Car Blog » Car Insurance

Don’t forget your towing benefits…

kevin — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:45:01 +0000

My wife reminded me that our insurance policy provides towing reimbursement for accidents and repairs. I recently had to have my Expedition towed into the repair shop and my lovely wife reminded me that our insurance provides up to $50 yearly for towing. So take a look at your current policy and see if you have the same benefit and don’t forget about it the next time you need a tow!

A Blonde Moment

kevin — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 03:53:59 +0000

Can you believe my wife did not know the difference between collision and comprehensive insurance coverage ? Well to tell you the truth, she is a blonde, but it’s a sad fact that many people do not know the difference. Click here to read about it…

How To Get The Best Auto Insurance Deals

kevin — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 19:31:10 +0000

Ever wonder what it takes to get the best auto insurance deals? Simple. Shop around and do it yearly. Don?t just keep paying the invoice over and over without comparison shopping. Here are a few suggestions to help you get the best deal available on your automobile insurance policy.

There are also many decisions you can make about your policy that will save you a bundle. As an example, if you change your deductible on your collision from a $50 deductible to a $500-$1000 deductible, you?re inline for a huge premium savings. If you don?t think you could come up with $1000 out of pocket, you can change it to a $500 deductible.

You can also get more of a savings if you change your comprehensive deductible. Many people needlessly carry full coverage on their older vehicle. They originally purchased the vehicle new, paid for full coverage and to this day, continue to pay the same high rate. Don?t make the same mistake: talk with your insurance company and see if there?s a better rate for older automobiles.

Here?s another great trick: combine your vehicles and other insurance together to get you additional savings. All insurance companies offer a multi-car discount (if yours doesn?t, it?s time to switch companies). Further, many will discount more if you have your homeowners or renters policy with them.

Often times, there are also other discounts that you may not be taking advantage of. It seems obvious, but make sure you are getting the correct rate for your age. There are discounts for various ages than can save you lots of money. Check with your agent on this one. Also alarm systems on your vehicle are usually good for a discount. Additionally, anti-lock brakes and air bags can also help lower your premiums.

Never just keep paying the invoice when it comes in. By following some of the above tips and tricks, you?ll be saving a lot of money on your auto insurance bills.

About The Author
Dr. Drew Henry operates a network of auto-related websites, including http://www.firstautostore.com, http://www.southernautorental.com and http://www.car-auto-loans.net. Visit his sites today for more articles and resources!

Do you know if you are getting the best deal on auto insurance?

Spend a few minutes of your time and get multiple quotes from Agents in YOUR area. It will be the best 10 minutes you will ever spend, and you wallet will thank you !

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Determining how much Auto Insurance Coverage you Need

kevin — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 14:16:19 +0000

Determining how much Auto Insurance Coverage you Need

1: Other Party:

Auto Insurance Bodily Injury (BI) Liability and Property Damage (PD) coverage is Legally required in most states today. (BI & PD) Most people understand that they need BI and PD, but they have no idea how to determine how much coverage they need.

Try this simple question: What if your car was involved in an auto accident tonight where heaven forbid, someone else was injured or killed? Remember, everything you own is in the back seat of the car with you and is at risk in a lawsuit! So, what do you think their family would sue you for? $15,000? $25,000? $100,000 or even maybe a Million dollars! Where would you get the money to pay them?

Perhaps the Equity in your Home would help? How about your Savings and/or Investments? You could even have up to 25% of your wages attached to pay the award in most states! Are you prepared to sacrifice everything you own to pay an award due to this accident? If not, read on for how to choose the auto insurance coverage you need.

2: You and Your Family:

Now let?s turn the above accident around. For some unfortunate reason, you or a loved one is the one who is injured or killed in an auto accident. Where would you get the money if the person who hit you did not have auto insurance or not enough auto insurance? Medical bills can be covered if you have health insurance. But health insurance doesn?t cover loss of life, pain & suffering or permanent disability.

Maybe you have a life insurance policy through your employer or your own individual life policy. Is the benefit amount sufficient to cover your family if your loved one is killed? But even if you have life insurance, what pays for the misery, the pain and suffering, maybe the fact you or a loved one can?t walk or use their arms again?

