may get impounded. Sometimes the officer may issue a citation that will remain in your driving record for long years and affect your auto insurance rate adversely. Some officers may even let you go with a warning. If you are pulled over and cited for driving with an expired license, you can approach the court for removing the citation after demonstrating that you have renewed your driver’s license. This process requires your personal appearance in the court. This may involve court fees and a nominal fee for removal of citation.

The best way to avoid the hassles of court appearance is to renew your driver’s license in time and always carry a current valid license while driving. Remember that your license has to be renewed on your birthday every four years and it is your responsibility to renew it before the expiry date.

Learner’s Permit

California State requires that new drivers must obtain their learners’ permit for ultimately obtaining their divers’ license. If you permit expires, you must produce documentation for having undergone the driver’s classes and pay a fee of $27 and take another written test. Driving with an expired license is a motoring offense so you must carry your license always when you are driving.

Covering ATV Theft under Homeowners Insurance

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:32:06 GMT

People prefer to protect their homes as it a biggest investment of their lives. When you own a house, it is essential to protect it from unforeseen damages or any liabilities. In some cases on account of floods, hurricanes or storms, property could get damaged. So it is very important to have an insurance policy that provides cover for all these disasters.

It is important to understand what homeowner’s policy is to insure your house and your possessions. Homeowner’s policy is an insurance policy that protects homeowners from any losses to their home or their personal property. In case of any losses to your property, it provides compensation. Your homeowner’s policy also gives protection in case you are liable for someone’s injury. The major covers that are provided under your home owner’s policy are vandalism, theft, fire, hurricane, storms, hail and lightning. It provides protection to your personal property as well as you belongings, physical structure as well as storage sheds and also pays for liabilities against injuries caused to people on your property. Most of the insurance companies provide homeowner’s insurance at competitive rates.

Why ATV insurance

Homeowner’s policy provides cover for theft. So it is assumed that this policy provides covers for theft in all terrain vehicles also. It does not always cover ATV’s except in some cases. A separate policy should be taken for covering ATVs. In case of cars, you require auto insurance and for all terrain vehicles, ATV insurance is required.

For people owning all terrain vehicles, snowmobile, go cart or dirt bike, ATV insurance is required. These vehicles come in different models like three wheeled/four wheeled/six wheeled vehicles that are commonly used off-roads. ATV insurance provides different covers like collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, property damage coverage, bodily injury coverage, medical payments coverage, uninsured motorist coverage and custom equipment coverage. Coverage options vary from state to state. So it is better to check with any insurance agent or insurance company about the state laws and regulations and also how much coverage will be right before purchasing insurance cover for your ATV.

So it makes economic sense not to cover under homeowner’s policy but to take a separate insurance mainly for your all terrain vehicle. These vehicles are portable and can be easily stolen or carried away by thieves. To safeguard your ATV, you should have exclusive coverage for your ATV’s. Comprehensive coverage provides cover for damages or loss and also pays for losses for cases other than collision.

Filling out Auto Insurance Application Form

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 05:42:11 GMT

When you are in the market for shopping for your auto insurance, after choosing the insurance company and the coverage that you need, the next step is to fill out the application form. It is important to understand each and every term used in the form and if you are not sure of anything, you should ask your agent or the insurance company representative and get your doubts clarified. You may have to check some facts and also rules and regulations in your state.

You will need to give a lot of information that would support your application. Keep the necessary documents and papers such as receipts, notes and reports ready before you start filling out the auto insurance application form. It is a good idea to use a pencil first to fill in the forms to make sure of a neat copy with the correct information. After you finish filling out the form take a copy of the filled out form so that it can be handy for future reference. Give the truthful information as far as possible that is factually correct.

The first part of the application will consist of basic information such as your name, date of birth and the city in which you reside and your address and contact details such as phone numbers and email address. Give details of additional drivers if any you would like to include in your auto insurance policy.

The next step is to fill out the vehicle information such as the type of vehicle, make, model, date of manufacturing, and registration number of your vehicle. Before submitting, check for errors if any.

Most of the insurance companies have online application forms to make it easy for you to apply online to obtain your auto insurance. You can buy your auto insurance policy instantly. Your information and privacy will be protected as these forms are secure.

How Long Does a DUI Stay on my Record

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:58:39 GMT

According to California Vehicle Code sections 23140, 23152 and 23153, DUI violation will remain in your driving record for 10 years. This 10 year reporting period on driving record applies to all non-commercial drivers even if they maintain a clean driving record with no tickets or violations following the DUI. If your DUI violation is more than 10 years old it will not appear on your driving record. The DUI will be removed from your driving record after the completion of 10 years from the date of the DUI.

Some states have laws that require that DUI should be kept on your driving record for a certain number of years. Many other states laws do not have such a provision and the DUI stays on your driving record forever.

So it is important to know what is on your driving record. You should visit the DMV office and request a copy of your driving record by paying a fee. On filling out a short form with proof of identification you will receive a copy of your driving record the same day.

How Do Claims Affect Auto Insurance Premium

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 01:00:57 GMT

Many people worry if their auto insurance would cost more if they file a claim after an accident. There are a number of factors that are taken into account by the insurance companies when it comes to settling claims and determining the premium rates after the claim. Some insurers refuse to renew the policy outright. The premium is calculated based on the statistics of risk and if you cause an accident you will be considered a high risk driver and therefore the rate of your insurance may go up at the time of renewal.

When you are not responsible for the accident and hence not at fault, your insurance company can recover the losses from the other driver’s insurance. In a case like this, your insurance company will not raise your premium rate.

If you have caused the accident that means you are the at fault driver, your insurance company will definitely raise the rate of your auto insurance. The increase will be as high as 20 percent of your current rate. It will mostly be in relation to the severity of the accident. It you have caused limited repairable damage, your rate will increase slightly. But if the damage was severe, the insurance company may even refuse to renew your policy.

When you have collision coverage, you can claim the losses for the damage to your vehicle and for your bodily injury. Most of the states in the US will require drivers to have this coverage. With this coverage if you are involved in an accident, the first thing to do is to inform your auto insurance company about the accident with relevant details. The insurance company will have an insurance adjuster look into the details and will assess the damage and will let you know how much the insurance company will pay. They get a copy of the police report and do an inspection of your damaged vehicle taking pictures in some cases. They investigate the case based on the details you provide and their estimate of repairs to the vehicle.

Accident forgiveness can sometimes save you from getting penalized with increased auto insurance rates. If your insurance company feels that you are a good customer who does not make claims and with the understanding that yours is a rare, small occurrence that anyone may come across. But if you get involved in accidents frequently and make claims more often, your insurance has a good chance of getting cancelled.

It is true that not every claim that you make can increase your premium. For example if you make a claim on your comprehensive coverage it will not affect your premium rate. This is because you are not responsible for these damages such as theft or vandalism. Higher deductibles can set off the rise in premiums. So it is advisable to raise your deductible to get a lower premium rate. When your car is damaged from an accident without the involving the property of someone else, OTIPs claims counseling service representatives can help you in understanding how making a claim may affect your rate and how much deductible would be required.

Declaration Page from Past Insurance Company

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:54:09 GMT

Due to the escalating costs of auto insurance, many people find it difficult to find affordable auto insurance. They keep looking for the cheapest deal and when they find the insurance company that would consider his application. The new insurance company will ask for the declaration page of your previous insurance policy. We have heard a number of people asking these questions:

Why is my new auto insurance company asking for the declaraion page of my previous auto insurance policy?
What is an auto insurance policy declaration page or What is an insurance declaration page?

Here is your answer

The declaration page of an insurance policy is really a precious document as it contains the vital details of your driving and vehicle. The auto insurance policy declaration page is also known as the ‘Declaration’ or 'Dec' page. This is a document that contains the summary of a personal auto insurance policy such as the policyholder’s name, address, policy duration, vehicles insured, the details of overages it providers, its limits, the premium, claim payouts, lien holders, endorsements on your insurance policy and more. The expiry date mentioned in the declaration page is the most important factor that determines the cost of your future auto insurance policy. So take care not to allow it to expire or go for the new insurance well in advance like a month before it becomes invalid.

The new insurance company wants to have the declaration page from the previous insurance company to see the discounts you were availing and some times call it 'proof of prior discount' and want to make sure that there were no lapses in your prior policy.

Reading the declaration page of your auto insurance policy is very important. It contains every detail of your car insurance. You can also clarify your doubts with the agent or the company representative so that you are well informed when you have to use the auto insurance policy.

Whenever there is a change in the policy or at the time of its renewal, the insurance company provides a new declaration page showing the changes or the updates made. This will serve as proof of your latest coverage. Check it for accuracy and notify the insurer about errors if any. Always keep a copy of the declaration page as proof of auto insurance coverage.

The declaration page is asked for by the insurance companies when you approach them for obtaining an auto insurance policy. They look for proof of your having auto insurance previously and the details of such insurance. Having auto insurance previously will qualify you for a discount on the new policy. Most certainly it is used to find out how much discount you were given on the rate of the insurance.

Getting Group Auto Insurance Discounts

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 06:44:09 GMT

The more insurance companies try to bring out new innovative products, the more the consumers get to benefit. One such example is group auto insurance. Let us examine how group auto insurance is a win-win proposition for both the insurers and the consumers. The easiest way to reduce the auto insurance premium is to avail the group auto insurance discounts. There is no involvement of the insurance agents and no online researches are required to get the multiple quotes from various insurers to compare the price. Though these things are not actually a time consuming process, still it frees your time up so that you can just join an auto club or an association of your neighborhood and get huge discounts on your auto insurance policy.

How to get group auto insurance discounts

You can join a local association or an association that represents your profession. There are other clubs like AAA that have certain eligibility criteria. There is AARP the American Association of Retired Persons, users of certain credit cards, alumni of certain institutions and universities and many more. You can enroll as a member of any of these groups and can enjoy the benefit of reduced rates of group auto insurance.

How group auto insurance works

Like any other company insurance companies show special interest in dealing with groups and associations to get more customers. It is actually easier for the insurance companies to sell products to the associations and the groups. They just need to convince a few key members to get the business. Especially when the product is endorsed most of other members would join the group and take advantage of the group policy. In a group, it is natural for group members to accept the opinions of the fellow members. They consult with each other about financial matters including car insurance coverage. A group will always negotiate with an insurance company and can get better rates on auto insurance and the most number of discounts. Similarly the insurance company would be happy to comply with the group’s requests, as they get multiple contracts over a period of time and it would help them to cut costs on their advertising budget.

Though certain factors like driving history, credit history and the vehicle type and model would influence the rate of the auto insurance, by choosing group auto insurance you don’t have to worry about the rate. In addition you can enjoy generous discounts on group auto insurance policies. The insurer will always be ready to give group auto insurance to every member of that particular group regardless of their driving record. The main advantage is the guaranteed low insurance rate.

Advantages of Group Auto Insurance

The insurer will not be able to change their decision over a certain individual. Any decision taken against any individual will certainly have the impact on the group insurance. So the insurer cannot afford to lose entire groups as it would be detrimental to their business in the long run.

Thus taking car insurance through the group insurance system is mutually beneficial to both the insured and the insurer. They insured will have better rate and the insurer will have good volume of business from the group auto insurance.

Tips to Lower Cost of Teenage Auto Insurance

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:09:24 GMT

If you happen to be a newly licensed driver’s parent, you would probably be shopping for auto insurance for your teenager. Teenage drivers are inexperienced in driving on the roads. Statistics have proved that teen drivers are more likely to get involved in fatal crashes than drivers of older age. More often teens are known to drink and drive. Being well aware of these facts, the insurance companies price their auto insurance policies for teenagers placing them in the high risk category. This is because of the high incidence of fatal crashes they cause as is evident from records of many years. So when you add your teenaged son or daughter to your insurance policy there is no need to say there is going to be a significant increase in your premium. The cost of auto insurance for teenager will increase your rate. Your premium rate will increase by 50 percent for including a girl on your auto insurance policy and adding a teenaged boy means your rate will double. Finding affordable rates for your teenage driver may be tricky and nearly impossible but you can lower the rate by using many of the following tips.

You can keep your teen age driver on your own policy rather than buying a separate policy. This way you can avail the facility. Some insurance plans offer rebates for including more drivers or vehicles to your policy. Teenagers can benefit when added to their parents’ policy, for owning a home, owning many vehicles and being married and so on.
If you are buying a separate teenage auto insurance policy for the teenager, there may be restrictions to control and reduce the risk. They should not drive after dark, driving is allowed only for going to and from school.
Shop around and compare the rates of at least five different insurers to choose the best one that suits your and your teenager’s needs.
Insurance companies prefer vehicles with high safety ranking. So get a safe car, which means an older and inexpensive car to reduce the premium. Sports model cars cost high on premiums.
Keeping a clean driving record can also lower the rate of teenage auto insurance. Having a driving record without any traffic violations, accidents or speeding tickets over a time can impress your auto insurance company to the extent that they reduce the rate. So you can lower the cost of your teenage auto insurance rates by encouraging your teen to drive safely not only to achieve a clean driving history but also to save their and other’s lives and assets.
There are discounts available for taking safe driving classes and this is one way to get a lower rate.
If your teenager is a good student with high scores you can avail a Student discount on that count. This will lead to a lower rate of teenage auto insurance.
You can think of adding your deductibles when you buy collision and comprehensive auto insurance as it can reduce the rate significantly.
Insist that your teen drives a bigger and older car as they would reduce insurance costs substantially. While bigger cars have more safety devices the older cars have less collision and comprehensive coverage lowering the cost of teenage car insurance to a great extent.

What is Artisan Use in Auto Insurance

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 05:41:38 GMT

The term ‘Artisan use’ in auto insurance means a carpenter or a landscaper who drives to different locations regularly and periodically as part of their business activities. When the vehicle is insured their tools, ladders or any other equipment will not be covered under this auto insurance policy. Insurance companies have different definitions for the word artisan use for the purpose of insuring vehicles for small businesses or contractors whose business involves use of his tools at the customer’s home or at the location of their business. Apart from the regular services the artisans may include those who provide piano tuning, interior design or tree surgery etc. To know if you qualify for a business endorsement on your car insurance policy on the artisan use of your vehicle, you can check with your insurance company.

If a vehicle is used by such artisans for carrying out activities of your business your policy should have an endorsement to that effect. This endorsement is optional. The endorsement is obtained to give protection to the artisans who operate your vehicle as part of the business activities. If the endorsement is required the vehicle owner has to buy a higher auto insurance coverage limit. It may be a personal car insurance policy or for a fleet of vehicles used in a business and their equipment is permanently attached to the vehicles.

The word ‘artisan’ is used in connection with auto insurance policy when you own or lease a vehicle and allow it to be operated by a named person who is insured or a member of the household. Artisan use comes into play when this vehicle is used to transport materials and tools related to the owner’s business or trade. The weight of the equipment must not exceed 500 lb. The vehicle should not be used for transporting inflammable material or explosives.

The list of occupations that fall under the description of ‘Artisan’ may include but not limited to the following:

Landscapers

Appliance repairers

Photographers

Carpenters

Painters

Plasterers

Cabinet makers

Furniture repairmen

Electrician

Roofers

Fence installers

Tree trimmers

Pool cleaners

Construction workers

Drapery installers

Carpet installers

TV/Radio repairmen

Upholsters

AC / heating repairmen

Welder,

Interior decorators

Janitorial services

Owners of trucks can avail specialized policies for covering their artisans.

The insurance program designed for artisan contractor is meant to package all the types of the standard coverage, like property and liability, but the vehicle owners also can opt to tailor certain coverage to suit their business enterprises. The business may be a sole proprietorship where the vehicle is not driven by employees. On the other hand the vehicle may be the one designated solely for artisan use.

Effects of Getting Pulled Over Without Insurance

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 04:26:58 GMT

When you are pulled over and are found without insurance the officer should cite you the reason for stopping you on traffic (speeding, running a red light, etc). However, if you cannot produce proper proof of auto insurance or show an expired / invalid insurance card then you are liable for punishment for driving without insurance. The immediate effect will be impoundment of your vehicle, heavy fine and you can even be jailed.

Major Consequences of getting pulled over without Insurance

Driving without insurance and getting caught has various consequences in different states. But most of the courts will give strong punishments for this offense.

