Posts Tagged ‘auto insurance’

Need Advice on First Time Driver Car Insurance Coverage

Published by author on May 23rd, 2009 - in Auto Insurance Saving Tips

Reader’s Question:

This is my first time to shop for car insurance and I am really confused with what coverage to choose and what is best offer for me. Can you help me decide?

Mike

Lexington-Fayette, KY

For first time diver car insurance shoppers, they would most likely muse on how much insurance to get. This can be confusing, especially when insurance companies have promising offers.

When you read the coverage of their plans, you will be most likely be tempted to purchase them all. It is understandable since all of us want to be fully covered by the time accidents happen. Who doesn’t want to be liberated from the financial burden brought by accidents? From the looks of it, everyone wants this freedom.

However, when you think about your budget, the chances of being fully covered as in zero dollars spent for accidents may decrease. Most of us are average income earners. Considering today’s economic problems, not all of us will have the opportunity to spend much money getting full coverage for insurance.

For first time auto insurance buyers, here’s what you can do to get great insurance deals, that your money could buy:

  • Learn your state limits. Every state has a requirement for the minimum insurance to purchase. This will serve as your baseline data for purchasing car insurance. Most insurance companies have tailored fit their insurance package according to the state’s requirements
  • Evaluate the kind of activities you do with your vehicle. You might need more coverage if you use your car more often compared to cars stored in your garage for most of the time.
  • Assess the worth of your car. If you have expensive cars, then don’t settle for less.
  • If you carry valuable assets in your auto at all times, you might want to get coverage for that. This way, in cases of theft or other unfortunate events, you will be insured for it.
  • If your budget permits you, go for higher limits but evaluate the coverage included.

Car Insurance Deductible Explained

Published by author on May 23rd, 2009 - in Need auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

Can you please explain to me what a car insurance deductible is?

Maria

Albuquerque, NM

Car insurance deductible is always part of auto insurance. They have considerably affected your rates. Choosing a deductible can lower your rates as much as 10-20 percent. While some mentioned around %40 for the highest deductible. Without them, car insurance companies would have to pay higher for claims. As an effect, you will shoulder the load by paying higher premiums.

You need to be careful in choosing the amount for your car insurance deductible. They can be $100, $250, $500 and $1000. Certain states have minimum requirements for it like New York state. Therefore you need what is mandated.

So here’s how it works. Assuming you chose $500 dollars as your deductible. If an accident happens, to which you’re at-fault, and the total claim amounts to $1900, you will pay a portion of this claim. In this case, you will shell out $500 and the insurance will settle for the remainder which is $ 1,400.

Another scenario for application of deductible is: after an accident, your car has been damaged. Repair cost amounts to $250. Since your deductible is $500, you will end up paying for the repair cost and the insurance company isn’t obligated to share the amount simply because the value falls within the portion you chose to pay out-of-pocket.

So you really have to be careful in selecting the amount. You have to ensure that you can afford it. However, that could change in certain conditions. Like in a state that follows a no-fault system, you might get a refund of your deductible if it has been established that the other party was at fault. It may be claimed from the other person’s car insurance or refunded personal by the at-fault party.

Choosing a deductible can lower you rates as much as 10-20 percent. While some mentioned around 40% for a higher deductible.

DUI Auto Insurance

Published by author on May 22nd, 2009 - in Need auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

I got a DUI here in Massachusetts a long time ago that caused my auto insurence premiums to go up. Now I can say that my premiums are back to normal after my DUI. If in case the auto insurence policy is not under the DUI offender’s name, will the rates still go up for the policyholder?

James

Worcester, MA

Auto insurence premiums increase accordingly after a driver has gotten into an at-fault accident caused by DUI or driving under the influence. The rating systems differ by state laws and auto insurance providers but if a driver is convicted for DUI, the rates may double or even triple in some states.

If you are a driver listed under another driver’s auto insurence policy, the premiums of the policyholder could be affected by your DUI. The driving history of any licensed driver on an auto insurance policy or in a household could also influence the auto insurance rates and the judgment of the auto insurance provider to insure the vehicle. A number of violations could cause an auto insurance provider to decline you or the policyholder for coverage or to pay high risk insurance rates.

If a driver in Massachusetts has a bad driving history, he/she will be considered of higher risk by auto insurance provider than someone who has a clean driving history, thus having a hard time getting auto insurance cheap. In cases like the auto insurance premiums go up because of a DUI of a listed driver, they would have to shop around to pay auto insurance cheap.

SUV Auto Insurance

Published by author on May 22nd, 2009 - in Need auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

I know that there are a lot of things that determine the premium for auto insurence here in California, but why do they say that SUV costs more to insure?

Anton

San Jose, CA

The things that determine your auto insurence premium include your age, gender, residence and driving history; how much and the kind of coverage you choose; and whether you use the car mainly for personal or business use. This is the reason why a driver could receive a different auto insurance quote than another driver for an identical make of the automobile.