You might have a disability insurance policy through your work if you?re lucky or had good financial advice. But disability insurance doesn?t pay for loss of life, pain & suffering, permanent loss of your legs, arm or hand.

The only coverage that pays for these things is a part of an auto insurance policy known as Un/Under-insured motorist coverage. You can only buy as much coverage here as you have in Liability coverage. Your auto insurance agent should be able to help you determine the exact amount you need.

3: Your Car

Comprehensive and Collision Coverage are the third part of an auto insurance policy and are sometimes referred to as ?Full coverage.? Basically the difference is this: If you run into the tree you are covered by Collision coverage. If the tree runs into you (hypothetically of course), then you are covered by comprehensive coverage. Comprehensive also covers broken windshields, fire, theft and vandalism. The higher deductible (risk) you take here, the lower the premium. Use the savings here to purchase higher limits in the coverages that protect your assets and your family.

The bottom line to determining proper auto insurance coverage is, of course, the money available in your household budget. An excellent place to start in determining the proper auto insurance coverage for your family is to meet with your local auto insurance agent.

Most cut-rate companies concern themselves with one thing only: Price. Tell them what coverage you have and they?ll see if they can give you the same coverage for less. You become the insurance professional. If this is the only need you have then that is ok. If not, you need to seek the advice of a professional to help you determine the proper amount of coverage you need and how best to accomplish it.

Review these tips for auto insurance coverage to make sure you have enough to protect your family. You may reprint this article on your site or in your newsletter with proper credit to the author and a simple link to http://www.hometownquotes.com

Buying Auto Insurance (part 4 of 4)Jeanine Steele

kevin — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 01:30:12 +0000

Think About it: You Need to Buy Insurance to Protect Yourself, Passengers, and Family Members by Purchasing Underinsured Motorist Coverage (part 4 of 4)

One serious mistake is to decline UIM coverage. Some companies require that you purchase UIM in the same amounts as the liability insurance. However, many companies, depending upon state law, are authorized to sell denominations of UIM coverage less than the liability limits. The insured thinks that he is providing some satisfactory minimal coverage for his family and decides to save some money with lower UIM limits. However, UIM is probably the most important place to spend money.

You are not as likely to cause an accident, as you are to be a victim of an accident. At least if you are taking the time to read this article, you are probably a person who will exercise more care and judgment in your driving than the ordinary person. Therefore, it is more likely that you will be making a claim against another person for injuries sustained by you at the hand of the third party tortfeasor. In this instance, the tortfeasor may (but likely will not) have sufficient insurance to cover you and your passengers for all of your medical expenses, wages loss, and general damages. If not, then the tortfeasor is said to be underinsured. In that instance, the balance of the value of your claim, above the bodily injury policy limits of the tortfeasor, is the responsibility of your own companys UIM coverage.

A third possibility is if the tortfeasor is uninsured. This is a distinct likelihood if someone who is reckless, or who has a drinking problem or who is driving with a suspended license involves you in their traffic habits. They caused you and your passengers harm, but they have no insurance. You will be making your entire claim under your UIM polity limits.

All too often, we have seen serious injuries to individuals and their families receive little or partial compensation because the insured elected to save money by not purchasing the maximum UIM coverage available to him. Purchase as much UIM coverage as you can.

Be Honest

A word of caution in dealing with your insurance company: dont try to fool them on any of the information requested, or by insuring only one driver for each of the family vehicles. We have numerous cases holding that one family member is not covered because he or she was not named as a driver of another family vehicle. Questions of whether the vehicle was available for the regular use of any individual are complex issues, and history tells that you will lose. Disclose the full number of drivers and you will have the knowledge that you and family members are covered.

The same thing pertains to marital status and student status of children. Our recommendation is to be honest in your application and in your relationship with your company. The few dollars you save otherwise will never be a bargain should you loose out in the long run. A contract entered into with materially fraudulent representations can be voidable by the company under some circumstances.

Table of Insurance Coverage Requirements, by State

Most states require that you have liability insurance. This covers you when you’re at fault in an accident. If you live in New Hampshire, South Carolina, Tennessee or Wisconsin, you aren’t required by law (yet) to have liability coverage. For the rest of us, the mandatory coverage varies according to state. In the chart below, minimum liability limits are read as follows (in thousands of dollars): bodily injury liability for one person in an accident/bodily injury liability for all people injured in an accident/property damage liability for one accident.