The Worst case is that, if you are involved in an accident and you are at fault and then you get caught without any nsurance, the penalties that you incur in such cases are even larger including paying for any and all damages caused in that particular accident.
If you get pulled over, the officer who does so would have to the mention the reason in the ticket why you were pulled over and clearly mention that you had been driving without insurance. In those circumstances it is very important for you to produce a valid or expired insurance card, as failing this will also be registered as a complaint against you. The penalties for driving without auto insurance will differ from state to state. Some courts will have your car impounded or the tag of your car taken away or some other courts might charge you with heavy fines. There are also some state courts that expect you to spend a few hours in jail if you are caught driving without insurance.
Your driving privileges will be revoked by immediately suspending your driver’s license. You can get your license re-instated by getting an SR 22 filed with the state DMV. For this you should approach an insurer who specializes in SR 22 auto insurance and get your liability auto insurance and the insurer will file the SR 22 on your behalf.
There is no doubt that the fines and the punishments will cost you heavily, if you are responsible for an accident or any damage caused to life and property. Then you would be held fully responsible for financial losses you cause to others.
In some states, driving without insurance is a criminal offense, if you are involved in some serious traffic violations or reckless driving etc. You will be charged with criminal offense, if you are unable to show any insurance. It is obvious that would result in huge fines and punishments. In these cases, such violations and the incurred penalties are recorded in your driving record and are maintained in the record for a period 3 to 10 years. This may affect your career and life seriously.
The most important factor is that even after punishment, if you are pulled over and being unable to produce proof of insurance it will be very difficult for you to get you insurance reinstated. Because of the driving track record, most of the insurance companies might not find you to be reliable enough as they will have enough proof that you had been driving without insurance on your vehicle and have a feel that you are so irresponsible to let your insurance to expire.
Your inability to show the insurance for your vehicle when you were pulled over might also prove that you skipped payments deliberately to an insurance agency which would make it more difficult for you to get a new policy.
Almost all the sates of United States of America consider driving without insurance as a serious offense. Though different courts impose different penalties and punishments, fines and jail term for the offense, you will certainly be penalized.

Finding Affordable Car Insurance Quote

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:54:42 GMT

Car Insurance quotes differ from company to company based on the coverage offered and the deductibles you choose. The best way for finding affordable car insurance quote is by shopping for them online. Even for the same car and same driver you will find different quotes. You can decide upon the best quote by shopping for affordable car insurance quotes by doing some real good research on the Internet. Enter the zip code of your locality and get multiple quotes instantly for your area. Answer a few questions pertaining to your car and then compare the rates that are available. Choose what seems the most affordable for you and apply for it. By filling a simple online car insurance quote application, you can directly opt for a particular package online. The whole process can be completed in 15 minutes flat!

Car insurance has become a very competitive and lucrative business. It is now quite possible that you may find affordable quotes more easily. You can expect the average premium of car insurance to be about $1710 as against the national premium average of $1790. Sometimes there is a misconception that the premium rates are fixed. It is always wise to do comparative shopping for affordable car insurance quotes in California and settle for a good deal that does not strain your purse strings.

There are many websites that help you explore the car insurance rates and discounts available in California, to help you decide on the best option for you. Car insurance rates have increased in 2009, (10 percent more than last year). As a resident of California you can find best and affordable car insurance quote as this state has a lower average premium than the national average figures.

Look for Discounts

Look out for attractive discount schemes that help you zero in on an affordable car insurance quote. If you use your car rarely, for instance, you can go in for schemes that offer lower quotes for less mileage. Also, if you are able to increase the deductibles by several hundred dollars, you can avail considerable discounts in auto insurance packages.

Another parameter to explore for affordable car insurance quotes is to insure your second car with the same company as the first. Special discounts can be availed by students with high grades, military personnel, members of AAA and for having a clean driving record and good credit scores. Installing alarm and locator and safety devices in cars and using old cars rather than new ones are other methods of getting discounts which would help you find affordable car insurance quotes.

What to watch out for:

Several car insurance companies in California do not provide insurance coverage if you are travelling to Mexico. So if you have travel plans for Mexico, make sure that you avail car insurance from such a company that covers your trip, for the safety of your car.

Try and avoid car insurance offered for lesser periods of time. Always opt for an annual rather than a 6-month plan as the hikes in the latter come faster.

Required to Carry SR22 but donot Own a Vehicle

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 02:43:12 GMT

Even if you don’t own a vehicle, for driving on the roads you are still required to carry an SR22 as per the statutory norms by the State Motor Vehicle Department. When the DMV suspends your driver’s license you can get your driver’s license reinstated after an SR22 is filed by your insurance company to prove your financial responsibility that you have the state’s minimum auto liability insurance. This is known as non-owners auto insurance.

What is an SR22 and why do you need it, when you don’t own a vehicle

You need an SR22 if you have been arrested and convicted due to but not limited to the following:

Driving without Insurance Policy
When you’re convicted because of Driving under influence
When you had an at-fault accident, while driving without insurance
Repeated traffic offenses and too many tickets in a short span of time
When your license has been suspended or revoked for any specific reason

Duration to Carry on SR22 and its importance

The minimum duration is 3 year and again it depends upon your state’s requirement as outlined in your court documents. The most important aspect is that you must carry continuous insurance during the specified probationary period before your SR22 status can be removed. If your policy lapses even for as little as one day or is canceled, your insurance company is required by law to notify your state’s DMV immediately and your license will be suspended or revoked again. This would definitely cost you more money and time, something neither you nor us want to see happen. So it is always preferred to pay your SR22 policy premiums 3-6 months in advance to avoid this kind of problems.

Coverage of SR22 Policy

In general, this type of insurance policy only covers liability up to the limits purchased. It does not cover the vehicle that you are driving, only the liability that you the driver may cause if you are involved in an accident with another motorist or cause property damage.

Most insurance companies provide a "non-owners auto insurance policy" for people who drive occasionally but don't own their own car. Non-owners policies include most coverage options like liability, medical payments, uninsured/underinsured motorist etc. It should be noted that non-owners policies do not have collision and comprehensive coverage, towing reimbursement and rental reimbursement options.

If you are involved in an accident in a borrowed car, your friend's insurance would come into force first. If the accident was your fault and caused damage to the other driver's property is more than the liability limits on your friend's policy, your non-owners insurance policy would pay for the excess amount to the limit permitted by your non-owner’s policy.

Penalties for driving without SR22

Though the penalty may vary state to state there are some common penalties, if you drive without an SR22. Your vehicle gets impounded and your vehicle tag might be seized and heavy fines and additional fines will be imposed. Your suspension period might be extended for a longer duration and in the worst case scenario you might be imprisoned.

Having non-owner’s policy can protect you from unnecessary penalties and severe consequences if you happen to drive a borrowed or rented vehicle from accidents or loss.

The Cheapest Vehicles to Insure

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:54:42 GMT

Car insurance rates are on the rise and are therefore a major cause of concern for most people. The cost of auto insurance adds up to the burden of monthly payments on the car loan. When buying cars, the cost of insurance plays an important role. Car insurance rates depend on the make, model, age and condition of the car. The car insurance companies have different ways of determining the rate of auto insurance premiums and base their rates according to the risk factor of each car.

Family cars such as minivans have higher safety standards and that will lessen the chance of accidents and injuries. The less expensive cars also cost less to insure. Examples of this type of cars are four door cars with 4 cylinder motors. Buying an older car is a good idea to get the cheapest auto insurance rates. Most of them do not need full coverage and the insurance cost will be the lowest. Many of them require only the minimum liability coverage. They are charged much less by auto insurance companies. Other cars that are the cheapest to insure are the domestic cars. The locally manufactured cars cost less to insure than the imported cars because of the low rate of payouts in the event of a claim. Most of the cars damaged in accidents need repairs and the parts replacement costs are much lower as they are available easily and at lower prices. The labor costs for repairing these cars also is low. The charges for replacing foreign spare parts are far higher and hence the higher and hence they will cost more to insure. The drivers of these cars are safer than others so the rate is lower due to lower risk.

Here are some cars that have the lowest insurance rates:

Given below are a few collision averages from HLDI data. The least expensive vehicle to insure in each category with corresponding collision damage scores:

Small Sports Car Pontiac Solstice - 73

Midsize Luxury SUV Volvo XC90 - 62

Small SUV Jeep Wrangler LWB 2 Door - 63

Midsize Luxury BMW 3 Series Wagon - 58

Small Pickups Dodge Dakota Quad Cab - 75

Small Four-door Honda Civic - 105

Midsize Four-door Subaru Outback 4WD - 72

Large Luxury SUV Land Rover - 53

The following cars are listed by car retailers as the cars that cost the least to insure:

Chrysler PT Cruiser 4dr Wagon
GMC Safari SLE AWD 3dr Minivan
Dodge Caravan SE 4dr Minivan
Saturn ION 1 4dr Sedan
Pontiac Sunfire 2dr Coupe

Among Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) the cheapest to insure is the Land Rover as it is found to be less prone to accidents.

Among the small cars Honda Civic is the cheapest to insure as they get high safety ratings and repairing costs is affordable and so insurance companies charge less for these cars.

In the midsized cars category the BMW 3 series wagon is the cheapest for insuring. The reason is they are priced low and the drivers’ have loss rates are much lower.

Among Trucks, Dodge Dakota Quad Cab truck with its high ratings is the cheapest to insure.

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Insurance

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:32:29 GMT

Uninsured / Underinsured motorist coverage are optional among the various types of auto insurance offered by the insurance companies in the United States. The UM and UIM cover are optional as they are not required by the states or by law. It is in the interest of the motorists to have them. If you have UM, you need not worry about the huge medical expenses that may arise out of an accident injury where you were hit by an uninsured driver. Your own UIM policy will pay for these expenses in this situation. You may also be involved in a hit and run accident where the other driver cannot be traced. In this situation it is the UM policy that will come to your help if you have one.

Medical expenses, hospital charges, surgeries and medication expenses are on the rise. The number of uninsured drivers is also on the increase. Therefore it is a wise thing to invest in the UM insurance cover even though it is not mandatory.

When you are injured when an underinsured driver hits you, his insurance will pay for your medical costs. Most of the drivers carry only the minimum liability auto insurance. If your medical bills exceed the amount of his insurance, you will have to bear the remaining amount. In this situation, your own UIM policy will pay for the remaining amount after claiming his policy amount provided you have this coverage.

Generally many motorists think that it is not necessary to purchase uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance as they are not compulsory. They understand the importance of the UM and UIM coverage only after they get involved in a situation like those explained above. Better be safe than being sorry and review your auto insurance needs and make sure that you have enough protection against en calamities.

What Happens if I Make Insurance Claim

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:03:08 GMT

When you call your insurance company about the accident, it will be entered in your insurance record. Remember, if the damages are not significant and you can pay for them yourself, there is no need to file a claim. You must have every detail of the accident documented when you file your auto insurance claim. So try and get witnesses who would be willing to support your side of the story with the insurance company. File the claim with delay as your insurance company will take care of the claim process.

You should also be prepared to receive a call from the insurance company of the other person involved in the accident to hear your side about the happenings at the accident spot. You should have everything documented and including the name and phone number of the agent you spoke to. When you file your insurance claim, an insurance company will assign an insurance adjuster to handle your claim.

When your insurance claim is approved, the insurance company will call you to inform you that an insurance adjuster will assess the damage to your car and will ask you to send your car for repairs to a pre-approved servicing shop. The insurance adjuster will contact you to introduce him/her to you and investigate your case and discuss the claim process of the company. He/she will review your policy based on your coverage, deductibles against the extent of damage and injuries if any caused by the accident.

The adjusters will use different parameters to determine your car’s actual cash value ACV. You need not accept his word for your car’s ACV and get yourself involved in the process of evaluation. You must present your case strongly if you are sure your car is worth far more than what he says. You can ask for an adjustment to which they will most probably agree as they would not be willing to fight a court case with you if they feel that you have a fair chance to win. You should take some efforts towards finding an independent appraiser or do some research on the value of your car to support your case.

Though most of us know what is covered by our auto insurance policy, there are some fine prints in the policy about which we may not be very sure. It is only at the time when the insurance company needs to pay for the damages you have to make sure that you get a fair deal. So it is better to ask your insurance agent to learn the meaning of everything fine print and clear all your doubts at the time of buying your auto insurance. If you have rental car coverage you can rent a good car that your policy can allow Different policies will have different rules so you must check the details of the policy as your are liable for collision even with a rental car.It is most likely that your insurance company will deal with a car that is severely damaged. Some insurance companies categorize a vehicle as total loss when its repair bill exceeds its ACV by 51 percent. Some others give it a chance till it reaches 80 percent. You can also think of a comparable replacement or to upgrade to a better car as the car might have lost much of its resale value even through it is repaired to a good working condition. If a car that has been totaled by your insurance company and if you want it back inform the company early as your car may get auctioned off at the salvage yard. Also keep in mind that your settlement amount should include the taxes, license fee and the title for a comparable replacement. If you are taking back your car, check the value of deductions.

Is Double Dipping Allowed in US

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:12:06 GMT

In many states in the US double dipping is allowed. You can check if your state allows it by going the web site of the Department of Insurance of your state. For example Florida currently has laws that allow double dipping by the state employees. The state employees can retire and draw retirement benefits and allows them to return to work in 30 days.

A new bill passed by the state legislation would put an end to this. The Bill 479 would affect more than 9000 officials including the elected officials. The new law would stop them from collecting retirement benefits and a salary simultaneously, amounting to double dipping. This bill was passed to achieve the purpose of ending the practice of double dipping in Florida and also to be accountable to the taxpaying people.

The new legislation would require the retirees to stay in retirement for at least 6 months or they would forfeit their pension. If the person returns to work in the state offices his or her pension would be suspended for a whole year following the date of retirement. This rule is applicable to all state government offices and to about 900 cities and counties including all the public universities and colleges.

This bill has come after previous efforts at banning all the public employees from drawing state pensions along with their salaries from their jobs. Now double dippers would be stopped in future from this practice causing loss to the state. However this bill would not affect those retirees who are double dipping as of now because the lawmakers say that they cannot legally change the current terms of pensions. Those who expect to retire after 31^st of December 2009 would be prevented from double dipping.

When retired employees go back to jobs, they can only draw salaries for their current jobs and the state will not be required to contribute towards their pension. This rule is applicable to some jobs and this step results in savings to the state as there are no two payments for the same person.

The practice of double dipping has been in practice with the agency heads in the states Finance, Administration, Police and prisons to cite a few. This step has come at a time when all the states are hit by recession and every effort is being made to plug loopholes to prevent loss of state funds.

Quick Guide to Car Insurance for Woman

Sun, 31 May 2009 02:28:50 GMT

When it comes to car insurance for women, they can certainly expect it to be cheaper than those offered to men. They can really take advantage of some attractive car insurance deals by shopping around. The car insurance rates for women drivers up to the age of 45 are lower than those for men. For getting good deal for insurance rates, you have to do little of research on internet and you can get good deal from your insurance company. Having knowledge about the different rules about car insurance for women will certainly help you in secured good deal. Insurance company offer lower rates for women due to variety of reasons.

Why is car insurance cheaper for woman

Women drive cars with more caution than men and therefore get fewer speeding fines and tickets for traffic violations. Women also have fewer accidents than men as is evident from statistics.
Women drivers make fewer and less expensive claims. Insurance companies find them as low risk and happily offer lower rates to women drivers and also design specialized car insurance packages for women
Statistics show that the mileage of women drivers is significantly lower than male drivers. Lower mileage naturally attracts lower premiums on car insurance.

Men can still benefit from car insurance for women by sharing the insurance cover. If you are named a driver on a woman’s driving insurance can lower your car insurance rate. Likewise, if you have a woman driver in your car insurance policy as an additional driver, this will make your premium less expensive.

Ways to reduce the rates of car insurance for women by maximizing discounts

Make sure to avail the discounts available for installing safety devices in your car such as air bag, anti-lock brakes, anti-theft devices, automatic seat belts and the like.
Increase your deductible to the extent you feel affordable so that it can reduce your premiums significantly
Decline to have medical coverage if you have other form of medical insurance already
You can insure multiple cars with the same insurer to get a lower rate
Take defensive driving classes so that you can lower your car insurance rate
Do not accept towing coverage if you already have one from other providers
If you do not want to have rental car coverage decline it
In California, if you have a driving record that shows no driving violations and no accidents within a three years period
Your child’s good scores at school can also help you to qualify for a discount on your car insurance rates.

To find the best deal of car insurance for women, you can use assureinsure.com and compare car insurance rates from various auto insurance companies . To verify the insurance company’s quality and service and other details, you can log on to Epinions.com to find out about their claims settling history and how good their customer service is.

Safeway Auto Insurance

Wed, 03 Jun 2009 22:00:41 GMT

Carrying auto insurance being a legal requirement, consumers tend to look for the affordable and best deal for getting their auto insurance coverage. Safeway Auto Insurance becomes their first choice as they offer low rates and high quality service to their policyholders. The company is popular because it provides insurance coverage even to drivers who are considered high risk as they may result in higher claims from the company. They also provide tailor made insurance programs to suit the needs of every customer. Another advantage of having a Safeway Auto Insurance is they provide coverage for theft and also offer uninsured motorist insurance.

Safeway Auto Insurance is the largest auto insurance group in the United States. The company is headquartered in the Chicago suburb of Westmont, Illinois. Safeway Insurance has been functioning under the guidance of Board Chairman and President William J. Parrillo right from its inception in 1962. Robert M. Bordeman, is the Chief Executive Officer, leading the management of this organization. Having begun in the greater Chicago area, the company has expanded to operate in many more states. The company specializes in nonstandard automobile insurance through its offices in Illinois, Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

The insurance group has grown in staff strength to over 450 insurance professionals who are currently servicing m 250,000 policyholders through some 500 in-house representatives and a mammoth network of 2,400 independent agents, Safeway Auto Insurance has a large sales force selling policies to motorists. The company also uses direct-marketing to reach out to the consumers. Safeway operates Safeway Property Insurance Company in the state of Florida in addition to providing automobile insurance.