However, you may wonder why the premium for a sport utility vehicle (SUV) is more expensive than another type of vehicle. Aside from the aforementioned things, auto insurence providers also take into account the possibility that a certain type of automobile would be stolen, vandalized or mixed up in a collision. They also take note how much they have to spend for repairs and they get their information by checking with several claim statistics.

For instance, the Highway Loss Data Institute observes how much auto insurance providers have spent for collision, damage and theft claims for different kinds of automobiles. For that reason, the price of auto insurance of SUV that is most appealing to thieves in the country would most likely be more costly than an automobile that is stolen the least. Aside from these statistics, auto insurance providers in California take into account what they have gone through with claims payout. For example, if an insurance provider has paid several claims concerning a certain make of SUV, they may charge higher auto insurance premiums for that kind of SUV than another insurance provider would. So it is a smart move to get more than one auto insurance quote from different insurance providers before getting your SUV insured.

Auto Insurance And Your Driving Record

Published by author on May 21st, 2009 - in Need auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

I’m new in the field of auto insurance because I have gotten my own policy here in Arkansas just recently. I’m meaning to ask, for what reasons do auto insurance carriers review the driving histories of their customers?

Nicole

Little Rock, AR

Normally, auto insurence carriers look at the driving history of an individual applying for a policy from them. They do this to (1) find out if the individual meets the auto insurence carrier’s benchmarks of insurability and (2) to assess the individual possible risk to know how much the coverage would cost.

But every auto insurance carrier has their own process of assessing their applicants that’s why the points on your driving record could or could not have an effect on your payment for your auto insurance.

Depending on the state, when you are given out an auto insurance policy, the insurance carrier may have the right to examine your driving record at any time. Certainly, only a small number of auto insurance carriers in Arkansas have some means to make checks on the driving histories of each policyholder every day, thus the occurrence of these checks is in fact very low. But there are times when you could be quite sure that an auto insurance carrier would review your driving history, including the following:

–Application for auto insurance

–Request to change the coverage of the auto insurance policy

–Adding a vehicle to the auto insurance policy or change the covered vehicle

–During renewal of your auto insurance policy

What Is an Auto Insurance Deductible?

Published by author on May 21st, 2009 - in Need auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

I have no idea what a deductible is in car insurance. What is a deductible?

Myers

Chicago IL

Prudent insurance buyers would always find a strategy to decrease their car insurance prices. Over time, people have found tactics on how to do this. One of which is by stretching deductibles. So what is a deductible?

Insurance deductible is the money that you would have shell out for the damages incurred by your car during an accident. It is also a portion of the total estimate for car replacement that you would have to shoulder. This will become your personal expenditure. It might not sound approving on your part to compensate for something that you were anticipating to be covered. However, this is what they consider a necessary evil in order to extract savings from your car insurence expense.

Most car insurance companies provide range of insurance deductible for you to avail. They amount to $100-$1,000. The most customary value chosen is $500 dollars. The most optimal value for the highest deductible is $1,000. However, you can transcend to a higher deductible if your budget permits you to do so.

You really have to think in choosing what range of deductible you will be availing. This is to ensure that by the time you have to make claims; you will not end up having to pay for entire cost of damage.

Choosing the amount for your deductible should also be a balance. It can also help if you know yourself well as a driver and if you know your finances well. As they say, if you have had history of accidents, then it might not be smart to increase your insurance deductible. However, if you are so sure that you can go on years without accidents, and if you are sure, you are a better driver, why not go for the highest insurance deductible. You should also be sure to have the deductible amount set aside at all times.

Auto Insurance After An Accident

Published by author on May 21st, 2009 - in Need auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

My cousin has always been a good driver until he gets into an accident he caused recently. He was worried about his auto insurence here in Missouri that it would just increase if he renews his policy. How much will an auto insurence rate increase after a driver has gotten into one accident?

Missouri

James

Kansas City, MO

If a driver has been into one vehicular accident, it’s possible that the driver’s auto insurence rates will increase but it varies from state to state and from one auto insurence company to another. However, it will so much depend on the kind and seriousness of the car accident and who is found to be at fault. If the driver was drunk during the accident, there’s a chance for the policy not to be renewed. He can still be able to get auto car insurance but it would be more costly.

In case the driver has had a good driving record, like your cousin’s case, most auto insurance providers won’t necessarily increase their rates if a driver is found to be at-fault in a rather minor car accident, especially if the driver has been with them for five years. The rate increase depends on several factors like the Missouri state law and the rating plan of the auto insurance provider.

