Category Archives: Car Insurance
Driving without car insurance? Soon, they’ll lock you up and throw away the key!
Driving without car insurance? Soon, they’ll lock you up and throw away the key!
See, a couple months back a young married woman ran a red light (accidentally) and smashed into my car. Astonishingly enough, she had 2 weeping children by her side with no driver’s license. As she frantically scrambled for her phone to call her husband, he arrived shortly with the insurance information scribbled on a crumpled piece of scratch paper.
Being the nice guy that I am, I wrote down the information and then reluctantly reported the incident to my insurance company.
My insurance agent rang back within a couple of hours, and guess what I hear next? The information that this nice young woman gave me was totally bogus! The woman who totaled my car was did not have car insurance. What!
I couldn’t believe this. I was had! All of us hard working, law abiding, car insurance paying citizens fork over hundreds of dollars a month in order to comply with our mandatory car insurance laws. It seems like we are paying the bills to push back our dismay at spending large sums on something we cannot immediately see, touch, smell, or hear. Soon enough everybody will be forced to acquire car insurance.
California legislators are now debuting a three-phase plan focused on uninsured motorists. California legislators are creating this plan for people like me, for people that do pay insurance, for people that don’t make bogus claims, for people that are law abiding citizens like you and me. This plan will be enforced with the sole intent on making uninsured motorists pay the ultimate price.
Get ready uninsured motorists, here comes the bad news! As of January 1st, insurance agencies are required to electronically submit evidence of financial responsibility to the DMV. This means, if your car insurance faults at any time, the DMV will be notified immediately. What does this mean for uninsured motorists? The DMV will send you a nasty little note along with your registration renewal notice requesting that you submit proof of financial responsibility before they will ever renew your registration again. This is a must people. There is no getting around this one.
Alright people, let’s do the simple math here. If you get pulled over on or after July 1 of this year, do you really think that the excuse that you left your car insurance card in your house really going to fly with the authorities? Come on. These are the fat kids in high school who you used to pick on. It’s payback time in their eyes. As of right now, law enforcement has the same access to the current status of your insurance just like the DMV. Don’t fret, because I have good news for everybody. Read on.
The final cut throat will come on October 6th as when the California DMV will be required to suspend the registrations of uninsured motorists. Wait, what does that mean? That means there is no getting around it. It means there is no where to go. It’s your dead end buddy. Insurance is a must.
Now, I’m a nice guy. I’m a very understanding person. I’m willing to look at both sides of the fence here. Given, some people just outright choose to not have car insurance; however there are the few out there that simply cannot afford the sky-high car insurance premiums that are simply out of budget and quite frankly out of reach for some motorists.
No worries, the state of California has the bases covered for most. See, as of April 1, the California Low Cost Auto Insurance Program is being offered to low-income drivers in Alameda, Fresno, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego Counties, previously only available in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
This low cost insurance is available from any licensed insurance agent at a cost of just over 0 per year. Lower-income drivers who meet the qualifying guidelines will be able to protect themselves and their families while complying with the law. More information about the program is available at the state department of insurance website.
If you drive into Los Angeles County today, look around you, because it is estimated that one out of four people on the road are driving without car insurance.
When the new laws kick in, sorry Charlie, but you must get car insurance, and you must get car insurance right now.
Useful Insurance Tips For Your Auto Needs (2)
Useful Insurance Tips For Your Auto Needs
These days, we are inundated with auto insurance commercials, with each agency claiming to have the best price and deal for you. Who can you really trust, and how can you make the most informed decision? The advice in this article will help you sort through this overwhelming overload of auto insurance information.
To help save money on car insurance, start with a car that is cheaper to insure. Buying a sporty car with a large V-8 engine can push your annual insurance premium to double what it would be for a smaller, less flashy car with a 4 cylinder engine that saves gas at the same time.
Don’t pick an insurance just because it is cheaper. Each insurance company provides different types of plans with varying levels of coverage. One company may offer a plan for 0 less, but it may just have liability coverage. Most states require protection against damage to another person’s car, but not for your own.
Consider purchasing your auto insurance policy online. Many companies offer a discount for online purchases. The companies do this because it costs them less to use an automated system to begin your policy. In most cases, you will see a five to 10 percent reduction in your quote for the policy.
If you are involved in a hit and run accident, you need to report it to your insurance company right away. They will be able to send an insurance adjuster to the scene of the accident. They will take pictures and sometimes they are even able to cut you a check to get your car repaired right there on the spot.
Before purchasing a car, check the insurance rates that come with it. The premium amount varies between different vehicles. This is because some vehicles are more accident prone than others. Also, if is is appropriate try to stay clear of purchasing trucks or SUVs. Insurance rates are much higher on them.
Depending on what type of car one chooses to drive a person can end up paying different insurance rates. Driving a sports car can cost more than driving a regular sedan or minivan. Motorcycles can also have different rates. It is important to know these things when considering car insurance.