Being a family owned business the company is not answerable to the institutional shareholders and can concentrate on bringing out their own products for serving their policy holders. The main aim of the company is to help the policy holders when they need their services most, at times of an accident or an unfortunate event that damage their cars, trucks or other vehicles. The best thing about Safeway auto insurance is that the company adheres strictly to the state laws pertaining to auto insurance. The company rating in the industry speaks volumes about its customer care and reliability since insurance is something which must help the customer when they need it most. A.M. Best, the leading independent and most respected insurance industry analyst has given the ‘Excellent’ rating to Safeway to insurance.

I Need the Cheapest Auto Insurance

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:15:17 GMT

With rising costs everyone looks for the cheapest available auto insurance. A policy with the lowest price can be termed ‘the cheapest’. The auto policy with the lowest price may not give you the protection that you need. It is recommended that you spend some time to research and find the highest value for your insurance dollar. Thanks to advanced technology and the internet you can do comparative shopping for your auto insurance easily and fast. The online method of getting multiple quotations and comparing the various auto insurance policies saves you a lot of time and money. You have to have auto insurance in most states to drive a vehicle. For example in California if you have a car that is of old model or a car that is fully paid for, your insurance will cost you less. Californian drivers with low income can avail the Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program (CLCA). This program enables the low income drivers to have affordable auto insurance to comply with the law and also protect motorists from the potential losses. Drivers without at fault accident involving death or bodily injury in the last three years, and those with no misdemeanor conviction for a traffic violation are eligible to avail this program.

Availing of auto insurance discounts offered by auto insurance companies based on various criteria can significantly reduce the cost of your auto insurance. The insurance will be the cheapest if you qualify for the maximum number of discounts. The criteria include good driving record, good students with high grades, members of AAA, those taking defensive driving classes, for purchasing other insurance from the same insurer, for insuring other members of your family, for military personnel and more. The age, gender and driving mileage are also considered as criteria for allowing discounts. Less mileage, women drivers, senior citizens who take safe driving classes, those with good credit rating are also considered for discounts on auto insurance making it one of the cheapest.

Insurance Is Writing Off My Car As Totaled

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 05:02:15 GMT

When you are involved in a road accident and your car is badly damaged and no longer road-worthy, your insurance company may declare the car as “totaled”. To determine a vehicle as totaled, the auto insurance companies simply estimate the cost of repairing and if exceeds the value of the car they declare it as totaled. In most cases the auto insurance company will make cash settlement for your policy under normal circumstances

Evaluating the cost of car for Auto Insurance Claim

There are different ways in which auto insurance companies evaluate the vehicle’s worth. You should also make sure that depreciation of the vehicle is also taken into consideration when calculating the amount of settlement. If it is an old or cheap car, even minor damages may be sufficient to be declared totaled. It is also true that even major damages to a more expensive car might not total it. Normally the insurance company will decide if it is cheaper to repair your car or to replace it by a new car.

The amount you can expect to receive for a totaled car from your auto insurance company will depend on your auto insurance policy. Generally you can expect an amount equivalent to the cash value of the vehicle after deducting the deductible you have chosen on your policy. If you are the one at fault you should meet the deductible. If you are not at fault the insurance company will not deduct this.

Auto Insurance Coverage and Totalling of Car by Insurance

If you had purchased full coverage auto insurance, and your car is totaled, your auto insurance company will pay an amount that is required to buy a new car. If you have a collision and comprehensive coverage your insurance company will pay you the actual cash value of your car. If your car’s value is less than what you owe on your car loan amount you should go for GAP insurance. In this situation you will be responsible to pay the outstanding amount on the loan as laid out in your loan contract.

The auto insurance companies base the valuation of your car for replacement on the price of the car in the local used car market. When you are in doubt, you can ask the insurance company to give you their paperwork to see how they arrived at that figure. You can check to see if all the components and accessories are included and if not you can ask for it. This will result in a higher value.

For expensive vehicles, the auto insurance companies will follow various other evaluation processes. Their top priority is to determine the value of your car. Usually they will examine the blue book price, how long you have been using it and the number of miles the vehicle has run.

Keeping your car

If you would want to have your car in spite of the damage, the amount spent on salvaging it will be deducted by the insurance company. You may take back your car after some other factors are taken care of.

How to get Rental car Insurance

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:46:21 GMT

Most of the people are of the opinion that if you have auto insurance there is no necessity to purchase rental car insurance. By not purchasing separate rental car insurance they may save a few dollars. But think again. But it is advisable to have a back up to be prepared for the unknown as an accident means you end up losing thousands of dollars.

When a consumer is shopping for rental car insurance, the field is wide open to the rental car operators, the insurance providers and the credit card companies to compete for business. This competition is in fact advantageous for you the consumer. The rental car insurance is likely to cost an additional 20 dollars per day.

When you contact a rental car company they will offer several insurance coverage options that can increase your basic rental rate. But you should know that these are already covered by your personal auto insurance policy. So before hiring a rental car check with your insurance provider and find out what is covered by the policy that you have. This could save you avoid unnecessary spending on what is not required. So ask what is covered and what is not by the coverage you plan to buy.

Your credit card provides rental car insurance as part of a deal when you use the credit card to pay for your rental car. You can verify the different types of coverage offered such as collision, medical payments etc. The mount of coverage differs with each credit card company. When there is an accident or theft, your credit card company will compensate for the loss incurred due to repair or replacement for the rental car. This also covers the charges on towing if need be. They may have deductibles and caps so you should find out how much coverage you get from your credit card. If this coverage is inadequate you will end up paying out of pocket expenses. If you feel that you need more coverage, you should purchase additional rental car insurance.

If you are renting a car for only a day, your driving time is less which means less risk of an accident. There fore if you have a good bank balance in the bank you can in the event of an accident. If you are confident of driving safely, you can save money by avoiding the extra expense on rental car insurance.

You should weigh the pros and cons of buying your rental car insurance from the rental car company. They come with lots of exclusions and other stipulations and vary from company to company.

When you have auto insurance policy you should check if it includes rental car insurance. You must also make sure it includes collision and liability insurance and the amount should be adequate for covering damage to your own are and the other vehicle as well. If your auto insurance was purchased with minimal coverage for an older car and are renting a new and more expensive car, you should make sure to know the consequences. So if you already have collision and comprehensive coverage in your auto insurance policy it will cover the rental car also.

Auto Insurance Cancellation and Non Renewal

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:11:06 GMT

Cancellation and non-renewal of policies are two similar aspects of insurance. When a policy is surrendered due to various reasons, the Auto Insurance coverage will cease to exist and it is generally termed as cancelled. The insurance company also cancels a policy if the policyholder gets into situations warranting the cancellation. In case of drunk driving or license getting suspended, the driver’s auto insurance policy can be cancelled by the insurance company. When a policy holder does not pay insurance premiums on time or policy holder gets arrested or commits any fraud, the insurance company has the right to cancel the policy.

Many a times the insurance policy holder finds a better policy with another insurance company than the existing one. In such cases the policy holder opts for cancelling his existing policy. The policy holder as well as the insurance company can cancel the policy at any point of time. The insurance company may levy cancellation fees depending on the terms of the policy.

Procedure for cancellation of Auto Insurance Policies

In case you want to cancel your auto insurance policy before expiry of the policy, you should send a request letter to the insurance company. The insurer arranges to refund any premium that is due to the policy holder. If any claim has been made on the policy, then no premiums shall be payable to the party.

There may be cases where no refunds are made to the policy holder in case of termination or cancellation. If the insurance company decides to cancel the policy, they will have to give a 30 day notice to the policy holder. This will help the policy holder to seek cover with any other insurance company. Cancellation of auto insurance by the insurer is often seen as a serious offence and it also sets a bad credit history for the policy holder.

Cancellation occurs during the life of the auto insurance policy.

Non- Renewal of Policies

Non renewal is where the policy holder or insurer decides not to renew the policy. There could be instances where the policy holder might have lost his job. It may also be due to finding a better deal with elsewhere. So non-renewal is the only option. On the other hand, the insurer can also decide to not to renew the policy for a variety of reasons. The main reason is repeated too many blemishes on the driver’s record. It may be on account of drunk driving or bad records or too many accidents caused or many tickets issued, the insurance company can decide to not to renew the existing policy. The insurance company’s decision is based on the fact that the policy holder is a potential high risk to them. The insurance company issues a one month notice to the policyholder.

The insurance company may decide to discontinue a particular policy. So renewal of policy is not allowed in such cases. It is very important to understand the concept of auto insurance cancellation and non-renewal of policies. Today with the convenience of the internet, you can use online banking facility to pay your insurance premiums on time regularly or set up automatic payment system. This will avoid late premium payments thereby preventing cancellation or non-renewals of your auto insurance policy.

Non renewal is less serious as compared to cancellation and it happens only at the end of the policy term.

Is Subrogation for MedPay Allowed in US

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:08:29 GMT

It depends on the state in which you live. In some states MedPay subrogation is not allowed. You should check your state laws. But all health insurance companies allow subrogation as they pay your medical bills and then want their money back and will seek it out from your auto insurance carrier. MedPay comes into play only after your auto insurer has met all your medical expenses. Then your insurer will collect the amount from the insurance company of the other party involved in the accident through subrogation. Thus MedPay coverage ensures that the insurer meets your medical expenses first and then recovers the money through subrogation.

Once your treatment is over, the insurance carrier of the at-fault driver responsible for your injuries will confirm the MedPay amount. It will also pay through subrogation the amount you paid as out of pocket expenses and will compensate you for pain and suffering that you may have incurred.

MedPay coverage is different from Personal Injury Protection coverage (PIP) as PIP pays for the medical expenses of the insured person but it cannot be subrogated. The person can collect the cost of medical expenses in this case from his auto insurance policy. MedPay coverage is optional in many states.

In the state of Virginia, where MedPay is optional, a driver can opt to have MedPay or opt out of it. The driver’s health insurance provider cannot deny coverage for his medical bills in the event of an accident. But the driver has to compensate the health insurance carrier the amount once he receives his claim from his auto insurance.

You need to check your state laws about MedPay subrogation to make sure that you are adequately protected. You can contact the Department of Insurance of your state on their consumer line to seek help.

I Do Not Own Car But I Still Need Insurance

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:55:49 GMT

Yes, even if you do not own a car, but use other cars to travel, you need auto insurance. Accidents may occur anytime in any vehicle no matter if you own the car or not. Many people think that it is a waste of money to buy car insurance if they do not own a car. But whether or not you own a car, buying car insurance is certainly a smart decision as you can be sure of protection against the unknown, usually a road accident. Car accidents generally leave you with a huge financial liability.

If you drive a borrowed vehicle and meet with an accident, the insurance of the owner of the car comes into effect first. But if the cost of damages exceed the policy limit of the owner, your non-owner policy will cover the remaining damages up to your policy limit.

You can purchase a non-owner car insurance policy to protect against losses if there is an accident when you travel in a car that you do not own. The non-owner policy usually provides you with liability, medical expenses and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage up to your policy limits. However non-owners policy does not cover collision, comprehensive, towing and rental reimbursement coverage.

When there is a hit and run case when you are traveling in a rental car, or sometimes the other driver is uninsured and underinsured, you will be required to pay for the damages suffered by the rental car. If you do not have car insurance, you should meet this expenditure out of your pocket. Usually these are huge sums that may land you in a financial crisis. If you have car insurance, the insurer will pay for this minus your deductible. Car rental companies offer auto insurance policy for the period of your trip when you hire a car. This insurance is for a certain term of coverage with a daily price.

Your credit card company also provides car insurance if you use the card to rent a car. The coverage and prices vary with each credit card company. You can ask for a written statement on the terms of the car insurance provided by your credit car company when you buy car insurance from them. You can even combine the coverage provided by the rental car company and the credit card company to maximize your coverage.

Which Cars Keep Your Insurance Rates Affordable

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:15:33 GMT

In today’s escalating prices, car insurance can be really hard on your budget. To get affordable rates seems a daunting task but you can find such a policy if you do some homework and put some time and efforts for it. For those who find it difficult to go through the time consuming process sources such as IIHS, NHTSA and HLDI list the most expensive and the least expensive vehicles to insure. They use various parameters in their research to determine the rankings.

Findings of research and studies

The National Insurance Crime Bureau website publishes its duties of vehicle theft and lists the top stolen vehicles in each state. This list keeps changing every year. The vehicles with the theft claims that are least expensive are Buick LeSabre, Volvo C70 Station Wagon and Mercury Grand Marquis 4-four. Their NICB lists the vehicles that are affordable to insure as below:

1. Fiat Punto

2. Ford Fiesta

3. Volkswagen Polo

4. Peugeot 106

5. Renault Clio

Most of the insurers have a general list of cars that cost less to insure. They are

Vauxhall Corsa
Fiat Punto
Renault Clio
Ford Fiesta
Peugeot 107, 206, 207
VW Polo
SEAT Ibiza
Smart

The cars listed above have some commonality. The parts of these cars are cheaper to replace and are easily available and the cars cost less to repair if damaged. The car that can get repaired quickly is a favorite of insurers because it saves them money on providing a courtesy car for the duration of repair to your damaged car. They are happy to offer lower rate on the premium as a reward for it. The listed cars are cheap and the insurers can buy them to replace your car if it is totaled in an accident. This means that the insurer spends much less to replace.

(HLDI) the non-profit organization is closely associated with the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) provides the analysis and publishes their study results on how much it costs to insurance companies to provide cover against collision, injury and theft of cars. These studies are wholly supported by the auto insurance companies. They use the criteria such as the number of doors the car has, the color and the type of car to determine the cost of insuring the cars.

The general rule for Auto Insurance Rate for Cars

The studies reveal that 4 door cars have 93% less chances of being stolen than the 2-door cars. The cars that have safety features fitted have affordable insurance rates. IIHS has list of top safety picks of cars that protect the people in all crashes including front, side and rear crashes. The cars that have electronic stability control also score high. Cars tests have proved that cars with design improvements are safer. Since they will have less chances of getting into accidents and so have less likelihood of a claim. The bottom line here is the cost to the insurer to repair or replace the car and the likelihood of claims.

To decide the car that is affordable to insure in an efficient easy way is to short list a few cars that are not in the worst list for theft and claims.

Guide to Buying Car Insurance Online

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:36:58 GMT

In the 21^st century most of the transactions are done through the web. Buying car insurance online is an available option with most of the auto insurance companies. The online portals not only offer the customers the facility to buy insurance online it also helps them to compare the quotes among various insurance companies with tailor-made options.

If you are new to the subject of auto insurance, you can find a wealth of information on these sites. In addition many sites have useful articles, tips from experts and online assistance to answer your questions.

With the help of the Internet to compare quotes side-by-side allows consumers to quickly pinpoint the insurers offering auto insurance rates for the coverage desired by the consumers. There is no need to call the customer service centers of various insurers or visiting individual websites for quote comparisons. Online portals provide their customer a single online form to complete and they instantly get back to them with rates from many different companies. A few examples are Progressive, 21st Century, GMAC, Infinity, Unitrin and more.

Services offered by the Online Service Providers

1. Getting Various Quotes

The online portals help the customers to get various auto insurances quote without giving any personal information of the policy holder. Only basic data about the vehicle and drivers is collected to give the personalized quote for the auto insurance policy.

2. Cheap Rates

Online portals have databases of almost all the auto insurers and it get could get the customer very cheap insurance by comparing the various rates from the insurance providers. This easy and simple procedure is helps the customer to select the right auto insurance at the affordable rate and the preferred coverage without compromising on the extent of coverage.

3. Top Rated Companies

The online portals helps the policy holders to identity the top 10 car insurance companies and help the customers to learn the facts about the best rated company and what is used to determine ratings such as financial strength which indicate the stability and ability of a carrier to pay out their obligations. The rating of the auto insurance can be very valuable when it comes to choosing the right insurer whom he can rely on at times of need. This is based on the level of customer satisfaction enjoyed by the company. You can also find the insurance companies that have the least number of complaints from the website of your state insurance department.

4. High Risk Drivers

They also help to get high risk auto insurance quotes from companies that offer best rates for drivers with blemished driving record, including accidents and/or tickets. They also provide coverage to inexperienced drivers, such as teenagers, who may be considered a higher risk. Although bad driving records do affect the premiums, some insurance providers are there who specialize in the non-standard market and offer you the desired coverage of auto insurance at the most affordable rates.

5. Online Payments

Online portal allows choosing monthly auto insurance payments and learning about no down and low down payment options. Paying month to month instead of every 6 or 12 months plus a low start up cost makes it more affordable for the customers on a budget by reducing the amount needed to get insured. Some insurers offer discounts for making payments online. The secure online payment system of the leading insurers is safe to use.