So, for Alabama, the minimum requirements are $20,000 of bodily injury liability for one person, $40,000 bodily injury liability for all people and $10,000 property damage liability.

StateRequired coverage typesUninsured/Under-insured Motorist Coverage Required?Minimum liability limitsNo fault?

Alabama
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo20/40/10no
Alaska
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo50/100/25no
Arizona
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo15/30/10no
Arkansas
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo25/50/25no
California
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo15/30/5no
Colorado
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo25/50/15yes
Connecticut
bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motoristYes20/40/10no
Delaware
bodily injury and property damage liability, personal injury protectionNo15/30/10no
DC
bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motoristYes25/50/10yes
Florida
BI liability not required, only property damage liability, personal injury protectionNo10/20/10yes
Georgia
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo25/50/25no
Hawaii
bodily injury and property damage liability, personal injury protectionNo20/40/10yes
Idaho
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo25/50/15no
Illinois
bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motoristYes20/40/15no
Indiana
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo25/50/10no
Iowa
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo20/40/15no
Kansas
bodily injury and property damage liability, personal injury protectionYes25/50/10yes
Kentucky
bodily injury and property damage liability, personal injury protectionNo25/50/10yes
Louisiana
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo10/20/10no
Maine
bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motoristYes50/100/25no
Maryland
bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured and underinsured motoristYes20/40/15no
Massachusetts
bodily injury and property damage liability, personal injury protection, uninsured motoristYes20/40/5yes
Michigan
bodily injury and property damage liability, personal injury protectionNo20/40/10yes
Minnesota
bodily injury and property damage liability, personal injury protection, uninsured and underinsured motoristYes30/60/10yes
Mississippi
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo10/20/5no
Missouri
bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motoristYes25/50/10no
Montana
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo25/50/10no
Nebraska
bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured and underinsured motoristNo25/50/25no
Nevada
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo15/30/10no
New Hampshire
Insurance not required; proof of financial responsibility, medical payments, uninsured motoristYes25/50/25no
New Jersey
bodily injury and property damage liability, personal injury protection, uninsured motoristNo15/30/5yes
New Mexico
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo25/50/10no
New York
bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motorist, personal injury protectionYes25/50/10yes
North Carolina
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo30/60/25no
North Dakota
bodily injury and property damage liability, personal injury protection, uninsured and underinsured motoristYes25/50/25yes
Ohio
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo12.5/25/7.5no
Oklahoma
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo10/20/10no
Oregon
bodily injury and property damage liability, personal injury protection, uninsured and underinsured motoristYes25/50/10no
Pennsylvania
bodily injury and property damage liability, medical paymentsNo15/30/5yes
Rhode Island
bodily injury and property damage liabilityYes25/50/25no
South Carolina
bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motoristYes15/30/10no
South Dakota
bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motoristYes25/50/25no
Tennessee
Insurance not required; proof of financial responsibilityNo25/50/10no
Texas
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo20/40/15no
Utah
bodily injury and property damage liability, personal injury protection, uninsured and underinsured motoristNo25/50/15yes
Vermont
bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motoristYes25/50/10no
Virginia
bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured and underinsured motoristYes25/50/20no
Washington
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo25/50/10no
West Virginia
bodily injury and property damage liability, uninsured motoristYes20/40/10no
Wisconsin
Insurance not required; proof of financial responsibility, uninsured motoristYes25/50/10no
Wyoming
bodily injury and property damage liabilityNo25/50/20no

Think About it: You Need to Buy Insurance to Protect Yourself, Passengers, and Family Members by Purchasing Underinsured Motorist Coverage (part 4 of 4)

Be Honest

Table of Insurance Coverage Requirements, by State

So, for Alabama, the minimum requirements are $20,000 of bodily injury liability for one person, $40,000 bodily injury liability for all people and $10,000 property damage liability.

StateRequired coverage typesUninsured/Under-insured Motorist Coverage Required?Minimum liability limitsNo fault?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeanine Steele is an editor with SettlementCentral.Com, the online resource for self-help do-it-yourself personal injury claims.

Get an Insurance Quote Today!

