Auto Insurance Guide Archive for April, 2010

• Auto Insurance Lingo That You Should be Aware Of

  by Hayden Krueger

  We shall discuss a few of the commonly used auto insurance related words in the following article. Emphasis will be laid upon trying to convey the technicality in common man’s jargon.

  Actual cash value: it is the actual present value of the automobile which would be incurred in order to replace it. But this value is not same as the ex showroom value, it is that value minus the depreciated value.

  Benefit: it is the actual cash value that a person receives on filing a claim with the auto insurance company.

  Bodily injury liability: it is the reimbursement that an insurance company will pay to all the persons injured in an accident. The insurance company which pays the money will be the one associated with the person at fault.

  Claim: it is the request for money that is filed by the insurance holder with the insurance company after an accident.… Click here to read more

• All about the need to review your auto insurance policy annually

  by Hayden Krueger

  An insurance policy must be continually evaluated and re-evaluated, especially when it comes to the tax season. The best time to get the finances of your house in order is the beginning of the year. In the beginning of the year you have all your finances in front of you, and you can judge whether or not your auto insurance policy is doing what it should do for you.
  Another time that an auto insurance policy may be reviewed is during renewal. A little before your policy needs to be renewed, compare with other companies; see if they have better deals on the same policy that you have right now, or whether they have better deals.

  When to review a policy

  1. There’s something new: You should preferably review your insurance policy when the insurance company you’re with has something new to offer. There may be better deals, or discounts, so

  … Click here to read more

• A quick guide to Full coverage insurance

  by Hayden Krueger

  The misconception 

  Full coverage auto insurance has been around for a long time now, but people still don’t understand it. Fill coverage insurance doesn’t cover any damage that can happen to your car and it most certainly isn’t PLPD – Public Liability and Property Protection. It is truly astounding that even though full coverage insurance has been around for so long a majority of people don’t understand it; the common misconception is that it will cover for any damages that can happen to your vehicle. 

  The name might be misleading but as a consumer it is in your best interest that you evaluate what full coverage insurance means to you and what protection you receive from a plan like this; the onus of understanding your cover and protection is yours and no insurance company will bear this burden for you and explain it to you, its in their best interest … Click here to read more

• How to avoid auto insurance scams

  by Hayden Krueger

  There are several types of auto insurance scams these days. With the advent of the internet, it has made it easier for people to run large scale scams without fear of reprisal. And hence we will be dealing with insurer scams in this particular article. We will also deal with a little about referral scams later on in the article.

  We shall discuss the basic things that you must avoid or look out for. Never entertain door to door sales persons. They may not only be out to swindle you into signing up for a nonexistent insurance company, they may also be a potential physical threat to you and your family.

  Always be wary about auto insurance policies with premiums that are way lower than the closest competition. It could be an outright fraud or a legitimate company which is trying to lure you with low prices which do not … Click here to read more

• Getting auto insurance without a driver’s license

  by Hayden Krueger

  This particular question might seem superfluous to most that are not aware about the reasons for such a need. Anyone should know that one cannot operate an automobile without a valid driver’s license. But there are certain situations due to which one may need auto insurance without having a valid driver’s license. We shall first explain each of these situations and then explore how to get such a policy.

  In cases where your license is suspended

  If you have been driving around without auto insurance for a number of years and then end up being caught by the police, your license can be suspended. It is illegal to operate a vehicle without an auto insurance policy in all the states of the United States of America. However, the limits and requirements are different in different states of the country. You will not only need to have a policy, you will … Click here to read more

• A few simple steps to buy auto insurance

  by Hayden Krueger

  Making a decision as to which policy is best suited for your needs is always going to be extremely confusing. The problem is to balance it out between paying too much for your auto insurance policy and paying too less and ending up with inadequate coverage. Hence it can be tricky.

  The best way to navigate your way through this murky subject is to put in as much time as you can to make a good decision.

  • The first step to take is to start looking for quotes on the internet.  You will need a couple of hours to get through to a sufficient number of auto insurance companies. It will take you around fifteen minutes to fill out the forms for each quote that you seek. And also there will be a few companies that will not immediately give you a quote. They will take some time to get

  … Click here to read more

• Who is the worse driver, teenagers or senior citizens?

  by Hayden Krueger

  Most people agree that teenagers and senior citizens are involved in a major portion of the fatalities on the road. This is very true; there is no question about that. But the question is which of the two groups constitutes a higher percentage of the deaths on the road? Auto insurance companies need this data in order to calculate the auto insurance premiums.