6. FAQS

Online portals also offer the FAQs section, which covers all kind of information the customer looks for, with all possible answers to various concerns. Moreover they have 24/7 dedicated customer service and their assigned agents are of great service to the customer in understanding their problems and offer them an excellent service.

For more details on online portals, you can visit the following websites to understand more about buying the auto insurance online.

www.autoinsurance.com and www.carinsurance.com.

USAA Auto Insurance

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:28:52 GMT

The United Service Automobile Association (USAA Auto Insurance) was formed by the officers of the United States Army Joined forces in the year 1920. The motto for forming USAA auto insurance is to provide auto insurance and other services exclusively to the military personnel, veterans and their families. The company is a one of the Fortune 500 Companies and its uniqueness is that it is formed as an inter-insurance exchange and not as a corporation. USAA auto insurance customers are actually the association members and all of them are theoretically liable for the other members. Since, USAA is operating from San Antonio TX, where the state law limits the liability of each individual member to the insurance premium that he or she pays. The advantage is that the profits made by USAA are paid back to the members.

Advantage USAA Auto Insurance

The advantages of USAA Auto Insurance are listed below:

Excellent Customer Service
Multi Product Savings
Better Financial Status
Superior Claims Service
Accident Forgiveness
Online Services
Flexibility for military need

Discounts and Savings offer in USAA Auto Insurance

A number of discounts and savings are offered by USAA auto insurance.

USAA offer $50 discount on the first premium
Premium Driver Discount
Defensive Driver Discount
Driver Training Discount
Good Student Discount
New Vehicle Discount
Annual Mileage Discount
Multiple Vehicle Discount
Anti-Theft System Discount
Storage Discount
USAA Loyalty
Multiple product policy
Legacy Policy Discount

Above discounts would certainly result in lot of savings for the auto insurance customer Thus USAA plays a very vital role on the US automobile industry.

Claims Processing Cycle

Report

Filing Claims Via Phone/online
Claim number will be allotted against the report and if need the claim representative will call back to clarify the doubts if any

Investigation

The facts of the loss/accident gathered
Coverage Verification

Evaluation

Liability Determination
Absolute Estimation on loss/damages/compensation
Repairs Start

Payment : Payment is made to the claimant or to the facility, accordingly.

Close Claims

The claim is closed and the policy keeps moving. The policy continues as long you pay the premium without any hassles.

Managing Policies- Convenience factor

USAA auto insurance has many convenient ways to manage the policies for the customers.

Can pay the premium in installments with no service charge
Premium could be paid by online or by phone with no interest charge
Accessing policy online
Payment mode is as per military pay schedule
Toll free telephone when policy holders are deployed
USAA auto insurance coverage across USA and in some part of overseas too
Updating Auto Insurance coverage could be done easily online/phone call etc.

Buying USAA Auto Insurance

USAA products are available only in those jurisdictions where USAA is authorized to sell/distribute their product. Ownership rights are limited to eligible policyholders of United Services Automobile Association. Eligibility criteria may change based on factors such as marital status, rank, or military status. Children of USAA members are eligible to purchase auto or property insurance if their eligible parent purchases USAA auto or property insurance.

Who Insures Classic Cars

Sun, 31 May 2009 00:29:32 GMT

Classic car owners prefer to insure these cars and search for the right insurance provider who insures classic cars. Classic cars are older cars that you can find in car shows and prized possessions of collectors and admirers. According to Classic Car Club of America, the car should be of 1959 or earlier to be categorized as a classic car. These cars cost much more than a latest model standard car as the owners spend heavily on the upkeep and maintenance of classic cars. Because of the huge investment made on classic cars they have to be protected with the appropriate insurance cover.

In the case of classic cars the insurance coverage three different types of insurance are offered by the standard insurance companies. The most common type is based on the Actual Cash Value that means the insurance company will pay the depreciated book value of the car in the event of any damage. Stated Value is another type in which the owner can state a value for the car which is usually higher than the actual cash value. The Agree value coverage guarantees to owners’ full money back if the car becomes a total loss.

Taking out a classic car insurance policy is a better option as they are less expensive and have lesser restrictions and limitations. You should do an extensive research to find a classic car insurance provider that has the knowledge and experience in insuring classic cars. You should do comparative shopping to obtain and compare the classic car insurance quotes to find the best deal that suits you. You can also talk to a licensed and experienced insurance agent who will help you with the selection of the specific information about the requirements to be met to obtain a classic car insurance policy.

Make sure to choose the insurer who insures classic cars holds a license from the insurance department of the state and the insurance is written using the forms specified by the state’s department of insurance. You can choose only a company that is rated ‘A’ by Best’s Key Rating Guide. There are specialist classic car insurance providers who understand the value of classic cars and will offer a customized policy based on the important factors such as mileage and limited usage and more. Aon classic car insurance is one such insurer who insures classic cars based on specific needs of the car owner. Leland West is another company who insures classic cars of all types and you can get their quote and purchase the insurance online. Hagerty specialty auto insurance provides classic car insurance at low cost.

Companies who insure classic cars are many. You can find the one that suits your needs by researching.

How Do I Know If My Car Is Over Insured

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:21:02 GMT

The most important factor, which influences over insuring, is the moral fear of the auto owner. Though they are confident on their driving skills, the auto owners still don’t want to take the risk of paying extra beyond their coverage. Hence they tend to take all sorts of additional coverage to cover any their future losses arising out of an auto accident. Most of the cases it doesn’t happen, however they still pay heavy bucks on their insurance, which is over and above the rate of insurance and the coverage.

The new features, which are introduced by the insurers to attract the customers, are also the other important factor resulting in policy holders getting over insured. These days most of the modern auto owners such as Acura, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and the other auto owners are opting to add the feature ‘emergency roadside assistance’ in their car warranties. Identity-theft fears, is also adds up your premium. Such additions can cost you somewhere around $25 to $200 a year, though it is already part of some homeowners' insurance policies and credit-monitoring services.

As a result of competition between the life and auto insurers the prices of the auto insurance policies have been hiked and thus it becomes the cause of being over insured at times. Certain features are added, though it is not necessary for the car owner, but still they are required to pay the premium as the feature is ‘inbuilt’ into the policy, whether or not the customer is interested on the additional feature. Thus the customer is forced to get over insured in these circumstances.

Social necessities are also another factor resulting in over insurance. In case, if you no longer need a huge death benefit as your children have left home and your spouse has died or you no longer pay the mortgage, consider dropping a term policy or replacing it with a smaller one. This will help you to ensure that your car is not over insured in the near future.

Payment mode of premiums should be changed. This is another factor which influences yoru car getting over insured. It is always wiser you pay premium on annual basis instead of quarterly or monthly. Because the insurers often charge 10-50% surcharge for installment financing without disclosing the fact and these charges gets added to your premium. So, you can avoid the burden of being over insured by paying premium on annual basis.

Analyzing the above factors would surely get you the amount you are paying over and above the required extent to the insurance companies. If you are not sure, get the facts of your auto insurance for the past 3 years and go to the nearest auto insurance agents and they would surely get you the over insured amount and they would certainly help you to eliminate the burden of being over insured. Doing an online search can also help you to calculate the over insured amount and suggest you the best ways how to avoid paying for over insurances etc.

Death of Policy Owner

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:06:20 GMT

The no-fault auto insurance (accident at no one’s fault) is also known as personal injury protection (PIP) coverage offers the policy holders that at the time of the event (accident) the policy automatically covers the victim’s losses including death related expenses such as funeral and burial expenses. These benefits are paid to family members of the insured regardless of who was at fault in the accident. The additional death benefits offered by the insurers to the family members of the victim in an accident are as follows:

All accidental death benefits
Continuation of lost earnings
Periodic pension payments, if applicable
Replacement Services

All these benefits might vary from state to state and most of the no fault laws are having a limit on the death benefits. There are also some specific rules that are laid out by the insurers on how to claim the benefits and also stopping them at a particular stage.

Burial & Funeral Expenses

The funeral and the burial benefits are reimbursed at the very normal rate and not at the grand scale. Usually it will be a fixed amount, decided at the time of taking the auto insurance policy. In most states it is a protected benefit like any other benefits such as medical insurance.

Survivor Benefits

Most of the insurers follow the no fault state law, for extending the survivor benefits to the victim’s family. In general it should go the family members of the person who died in the car accident. The benefits will include funeral, burial expenses including the medical expenses.

Pension Payouts

The other important benefit provided by auto insurance is Pension payment, which is also called as survivor economic benefits. Mostly the survivor economic benefits are paid to replace the payment for real and material goods that the insured would have provided, in case if he or she is not injured/dead in the event of the accident. Basically this pension payment is an alternative arrangement offered by the insurers to the family of the insured to reduce their hardships due to the inability or death of the insured, incase of the accident that had resulted in death or disability.

Replacement Services

The other important aspect of death of the insured that is addressed by the insurers is the replacement of services for the household. In case of a loss of an adult, a family would certainly find it difficult to cope with the house hold activities such as lawn mowing, cooking and other household maintenance work. Hence the insurers provide the cost of such replacement services.

Dependants

In the event of death of a policy owner, the auto insurance benefit normally goes to the dependants, normally the spouse, co-habitants and minor children who are legitimate and adopted children. Some state laws and jurisdiction may treat the illegitimate children as dependants.

High Risk Auto Insurance

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:40:10 GMT

Auto insurance is a must for driving to demonstrate your financial responsibility. However, most insurance companies refuse to provide cover to high risk drivers because they anticipate recurring potential claims. There is always a way out – some insurance companies specialize in ‘high-risk’ or non-standard auto insurance. The cost of high risk auto insurance is always much higher than the standard policies. This is to offset the high probability of claims from these policy holders.

Who are high risk drivers?

A driver is placed under the ‘high risk’ category for the following reasons:

1. Poor driving history with accidents, tickets or DUI violations: The insurance companies try to ensure that the driver who seeks insurance from them has a clean driving record as they can trust him to be the one with less likelihood of getting involved in an accident and making a claim. They also want to ensure that the driver is not a habitual offender with a high probability of making claims. Apart from that insurers know that people with DUI pose the highest risk and they would make sure that they do not incur a loss by paying for claims that are more likely. The insurance companies therefore leverage the high risk by charging a considerably higher price for the high risk category than others.

2. Poor credit score: Statistics reveal that people with poor credit history are more likely to file a claim with their auto insurance. The likelihood of a claim from these drivers is found to be more than others who do not have any credit problem. The insurers therefore raise the premium rate for such drivers when providing insurance cover. This is also because these drivers with poor credit are turned down by most leading insurers and their only resort is the non-standard insurance providers.

When a driver is found driving without auto insurance or with an invalid or expired auto insurance his driver’s license will be suspended by the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) of the state. The DMV requires the driver to obtain FR-22 filing from his insurer to get his license re-instated. FR-22 is required as a proof that the driver has auto insurance. The driver approaches his insurance company who may or may not provide insurance to him. In these circumstances he has to approach one the non-standard insurance companies who will insure him and also file FR-22 with the DMV to enable him to get back his driver’s license. The premium rate for this driver will be expensive as he is categorized as a high risk driver. The high risk drivers find it difficult to get auto insurance with the regular insurance companies and so the high cost. The FR22 stays in the driver’s records for many years which may affect his career and financial future.

OnlineAutoInsurance.com helps high risk drivers to get affordable and great auto insurance from leading auto insurance companies.

How is Car Insurance Rate Determined

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:51:58 GMT

Auto insurance premiums differ greatly from one insurer to another. The key factor in setting the auto insurance premiums is the cost to the company for paying off claims. The premium rate is also determined using several other parameters to know how much the company would have to pay in case of an accident or theft. Let us look at some of the factors that are taken into consideration by insurance companies when determining the car insurance rate. Insurance companies heavily depend on the current statistics to assess the risk factors and arrive at the premium rates for each applicant for car insurance.

Driver’s Age: People above the age of 25 are considered responsible drivers by the auto insurers. Drivers below 25 are known to be prone to accidents due to their inexperience, lifestyle and attitude. Teenagers are considered reckless and irresponsible drivers and hence the cost of their auto insurance is higher than others.

Gender: For young drivers the car insurance premium is lesser for women than male drivers as they pose less risk to the insurance company. Young men are found to be involved in fatal accidents more than three times as women drivers. So insurance companies view women as responsible drivers and are more obedient in following traffic rules.

Driver’s record: If you were involved in an accident for which you were at fault and got it in your driving record you may have to pay more for your car insurance. If you have more than one ticket or driving violation or DUI that will also will cause your premium to go up as they are classified as high risk drivers.

The car: Expensive, high performance cars and sports cars are considered high risk as they cost too much to repair or replace. Family cars and older cars will have lower premiums as the cost of repair is less for these cars. SUVs are the best examples for having higher insurance premiums as they are known to cause far more damage than any other car if involved in an accident.

Location: Where you reside in is also a factor that behind the cost of your car insurance. Accidents are more common than in the cities because of the heavy traffic. The car insurance rate is lower in small towns and rural areas because of the low accident rates. This is the reason why insurance companies charge higher for city residents for car insurance. If you live in a place where crime rate like thefts are high car insurance premiums are higher as the probability of claims is high.

The deductible: A deductible is the amount you will meet before the insurance company pays for the claim against your car insurance. In case of a claim the insurance company will pay the remaining amount. The deductibles may vary between $250 and $500. A higher deductible will typically reduce your car insurance premium rate.

Group Insurance: Premiums for group insurance like those taken by the employers or members of associations and retired people (ARRP) etc. will have lower premiums as the insurance companies also benefit through bigger volumes of policies.

Some other factors like your credit score, profession and memberships of certain clubs or associations, being alumni of certain universities and for certain credit card holders, special discounts are applicable and the premium rate is lower.

The insurance companies generally base their calculation of premiums on the probability of accidents and claims rate.

Guidelines to Choose Auto Insurance Deductible

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:53:05 GMT

Auto insurance is compulsory to legally drive a car to prove your financial responsibility. There are a number of coverage options in your policy. The deductible you choose is one option that can make your policy different from others. The deductible in auto insurance is the amount you pay first when you make a claim before the insurance company pays the rest for the damages caused in an accident. When you opt for collision and comprehensive coverage, you will have to choose a deductible and have the equivalent amount of funds always available.

The costs of some vehicle repairs

The cost of removing a dent from your fender will be around $700. This deductible is paid for every accident. So it should be understood that this amount is to be paid out of pocket or with your deductible. This money must be at your disposal as it is paid first before your policy comes into effect.One more point to remember is that the insurance company will eventually increase your premium as a result of being in an accident. There fore even if you have a higher deductible your premium may not be as low as you expect it to be. In such circumstances it is wise to choose a deductible that is affordable and it also keeps your premium rate low. You can set your budget accordingly with a fair amount for your deductible that would be in the right balance with your auto insurance cost.

How it works

If you want to keep your monthly premiums low, you can choose a higher deductible. This is to take care of any expenses resulting from your claim. You should have enough savings to meet such expenses in the event of a vehicle accident and you make a claim on your auto insurance. For example if you had chosen a deductible of $500 and get into an accident and the total cost of damages is $3000, you will pay the $500 deductible first and then your insurer will pay the remaining $2500. If you had chosen $1000 as deductible, you would save much on your monthly premiums. It is therefore important to calculate and determine the deductible that you can afford.

You can do the mathematics and find out the right amount that will be right for you. This amount should be readily available when you need it. So it is better to choose a higher deductible and put away the savings from your premium to build a sizable amount which you can later on decide to have it available as your deductible if you have to make a claim. You insurance agent will be able to help you in determining the right amount of deductible for your auto insurance.

Ways to have a lower deductible and still get a cheap car insurance

You can cleverly get a lower premium by way of your clean driving history availing the good driver benefit and low probability of an accident and then go for a lower deductible.
You may also choose yearly or half yearly payment for further reduction in your premium rate and go for a lower deductible.
Keep your car in a safe garage and this will reduce the chances of a claim for theft.

Umbrella Insurance Advantage and Disadvantage

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:46:43 GMT

Umbrella insurance is designed to provide cover to your losses beyond those covered by other insurance policies such as home insurance and auto insurance. The regular insurance policies have limitations or caps applicable only to some costs of liability. The umbrella insurance advantage is that it fills the gap to get your required amount of coverage. It is important to note that the umbrella insurance can be used only after the liability coverage from other polices is fully utilized. At this point, umbrella insurance will come into force automatically. Umbrella insurance provides the same covers that home and auto insurance provide plus some other claims that they may not cover. This is the reason it is also known as the extended coverage policy. The coverage types are bodily injury, property damage, rental properties, personal claims such as lawsuits for unlawful detention, libel, mental anguish, slander etc. You can get a good deal on your umbrella insurance if you approach your current auto insurance company where you can combine with your home insurance, auto insurance and umbrella insurance. Insurance companies claim that most of their wealthy customers buy umbrella insurance coverage.