By searching below by, you will be presented with a list of the TOP Insurance Agents that offer coverage in your area. Check out their websites, get a quote and make sure you are getting the best auto insurance rates.

Buying Auto Insurance (part 3 of 4)Jeanine Steele

kevin — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 09:00:04 +0000

Insurance Company Advertisements Deceive (part 3 of 4)

If some of the millions of dollars spent on advertising auto insurance would be devoted to fair payment of injured insured’s’ own claims against their own company, we probably wouldn’t even have to make mention of this. However, the advertisers’ portrayal of insurance responsiveness with homey images, friendly messages, beautiful music and promise of quick claims service do not equate to quality when it comes time for payment for personal injury claims following an auto accident.

We know that getting your car fixed promptly is important. Some companies may be more responsive on property damage than others, but that should not be your first priority evaluating insurance service. A day or two wait for your car is nothing compared to being literally cheated out of your legitimate payments, as is the practice of some of the more aggressive companies. See the discussion below and the links provided. If getting your car fixed in the fastest time is the most important thing for you, you can ignore everything that is written in the following paragraphs, because they focus on the bodily injury aspects of auto insurance claims service.

So, our advice is to ignore the advertising images: the insurance industry did not become one of the wealthiest in America by being everybody’s best friend. Understand that these smiling people on television ads are really your adversaries. There are many thousands of reported cases where insured have been forced to sue their own companies. None of these cases has to do with getting people’s cars fixed. Prompt property damage repair is the simplest and easiest part of an accident claim. Instead, these lawsuits against insurance companies all are based on claims that an insurance company did not perform according to the law and in accord with its own contractual provisions.

Research Suggestions to Check Out Auto Insurance Companies:

Our suggestion is that you research two or three companies.A good place to start is with the Better Business Bureau, followed by a contact call to your state Insurance Commissioner. You can call the Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.org) in your own area and learn how to inquire if any complaints have been filed. The most effective research, however, is probably through your state Insurance Commissioner . Use this url (http://www.naic.org/state_contacts/sid_websites.htm) provided to contact your Insurance Commissioner and obtain information in five topics:
1.Ask her how you can learn about the number and types of complaints that have been filed with her against or about a company that you are considering.
2.Ask her how you can obtain a count of the number of times a company has been involved in reported litigation, whether brought by the insured against his own company, or by the third party as a bad faith claim.
3.What is the reported percentage of first and third party claims the company settles by negotiation, as opposed to arbitration or litigation? Ask her for the statistics relating to the percentage of claims settled, versus the percentage that goes to arbitration or litigation. Would it surprise you to learn that over half of the claims of one of the largest and most popular companies end up in arbitration or litigation?
4.Ask her what actions or enforcements she has had to take with respect to any company you are considering.
5.Does she know if any of the companies use credit scoring to set premiums, and are there any restrictions in your state on use of credit scoring.

You Get What You Pay For:

You have heard the advertisements that one auto insurance company is the least expensive, etc. Understand that truth of the old adage applies to insurance policy purchases: you get what you pay for . The best company is probably not the cheapest. How can company policies that save premium costs have adverse impacts upon your wallet?

First, the reason a company is cheaper is that it doesnt pay out as much as another company, nor does it provide as much service. If your own company does not pay out in a fair manner, and if you are the defendant in the case (the tortfeasor ), expect that your chances of being involved in a lawsuit are much higher than if you were insured with another (quality) company.

Since insurance is going to foot the bill anyway, why should that impact you? Well, youll have to be inconvenienced at home, at work, and at trial. Youll be sued; you will have to take time off of work to see the attorney who will be hired by your company to represent you; and youll have to testify at depositions and/or trial. Remember, you will not be paid lost wages to participate in your own defense. But in addition to the time involved, it can be very stressful to be in a lawsuit. You will have to answer under oath regarding a number of topics, and your spouse may also have to participate.

However, the biggest impact of adverse treatment by your own insurance company may not come when you are a defendant, but may come when you are a claimant versus your own company. This could be as a claimant under your own policy, either for payment of medical expenses or payment of wage loss under the Personal Injury Protection ( PIP/MedPay ) provisions, or for underinsured/uninsured UIM coverage.

