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Archive for November, 2010

Car Insurance Tips & Gap Insurance

Monday, November 29th, 2010

Car Insurance Questions

New car? New insurance policy? New questions? We’ve got you covered. From Addpr.com comes a helpful, informative article discussing the importance of car insurance coverage, as well as the all important Gap Insurance for those who may have a vehicle with a high resale value or have financed the entire vehicle with a loan, minus a down payment.

Imagine you just paid for a brand new car, and financed the entire amount. Your resale value may decrease faster than your paid off loan amount. If you were in this scenario and were in a car accident, chances are your insurance company may value your vehicle at less than what you owe, or the current resale value. That’s where Gap Insurance comes in! Read more at http://www.addpr.com/articles/automotive/48389.html

Live in Ohio? Need a car insurance estimate? Done!

Monday, November 29th, 2010

The Ohio government insurance department has provided its citizens with an auto insurance estimate tool, easily accessible online through their ohio.gov website.  You can get sample rates from different carriers and compare your automobile’s cost.

“Thanks to the combined efforts of the Department and members of Ohio’s auto insurance industry, Ohioans will have a powerful tool to help them shop for auto insurance,” said Director Hudson.  “This interactive resource will allow users to sort quickly through the resulting premium quotes when determining how changes in rating characteristics affect the cost of insurance.”

Read the rest of the news release here: http://www.insurance.ohio.gov/Newsroom/Pages/11292010InsuranceDepartment.aspx

Use the comparison calculator here: https://gateway.insurance.ohio.gov/UI/ODI.IPQ.Public.UI/Quote.mvc/DisplaySearchForm

State Farm Auto Insurance Provides Learning

Monday, November 29th, 2010

State Farm Insurance News

According to news site TheHour.com State Farm has launched an Auto Learning Center to help individuals with their auto insurance and accident related questions such as:

  • Do I have to go through insurance?
  • What constitutes a witness?
  • Should I be sorry?
  • Should I pull over?

Read more about this new learning center and the details on State Farm’s survey on what the general public understands regarding insurance and accidents here: http://community.thehour.com/autoblog/2010/11/29/state-farm-offers-auto-insurance-“learning-center”/

Educating Teens About the Dangers of Driving Distractions

Thursday, November 11th, 2010
Educating Teens About the Dangers of Driving Distractions

Educating Teens About the Dangers of Driving Distractions

Driving while distracted comes with a high price. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that in 2008 alone almost 6,000 deaths and over 500,000 injuries were caused nationwide due to distracted drivers. A large percentage of these accidents involved teenage drivers. Research shows that teen drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a distraction-related collision than any other age group. In addition, a AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study found that drivers under the age of 20 are the most vulnerable to driving distractions. This, unfortunately, causes teenagers to face a high price for driving as the result of more accidents and more expensive insurance rates.

Driving a vehicle is both a right and a responsibility. While vehicles provide a convenience for getting quickly from one place to another, they can also be a potential deadly weapon if operated while distracted from anything else than keeping a total focus on the road. Things like playing very loud music, changing a radio station or CD, eating, tussling with friends, applying makeup, combing hair, watching a video and using a cell phone or texting while driving can result in a driver’s focus being distracted long enough to result in traffic mishaps. It takes only one small distraction to cause a potentially fatal accident. Being a responsible driver means limiting distractions that decrease the ability to hear, see and anticipate what is happening with surrounding traffic while operating a vehicle.

Aside from avoiding potentially fatal accidents, the positive side of not driving while distracted is that there are many benefits that can last a lifetime. Teenagers who prove themselves to be safe and responsible with good driving records are rewarded with much lower insurance rates. In some cases, these insurance rates can be lowered even further when a good driving record is combined with good grades. In the long run, the benefits of a good driving records become even more rewarding. Responsible adults with a long histories of safe driving are usually rewarded with spectacular insurance rates that result in saving thousands of dollars on long-term insurance costs.

4 Tips for Saving Big on Car Insurance

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
Save Big on Car Insurance

Save Big on Car Insurance

As American’s continue to tighten their belts and budgets, many have looked at their car insurance rates and begun looking for cheaper alternatives. Most people simply assume that the rates are high and that their is nothing they can do about it. This kind of thinking will not help you save money on car insurance. Their is significant savings in terms of car insurance if you are willing to do a little bit of leg work.

Comparison Shop
The first and most important step to take when purchasing car insurance is to comparison shop. Their are dozens of car insurance providers and every single one of them will have a different rate for you and your family. The premium can vary wildly from company to company, with some quoting even hundreds different than one of their biggest competitors. Most providers now have easy online calculators that will allow you to plug in all your information and get a quote online. You could literally spend one hour researching the top ten companies and come out saving $100 dollars every six months. That savings will add up quickly.

Raising Your Deductible
If you are a good driver, and haven’t been involved in a wreck, why do you have your deductible so low? The deductible is the amount you pay in case of a wreck. That can be anywhere from $100 to $500 dollars. If you have never crashed your car and aren’t likely to do so in the future, it’s a very smart decision to raise that deductible as high as the company allows you to. This will save you even more money.