Advantages of umbrella insurance

Umbrella insurance pays for lawyers’ fees and legal expenses. Many people do not realize this aspect of umbrella insurance cover despite the low premium rates required for it. Affluent people who own expensive homes and automobiles can protect their assets with umbrella with an umbrella policy. Even if they have home and auto insurance umbrella insurance is the one coverage that comes into effect to protect all your personal assets. It can be used only after other policies such as liability cover etc. have been used dup fully. Umbrella policy would automatically be in force in such cases.

Cost of umbrella insurance

Buying umbrella coverage will not increase the overall burden on your home and auto insurance. Umbrella insurance can provide cover up to 2 million USD against a claim. Very rarely the policies go up to 5 million USD. The premiums range between $200 and $300 per annum. Though the premiums seem very low the deductibles are always above $300,000.

The Disadvantage of Umbrella Insurance

Apart from the huge deductible umbrella insurance has many disadvantages for the policy holder. If you injure a person in an accident he may sue you for a higher compensation knowing that you have umbrella coverage. This demand would be far more than the amount they would claim in a standard insurance claim. Even judgments will be awarded in keeping with the maximum insurance value of your umbrella policy. This is why the other party would be motivated to claim ridiculous amounts as compensation in these cases. Some insurance companies require that the policy holder’s other insurance policies should not be less than a certain minimum amount for qualifying for umbrella insurance policy.

An example of this can be described as this. You hit an expensive car driven by a top business executive and injure him so severely that he cannot get back to work. The court will decree that you must pay him millions of dollars. It will not only mean a financial disaster for you but also take away a part of your earnings for many many years to come. To avoid such a thing from happening, protection of an umbrella insurance policy is essential.

What if I am found DUI - Driving under Influence

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:07:47 GMT

In California anyone arrested for DUI, (Driving under the Influence), even if he/she is not convicted, is considered a "problem driver" and therefore is required to file a, form SR-22, Proof Certificate of California Insurance with the Department of Motor Vehicles. In the recent times, after many new laws and Supreme Court decisions in recent years, the penalties for drunk driving can be extreme.

There are two basic drunk driving laws, found in Vehicle Code section 23152, sections (a) and (b) of California laws:

23152(a) to drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs is a misdemeanor.
23152(b) to drive with .08% or more of alcohol in your blood is a misdemeanor.

Both the offenses will be charged in most cases. Vehicle Code section 23513 sets forth the "felony DUI" provisions if an injury results due to the drunk driving. When a death occurs, Code sections 191.5 and 192 describe the crime of as vehicular manslaughter.

Once the driver is arrested, an evidentiary chemical test is required of the suspect, normally at a police station. These are the procedures:

Upon arrest, the driver must be advised of your constitutional rights ("Miranda" warning) before further questioning.
The driver must be allowed a choice of breath or blood testing; if the driver refuses to these tests, he or she must be informed of the legal consequences.
The driver must choose either a breath or blood test even without the presence of an attorney.
When breath test is administered at the police station the driver must be given a chance to obtain a blood sample for later independent testing by his/her defense attorney.
The driver’s license will be suspended immediately if the breath test result is over 0.08% and if a blood sample is taken for later analysis, or if the suspect refuses chemical testing. The officer confiscates the driver's license and issues a pink "Notice of Suspension" form, which will also serve as a temporary license for 30 days.

Though most of these criminal proceedings will most likely involve multiple court hearings, the defendant will not be required to appear at most of them generally provided he is represented properly.

Lower Auto Insurance Rate for Women Drivers

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:17:13 GMT

Insurance companies base their rates on statistics and it is common knowledge that women drivers get lower insurance rates than their male counterparts. Women are normally considered as safer by insurance companies because they are less reckless and adhere to traffic rules. That means less likelihood of accidents and less risk to the insurance company. This is the reason behind the lower car insurance rates for women drivers. There are more ways women can further reduce their auto insurance rates.

1. Now shopping around has become easier with the advent of internet. The convenience of internet is that you can search for rates from the comfort of your home and it is takes less time and money than making enquiries by calling around and visiting many insurance companies. There are websites that offer you the facility of getting multiple quotes from leading insurance companies by filling out a single request form. This will enable you to get multiple quotes in an instant and to compare the rates and service offerings of many different insurance companies. Your information and privacy are secure in most of these sites. You can research more and find auto insurance rates specially customized based on certain criteria.

2. Some insurers give lower rates to drivers who pass out from defensive driving schools. By taking these classes you can become a better driver and a good way to get cheaper auto insurance rates. These classes are inexpensive and a few of them can even be taken from home.

3. Choose a higher deductible to get lower premium rate. Having some money in the bank will help you to choose a higher deductible which would result in bringing down your monthly premium. This amount will come in handy if you are involved in an accident and end up paying the costs of repairs. The deductible part will take care of part of your repair bills. So choose an amount that you would be comfortable paying.

4. Drive safely to avoid tickets and always be careful while driving. Tickets in your driving record will cause your insurance premium to go up. You can reduce your insurance rate considerably by having a clean driving record. You can be further rewarded with special discounts for being accident-free driving for a certain period of time.

5. There are many insurance companies that provide specialist women insurance policies. They may offer better prices for women so it is better to approach these companies.

6. Select a safer car to drive and this will reduce the chances of getting into an accident. Since women are used to driving with kids they always prefer to save safety devices fitted in the car which again get further discount on the car insurance. Because the risk is low with these women drivers, the insurance companies will offer a lower premium rate.

7. Think of having slightly more than the minimum liability cover. Slightly higher premium like 10 dollars a month can save your finances from being ruined if there is a crash and the other party sues you for damages greater than your auto insurance coverage.

Following the above tips will ensure that you get a much lower auto insurance rate in addition to the lower rate for being a woman driver.

Effect of Having a Baby on Car Insurance Premium

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:17:10 GMT

Having a baby is not a typical criterion that affects the premium rate of your car insurance. Some insurance companies would like to pamper their customers by showering special offers like discounts on lifestyle events such as marriage and having a baby. They attribute this rate reduction of car insurance premium to these events signaling of greater maturity of the individual. Typically insurance premiums do not have any relation to events like having a baby. The insurance companies tend to believe that with a baby in the vehicle you would be a more responsible and mature driver thus reducing the risk to the insurer. This reduction in premium is only marginal and very few companies allow premium reduction for having a baby.

But not all insurance companies will the premium rates if you for having a baby. So you can ask your agent or insurance company representative if they allow any such discount. It is matter that most people actually wonder if they should buy additional coverage in their car insurance.

The insurance rate will not be affected generally because of a new baby. Car insurance rates will be affected only if you add a child to the insurance policy when he/she is 16 years old. Adding a teenager may result in an increase of 50% or even 100% in your car insurance premium.

As time passes having children in your vehicle will start distracting you from driving causing you to lose concentration on your driving. This will put you and the child in great risk of a potential accident. The safety of you and your family in jeopardy and this is a major concern for auto insurance companies. The premium can be affected and will depend upon the child safety measures you take while driving. You can expect a good driver discount if you follow child safety laws and also install proper car seats for your child.

Your agent or insurance company would be able to guide you on how you can keep your car insurance premiums from going up in changing circumstances in life such as having a baby. You have many options to keep your family car insurance cost from increasing.

No Car Insurance. Met With Accident. Now What

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:55:19 GMT

Driving without car insurance is an offense. The penalties for this will vary from state to state. Your punishment can include seizing of your vehicle tag and your car could be impounded labeling you as a driver with intent to drive as an uninsured motorist. There could be fines in some states for driving without car insurance. The penalty for driving without insurance can vary from $150 to $500.

Added to that if you get involved in an accident while you are driving without insurance, you could be caught up in a chaotic turmoil. The consequences may be more serious. You will have to comply with the financial responsibility laws requiring filing of SR22 and also pay personally for the injuries or damages resulting from the accident.

The situations are complex and the procedures depend on the laws of each state where the accident happened. If the other driver is found to be at fault you may receive compensation from the other driver’s insurance company. But it may be denied if holding auto insurance is mandatory in that state. The insurance company will definitely probe this aspect and it may not pay. You may also be charged with driving a vehicle without insurance. When you are injured in this situation and get no compensation from the insurer, your only option is to approach the state if they have the uninsured motorist fund. But they expect you to repay the amount.

When you are not at fault and the other driver will get the loss compensated by his own auto insurance company. The other driver’s insurance company may even pay partly for covering your repairs but you may have to meet a huge out of pocket expense. If you do not pay up you will have to face a court case which is time consuming and expensive. In the worst case scenario, you may even get your license suspended for a year or more for being an irresponsible driver who drives without insurance.

At the accident scene, after the initial chaos has settled down you need to do some important things. According to most of the states’ laws you are required to report the accident to the DMV within 10 days of the accident. The DMV will impose a fine on you and may also revoke your vehicle tag.

To get out of your clumsy situation of being caught driving without insurance,, you need to file SR22 with the state DMV for ensuring future financial responsibility by showing proof of your obtaining auto insurance. The SR22 is a form that proves that you now meet the requirements of the state’s financial responsibility as determined by the state. Not many insurance companies will be interested in insuring you but you can find the insurer who will cover you after an accident. The premium rates for this insurance cover will be far greater than the normal rates. It can even be double or triple of the actual rate. This rate will stay for the duration for which your SR22 will be in force. After completion of this period when you no longer need the SR22, you can obtain a new auto insurance policy if you maintain a clean driving record.

To avoid going through all these stressful and intimidating circumstances, you must carry the right level of auto insurance and be extra careful while driving in future.

Retaining Total Loss Vehicle

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:37:34 GMT

Auto insurance is a necessity as well as a legal compliance for every vehicle owner. Automobile accidents have increased with more and more vehicles plying on roads. Newer and faster vehicles are added frequently in the market. To keep up with the pace auto insurance companies come up with innovative products and offers resulting in stiff competition among the providers and a wide choice for the consumers. Auto accidents sometimes result in totaling of the vehicle that means the vehicle is not roadworthy anymore. When you make a claim with your auto insurer, the auto insurance company will send an adjuster who will inspect the damaged vehicle and assess the loss. He will also estimate the cost of repairs to restore it to be able to drive it again. Sometimes the vehicle may have been damaged to such an extent that it cannot be repaired as the cost of repair exceeds the value of the vehicle itself and it is not worth it. In this situation the insurance company will declare your vehicle as ‘totaled’ and will pay cash equivalent to the actual value of your vehicle. Insurers have different methods of determining the Actual Cash Value of the totaled vehicles. The insurance companies usually offer the value at which they can buy a salvaged vehicle at an auction. You can also get a specialist who can value your total loss vehicle and get the documentation on how he arrived at the salvage value of the wrecked vehicle to support your claim.

In case of a total loss vehicle, if you are not satisfied with the compensation your insurance company offers, you can ask your insurance agent to get involved in the process, as he would be more than willing. Alternatively you can speak to the Consumer Affairs or complain to them about your case. To know your rights you can refer to the Fair Claim Practices Act of your state.

If you have bought the totaled vehicle on loan and the payments are still pending, then the insurance company will pay directly to the lien holder. Your lien holder generally may allow you to retain the totaled vehicle if your loan repayments are up to date. This payment will be the ACV of your vehicle less your deductible. The salvage cost may also be deducted if you choose to retain the total loss vehicle. You are still responsible for the payment of remaining balance on your loan on the vehicle. The salvaged vehicle title will be given to you and the DMV of you state will be notified about the totaled status before that.

If you have GAP insurance, you can claim the difference in the ACV and the payment still remaining to be paid on the vehicle loan.

What Happens If My Car Has Been Stolen

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 07:05:51 GMT

When your car gets stolen, it could be a frustrating time for you. The resultant restricted mobility and getting your routine disturbed can be very upsetting. It is very important to keep a grip on the situation and act very coolly. There could be many things or valuables that would have been stolen. So you need to assess the situation carefully and put together the necessary information before filing a complaint with the police. First and foremost, once you realize that your car has been stolen, you need to call the police and file a report. Try to make things for them as easy as possible. Give them the list of things that you have lost. Police might ask for documents like insurance documents, driving license copy, registration copies or any other receipts relating to the car. Always provide full information to the police. The police will advise what should be your next move.

Reporting to insurance company for insurance claim

Once you have filed a police report, you need to submit the police report to your insurance company for filing insurance claim. In case of stolen vehicles, most insurance companies can not process insurance claims with out having police report.

You can contact your insurance agent or company and notify them about your car being stolen. In case you are dealing directly with your insurance agent, have a word with him and he will be able advise you on what should be your next step.

Documents required for claiming auto insurance

Provide your agent or insurance company the necessary documents like vehicle registration number, license details, loan paper work, contact information of people who had access to your vehicle, copies of your license, identity proof, description of the car, police report, variables or things or property kept inside the car, insurance documents and car accessories that were there in the vehicle.

The most important thing is to ensure that you had parked the car in a safe area and locked it before being stolen. There are some rules and regulations that need to be followed in order to get full payment from the insurance company.

When you find that your car is stolen, check if your auto insurance covers rental car coverage. If you have comprehensive coverage you are entitled for a rental car till your car is replaced. In most cases of car thefts, rental coverage is usually provided. The insurance company will arrange to make payments for the costs involved to rent a vehicle. In case you have brought your car under a car loan, it is important to report the matter to your finance or lease company.

Tips to avoid car being stolen

It is important to always lock your car doors. Park your cars in safe parking areas and not out-of-the-way. Always remember to take your keys and do not leave it in the car. Vehicle Documents, Bags, Keys, wallets, CD’s, mobile phones, credit cards or debit cards, costly valuables should be never left in the car. In case you have a garage, put your car in the garage at night and lock it.

A car getting stolen is a very distressing situation for any individual and it could lead to emotional disturbances also. Whenever you are dealing with car insurance, one of the most important things is to ensure that you obtain a policy that covers car thefts. It is always better to go for auto insurance policy like comprehensive coverage that provides cover for theft and damages.

High Risk Auto Insurance

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:22:10 GMT

Most of the states have made it mandatory for all drivers to have auto insurance to protect against any loss or damage in the event of an accident. Motorists are generally classified high risk when their driving record shows too many traffic violations, accidents and offenses. Auto insurance is also necessary to obtain liability coverage for vehicle owners. There are many different categories of coverage one of which is auto insurance high risk that is offered to drivers and vehicles that are considered high risk and naturally carry higher premiums.

Definition of High Risk Auto Insurance

Most insurance companies define the following motorists as high risk that requires high risk auto insurance.

· Teen age male drivers are considered the most irresponsible of drivers and require more auto insurance

· Persons having three or more traffic violation tickets, convictions or guilty pleas are also categorized as high risk

· Drivers having single conviction for hit and run driving and reckless driving within the past 12 months

High risk is also determined based on a few other factors like:

1. Motorists with DWI or DUI record are the most probable candidates for high risk auto insurance

2. Carrying invalid auto insurance that is not current or with gaps in coverage

3. Men are viewed as higher risk than female drivers

4. Young drivers below 25 years of age and their claims history

5. First time drivers irrespective of their age

6. Those driving in urban areas than the drivers driving in rural areas

7. Driving record with involvement in a number of accidents, traffic violations, convictions for drunken driving and more. Insurance high risk is usually determined by taking into account al types of collision.

8. Too many speeding tickets that indicate more chances of accidents

9. Not having proof of previous insurance in spite of being on the road

10. Having a poor credit history as these drivers tend to file more claims and insurance companies place them under the high risk category

11. Driving sporty and flashy cars

How to reduce high risk auto insurance premiums

High risk auto insurance means high premium rates. However there are ways to obtain insurance coverage without paying outrageously high premiums when placed under the high risk category. The motorist should shop around to find multiple auto insurance quotes. Some non-standard insurance companies specialize in providing coverage to high risk drivers by creating programs beneficial for them such as taking driving classes, good student etc. offering discounts based on these criteria.

You can clean up your high risk auto insurance history and save lot of money by taking a few positive steps. First, correct your driving habits, and secondly pay off all fines and parking ticket dues.

How Auto Insurance Premium Calculated

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:56:50 GMT

Auto insurance premium rates vary from one provider to another. The insurance companies consider a variety of factors to arrive at the premium rate for your auto insurance. They depend upon the level of coverage and the amount you choose. You auto insurance premium will vary according to your location as the number of vehicles plying on the roads will vary and the so is the risk. The variables that determine the premium also differ with each insurance carrier. It also depends on how the insurance companies weigh each factor.

The premium rates also are based on factors like the age and gender of the driver, experience and his/her driving record and the type of car etc. These parameters may be the same but different insurance companies use different formula for calculating their auto insurance premiums. The auto insurance premiums are calculated for a whole year. Insurance companies have identified several factors as most likely to impact the insured driver against potential risks. The insurance companies offer different options that can affect the amount of premium so you need to select your options carefully. If you are not interested in certain coverage you should inform the insurance carrier so that the insurer will not include it and premium will be lesser.