It is in these circumstances that many first party carriers become aggressive and literally cheat their own insureds out of legitimate payments. Most consumers have little knowledge of these practices, and aggressive companies are almost always successful in cutting off PIP payments for treatment far earlier than your own doctor would recommend. That is where they make the money and thats where youll find yourself in need of some help.

The company will respond that you have the right to arbitration. But no attorney is going to become involved in a Personal Injury Protection/Medical Pay (PIP/MedPay) arbitration. There is not enough at stake to merit the time and effort. You can be at the mercy of the company, so select wisely. In this respect, the least expensive coverage may be no bargain at all .

Be aware that the first party carrier that advertises the cheapest price is likely the one who will deny payment for medical coverage sooner than the other carriers. They can be quite aggressive in this respect as described in all of the IME, Medical Care and the PIP/MedPay sections. They will use the ruse of a records review or an independent medical examiner ( IME ) to deny payments due to your own doctor/chiropractor for your continued reasonable and necessary care. The so-called independent doctor they select is hired by the insurance industry to (nearly always) say that you have reached maximum medical improvement, and no further treatment is necessary.

The same type of carrier is also the one that will likely seek to limit your recovery on UIM by requesting arbitration more frequently than other carriers. These claims involve all of the damages you would expect to recover from the tortfeasor, including general damages . Thus, there can be quite a bit of money at stake, since general damages are usually a multiple of the cost of your medical care.

In evaluating UIM coverage, see if you can find out what percentage of claims are settled, mediated, arbitrated, or tried to a jury (this jury trial clause is inserted by only a few companies).Does your Insurance Commissioner have any idea how often a carrier forces its own insureds into arbitration, rather than agree to the more desirable non-binding mediation forum? Arbitration and mediation usually involve attorneys who are knowledgeable in personal injury matters as mediators or arbitration panel members.

Or, worse, do they force their own UIM claimants to go into court and present their claim to a jury?

Do you have the right to choose arbitration in UIM? Is your company is deceiving you with a clause that removes your rights to arbitration. Here is a Specific Question for the Sales Representative Regarding Forcing You to a Jury Trial

Please check your policy and ask the sales representative to be sure that your carrier does not reserve the right to a jury trial in its UIM disputes.

The tricky little phrase used in policies issued in recent years was to the effect that disputes hereunder will be resolved by arbitration, unless either of the parties elects to have the dispute resolved as in other civil matters . You probably would not see anything wrong with that phrase, but it is deceptive in its apparent innocence. It is a powerful tool and will in turn, only benefit the insurer.

That little phrase was intended to give the insurance company the right to a jury trial in resolving your dispute with your own company.If you and they disagree, you will not have the right to an arbitration; they will just tell you to go file a court action. And the insurer will always ask for a jury trial.

Why dont you want a jury trial? First, you will have to pay to use the court system. You must file the lawsuit, and you will have to serve it (although they will likely accept mail service). Second, there is likely a much longer wait (currently one and a half to two years is common) for you in obtaining a jury trial date than there would be to put together an arbitration panel of attorneys. Who wants the delay? The insurance industry makes a lot of money on investments, whereas you will always need the cash to make up for some of the problems caused by the accident.

Third, it is tremendously more expensive than any other forum for resolution in your time and your costs. In arbitration, you can submit medical records to be read by the arbitration panel, and perhaps call just one of your doctors. You will pay for any time your doctor has to spend in preparation and testimony, so you will want the less formal proceeding (such as arbitration) because her fees will be a fraction of those at trial.

At a jury trial, you must present some live testimony from your doctors. (Although some records can be admitted without the doctor present, attorneys usually want the doctor present to speak to the jury, whereas at UIM arbitration, the attorney knows that the panel of trail attorneys will have some familiarity with the medical specialty, medical terms, prognosis, etc., and she therefore can simply admit the records and argue from them.) This testimony is expensive, because you will likely pay their full time away from the office, including courtroom waiting time, regardless of the results). It is a delay of a year or two, depending upon your jurisdiction, and it takes a much greater effort to succeed with higher risks than at arbitration. Therefore, the company knows that you are more likely to compromise and accept a lower award than if you went to arbitration. So please consider this an important issue in selecting your company.