Low Mileage Discounts
If you don’t inform your insurance companies how many miles you drive each year, they will more than likely overestimate how often you are on the road. Let them now how many miles you drive and stay within the limits. The less miles you drive, the less you will have to spend on insurance.

Picking the Right Car
Different cars have very different insurance rates. Companies charge you based on how likely your car is to get in a wreck. If you purchase a car that many younger drivers are buying, your rate will be more expensive. You may think you are saving in gas money by buying the little car that everyone is driving, but the car insurance premium could more than make up for it on the other end!

These tips can save you hundreds of dollars without too much effort on your part. It’s a great and smart way to save money.

Does Your Car Insurance Cover Flood Damage?

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

In many parts of the United States, and in fact all over the world, floods have been affecting them. They can range from floods caused by natural ways, such as a river flooding, or by unnatural ways. These unnatural ways can be caused by a dam breaking, or a human made structure breaking. Many car insurances do not cover flood damages so you will want to do your research, and make sure that your discounted car insurance will cover flood damages. You may even want to research whether or not that option is even availible for you.

There are many different types of car insurances and they can include bodily injury liability, property damage liability, and comprehensive coverage. The part of the insurance, the type, that you will want to add to your coverage is comprehensive coverage. This coverage will help to protect you against things such as floods, or even fires.

There are certain amount of protection if your get this type of coverage for your vehicle. This can be hard to find at a discounted rate, but it is possible. For example let’s say you pay a deductable of one thousand dollars, and the total cost of damages was one thousand five hundred dollars. You woul pay one thousand while the insurance company pays five hundred. A higher deductable that you are paying will equal out to a lower premium. So you end up paying less especially if a flood or other damage happens to your vehicle.

Comprehensive coverage might raise your rates up on your vehicle car insurance, but if you are looking for a discounted price then you will need to do your research. You will want to look around at different websites, and even the insurance provider located in your city to recieve quotes. But then again if you live in the middle of Nevada you might not have the need for flood insurance. So please do your research.

If you are financing or leasing out your vehicle at the moment from a financial company then that company will most likely ask you to carry this insurance. That way it guarantees that you will have the car around, even if it goes through some damage, so that you do not default out on the loan. This type of car insurance coverage can be hard to find at a good discounted price but you will want to shop around, and even having a good driving record or no insurance claims in the past will help to lower your coverage price.

Understanding Liability Auto Insurance Coverage

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010
Understanding Liability Auto Insurance Coverage

Understanding Liability Auto Insurance Coverage

When you purchase auto insurance there are several different kinds of coverage you can include on your policy. Liability coverage is one type of insurance that is required by every state in the US for every car owner to have. This type of coverage insures you when you are at fault for an accident which causes injury or damage to the property of another party. It will pay medical costs and repair or replacement costs that are incurred by another party in the accident.

Auto liability insurance coverage is divided into two different areas of coverage which are bodily injury and property damage. The names given to these two types of coverage are pretty much self explanatory. Bodily injury, of course, pertains to medical bills for any person who was hurt or injured in an accident which was the fault of the insured. Property damage is coverage for any costs to repair or replace a damaged vehicle or other property belonging to any person involved in the accident.

As mentioned earlier, all states in the US require a driver or car owner to have liability coverage before they can legally operate their vehicle. These states have a minimum amount of coverage that is mandatory, but the insurance companies will offer you coverage in larger amounts if you want it. Liability coverage limits are usually stated either in what is called split limits, or a combined single-limit. For example, your policy might state the split limits as 50/100/50. In this case, the 50 stands for $50,000 and would represent the most the policy would pay for bodily injury for each person injured. The second number would be $100,000 and would be the most paid by the policy per accident. The final number would represent $50,000 and is the most the policy would pay for property damage per accident. A combined single-limit policy might state $100,000 as representing the maximum payable for bodily injury and property damage together.

Of course, it is possible to save money on your auto liability coverage by purchasing only the minimum amount required by your state. However, you might be wise to consider purchasing more than the minimum. If you should have an accident where you are at fault, you might end up paying a lot of money out of your own pocket if your liability coverage is not adequate to pay all the costs you are responsible for. Having to pay a little higher insurance premium will be much preferable to the hundreds or thousands you might otherwise be responsible for.

I Filed Bankruptcy Can I Get A New Auto Insurance Policy?

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010
Auto Insurance & Bankruptcy

Auto Insurance & Bankruptcy

When you inquire about a new auto insurance policy the insurance company might run a consumer report check. During a consumer report check the three major credit bureau’s will report your individual scores and also your FICO score to the insurance company. Many insurance companies consider a driver with a score considered to be poor, a score under 600, to be a high risk. Some insurance companies will not offer a driver with this type of score a quote for auto insurance; however, some will but these companies will not give a driver with this type of credit history the lowest possible rates offered by this company.

Sometimes if a person files Chapter 13 which is a debt reassignment form of bankruptcy where the person pays back all or a portion of the debt the insurance company may look at this situation differently than any other form of bankruptcy. Many people who file Chapter 13 have more assets to protect and want to continue to stay in their house.