  Senior citizens are bound to have diminished driving skills due to slower neuro-motor coordination. To think and act accordingly requires a lot of coordination between the various parts of a body. Older people will not be able to act in a speed comparable to that of a younger person. The brain cells start dying out at an age of 25 and they are never replenished. This is one of the reasons why students can grasp so much information in school but start faltering when they have to … Click here to read more

• The need for gap auto insurance

  by Hayden Krueger

  Most of you might be under the impression that your auto insurance is all that you are going to need in order to give your financial freedom in case of an accident. But think again. If you have brought your car under a lease or a loan, you owe money to someone for the vehicle.

  A lease or loan is given out for a long period of pay back time. It can be up to 5 years or even7 years. If your car is totaled during this period, you will still have to pay the entire amount that you owe to the insurance company. There is no second question about that.

  Let us consider a real life scenario. You buy a car through a lease for $25000. Your installments are $500 per month at an interest rate of 6 percent. If you do have the misfortune of meeting with an … Click here to read more

• Cancellation And Termination Of Auto Insurance Policies

  by Hayden Krueger

  You might want to cancel your auto insurance policy for a number of reasons. Maybe you are moving to a different state or maybe you have decided to go in for a different auto insurance carrier or you might even be getting rid of your vehicle altogether. But what you need to know is that if you do not give sufficient notice to your insurance provider, it will end up costing you a lot more money and also adversely affecting your credit history.

  The only way to cancel a policy on amicable terms is to send a written statement to the insurance company stating that you would like to cancel the policy on a certain date. You will need to give them at least a months notice. You might be under the impression that if you stop paying your installments for the premium, the policy will automatically get terminated. But … Click here to read more

• Finding a good mechanic to work with your auto insurance

  by Hayden Krueger

  A lot of people believe that finding an honest mechanic is akin to finding an honest politician. And rightly so, given that the majority out there is over worked, underpaid and out to make money. It is true that almost all mechanics might have at some point of time overcharged or performed unnecessary tasks on your vehicle, but the question is how much can be considered to be acceptable loss?

  You first need to know that a mechanic is not just a professional. He has to be someone you can trust and build a relationship with. If you act all high-strung and just walk into one and say ‘do the works’, you cannot expect him to be nice to you. It is important to use your people skills to start building a relationship.

  A good mechanic will study your auto insurance policy and work with you in order to sort … Click here to read more

• Be prepared with the right steps to place auto insurance claims

  by Hayden Krueger

  Auto accidents are something that can happen at any given time without prior warning. This is why it is important to be prepared for such an incident before it happens. But the first thing that you need to do is remain calm. There is nothing to be gained out of losing control of your mind when you are in such a tense situation.

  As soon as the incident occurs, check to see if anyone is hurt. Call emergency services immediately. There is a golden hour after an accident during which the fate of a person can be decided and you need to act fast in order to ensure that nothing adverse happens.

  After checking for injuries, the next step should be to ensure that the situation does not take a turn for the worse. If it’s just a simple accident involving a bent fender or a dent, move your car … Click here to read more

• A few ways to get your auto insurance bill down

  by Hayden Krueger

  When you are out shopping for auto insurance, you need to be aware that there are a few crucial factors that affect the bill. A few of those factors like age, gender or driving record cannot be altered. But there are other factors that can be influenced in order to build a favorable opinion.

  The first step to take is to get a number of quotes. You can get free quotes from a number of online websites. There are both third party websites that host a number of auto insurance companies and also the company websites themselves which give out free quotes. You have to take some time off and try to find the best deal by getting a few quotes by filling in your details. These details can include your name, contact number, address and also other more personal details like social security number, vehicle identification number and driving … Click here to read more

• How much car insurance is too much?

  by Hayden Krueger

  Car insurance is always a tricky balancing act for people who are trying hard to make ends meet. If you can afford a fully comprehensive insurance policy, then you do not need to worry. You will have to start contemplating what to do only when you do not have the spare cash to pay for a fully comprehensive and all frills insurance policy. 

  If you are getting car insurance just for the sake of abiding by the law, then it will not cost you much. But this is a very risky move given that you might have to pay heavily if you ever meet with a serious accident. Strictly speaking, you must not go for this option unless you drive a washing machine on wheels and you do not own any assets. But for everyone else, there is a need for some serious contemplation. 

  What happens when you meet with … Click here to read more

• Dealing with an auto insurance claims adjuster

  by Hayden Krueger

  An auto insurance claims adjuster is the point of contact with whom you will have to sit and negotiate the value of your car or damages if in case the need arises. They are the people who will sign out on your forms which will release the money that the insurance company owes you. We will now discuss a few insider opinions which were obtained from a few of these people. 