Think PreventiveProtect Yourself, Your Family, and Your Passengers

Weve seen far too many cases where the insured, in an effort to save a dollar up front, has left him or his family exposed. Insurance is a good investment; it is necessary; and, it should be purchased in anticipation of traumatic events.How can you foresee only limited consequences of an accident? You cant.

Here are two examples of places where we have seen insureds deprive themselves of necessary coverage. The first and most obvious is PIP/MedPay .Insured people who have a good medical plan, an HMO, or who are covered through the military, often think they will rely on their medical plan and decline to take PIP/MedPay. This is a serious mistake.

Often, medical plans (or military) do not afford anything more than the long gray line of institutionalized medicine, where treatments and referrals are very limited. By contrast, your own PIP/MED PAY allows you to select your own doctor, chiropractor and other health care professionals such as specialists, with much more freedom of choice. Moreover, PIP also pays a portion of your wage loss (MED PAY does not). It would be an error to pass by a chance to purchase PIP. Please note that your HMO or health plan or military access affords no protection whatsoever for your passengers.
What will you tell the parents of the children who were riding with your child on an outing

On to part 4
Insurance Company Advertisements Deceive (part 3 of 4)

Research Suggestions to Check Out Auto Insurance Companies:

You Get What You Pay For:

Or, worse, do they force their own UIM claimants to go into court and present their claim to a jury?

Please check your policy and ask the sales representative to be sure that your carrier does not reserve the right to a jury trial in its UIM disputes.

Think PreventiveProtect Yourself, Your Family, and Your Passengers

On to part 4

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeanine Steele is an editor with SettlementCentral.Com, the online resource for do-it-yourself personal injury claims.

Get an Insurance Quote Today!

Nine Ways To Lower Your Auto Insurance Costs

kevin — Thu, 17 Aug 2006 13:31:15 +0000

Nine Ways To Lower Your Auto Insurance Costs

You may not realize it, but the insurance rates you pay for
your car can vary dramatically depending on the insurance
company, agent or broker you choose, the coverage is you
request and the kind of car you drive. Listed below are a
number of things you can do right now to lower your
insurance costs.

1. COMPARISON SHOP. Prices for the same coverage can vary by
hundreds of dollars, so it pays to shop around. Ask your
friends, check the yellow pages or call your state insurance
department (phone numbers are on back page). You can also
check consumer guides, insurance agents or companies. This
will give you an idea of price ranges and tell you which
companies or agents have the lowest prices. But don’t shop
price alone. The insurer you select should offer both fair
prices and excellent service. Quality personal service may
cost a bit more, but provides added conveniences, so talk to
a number of insurers to get a feeling for the quality of
their service. Ask them what they would do to lower your
costs. Check the financial ratings of the companies too.
Then, when you’ve narrowed the field to three insurers, get
price quotes.

2. ASK FOR HIGHER DEDUCTIBLES. Deductibles represent the
amount of money you pay before you make a claim. By
requesting higher deductibles on collision and comprehensive
(fire and theft) coverage, you can lower your costs
substantially. For example, increasing your deductible from
$200 to $500 could reduce your collision cost by 15% to 30%.

3. DROP COLLISION AND/OR COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE’S ON OLDER
CARS. It may not be cost-effective to have collision or
comprehensive coverage’s on cars worth less than $1000
because any claim you make would not substantially exceed
annual cost and deductible amounts. Auto dealers and banks
can tell you the worth of cars.

4. ELIMINATE DUPLICATE MEDICAL COVERAGE’S. If you have
adequate health insurance, you may be paying for duplicate
medical coverage in your auto policy. In some states,
eliminating this coverage could lower your personal injury
protection (PIP) cost by up to 40%.

5. BUY A “LOW PROFILE” CAR. Before you buy a new or used
car, check into insurance costs. Cars that are expensive to
repair, or that are favorite targets for thieves, have much
higher insurance costs. Write to the Insurance Institute for
Highway Safety, 1005 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22201
and ask for the Highway Loss Data Chart.

6. CONSIDER AREA INSURANCE COST IF YOU ARE MAKING A MOVE.
Costs tend to be lowest in rural communities and highest in
center cities where there is more traffic congestion.

7. TAKE ADVANTAGE Of LOW MILEAGE DISCOUNTS. Some companies
offer discounts to motorists who drive fewer than a
predetermined number of miles a year.