You may be able to save a bundle on car insurance by taking advantage of various discounts offered by your insurance company. Lower risk drivers often receive lower rates, so if you are older, married or have a clean driving record, check with your insurer to see if they will give you a better deal.
Make sure that you closely analyze exactly how much coverage you need. If you have too little than you can be in a very bad situation after an accident. Likewise, if you have too much than you will be paying more than necessary month by month. An agent can help you to understand what you need, but he may be pushing you for too much.
Even if you may be short on cash, auto insurance is not something you should skip out on. The road can be a dangerous place, even for the safest of drivers. Auto insurance will help protect you (and your family) when you are out on the road. Apply the advice from this article to choose the best auto insurance for you.
Tactics That Will Bring Your Auto Insurance Venture To The Next Level
Tactics That Will Bring Your Auto Insurance Venture To The Next Level
If you are looking for all of the basics regarding auto insurance plus some other tips that you might not have heard of, this article is for you. This can be a confusing subject with all of the different opinions and information that is available – especially when a lot of it is contradictory.
If you are buying a brand new car, you should be aware that the car’s warranty probably provides services such as towing or pays for a rental car while yours needs repairs. If you warranty covers these features, you should drop them on your insurance. When you warranty expires, do not forget to upgrade your insurance again.
Once your car gets to be older and worth less, consider dropping the collision and maybe even the comprehensive coverage. You will save a good bit of money on your premiums. Find out how much your car is worth and calculate what you pay each year to insure it. If the numbers are close to each other, reduce the coverage.
Shop around for the best rates in car insurance. It’s a competitive business. You might find a company you like better than your current company that will charge you less. Alternately, if your insurance agent knows you are looking, you might be able to get him or her to meet the quote you get from a lesser insurance company.
The type of vehicle you choose to drive can affect the cost of your car insurance, particularly if you drive a sports car. Insurance for sports cars is typically more expensive because these cars have a high theft rate and poor collision performance. However, it pays to shop around because different insurance agencies have different methods of deciding what defines a sports car. While any small, fast car with two doors is generally considered a sports car, the question gets trickier when it comes to four-door cars. Just because one agency classifies your vehicle as a sports car doesn’t mean the next one will do the same.
If you can afford to do so, save some money on your car insurance by paying the entire year’s premium at once. Most insurers will offer the option to pay premiums monthly. But this adds on a fee for the convenience, which can add up over the course of the year. You can still save by splitting the annual premium into two payments.
When purchasing car insurance, consider opting for the highest deductible option you can get to keep your premiums low. To make sure you have the money to pay the deductible if you should need it, bank the difference from the expensive premium you would pay for a lower deductible. A safe driver will come out way ahead over time.
As stated at the beginning, there is quite a bit of information in regards to auto insurance. Hopefully you will find these tips beneficial. You should now find yourself ahead of the game if you are working to become an expert, or just trying to get a bit of background information.
Never Pay Too Much For Auto Insurance When You Use These Tactics (2)
Never Pay Too Much For Auto Insurance When You Use These Tactics
Whether you have recently bought a car and need car insurance or you already have insurance and are looking for a new one, it is important that you know what to look for. The following article is going to provide you with advice that will help you get the best car insurance available.
Car insurance companies often offer discounts for particular careers and professions. You should remember to consider not just your own line of work, though; if you have a spouse or other family member working in an insurance-friendly field, consider bringing them on board your auto insurance policy to get a professional discount.
Sign up for the superior driving test. Taking this step is one way to show your automobile insurance company that you are serious about being a conscientious and safe driver. It can reduce your chances of having a car accident, and it will save you money in the long run.
Know just how much your car is worth when you are applying for car insurance policies. You want to make sure you have the right kind of coverage for your vehicle. For example, if you have a new car and you did not make a 20% down payment, you want to get GAP car insurance. This will ensure that you won’t owe the bank any money, if you have an accident in the first few years of owning the vehicle.
If you’re searching for lower rates, you might want to consider driving less. Simply put, if you drive less, your chances of an accident decrease. Most companies have low-mileage discounts for people that have a short commute or drive only a few miles a year. Ask your insurance company and see if you can receive that discount.
Ask your insurance agent if your age can get you any discounts. Studies have shown that, much like fine wine, drivers tend to get better with age. Your insurance company may offer you a discount for being a long-term driver, giving you a discount each time you pass the age milestones they have set.
Take advantage of every possible auto insurance discount. Some insurers list all of their discount possibilities on their websites, while other insurers are not so forthcoming. You may need to telephone your agent and ask them to list all the discount options for you. Research what other companies offer so you are prepared to ask questions. Can you get a discount for going to defensive driving school? How about accident forgiveness? Do you get a good driver discount? Ask about any discounts on deductibles for good driving history, and loyalty discounts for staying with the same insurer.
You need to be sure that you are working with a reputable car insurance company. There are many smaller car insurance companies that claim to be able to give great coverage but in actuality, they cannot compete with the big insurance companies at all. You may not have the coverage that you think you have.