  What you will first need to realize is that these auto insurance claims adjusters have nothing to lose or gain by not giving you your just dues. They are just trying to do their job as fast as possible. At any given time, an auto insurance claims adjuster has at least 100 open cases to deal with, and like any paper pusher in an office, they just want to get the job done. In order to do this, they … Click here to read more

• Getting Cheap Auto Insurance For High Risk Drivers

  by Hayden Krueger

  It can get pretty challenging to get a cheap auto insurance policy if you have prior accidents in your record. And most auto insurance companies will not be willing to look at your current record and instead will rely on your past to make a decision about your risk of being involved in another accident. 

  A record is maintained by the department of motor vehicles of every state. This record will show all the accidents that you have been involved in. it will also show all the citations that you have received from the police as a result of your traffic infractions. Once a citation is entered in this record, it is going to be there forever. 

  What is not known is that auto insurance companies will also look at criminal records while deciding your insurance rates. You can get a criminal record for something as simple as not paying … Click here to read more

• Auto Insurance For Teen Automobile Operators

  by Hayden Krueger

  Auto insurance for teenagers is always a big headache. You might be one of those young kids struggling to stand up on his or her own feet or you might be a parent who is cringing at the thought of paying an exorbitant amount of money for his kid’s auto insurance premium. In either case, you are not alone. Every year, millions of kids get a new car and suffer the burden of having to pay a huge premium. 

  Auto insurance companies consider anyone between the age groups of 16 to 25 to be younger driver or teen drivers. This is in fact a synonym for high risk drivers in auto insurance jargon! They do not really consider your record; they will automatically brand you as a high risk driver. It’s like being guilty unless proven otherwise. 

  The best way to get a good deal is to shop around diligently. … Click here to read more

• What affects the cost of your auto insurance premium?

  by Hayden Krueger

  We often have a picture in our minds of what our auto insurance will cost us, an ideal cheap rate that we can afford while still maintaining a good amount of coverage in the event of an accident. Unfortunately though there are many factors auto insurance company’s use to calculate our rates that we are unprepared for and it will surprise us will the bill comes. So, what are some things you should know about auto insurance factors that will affect your rate?

  The largest factor the auto insurance companies will use to calculate your auto insurance premium rate is your driving history and accident history.  Basically it comes down to the fact that the less accidents or auto insurance claims you have in your history, the cheaper your rate will be.

   Why? Well because it shows that you are a lower risk for the auto insurance company and therefore … Click here to read more

• The benefits of Purchasing Auto Insurance from the comfort of your own home

  by Hayden Krueger

  How can you purchase your auto insurance premium from the comfort of your own home? Well, the answer is simple; the internet. Most people today have access to the internet and auto insurance companies are taking advantage of this knowledge. It makes it easier for both you and the company and it saves them a lot of money as well, and they pass the savings on to you!

  One of the major benefits, and indeed the one that draws most people in, is that fact that you can save a large sum of money from purchasing your auto insurance over the internet.  The rates offered by the auto insurance companies are often a lot lower if purchased online, and indeed you will often get discounts for purchasing online. It saves the auto insurance paper, personnel, and a lot of other costs when they do business with you online.

  As well, … Click here to read more

• Steps to take before and after an auto accident

  by Hayden Krueger

  An auto accident is always a traumatic experience. And you can never say when you might be involved in one. The best thing to do is not panic and tackle things rationally. If you do the right things after an accident, you can save a lot for yourself. And we are not talking just about money.

  • Before you are involved in an accident, take time to sit down and read your auto insurance policy thoroughly. And if you have any doubts or reservations about anything written on the policy, you must call your agent and clarify.
  • God forbid you meet with an accident; the first action that you must take is to find out whether you are injured. If you know that you can move, try looking for other people who are injured. And then move away from the scene of the accident as soon as possible. A lot of

  … Click here to read more

• How to use the internet to get cheap auto insurance

  by Hayden Krueger

  Everyone is looking to save money in their budget these days. Times are tough and everyone needs to save money, even the very well off aren’t as well off as they used to be. One of the major ticket items in people’s budgets is their auto insurance premiums.

  For most people in most parts of the world it is also something they must have in order to be able to legally drive. If you are reading this, this is most likely the case for you as well. So, how can you reduce your auto insurance rates or find a better deal with better coverage? The internet, it is your source for cheap auto insurance deals.

  Most auto insurance companies these days advertise and offer the option of purchasing auto insurance online. It saves them time and money and it will save you time and money. There are websites that you … Click here to read more