When you increase the deductibles, your auto insurance premium will be lower. This is because the share of the insurance company will be less when it is required to pay for the bills for repairs or medical expenses arising out of an accident. You save on the premiums by taking the calculated risk of meeting larger amount of expenses when you are involved in an accident.

Auto insurance providers also calculate their premiums taking into account the kind of vehicle you drive and the age of the vehicle, the engine size, model and so on. How much you use your car also matters as the number of miles you drive the car and if you would use it to commute daily to work. Some insurers will take into account your credit score for determining the premium rate.

Your driving history will be helpful in determining the risk to the insurer so having tickets and accidents recorded will raise your auto insurance premium. Traffic violations, DUI and similar offenses will cause your insurance premium to increase drastically as many insurers will cancel your insurance and very few insurers will be interested in providing you with auto insurance. The high premium is necessary as you are categorized as a high risk driver. Drivers below the age of 25 especially young males are considered as high risk for insurance purposes. Similarly drivers who are older than fifty or sixty years have to pay more in premiums.

Discounts are available based on many criteria such as having a good driving record, students with high grades, military personnel, members of AAA, staying with the same insurer for long years, having multiple or combined insurance policies with the same company and more.

Driver License in California after SR22

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 05:52:19 GMT

To reactivate your driver’s license in California, you need an SR22 filing from your insurance company. SR22 filing is required by California DMV to prove that you have liability auto insurance. According California law, every driver has to be financially responsible to compensate for the loss incurred by others if you get involved in a road accident. DMV does not accept any other form of proof of auto insurance to reactivate your license.

The process to get an SR22

1. Find out what is exactly on your driving record. This is because the price of liability auto insurance is based on your years of driving experience, severity of your driving records such as violations or tickets and your place of residence.

2. Call the DMV office to buy your driving record if needed. It may cost between $5 -$10. You should also find out what other fees are to be paid to reactivate your license. This fee may include parking or moving violation fee also.

3. You should buy minimum liability auto insurance coverage. Get multiple quotations from different insurance companies that write SR22 insurance to find the lowest price. There are sites that help you with the facility of getting many online quotations and choose the one you find affordable. The insurance company will send you the necessary forms to be filled for purchase of the liability coverage. You can fill out the application form and sign it and fax it and pay by credit card. The insurance company will accept your signed application form and issue the SR filing on the same day. You can even get overnight filing by paying a small additional fee. If you do not own the vehicle you must buy a non-owner’s policy.

4. After acceptance of the SR22 filing by the DMV you can go to their office to get your license reactivated.

Getting Instant Car Insurance

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 07:16:22 GMT

Getting instant car insurance is very much possible. The Internet is the place where you can get your car insurance in the easiest and fastest way. Technology and innovation have completely changed the way business is conducted. The internet had made it possible to get multiple quotes from major insurance companies and also the facility to compare them instantly and determine the best deal. You can then go to the insurance company’s website and apply online for your instant car insurance and pay for it online. This process takes just a few minutes and you can get your insurance policy instantly and print it out or have it personally delivered.

How to get instant car insurance

Get instant quotes for the policy you intend to purchase and many sites give you comparisons and the lowest and highest quotes. You can check the details of coverage and the terms and conditions before you decide on the insurance company you want to deal with. These multiple quotes are free and you can see the best companies on top of the list. Check the ranking of the insurance company and choose the best deal that suits you.

Decide on the types of coverage you need. Liability auto insurance cover is mandatory in most states. It is advisable to choose a higher limit for liability coverage. In addition to this you can consider including collision, comprehensive and uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage to your car insurance policy as it will protect you from financial disaster if there is an accident where you car is damaged extensively. The other driver may file a lawsuit against you which may seriously affect your assets. You should also choose higher deductible which you can pay comfortably when your car is damaged. After doing some home work you can arrive at a suitable figure for your deductible as well as the coverage limit. A higher deductible is advantageous as it can lower your monthly premiums saving you money.

Advantages of obtaining instant car insurance online

Getting online car insurance is the quickest way to get your instant car insurance. You can go to the insurance company’s website and complete the application with a few details. It is safe to buy online as it is easy, quick and convenient. Most of the insurance company websites are secure and accept online payments. You can make the payment using their payment system and print your confirmation and identity card. Some insurance companies allow a special discount to you for buying your car insurance online. This is because it eliminates a good amount of paperwork for them.

A word of caution

Instant car insurance is ideal for those who have less time to go through the standard procedures of obtaining car insurance. But you must do your research and homework in detail and take an informed decision in choosing the coverage limits and the insurance company from whom you would like to purchase your instant car insurance policy online. It is also important to know the various state laws and regulations. You should also get your doubts cleared about the company’s claims policy and procedure and customer service to ensure that your insurance company will be there when you need it.

Will Auto insurance Pay on Hitting Deer

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 06:32:58 GMT

Auto Insurance protects you and your vehicle from different types of disaster. Liability auto insurance cover is compulsory in many states whereas collision or comprehensive coverage is optional. But a comprehensive coverage in your auto insurance policy can protect your vehicle against unforeseen and natural disasters that includes a deer hit. Liability insurance cover protects you from any financial liability to others when you are involved in an accident whereas collision coverage pays for damages to your car. Comprehensive insurance coverage provides protection against damages that are caused by reasons other than collision. Damages of this type are due to floods, fire, vandalism, theft, tornadoes or falling of objects and animal hits. In case you hit a deer, your comprehensive insurance coverage will take care of the damages to your car. Comprehensive cover pays you when you hit any other animal. There is a deductible amount that you have to pay before your insurance policy pays for the remaining cost of repairs to your vehicle. It is therefore important to take the right type of auto insurance coverage for your vehicle.

Procedures to be followed when you hit a deer

When you hit a deer, you need to have the comprehensive coverage in order to claim insurance and should inform your insurance agent or insurance company about the incident. In some cases, the insurance rates could go up after making the claim with the insurance company. So to get the best monetary benefit or claim, you need to know how to handle your insurance claim.

An insurance appraiser will come and evaluate the damages caused to your car and will decide what would be the cost to repair your car. The repair cost or replacement cost is compared to the actual cash value of your vehicle. Replacement cost is actually the amount that would be required to replace or repair your vehicle. Actual cash value is the value of the vehicle just before it is damaged.

The actual amount of money that is required for repairing the vehicle is compared with the actual cash value of the vehicle. If the repair cost exceeds the cash value of your car, the car is considered to be totaled or a write-off case. In such cases you get the fair market value for your car. To prevent fraudulent claims, there is an amount that needs to be paid to the insurance company before they settle the claim. After assessing the damage caused, the auto insurance company will arrange to make a check payment. The check will be made in your favor.

Prominence of fatalities more in November

There are many cases of fatalities reported in United States with vehicles crashing with deer or other animals. In fact this has doubled over the last few years and more significant during the month of November. During the month of November, there is lot of movement of deer and insurance claims are also higher during this season.

Car Insurance for Young Persons

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 05:41:26 GMT

Young persons are considered high risk by auto insurance companies for reasons such as their age, driving experience and lifestyle. This is why young persons’ auto insurance premium rates are high. The high risk factor is based on the statistics they collect about the incidence of accidents and the people involved in them. Lack of experience and no driving track record to go by, insurance companies put a tag of high risk on young drivers and rightly so. Since there is a prospect of good business with high premiums with this group of young drivers, some insurance companies even specialize in providing auto insurance to young persons. These insurance companies look for ways to offer customized car insurance with added benefits to the young drivers which is a potential segment to make good money.

To make the normally high rate car insurance for young drivers insurance companies try to consider some factors based on which they can reduce the cost of these policies. For example, they can get reduced premiums of every claim-free year of their driving. Some insurers offer discounts for taking advanced driving tests making them safe drivers thereby reducing their risk. It is a good idea to look for such insurance companies who offer such discounts so that the overall cost of auto insurance for young drivers is much lower.

When you include young drivers to your auto insurance policy, making them bear a portion of the cost would make them feel responsible when getting behind the wheel. Making them bear the cost of maintenance of the vehicle and also gas will be helpful to get involved in driving responsibility. If they are made to feel the pinch on their pockets they would be more careful not to take unnecessary risks on the road. Statistics prove that young drivers who contribute to their vehicles financially are less prone to accidents than those who treat the car as a speeding toy to play with and are potential high risks on the road.

To bring down the auto insurance cost of young drivers, there are a few ideas to consider. In the beginning they can be made to drive cars that are safe and inexpensive. Fast cars and high performance cars can wait. The same thing goes for making modifications or customization to the car. Have a standard vehicle and you do not have to make false claims when something untoward happens on the road, leaving you with a cancelled insurance. Cars parked in proper garages and those fitted with safety devices and anti theft devices will be considered less risk. By taking these precautions that do not cost much, you can make sure that you get a cheaper auto insurance. Discounts are available for being good students with high scores. Before getting a drivers license you should attend defensive driving course to handle dangerous situations like hydroplaning through water, braking and having good control of your vehicle in icy conditions. So prove your responsibility by driving safely without getting tickets or accidents on your driving records. Eating, talking over the mobile phone or doing other things while driving should be avoided. Stick to speed limits and prove to be good driver. These steps will certainly help not to make the car insurance of parents ridiculously high as the rate of the car insurance of parents is fixed at a higher rate when young persons are added to the policy.

More than One Auto Insurance Policy on One Vehicle

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:04:15 GMT

It is important to have auto insurance when you purchase a car or any other vehicle. The primary objective of taking auto insurance is to protect your vehicle against losses or damages incurred as a result of accident. In the United States, it is mandatory to have auto insurance in most of the states. There are different types of coverage provided by insurance providers and it depends on the consumer to decide which coverage options are needed.

Many states have made it mandatory to have liability insurance coverage for their vehicles. But the problem is that liability insurance does not provide all the necessary covers. So in such cases you need to go for another policy or insurance cover that gives the required protection. There are other covers like collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, property damage cover and medical payments coverage to be included in your auto insurance policy. Taking a suitable auto insurance cover is quite complicated and requires a good research. Many factors like premium, age, driving record and experience should be taken in to consideration. Besides these factors, some insurance companies have deductibles that you pay before the insurer pays the rest of the cost of repairs of damages.

Possibility of having more than one auto insurance policy on one vehicle

There can be only one insurance policy for one car. The car can be insured in someone else’s name while you may be the owner of the car. If a single vehicle is insured by two separate policies and two different drivers, then this situation creates lot of problems. In case one driver meets with an accident, how will the claims be settled?

Because of this, many insurance companies do not allow for duplicate coverage. When there is more than one auto insurance policy on one vehicle, there are chances that multiple claims will be filed in case of accidents. Just to avoid multiple claims, insurance companies do not allow having duplicate coverage on one vehicle.

No doubt, people take multiple insurance covers. In many cases, liability cover would have been taken as it is compulsory in most of the states. But liability coverage does not provide adequate protection. Later on they realize the importance and then they go for other coverage’s like comprehensive coverage or collision coverage or medical payments coverage.

Moreover, auto insurance is not so cheap and people don’t go for multiple policies or duplicate coverage’s. In case claims are made multiple times, it will be considered as insurance fraud.

Winter Ice and Car Insurance

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:44:04 GMT

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has revealed that transportation accidents are the leading cause of death during the winter storms. It is essential to have adequate insurance coverage when you venture out driving during the winter season when heavy snow is expected. Your insurance company will take care of any unforeseen losses resulting from accidents if any. Many motorists are not aware that if they get into an accident due to ice, freezing rain or sudden winter weather change their insurance companies will categorize them as ‘at-fault’ and would raise their insurance rates. Winter driving can be dangerous so requires drivers to be extra careful and alert. Animals like deer are attracted by the salt on the road surface and are often get hit by motorists. Most insurers do not accept the argument that the accident was because of the bad weather. So if you swerve to avoid hitting the animal and collide with another vehicle or a ditch your vehicle damage will be covered by your collision insurance coverage. Even in this case the insurance company will categorize this as your fault and will increase your rate without any doubt.

The only way is to drive very carefully as the winter season and it is best to avoid driving. It is difficult to drive because of the weather conditions and the poor visibility. Added to this if there is heavy snow or rain driving can be dangerous. So you must be well prepared to be able to save your and your passenger’s lives. Safe winter travel entails preparation and knowing how to handle the situation when you are stranded on the road.

To be safe, you should have your car checked just before the start of winter season to get it ready for the winter road conditions. Get it checked by a qualified mechanic for brakes, battery, thermostat, fluid and wipers, ignition system, exhaust system, antifreeze, oil level, if winter grade oil is sued, lights, defrosters and heater etc. Having snow tires is a good idea to be safe while driving on snow and ice. Make sure that all parts of the car are operational before the trip.

Take an emergency kit and let others know about your trip. The kit must contain ice scraper, shovel, flashlight and extra batteries, Flares or warning triangles, blankets and sleeping bags, jumper cables, matches and candles, help sign, medications, canned food, hat and gloves, first aid kit and tool kit etc. Check the weather before leaving. Take your mobile phone and charger too along to use in unexpected situations.

The best way to feel protected is to take car breakdown insurance. Car breakdown insurance will pay for losses from accidents due to heavy snow, ice or winter weather conditions.

Encompass Auto Insurance

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:01:33 GMT

Encompass Auto Insurance is a part of Encompass Insurance Company located in Northbrook IL. Encompass Insurance is well known as one of the leading personal insurance brands across the United States. The company offers a wide range of insurance products to its customers such as Auto Insurance, Universal Security Policy, Boat Insurance, Home owners Policy, Home work insurance, Boat insurance and identity fraud coverage and many more. Encompass enjoys a patronage of more than a million customers in the United Stat alone spread over 42 states. The network of insurance agents representing Encompass runs into several thousands.

The Benefits of Encompass Auto Insurance Policy

If you are a good, safe and responsible driver you have a good chance of getting a big discount on your auto insurance premium.
With a clean driving record with no accidents you can get a further discount on your premium.
If you combine your auto insurance with your home owner’s policy, your premium can be reduced further down.
You can also get higher liability limits on your auto insurance policy.
You have a choice of three levels of coverage.
Available for your questions at 1-888-700-5324
Great prices and discounts with advice from their agents.
Facility to select coverage instantly and verified electronically within minutes.
Your privacy is protected and personal information is secured.
You can select your coverage option online from among different carriers.
You can compare the actual numbers with similar policy and coverage limits.
Choose yearly payment option to reduce the premium costs.

Ratings of Encompass Auto Insurance

A.M. Best the independent rating agency has rated Encompass B+ for their financial strength. The Encompass business is insured 100% by Allstate Insurance Company. J.D. Power and Associates Survey has given 2 out of 5 stars for the Pricing and Policy Offerings and scored an overall average rating based on the easiness of contacting the insurance company.

Tips to reduce your auto insurance costs

· You can lower your auto insurance premium rate by choosing the right level of coverage avoiding unnecessary coverage options.

· Obtain multiple car insurance quotes and compare to select the best deal that suits your needs at the cheapest price.

· By storing your car in a garage you can save on insurance costs by reducing the comprehensive coverage,

· Install theft prevention devices and safety devices like air brakes, air bags to get additional discounts.

· Choosing an automatic deduction for your premium payment can get you a sizable reduction on your auto insurance premium.

Safest Car for Teenage Drivers

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:00:16 GMT

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Insurance Information Institute (III) the one thing the worried parents of teenagers can do to protect them is to choose a safe vehicle for the teenagers. The alarming statistics of motor vehicle crashes resulting in the death of teenagers is the reason behind the high rate of auto insurance for the teenaged drivers. The best choice that we can make safeguard against the uncertainty of life is to make sure that we have done our part as parents to ensure the safety of our teenaged children when they drive. It is therefore important to educate the teenage drivers about safety and responsibility while driving and the consequences of an at fault accident. They must ensure that before being licensed the teenager attends a recognized driving course.

There are many safest cars for teenagers. From the experience of Dr. Art Kellerman, Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Atlanta’s Emory University, he insisted on safety and reliability when his teenage son wanted a new car. They decided on a four cylinder Honda Accord fitted with side air bags and curtains. When the son had a T-boned crash, the side air bags and curtains prevented injuries to the brain and other injuries. He says, “You can always buy a new car, but you cannot buy another kid”.

Many tests have confirmed that a bigger vehicle protects the driver in any type of crash. At the time of buying a car for the teenager it is best to check its scores of crash tests available from the government and the IIHS. You can also refer to the Edmunds Car Safety Guide to find the crash test results. The IIHS website has the ratings and also recommendations for the safest car for teenagers. Cars fitted with driver and passenger airbags for protecting the head are recommended highly. Stability control is another aspect that must be present in the vehicles for teenagers to avoid crashes when the system senses that the driver is losing control. While making sure that the teenage driver gets an older car, safety equipments and devices like stability control and airbags must be insisted upon. Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Ford Focus, Mazda 3, Mitsubishi Lancer and Nissan Sentra are known to be the safest cars for teen drivers.

Here are some types of cars to avoid:

1. Avoid old vehicle

The newer vehicles are more crashworthy and they are more likely to have safety devices like side airbags fitted, and therefore are safer than older vehicles according to Anne McCartt, Senior Vice President for Research at the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS).