Under the state law or by an auto insurance provider, a minor or first-time vehicular accident may be forgiven. So if you are purchasing auto car insurance, make certain to ask if a specific auto insurance provider has a first-time accident forgiveness program and if so, you might be eligible for it. Then again, there may be serious auto insurance and legal penalties if the accident involves serious physical injuries and if the at-fault driver is under the influence while operating the vehicle. There could be a significant increase in auto insurance rates or even a termination of coverage, subject to laws of the state. Apart from that, there may be huge fines and even jail time necessary.

Teen Driver Auto Insurance

Published by author on May 21st, 2009 - in Need auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

I have been told a lot of times that teen driver auto insurence is the most expensive. That’s the reason I’m so worried for the cost of my teenage son’s auto insurence here in Oklahoma. What options do I have for insuring my son’s vehicle and how can I get cheap auto insurence quote for him?

Oscar

Tulsa, OK

Teen driver auto insurance is the most expensive because teenagers are observed to have the highest risk to auto insurence companies because of the number of at-fault accidents they are involved with. Insurers want those who are 16-24 years old to lessen their driving by charging them higher insurance premiums.

For you to get cheap auto insurance quote for your son, you could add him to your current auto insurence policy if he already has his permanent license. This might still be expensive but he can be able to get available auto insurance discounts being a driver on your policy. Make sure as well that you son only drives a used economy model vehicle to make sure that he won’t get an auto insurance quote that is sky rocketing. Older model vehicles are usually seen to be lower risk to auto insurance companies, thus getting your son lower auto insurance rates.

As with drivers on other age brackets, teen drivers can be able to get affordable auto insurance by shopping around with different insurers. Ask for various quotes from them to help you decide whether you will add your son to your own auto insurance policy or get a separate policy for him. Always remember that auto insurance is such a competitive business so everyone will be battling around to offer you the best auto insurance premiums for your teen’s coverage.

Cheap Auto Insurance

Published by author on May 21st, 2009 - in Need auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

I noticed that auto insurence continue to rise over the years here in Texas. How can I keep up with it and still get cheap auto insurence?

Matthew

Plano, TX

Auto insurance keep on rising but you could reduce your financial suffering if you do the following:

Shop Around
Auto insurence fees for the same exact coverage could differ by hundreds of dollars so it’s worth it to shop around. Visiting at least three comparison quotes sites, calling auto insurance companies and asking friends are some of the ways for you to shop around. You need to try to get as much auto insurance quotes as you can and also information about certain auto insurance companies.

Raise Deductibles
It will also help you if you raise your deductible to the highest amount that you can afford. This way, you save as much as 15 to 20% on your auto insurence payment.

Get Lower Coverage for Older Vehicles
If you drive an older vehicle, you can just drop the collision and comprehensive coverage to pay auto insurance cheap.

Look for Auto Insurance Discounts
Getting auto insurance discounts can definitely help lessen your costs so make sure you ask about this to the insurers you are considering. Some of the ways you can get discounts to pay auto insurance cheap include installing safety features on your vehicle, keeping a clean driving record, having low mileage, being loyal to your insurer, insuring all of your vehicles and drivers under the same policy, getting other insurances from the same company, etc.

Keep Driving Record Clean
Drivers that have a clean driving record pay less on their auto insurance coverage than those who have blemished records. You are considered less of a risk by auto insurance companies if you don’t have any moving violations or record of at-fault accidents.

Student Auto Insurance

Published by author on May 21st, 2009 - in Need auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

I have to stand on my own now since I’m away from my parents because of school. Being in college here in Connecticut requires a lot of responsibility which includes getting my own auto insurence. I’m about to go online and get some auto insurance quotes. How can I get the best quotes for your student auto insurance?

Oliver

New Haven, CT

There are some steps that you could take to get the best quotes for your student auto insurence in Connecticut, including:

Raising Your Deductibles
If you have higher deductible, it would reduce the payment for your student auto insurance. However, you have to make sure that you don’t opt for a deductible that you can’t afford.

Getting Training in Defensive Driving
This will make you a better driver and help in getting lower auto insurance quotes.

Installing Safety Devices
Make your auto insurance provider aware that you have safety devices installed in your vehicle as this would lower your auto insurence payment.

Using a Cheap Vehicle
There are certain vehicles that are expensive to insure including big cars, sports cars and those that have high rating in being target of thieves. As a young driver, make sure that you don’t get those kinds of vehicles because you will get high auto insurance quotes for it.

Being a Good Student
Take your studies seriously and do your best to get an average of B in school. You will be perceived as more stable by auto insurance providers, thus getting lower premiums.

Having Low Mileage
If you are on the road all the time, you will have higher chances of getting into an accident, thus getting higher rates. So if you have low mileage, this means that you will also have lower auto insurance rates.

Shopping Around
Go to at least three auto insurance comparison quotes sites and you can get cheaper premiums. This way, you will have a wider basis for making careful comparisons of auto insurance quotes.

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