8. FIND OUT ABOUT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT OR AIR BAG DISCOUNTS.
You may be able to take advantage of discounts on some
coverage’s if you have automatic seat belts and/or air bags.

9. INQUIRE ABOUT OTHER DISCOUNTS. Some insurers offer
discounts for more than one car, no accidents in three
years, drivers over 50 years of age, driver training
courses, anti-theft devices, anti-lock brakes and good
grades for students.

6. CONSIDER AREA INSURANCE COST IF YOU ARE MAKING A MOVE.
Costs tend to be lowest in rural communities and highest in
center cities where there is more traffic congestion.

7. TAKE ADVANTAGE Of LOW MILEAGE DISCOUNTS. Some companies
offer discounts to motorists who drive fewer than a
predetermined number of miles a year.

8. FIND OUT ABOUT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT OR AIR BAG DISCOUNTS.
You may be able to take advantage of discounts on some
coverage’s if you have automatic seat belts and/or air bags.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Get an Insurance Quote Today!

Save Money on Your Auto Insurance

kevin — Mon, 14 Aug 2006 09:17:40 +0000

Save Money on Your Auto Insurance
By Fisher Swanson

In nearly every state you have to purchase auto insurance if you drive. Here are some tips for spending less on auto insurance and getting the most for your money.

Ask Around

Ask people you know and trust what insurance they use. Find out if they have ever filed a claim and how smoothly it went. Really cheap insurance doesn’t amount to much if they offer horrible service.

Get Multiple Quotes

Get 3 or 4 quotes from different insurance companies. Write down as much information as possible about each insurer. If the agent or representative is not willing to answer your question it’s probably not a good company to buy insurance from. Don’t buy from the first insurance company you call!

Check Your Credit History

Some insurers factor in credit history when they calculate their rates. Unresolved issues in your credit history could affect your insurance rates.

Pick Your Car Wisely

The cost of the car, make and model (sometimes even the color) will affect your insurance premiums. If you are buying a new car be sure to check with your insurance company to find out what the insurance for that car will be. If you have an older car and are not financing you can get by with less insurance and save a lot of money.

Ask About Discounts

Ask if there is a safe driver discount if you have a good driving record. If you don’t drive much ask about a low-mileage discount. Here is a list of discounts that Insurance Information Institute (www.iii.org) recommends asking providers about.

- $500 deductible
- $1,000 deductible
- More than 1 car
- No accidents in 3 years
- No tickets in 2 years
- Drivers over 50-55
- Driver training course
- Defensive driving course
- Anti-theft device
- Low annual mileage
- Air bag
- Anti-lock brakes
- Daytime running lights
- Student with good grades
- Joint auto and homeowners coverage
- College students
- Long-time customer
- Other discounts

There are a lot of discounts that may be available to you but you often have to ask to get them. Create a table with the list above for when you call around. You can find a printable table at http://www.thriftyfun.com/downloads/auto.html to help you keep track of the insurance companies you call.

Accident Prevention Course

Some insurance companies offer reduced premiums if you complete an accident prevention course. Some insurance companies offer as much as a 10% discount.

Reduce Your Coverage

If you are buying your car on time you will be required to have comprehensive coverage but the day that you pay it off you can reduce your coverage and save a lot a money. Less insurance brings more risk but if you are a safe driver the odds are that you can get by with liability and uninsured driver insurance.

Last But Not Least

Drive safe and watch your speed.

Fisher Swanson is a regular contributer to the Daily Thrifty Tips newsletter. To subscribe send an email to dailythrifty-on@thriftyfun.com or visit http://www.thriftyfun.com/

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Having the Right Amount of Auto Insurance Coverage

kevin — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 16:00:08 +0000

Maybe you have auto insurance coverage now but do you ever wonder if its enough if you are unfortunate enough to get into a car accident? Some people carry a combination of auto insurance coverages because carrying too little coverage can cause you to be paying for the rest of your life under certain circumstances. Of course everyone has to have basic liability coverage, which is usually worth up to $50,000.00 for any single personal injury.

This goes as high as $100,000.00 for everyone involved and even though it might seem like a lot, this is not a lot of money given a nasty accident where medical bills, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering is involved.