Bankruptcy does not mean the end of the road for you. Bankruptcy is more like a new beginning. When you first file for bankruptcy and are in the middle of the process no one will offer you a line of credit and it may not be a good time to open a new insurance policy; but when your bankruptcy is complete you will immediately begin to be offered credit. If you are going to open a revolving credit account your only option might be to put a security deposit down on a credit card. Your limit will match the security deposit. After several timely payments made on this card and on your first installment loan-which might be a vehicle loan-your credit score will begin to increase. If you feel as though you did not get the very best rate possible with the policy you purchased during or immediately following your bankruptcy case this is the time to again begin asking for quotes from other companies.

Many people are considering bankruptcy today and the insurance companies know this. The insurance companies are being a little more understanding of this and offering quotes to nearly everyone. Your best option might be to shop around and ask for several quotes. Every insurance company is different and therefore has different criteria on how they factor your credit score into your premium’s total. This is why it may be better for you to ask around to at least three carriers before making any commitments with an insurance company during and immediately following a bankruptcy.

Understanding Comprehensive Auto Insurance Coverage

Monday, November 8th, 2010
Comprehensive Auto Insurance Coverage

Comprehensive Auto Insurance Coverage Explained

Comprehensive auto insurance coverage is usually required for cars that are being leased or purchased through a bank loan. With comprehensive coverage, you are protected against almost any kind of damage that can happen to your car due to an accident. It also provides special coverage options like rental car services or roadside assistance. Different insurance companies have different policy features depending on the level of insurance you purchase. Comprehensive insurance costs more, but it will save you quite a bit of money if you ever need to file a claim.

Complete Protection for your Vehicle

If you own a car that is three years old or newer, a comprehensive policy will make it easier to keep your car in good condition. Most policies offer complete coverage of broken glass and other cosmetic problems that can result from daily driving. You will also enjoy engine protection and some discounts on regular maintenance through a comprehensive policy. Many insurance companies require that you perform specific maintenance on cars that are covered comprehensively so that the cars are always in top condition. These types of repair or maintenance can be extremely expensive on a new car that is not covered comprehensively.

Dealing with Natural Disasters

Not every comprehensive auto insurance policy provides coverage for natural disasters. You will need to make sure that you understand exactly what is covered when you sign up for a policy. If you are not covered for natural disasters, you could end up paying for damage due to falling tree limbs, hail, or flooding out of your own pocket. It is important to shop around and find a policy that will cover you if you live in an area that is prone to severe storms or other extreme weather patterns.

Belongings Inside the Vehicle

Most comprehensive plans do not provide coverage for belongings that are damaged while they are in the vehicle. Stereos, mp3 players, and other valuable cargo needs to be insured through a separate supplemental policy to be protected. Comprehensive coverage also does not extend to batteries and tires in most cases. Since these parts tend to wear down quickly, the insurance company does not consider them under a comprehensive insurance plan. Although these are general rules, there are always exceptions. You may be able to find an insurance company that will cover your belongings and your battery and tire, but you will most likely pay more for the privilege.

Tips for Decreasing Your Car Insurance Rates

Monday, November 8th, 2010
Tips for Decreasing Your Car Insurance Rates

Tips for Decreasing Your Car Insurance Rates

There are many things that you can do to decrease the amount you pay for car insurance. Almost anything that makes you a lower risk driver will have a positive impact on your insurance rates. If you have managed to avoid moving violations or auto accidents for three consecutive years, you will receive a discounted rate from most insurance companies. Drivers who have students living with them can receive discounts if the students are able to maintain a B average at school. You can also save on car insurance if you have multiple cars on the same policy. There are a number of discounts that are offered by many different car insurance companies.

Install Safety Features

An easy way to earn a car insurance discount is to install extra safety features on your vehicle. Many insurance companies offer substantial discounts for cars that are equipped with driver and passenger side air bags. Anti-lock brakes will also earn you a discount. When your car has the latest safety devices installed, the risk of you or your passengers being seriously injured during a car accident is greatly reduced. That means that you will not have to make large claims for serious injuries if you are ever involved in an auto accident.

Anti-Theft Devices

Insurance companies also appreciate it when you install anti-theft devices to your vehicle. Something as simple as a steering wheel lock can deter criminals and keep your car safer. Electronic alarms are even more effective in deterring theft. Insurance companies spend thousands of dollars each year replacing stolen vehicles or repairing recovered vehicles that were damaged during a theft. If you can reduce the risk of your vehicle being stolen, it will potentially save the insurance company quite a lot of money. That savings can be passed on to you in the form of lower car insurance rates.

Driver Training Classes

Many insurance companies offer discounts for drivers who attend driver training classes. The classes can be in general driving strategies or defensive driving techniques. A driver who successfully completes a training class will be less likely to cause an accident because they will be more aware of their driving habits. The reduced risk of an accident makes it easier for an insurance company to offer a lower premium because there is a reduced chance that the driver will need to make a claim. Some insurance companies host their own special driving classes for customers.

 
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