2. High Performance Vehicles

The level of risk increases with the speed of the car. So it is not a good idea to put a young and inexperienced driver behind the wheel of a high performance cars such as sports cars.. When it comes to insuring a teenage driver the rate is already ridiculously high and if there are speeding tickets or accidents will cause it to skyrocket. A larger heavier car is safer than a light, small car. Most of the mid to full size vehicles have adequate crash protection equipment installed. The car’s tires and brakes must be in excellent condition when you allow the teenager to drive it.

3. Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs)

SUVs have higher centers of gravity and they are more likely to roll over in the event of an accident. They are created to run on rough terrain and need more ground clearance. This involves a lot of abrupt steering adjustments which an inexperienced driver will find very difficult. This is a dangerous situation for the teenage drivers when they are driving such unstable vehicles.

Myths of Auto Insurance

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:31:19 GMT

I never had or involved in an auto accident, hence I don’t need Insurance at all. You can never say that you will never have an accident. By careful driving or luck you would have not been involved in accidents. Nowadays, auto insurance is made compulsory by statutory laws. Failing to carry auto insurance is an offense and would result in huge penalties. So first myth is false.

Personal auto insurance covers both personal and business usage of the car. Personal auto insurance might be able to cover your business usage; however this has to be thoroughly checked with the insurer. If you occasionally use your personal car for business purposes such as transporting your clients, for business meetings or for hauling business equipment, then you will more than likely be required to extend your personal car insurance to cover your business use.

Without comprehensive coverage, the vehicel is still covered for theft, hail and deer accidents.
Most of the auto owners believe that if they purchase collision insurance they will get coverage against the damages to the car resulting from other resasons than driving accidents. They also think that they will be covered for incidents such as vandalism, hail, animal accidents and fire. This is not true. You definitely have to purchase both collision and comprehensive coverage in order to protect your vehicle fully from all of these situations.

The credit score has no effect on the insurance rate
Your credit score does matter in the insurance rate. Most of the Insurance companies take your credit score into consideration to determine the rate of your auto insurance policy. This is done at the time of purchase, change, or renewal of your auto insurance policy.

Males under the age of 25 pay more for auto insurance.
Usually males under 25 years of age are paying more for car insurance than female drivers under the age of 25. However, on the whole both teenaged makes as well as females pay more for auto insurance as studies have proved that these are the age groups that are typically involved in more automobile accidents.

The Most recent insurance premium would also cover for the new car

This could be true to an extent as most of the insurance policies require the policyholder to notify the car insurance company or agent about acquiring a new car within a specified number of days after purchase.

Insurance Rate is fixed by the federal government

The federal government never fixes any rate for auto insurance. Fixing the rate of auto insurance is done at the sole discretion of the state insurance department based on various parameters such as the state laws, regulations and requirements.

No fault means it is not my fault.

In general ‘no fault’ insurance means that your insurance company will pay for the damages irrespective of who is at fault in the case of an accident claim.

If I lend my car to my friend who meets with an accident, his/her insurer will pay for the damages. It is the auto owner insurance, which pays the damages. May be your friend’s insurance could cover the excessive damage if it exceeds your policy limit. Though you have not done anything on this accident, your name would still appear in the insurance records in relation to the accident and that can cause your rate to go up.

Accident Out of State Insurance

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:33:23 GMT

In the US you can drive your car to any of the states without any restriction. People undertake road trips to explore and enjoy the great outdoors and other places of tourist interest. While it is good to enjoy the trips you would be better off to use some caution. You can expect poorly lit roads, animal crossings and bad weather and bad road conditions. You just need to make sure you are well protected by auto insurance even when you are traveling out of your own state. This is very important because if you are involved in an accident with severe damages your income for the rest of your life will go to pay damages to a court out of state. Your auto insurance company will be your most important resource for such financial liabilities while you are traveling out of state. It is better to be protected to enjoy your journey or vacation out of state.

If you carry auto insurance policy from Esurance, with liability, collision and comprehensive coverage included and rent a car for out of state travel, your coverage will transfer to your rental car. The same deductibles and limits will be applicable for your rental car. Some rental agreements may require you to have additional coverage for out of state travel.

California State Requirements

For this you should perk up your liability coverage and be sure to handle whatever unfortunate event life throws your way. If you are a resident of California, your best option would be to carry liability auto insurance with a minimum of $100,000 per person and $300,000 per accident. This will cover any claims that can arise from any state.

Michigan State No Fault Auto Insurance

In the state of Michigan, your no fault auto insurance protects you against most of your monetary losses provided the accident happened in any state within the US or in Canada. You have the additional benefit of recovering further damages through the law of the state in which the mishap took place due to the negligence of another driver. Michigan State has made it mandatory for all motorists to have no fault auto insurance. The reason behind this is that they cover the gap between the required coverage amount in this state and the amount required in other states that have a higher requirement than Michigan. This is known as the residual liability insurance.

If your auto insurance policy has the property damage coverage included, it will cover provide cover for any repairs or replacements to a rental vehicle up to the limit permitted by your policy. If you do not have this coverage it is advisable to have additional insurance to be able to cover damages to a newer or more expensive rental car. In case of injuries, Michigan no fault insurer will take care of the medical expenses of the injured family members of the insured living in the insured’s household, owner of the vehicle and the driver in that order.

In the even of an accident occurring in another state, the Michigan state laws, and the laws of the state where the accident occurred and the provisions of the no fault auto insurance policy held by the insured will come into effect.

I Drive ATV off Road. Do I need insurance for ATV

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:32:28 GMT

ATV’s are generally three wheeled/four wheeled/six wheeled vehicles which are strictly used off road. They should not be used on any public roads in the United States. Driving all terrain vehicles on the road is illegal. They are only allowed in public land, or parks. These areas are designated as off-highway vehicles (OHV’s). All terrain vehicles are mainly used for agricultural purposes or business use. The vehicles need to be registered and titled with the state ATV section.

Importance of ATV insurance

Let us understand the importance of having ATV insurance in case you own all terrain vehicles (ATV). There are various reasons why you should invest in ATV insurance even though you drive off road. The important reason is that the theft rate for these vehicles is higher. In case your vehicle is stolen, ATV insurance has comprehensive coverage which protects your vehicle against theft or even damage due to fire, storm or vandalism. So you can file a claim with the insurance company if you have ATV insurance to get compensated for this considerable loss.

Secondly when you are using all terrain vehicles in any state owned public land, road or park, insurance is necessary as these vehicles are considered as high risk by insurance companies.

Protect your ATV from accidents

There is safety aspect that needs to be taken into account while driving all terrain vehicles. There are potential dangers associated with these extraordinary vehicles. Being powerful vehicles, they can travel at speeds of 60 or 70 miles per hour through mud or any type of uneven trails or hills. There are chances that the vehicle might roll over if it is not handled properly and skillfully. The vehicle damage in such circumstances will be unimaginable and will result in severe injuries and maximum damage to the ATV and the financial loss will be enormous. Having the right amount of auto insurance on ATVS will help you protect your life and assets.

Every year many people die because of accidents while driving ATV’s. Considering the danger aspect associated with ATV’s, it is better to go for ATV insurance even though you are driving off road. You can install anti-theft and other safety devices in the
ATV to get discounts on your ATV insurance. Keeping them parked in a garage and driving less mileage are other ways of getting significant discounts on your ATV insurance. Shop around and get your best deal as insurance companies offer attractive rates and offers every year.

The best way to get complete information on ATV insurance or related laws is to check with your State’s department of motor vehicles or state insurance department. Just like any other vehicle, you cannot ignore the high risk posed by terrain vehicles. Considering the safety aspect of ATVs from the theft or vandalism point of view, it is ideal to have ATV insurance even though you keep the ATV off road most of the time.

Insurance Policy Is Abrogated Due to DUI Violation

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:20:11 GMT

Insurance companies deal with customers convicted of DUI violation in two ways. First, your insurer may cancel your policy outright. Alternatively, they will raise your premium rate dramatically stating the ‘increased point count’ as reason which means that you are now categorized as a ‘high risk’ driver. Since insurers check your vehicle record only once a year. Some insurance companies do it only when you apply for a new policy or once in 3 years. Due to this blemishes like tickets and DUI may escape their attention. If they find these on your driving record, then chances are high that your policy may get cancelled or rate increased exorbitantly.

If you are forced to seek a new insurer for your auto insurance policy, you should look for a specialist who deals with non-standard insurance coverage such as DUI coverage. For example, DUI-Auto-Insurance.com backed by 50 years of experience in DUI coverage, has helped thousands of motorists to re-instate their licenses and help them with SR-22s. Their guidance and advice have saved the drivers to save on lawyer fees running into thousands of dollars.

You will need anSR22 filing with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to re-instate your driver’s license. You can go online and apply for SR22. You will get several quotes from which you can choose the best deal and they issue the SR filing the same day. To remove the suspension on your license you must purchase the minimum liability coverage. If you do not own a car you should purchase a ‘non-owners’ coverage. You should maintain SR22 filing for three years under normal circumstances. In the wake of strict enforcement of DMV laws, it can be more. The violation will stay on your driving record for 10 years. The insurance companies rate it for points once in 3 years but the top carriers avoid drivers with DUI violations.

The first step is to know what is recorded in your driving record to know its severity. If you do not know you have to purchase it by paying a fee from the DMV. Call the DMV’s office and find out the cost of re-activating your license. After getting the information, you should call the DUI insurer and go through the process of purchasing the appropriate auto insurance coverage. When you complete the purchase process the insurer will issue your SR22 filing. The entire process can be completed online. Upon receipt of the SR22 filing the DMV will re-instate your license immediately.

Do all Insurance Find out I had a DUI Violation

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:51:43 GMT

Yes, insurance companies will eventually find out if you had a drunk driving or DUI violation. This is because the US federal and state laws prohibit drunk driving or driving under the influence of certain substances and places the financial responsibility on every driver. This is where your auto insurance will share a part of the financial loss if you happen to get involved in an accident. If you break this law you may land in jail, pay huge fine and your insurer will cancel your policy or increase the rate dramatically, sometimes by 400%.

When you are found guilty of DUI, your driver’s license will be suspended by the Department of Motor Vehicles DMV. Typically your will be required to file SR22 with the DMV to revoke the suspension. SR22 is a certificate issued by your insurer in proof of your carrying liability insurance. DMV requires SR22 form as the department wants to keep erring drivers away from the roads to prevent accidents and to save lives and property. No other proof of carrying insurance is acceptable by the DMV. So you have no other choice but approach your insurance company for SR22 filing. Thus your insurance company will ultimately find out about your drunken driving violation.

When you are convicted of drunk driving which is considered as a criminal offense in most states, it gets into your driving records. A copy of this citation will be sent by the DMV to your insurance company. So there is no way you can escape the possibility of your insurance company finding out about your DUI violation.

At the time of providing a new auto insurance policy or at the time of renewal the insurance companies check your driving credentials and you will definitely be caught with DUI violation as it is in your driving records. The usual auto insurance renewal time is either once in six months or every year. If they find out, they will refuse to insure your or renew your policy. Some insurance companies may increase the rate of your auto insurance manifold. The rate increase is due to the higher financial risk the insurer takes when providing cover to a ‘high risk’ driver as a result of the DUI violation.

It is imminent that your insurance companies both the present and new, will eventually find out if you have a DUI violation.

How Can I Get an SR22 in California

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 04:55:12 GMT

The SR22 is a form issued by an auto insurance company to removes a suspension order placed by your DMV on your driving privileges.If you are caught up in a situation that requires filing of SR22, your driver’s license will be suspended by the DMV. The first thing to do is consult an attorney who deals with such cases and inform your insurance company with as many details as possible to help them assess the extent of loss. They would verify the details and arrange to issue the SR22 which is required to get the suspension on your license to be removed.

California has the Compulsory Financial Responsibility Law that holds every driver or motor vehicle owner financially responsible for any damage or injury resulting form an accident regardless of who is at fault. The purpose of this law is to make sure that all the drivers are insured and to make the roads safe for all road users and to prevent the irresponsible drivers from causing injury or damage in accidents.

According to Californian law, when a driver is arrested for drunken driving or driving under influence DUI, is considered as a problem driver or high risk driver. His driver’s license is suspended and to revoke the suspension he has to file a SR22 certificate as proof of having auto insurance with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). No other document is accepted as proof of auto insurance. Form SR22 is a certificate that is to be issued by the insurance company and is filed with the DMV mentioning the driver’s details and the auto insurance policy he has with them. On acceptance of SR22 the license of the concerned driver is reinstated. The SRR is kept on file for three years and if the policy lapses and is not renewed or is cancelled, the insurance company has to notify about it to the DMV. SR22 from other state will not apply if you shift to a different state as they are state specific.

The DMV will then notify you that by a certain date you will have to file another SR-22 with them or your license will be suspended. SR22 is a state requirement, so even if you do not have a valid auto insurance policy, notify it to the DMV and obtain it from an insurer who will provide DUI insurance or SR22 insurance.

Temporary Car Insurance

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:39:33 GMT

If you are a new driver with a learner’s permit and you intend to drive a car, you can get the car insured for a particular period till you obtain a regular driver’s license. Temporary car insurance is the option for you. Law requires that even to own a vehicle, one would certainly need liability insurance, even if the car is not driven by the owner. The new driver can get an affordable deal with for the limited period through temporary car insurance. If there is a threat to the car, due to weather conditions and natural calamities such your car has chances of being destroyed in a hurricane, storm or flood are high. To be protected against such a possibility you need temporary car insurance. For this coverage for a short period of time it is not necessary to pay premiums all through the year. This is a good way to save money on premiums when there is no need for this coverage.

How it Works

As the name suggests, temporary car insurance provides coverage for a specific period as it is for temporary use of the vehicle. In general the coverage is for a period of a minimum of 1 day to a month and could go up to six months at the maximum. The premium could be collected bi-monthly or a single payment. However coverage starts from the date of purchase. The coverage includes liability insurance (bodily injury, property damage), physical damage, and uninsured and underinsured motorist, and may include medical payments for passengers. The premium is normally less than that of long term insurance. Some of the insurers offer extras like roadside services to policy holders. The policy can be cancelled by a written request.

Advantages of having Temporary Car Insurance

Following are the advantages of having temporary car insurance

Instant Car insurance coverage
Temporary insurance for the additional cars and SUVs
For temporary additional drivers
Protecting No claim Bonus
Immediate Drive Away Coverage
Unaccompanied Vehicle Demonstration

In general temporary car insurance is the most suitable plan for the short term needs. Short term policy would be more useful, if you have purchased the car and have not gotten the insurance yet. There is no burden of paying long time premium as it is short term and payable only once as there is no renewal of policy as such.

Who can apply for Temporary Car Insurance?

The persons who are not the regular drivers, students, visitors, those who do not have temporary additional vehicles are mainly the population who wanted to get the temporary car insurance. The policy talks for the nature and the purpose of being taken for specific purpose and for a particular period.

Temporary car insurance plays very vital role at the time of the accident. It is a very simple process to get a temporary car insurance.

Understanding Diminished Value for Car Insurance

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:08:14 GMT

Car insurers use diminished value to determine the amount for claims settlement when a car is damaged in an accident. Diminished Value is the difference in the market value of a vehicle before it met with an accident and the market value of the same vehicle after the accident. Diminished Value is the term given to the loss in market value as the vehicle suffers as a result of an auto accident and repair. In general the diminishing value is 18% between the pre-crash and post-crash estimate. The difference is officially termed as diminished value in the auto insurance industry. It depends on the state laws, whether or not your auto insurance company will cover the difference of the diminished value payments. In many states, the insurance coverage will guarantee that a car will be repaired to pre-accident condition. Though the car may be restored to a roadworthy condition, the car still will not have the value it was worth before the accident.

Causes for Diminishing Value

Many studies have proven that there are many factors that cause repaired cars to become less desirable to buyers and lose market value. The factors are as follows:

The poor quality workmanship
Usage of inferior spare parts made by the sources other than the vehicle’s original manufacture
Loss of factory transferable Warranty coverage
Damaged and repaired parts
Increased title and disclosure obligations
Loss of eligibility for inclusion in the manufacturer’s pre-owned certification program.

Types of diminished value

I. Inherent Diminished Value: This is an automatic and unavoidable loss of market value of the car simply due to the fact than a motor vehicle has been involved in an accident. It many cases it is made as mandatory that the previous damage is made known to a prospective buyer.

II. Insurance Related Diminished Value: This is because of the oversights or omissions by the insurance company on their appraisal and also, because of the use of the spurious replacement parts from sources other than the original manufacturer.

III. Repair Related Diminished Value: This value is the amount in which the motor vehicle was depreciated due to improper or incomplete repairs, poor quality repairs, or un-repaired items that were compensated for within the scope of insurance appraisal.

Getting paid for Diminished Value

Three misconceptions continue to remain in the auto insurance market in getting paid for diminished value.