With auto insurance the more coverage you purchase the cheaper it gets. This means that your cost goes up a little on your auto insurance coverage while your protection goes up proportionately more. This will pay off big time in the case of an auto accident and insurance settlement. It is the safety umbrella that you will need to avoid worry and stress from a stressful situation to begin with.

There are accidents that are serious enough to cost as high as a million dollars or more in a settlement, depending on the circumstances. Depending on your auto accident and insurance settlement, without the proper auto insurance coverage you could end up in a situation where you will be paying out money for the rest of your life.

If you cant afford to get the full package on auto insurance coverage, it is better to take out $300,00.00 to $500,000.00 in personal injury liability and go a little less on property damage. Insurance coverage for property damage from an accident wont be as expensive as personal injury can be. So when youre purchasing coverage for your auto, keep in mind the extra money you pay now could pay off big time in the future.

Another auto insurance coverage that you will find extremely important is uninsured and under insured policies. This type of coverage will protect you from those that are driving illegally without auto accident and insurance settlement insurance. This is extremely important if an insurance settlement is paid out.

It is like buying more protection for yourself, as the other driver that hits you without coverage will have nothing to help you over your accident. Even though it may seem as if you are paying for the mistakes of another, it is worth it in the end.

Make sure you get enough auto insurance coverage, dont skimp.

About the author:
For a website all about Car Insurance visit Peter’s Website Car Insurance Answers at http://www.car-insurance-answers.com/and find out about Car Insurance as well as Cheap Car Insurance at http://www.car-insurance-answers.com/cheap-car-insurance.htmland more, including Online Car Insurance Quotes, Car Insurance Rates and UK Car Insurance.

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Auto Insurance Primer

kevin — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 10:01:29 +0000

What is auto insurance? Auto insurance (or car insurance, motor insurance) is insurance consumers can purchase for cars, trucks, and other vehicles. Its primary use is to provide protection against losses incurred. By buying auto insurance, depending on the type of coverage purchased, the consumer may be protected against:

* The cost of repairing the vehicle following an accident
* The cost of purchasing a new vehicle if it is stolen or damaged beyond economic repair
* Legal liability claims against the driver or owner of the vehicle following the vehicle causing damage or injury to a third party.

Liability insurance covers only the last point, while comprehensive insurance covers all three. Even comprehensive insurance, however, doesn’t fully cover the risk associated with buying a new car. Due to the sharp decline in value immediately following purchase, there is generally a period in which the remaining car payments exceed the compensation the insurer will pay for a “totaled” (destroyed, or written-off) vehicle. So-called GAP insurance was established in the early 1980′s to provide protection to consumers based upon buying and market trends. The escalating price of cars, extended term auto loans, and the increasing popularity of leasing gave birth to GAP protection. GAP waivers provide protection for consumers when a “gap” exists between the actual value of their vehicle and the amount of money owed to the bank or leasing company. In some countries including New Zealand and Australia market structures mean that people are more likely to buy a nearly new car than a new car so this is less of a problem.

In the United States, liability insurance covers claims against the policy holder and generally, any other operator of the insured’s vehicle, provided they do not live at the same address as the policy holder and are not specifically excluded on the policy. In the case of those living at the same address, they must specifically be covered on the policy. Thus it is necessary for example, when a family member comes of driving age they must be added on to the policy. Liability insurance generally does not protect the policy holder if they operate any vehicles other than their own. When you drive a vehicle owned by another party, you are covered under that party’s policy. Non-owners policies may be offered that would cover an insured on any vehicle they drive. This coverage is available only to those who do not own their own vehicle.

Generally, liability coverage does extend when you rent a car. However, in most cases only liability applies. Any additional coverage, such as comprehensive policies, i.e. “full coverage” may not apply. Full coverage premiums are based on, among other factors, the value of the insured’s vehicle. This coverage may not apply to rental cars because the insurance company does not want to assume responsibility for a claim greater than the value of the insured’s vehicle, assuming that a rental car may be worth more than the insured’s vehicle. Some states, such as Minnesota, may require that it extend to rental cars. Most rental car companies offer insurance to cover damage to the rental vehicle. In some regions, the costs associated with not having access to the vehicle (“Loss of Use”) is also covered.