As was stated in the beginning of the article, it is important that you know what you are getting when purchasing auto insurance. If you use the advice that this article has provided to you, you are on the way to getting the proper auto insurance that fulfills your needs.
How To Save Money And Get Discount Car Insurance In Iowa
How To Save Money And Get Discount Car Insurance In Iowa
There are just a small handful of states that do not require drivers to purchase car insurance and Iowa is one of those states. However, while Iowa may not require that you purchase car insurance, Iowa does require that you be able to prove financial responsibility in the event that you are involved in an accident.
In practice this is a fine line, and most Iowans choose the easy way out and purchase car insurance although there are several other, more torturous, methods of proving financial responsibility.
Also, if you finance an automobile then your lender will require that you purchase car insurance.
So in practice it is obvious that the majority of drivers are interesting in finding ways to save money and get discount car insurance here in Iowa.
Keeping your driving record clean is probably the single biggest thing you can do to keep your car insurance rates as low as possible. If you get a speeding ticket, a reckless driving citation, or any moving violation then you can count on your insurance premiums to begin climbing.
If you are convicted of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or if you are convicted of Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) then your rates will skyrocket.
If you have multiple tickets or convictions, or several accidents or recent insurance claims, you may find that most companies will simply refuse to insure you and you will be forced to get insurance from a high-risk insurer – with rates that will be through the roof.
The lesson here is to simply drive safely, responsibly and legally at all times.
If you’re under age 25 then you already know that your car insurance is expensive. You can lower your rates somewhat by staying in school and maintaining at least a “B” grade point average. Doing this will qualify you for a Good Student Discount which could save you about 5% on your car insurance premium.
Older drivers, those 55 and over, may be able to take a special driver’s refresher course. Not every insurance company offers such a course, but if your company does – and you pass it – you can often save 10% or even more on your monthly premium.
If you only drive occasionally you should check with your agent about a low-mileage discount.
If you drive an older vehicle that has little or no Kelly Blue Book value then you are probably throwing your money away if you purchase collision or comprehensive insurance since your insurance company will only give you Blue Book value for your vehicle in any case.
Before purchasing a vehicle you should talk to your agent about the cost of insurance for the particular model you have your eye on – some car makes and models are far more expensive to insure than others so you can save a great deal each month simply by choosing the proper vehicle to begin with.
Choosing the right deductible can also reduce your monthly car insurance premium. Consider your deductible carefully as you will be asked to pay your deductible out of your own pocket in case of a claim, but the higher your deductible the lower your monthly insurance premium.
Finally it’s time for you to go online and find at least 3 different websites that allow you to make head-to-head comparisons of different car insurance policies from different insurance companies. Don’t just make comparisons on one site and think that you have found the best discount policy available. Since no one site compares all insurance companies you will need to fill out the forms on at least 3 different websites and then compare everything before you know which company will give you the best policy at the deepest discount price.
Lower Your Car Insurance Premium With These Tips
Lower Your Car Insurance Premium With These Tips
Whether you are new to the insurance world, wanting to combine your policies or shopping for better rates or coverage, you probably have some questions. Here you will find lots of helpful information that will make it fast and easy to learn more about the often, confusing world of auto insurance.
If you are looking to get auto insurance, do not commit to any company until you have gotten multiple quotes. You can do this online without having to speak with an insurance agent or sales representative. By getting multiple quotes you are reducing the chances of auto insurance companies cheating you.
When trying to get the most affordable auto insurance policy possible, you should consider only having one car in your household. If you or your spouse works from home, then you both only really need one car. By doing this, you could potentially save yourselves hundreds of dollars per month.
You may want to consider taking the superior driving test. By taking this test, car insurance companies will see that you have gone the extra mile in order to be a safe driver and will be less likely to get into an accident. This will make car insurance rates more affordable.
The cost of auto insurance for any specific car, will vary from company to company. One of the reasons for this is because each company determines premiums based in part, on their past experiences with that specific car. Certain companies may have significantly different histories dealing with a specific car. Even in cases where the experiences are similar, there are bound to be small differences. Because of this, there is a definite benefit to shopping around when looking for auto insurance.
To make sure your insurance covers you like it should, make sure you know how to file a claim and keep the paper work related to your insurance policy handy. When something happens, do not wait to file a claim. Contact your insurance right away so that they can help you out quickly.
Almost every car insurance company is charging you according to the risk you pose, so a great way to save money is to come across as a low-risk driver to the insurer. One way in which you can lower your risk is to attach a GPS device to your vehicle. These anti-theft devices save the insurance companies thousands if your car is stolen, and the savings are passed on to you.
Did you know that your auto insurance payments are determined by several factors? Where you live as well as your age and marital status can affect your payment size. What you drive is also a factor in your insurance premium. Take all of this into consideration when shopping for the right policy.
The information you have read, should give you the confidence so that you will be able to go out and make the right choice for your auto insurance needs. Now you should better be able to understand coverage, find affordable rates, keep your family safe and be prepared for any losses that may occur.