1. Most of them believe that a claim for diminished value is a claim that is distinct from the one compensating for actual physical damages like bent fenders and doors. The diminished value is an element of recoverable damage in the same claim that occurred at the same time, during the same event. An insurer who accepts liability pays for any damage, based on actual proof and pay for all the losses, except those items that have been excluded for payment in the policy.

2. Many people go by the assumption that one must sell his/her car to collect a diminished value claim from an insurer. Insurers are using this to buy timed and stall the claims payouts for as long as possible, knowing the car owner might lose interest in pursuing the recovery due to many limitations. You should remember that diminished value, like other elements of loss, becomes payable as of the date of the accident and not at a future date.

3. Some believe that courts all over the country have banned diminished value claims, terming them as bogus. This is a technique used by the insurers who try to evade paying these claims. While it is true that some diminished value claims cases got tossed from courts by judges in the past, due to the lawyers being unable to show sufficient common grounds to sustain a class of members. It was not because diminished value claims have no merit.

Finally, to collect the diminished value the burden of proof is on the policy holder himself. It is also true that in most cases of diminished value there is an underlying threat of the litigation process.

Can I get Insurance Claim if not wearing Seat Belt

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:58:52 GMT

If you were not wearing seat belt, you will not be able to make a claim on your auto insurance. The law clearly states that drivers and all passengers of a car must wear seat belts. By not wearing a seat belt, you have broken the law. Most insurance policies have a clause in which it says that the insurance company will not pay your claim if you do something against the law when you are driving. Auto insurance claims may be investigated in consideration of factors like ‘Assumption of risk’, ‘contributory negligence’ and comparative negligence’. You might have contributed to your injuries and so are partially negligent in following the safety requirements. You have failed to use the seat belt and assumed a part of the risk on yourself. This is a case of comparative negligence. So the insurance company has strong reasons for not agreeing to settle your claim as you were partially responsible for causing the injuries. This holds well even if you were not responsible for the accident.

You can call the insurance adjuster of your insurer to verify the facts. You should also talk to your agent or the concerned underwriter to discuss how your insurance policy and the premium will be affected due to the situation. Sometimes you may be offered a percentage of the estimated settlement. Safety belt defense is accepted in some states and if you are injured in a car accident because you were not wearing the seat belt and it caused or worsened your injury, you may get a reduced settlement amount.

Seat belt law is explained in section 27315 of the Vehicle Code known as the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of California. According to this act, the driver and all passengers in a private passenger vehicle are legally required to wear seatbelts. Seat belts are made compulsory because they have saved thousands of lives every year in accidents and also reduce the severity of the victims’ injuries. Wearing seat belt is surely a life saving habit.

You should contact an experienced lawyer who handles such cases to seek guidance on your particular situation.

Tips for Buying Car Insurance Policy

Sat, 25 Jul 2009 05:57:35 GMT

Car insurance is essential and you should purchase enough coverage to have peace of mind as you have protection. Several insurance companies compete with each other for getting you as a customer offering a variety of coverage and prices. To avoid confusion and make the right decision about which policy is right and which company you will be better off with some help from the experts. There are a whole lot of tips available online for shopping for car insurances. The top 5 tips are explained here.

1. Shop around for affordable Car Insurance with Discounts

It is very important to ask for the discounts, when you are looking out for car insurance.

Many online insurance brokers allow you to get multiple quotes and compare them. By filling out a single form you will get car insurance rates of leading insurers within seconds and you can even compare and select your policy using these online tools. You can also go by the ratings of the company by A.M. Best or such reliable rating agencies.

2. Reducing the car insurance with higher deductible

If you have enough savings it is wise to select an auto insurance policy with higher deductible, as it brings down the premiums to a great extent. However, one must remember that he will have to pay more out of his pocket in the event of an accident resulting in damages to people and property. By paying a lower premium you an save substantially if you drive safely.

3. Lowering the coverage to reduce the car insurance rate

If you are planning to buy car insurance for an older car with good coverage you will end up paying more premiums. If something happens to your car the compensation that you get from the insurance company would not even be the same amount of the premium that you already paid. It is always wise to reduce the coverage for the car insurance, when it comes to older used cars. Make the most of discounts that you qualify for.

4. Reducing the car insurance by combining the policies together

Many insurance carriers are happy to introduce new policies on a daily basis. It is always good to look out for a merger on various types of policies. You can combine two or more policies together into one bundle, as it will reduce the financial burden. If any insurance is combining the car insurance policy with that of home owner policy, we can combine both the policies and can save money. The concept here is that the insurance companies bag more business while you enjoy better savings. Staying with the same insurer for long years also is beneficial as they offer lower rates to long time customers.

5. Know your car insurance requirement in your state

It is important to know the car insurance requirement in the respective state before buying the policy.

For example the California State law enforces the following:

· Bodily Injury Coverage $15000

· Coverage of bodily insurance for more than one person $30000

· Property Damage $5000

Full Coverage Auto Insurance

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:59:43 GMT

When you have full coverage auto insurance your car is covered in the event of an accident to pay for repairs to your car. In reality ‘full coverage’ is a misleading term as all insurance policies have their own limitations. Different auto insurance policies exclude different coverage such as fault of the insured driver, wear and tear and more. It is necessary to understand what the term ‘full coverage’ actually covers to avoid shocking expenses. Consumers are made to believe that they are fully covered even though there are risks left uncovered that are not disclosed. You should also be aware that you cannot expect auto insurance to pay for all repairs such as when you have to replace your tire due to running on a nail. In this case you have to pay for it out of your pocket. The point to be noted here is that auto insurance does not pay for every repair of your car. You car repairs of covered only in the case of accident or vandalism. So when you purchase your auto insurance make sure to talk to your agent or insurance company or better still read the details carefully to know about the exact coverage offered.

The full coverage auto insurance usually covers the following in the event of an accident:

Liability Coverage: Liability coverage pays for claims made by others against you for damages to others caused you which include bodily injury as well as property damage. Think about it, can you pay if someone won a lawsuit for $600,000 against you? Most of us cannot.
Comprehensive and Collision coverage: Comprehensive coverage gives protection against damages to the insured driver’s vehicle caused by happenings other than collision. They include fire, theft vandalism and the like. Collision coverage covers damages caused to the insured driver’s vehicle due to a collision.
Personal Injury Protection coverage: In short PIP, personal injury protection coverage will pay for medical expenses of you and your family.

You are fully protected only when you buy full coverage auto insurance that will pay for repair costs, medical expenses and the expenses connected with liability law suits when you meet with an accident. Full coverage auto insurance will pay for damages if the accident involves an uninsured or underinsured driver.

If you have loans on your vehicle, you should have extra coverage that will take care of paying off your vehicle loan in the even of damage to your vehicle cause by an accident. Automobile loans make it mandatory to have full coverage auto insurance for your vehicle. Not having a full coverage means that in the event of an accident you are involved in an accident you will end up being without a vehicle and also pay off your automobile loan in full.

Having full coverage auto insurance is the real protection you have against major financial loss and you should make sure that you get the above mentioned coverage when you choose your auto insurance policy.

Multiple Cars in Single Policy

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:28:21 GMT

If you would rather have a single auto insurance policy for more than one car in your household, you can consider taking out a multiple car insurance policy. It can provide cover for any number of cars or vehicles excluding motorbikes owned by the same household.  The advantage of having multiple car insurance is that there are neither additional administration costs nor surcharges.  Insurance companies have different policies for multiple car insurance. Some require only the policyholder’s details and some others need the details of all drivers including the points on their driving records and if they are entitled to a no claims bonus and the like. This is why the price of policies differs from insurer to insurer based on how they assess the risk. You should do a thorough research on the internet to get the best deal that fits your requirements.

Advantages of a Single Policy For Your Vehicles

When you have a single policy for multiple cars you can save money significantly because of the lower premiums involved. It also offers the convenience of dealing with all your coverage issues with a single policy. Only a single payment will take care of all the car insurance and it is easy to manage as there is single payment only to be made.  Multi car insurance policy is the best option for those who have multiple cars for use by different members of the family.   So you can weigh your options taking into consideration all the policy offerings and choose the right policy and enjoy peace of mind.

If you have only two cars there is an option called second car insurance. Instead of having two different auto insurance policies for the two cars, it is a better idea to have them covered under a single combined policy. The cheaper premiums and lower charges make it a money saving option. More and more auto insurance companies are offering better rates and deals on multi car insurance. So it is a good time for opting for a single multiple car insurance when the competition is high. 

Benefits

Multiple car insurance benefits can be listed as follows:

They can be renewed easily as there is only one policy.
You can save a lot of money as there a discount of 20% can be availed
No administration costs or surcharges including policy fees, renewal fees, billing and broker’s fees etc.
You can easily add another vehicle under the policy anytime. It also allows you to add older vehicle to the policy without any hassles.
You get loyalty benefits for staying with the same insurance company for many years.

 Consider multi car insurance to save money for years instead of losing it on recurring payments on individual polices for your vehicles.

The Role of Personal Injury Lawyer

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:05:43 GMT

When there is an auto accident, the people involved often do not know what their rights are. When there are injuries, the claims relating to personal injuries must be made within a specific period following the accident as per the laws. The time limit varies from state to state. The injured can file a lawsuit against the party responsible for the accident. If you are injured in a vehicle accident, you should know what benefits to claim, choosing the healthcare providers and if other claims such as loss of income can be made. The insurance companies have trained insurance adjusters who are skilled in negotiating and they try to settle the claim very quickly and with the least amount of compensation possible. It is therefore not an easy task to go through the process of making a claim with the right points and evidence. This is where a personal injury lawyer can play a meaningful role in making your claim successful in getting the maximum compensation that you deserve from your auto insurance provider.

Personal injury is defined as any injury caused to a person such as a cut, bruise, and fracture and the like. This includes any bodily injury due to negligence or accident for which you can sue the other party who is responsible for your injuries. Under these circumstances it is critical to contact a personal injury lawyer immediately. This lawyer is trained to handle personal injury lawsuits and have the special skills to deal with the insurance companies. It is best left to a personal injury lawyer to take up your claim with your insurer for the following reasons:

They have expertise in evaluating and documenting your claim.
They can decide all the auto insurance benefits you rare entitled to.
They have the capability to recover t your rightful claim amount
They can interact with your healthcare providers to strengthen your claim and determine the claim amount
They take care of all the investigation and legal paperwork

Handling the claim without the help of the personal injury lawyer can cost you heavily. The success of your case depends on factors like the quality of the evidence you present, the facts of your case and the skill and commitment that an attorney puts in. He ensures that your medical expenses, the loss of income and your mental distress requiring counseling are included in your claim. They collect the essential information and put the facts together in support of your claim in a convincing way.

The best thing about having a personal injury lawyer to represent you is they will make sure that you do not feel left alone in the distressing time. They handle the situation with utmost care and deal with all the parties concerned with tact. The attorneys usually have a team of professionals such as litigation paralegals, secretaries, legal assistants and case managers working with them for making your case strong and successful.

How Do Points Affect the Car Insurance Rates

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 01:36:17 GMT

What is point system and how does it affect your car insurance rate? - The points system is being administered by the Department of Licensing in the respective states. Exceeding your point allowance within a time period will result in the suspension of your license. However, it might vary with various insurers and their usage of their own system. Generally they use a system where points are assigned for each infraction in the driving record of the applicant that they use to determine the probability of a claim.

The following are the points assigned to each infraction.

Over speeding 3 Points for first occurrence and 2 points for second and 2 points thereafter.
No charge Violation – 0 for each occurrence
Not at fault collision – 0 for each occurrence

The normal practice is for the insurers to assign their own point value against each infraction. This will be used for calculating the dollar amount for each point that you have to pay extra that is included in the overall price. Often, your first infraction, such as a collision, won't impact your rates too much. But if you have filed a claim on your car insurance policy you can expect that your rates to rise due to this. Any major violation can result in your rates rising up to 26 per cent above the current rate on your auto insurance as they carry higher points.

Factors contributing to the point system

The insurance companies mostly use the point systems to help them to calculate their premiums. The other factors are the cost of your insurance, your age, gender, marital status, the type of vehicle you drive, the usage of your vehicle and even your credit history will have a say in fixing your auto insurance rate. That is why it is much more beneficial to prove yourself as a safe driver. Several violations can double your current insurance rates, which could mean that you can no longer afford them for the car that you are driving on the road.

Do’s and Don’ts

It is always better that you get a copy of your driver's abstract from the local Department of Motor Vehicles branch in your area for a small fee. This is much needed to track your own infractions on the road and you should disclose the same with insures, when you apply for any insurance. Otherwise, the insurance company will eventually come to see your driver's abstract when you apply for renewal of your auto insurance with them. It iss best to disclose it with your insurance company if you have any such blemish on your driving record. If they find out eventually the insurance company will cancel or void your insurance policy.

If you have any such issues recorded in your driving record, the next best course of action for you is to contact your current insurance company and ask them about their current policies and the rates. You should also check if they have an amnesty program way to reduce the effect of this incident on your car insurance rate.

Will Learners Permit Increase Parents Premium

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 06:00:34 GMT

It is mandatory for all motorists to have auto insurance to prove financial responsibility. A learner’s permit is merely a permission to drive which is a temporary driving license that has some restrictions. Every driver must possess auto insurance whether they have a Drivers license or Learner’s permit. To put it simply, the permission to drive on the road comes with all the responsibilities including financial responsibility relating to driving a vehicle on the road. In essence, you must have auto insurance to be able to have a motor vehicle even if you only have a learner’s permit. This means that you either buy your own auto insurance or be covered by other’s policy like your parent’s.

Most of the states do no insist on your own auto insurance when you are driving on your learner’s permit but you will have to learn driving on your parents’ vehicle so that the insurance of your parents’ vehicle will include you in the coverage during this period of time. Your parents should notify the insurance company that you will be driving their car with your learner’s permit.

Usually most of the insurance companies will not charge extra when you drive with a learner’s permit but will start charging you when you start driving as a licensed driver. This charge will be higher than what they charge for experienced drivers as new drivers are considered as higher risk. You can still get a reduced rate the rate if you take a course in approved driver’s education and also maintain high grades. If you are attending a driving school and are learning with the school’s car, the insurance of their car, you will automatically be covered by their insurance for that car.

It must be understood that the car you use for learning needs auto insurance though you need not have insurance. In the case of an accident if you are found at fault, the car’s insurance should cover damages to the other cars involved. In the event of a collision the car’s insurance will pay for the damage to your car.

Additional insurance is not required for the duration of learning. In California, you can only drive with a licensed adult who has insurance on the car that you are using to learn driving. Once you get your own driver’s license you need to be added to the car’s insurance and the rates will definitely increase for the addition of an inexperienced driver.

Cheap ATV Insurance

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 05:26:58 GMT

ATV insurance is more or less similar to motorcycle insurance. All terrain vehicles are three wheeled/four wheeled/six wheeled vehicles which are mostly used off the road. With these vehicles you can not only spend time at the parks and lakes but also dash through trees, jump along hills and skid your way in the mud and so on to have a thrilling experience in driving. Taking ATV insurance is the best way to safeguard your vehicle and family against any untoward incident causing damages to your vehicle.

This type of insurance is for all terrain vehicles used in state owned land or park. Many people have the impression that homeowner’s policies cover ATV. But it is not the case. The important point to note is that homeowner’s policy provides only minimum cover on ATV. The ATV insurance coverage varies from state to state

Types of covers provided under ATV insurance

ATV insurance has features more or less similar to auto insurance. There are different types of covers provided under ATV insurance like collision coverage, comprehensive damage coverage, property damage cover, bodily injury cover, underinsured motorist coverage and medical payments coverage. Collision covers damages that could arise as a result of collision with another vehicle.

Comprehensive cover provides cover for damages due to reasons other than collision such as theft, fire, animal hit, falling objects or vandalism. Property damage cover pays for the cost of repair or damage. In case of injuries, bodily injury cover pays for medical expenses. When damages are caused to your ATV by uninsured drivers, uninsured motorist coverage provides cover for damages. Medical payments coverage takes care of medical expenses for family members in case of any accident.

Tips for getting cheap ATV insurance

Generally ATV insurance have higher premium rate. It is however possible to obtain cheap ATV insurance so as to keep your premiums low. Search for companies that provide ATV cover and look for different types of covers these companies provide. Contact your insurance present company or insurance agent to get the best ATV cover. It is important to compare insurance quotes before purchasing cover from any insurance company. Since laws vary from state to state, check with local ATV clubs or ATV dealers to get information on ATV insurance.

Purchasing insurance from a highly rated company specializing in ATV is necessary as they would be able to provide the best covers for all terrain vehicles.

There are many factors that affect insurance rates. It depends on the type of all terrain vehicles you own. Try to maintain your driving record as clean as possible and avoid accidents. This will help you to get low premium ATV insurance. You can purchase a cheap ATV insurance cover and save a good amount of money. It is necessary to cover your four wheeler vehicles as ATV’s have a high rate of theft.