Auto Insurance Guide Archive for 2010

  • A glimpse into auto insurance for motorcycles

    by Hayden Krueger

    Motorcycle insurance is a much misunderstood and not understood part of auto insurance which involves the insurance of bodily harm and property damage for a motorcyclist with specific provisions and cover taking into consideration the nature, cost and use of the vehicle. 

    Getting the protection you need 

    The protection you need has always been an integral part of a good auto insurance policy, and it is more so ever important aspect when it comes to insuring a motorcycle. Most people tend to stint on cover and get the least they can and this proves very costly in the event of an accident. Due to the nature of a motorcycle the driver almost always suffers grave injuries and sometimes even death; this makes cover for bodily injury even more important. Modern motorcycles specifically the Japanese motorcycles have a lot of carbon fiber and expensive gizmos which can cost a pretty penny … Click here to read more

  • While Renewing Your Auto Insurance Policy

    by Hayden Krueger

    Insurance policies for vehicles can be taken out for varying durations such as 3, 6, 9, or 12 months. Staying with the same insurance is the path most taken, but it isn’t really the best. When an insurance company comes up with a policy which suits a customer like you better than your existing policy, they will not intimate you or suggest that you change. It is up to you to inspect the market for better offers each time the policy is due for renewal. With time a lot of things change, for example, your car costs less due to depreciation and shouldn’t be insured for the value it was when it was a new vehicle. 

    If you have changed or are about to change any of the following, it may be time to look for a new policy which could cost you less. 

    Vehicle upgrades 

    If you have installed … Click here to read more

  • Using A Hand Held Device To Find Auto Insurance Quotes

    by Hayden Krueger

    There was a time when you had to get home or to the office in order to access the internet. But with rapid advances in technology, you can now access the internet from a hand held device while in transit. You can get access to the internet through an iphone, any 3G phone with a data plan, or even a hand held browser. You just need to be within range of a wifi network or better still, have a data plan which will give you access to the internet while on the go.

    There are many devices that you can use to access the internet on the move, but the iphone is one of the most popular and easiest to use.  So once you get online, you have to start by looking for auto insurance comparison websites. All these websites will give you free auto insurance quotes once you fill … Click here to read more

  • Types Of Auto Insurance Companies And Their Benefits

    by Hayden Krueger

    Not all car insurance companies offer the same rates or the same benefits. This will largely depend on the type of car insurance company, the state that you live in and also the type of driver.

    What are the different types of car insurance companies you can choose from?

    Broadly speaking, there are two kinds of them. You have the big names that are the large multinational companies which might be operating in all or most of the states in the country. These companies will most likely charge you a lot more than any other local company. But the sort of coverage and dependability that you get from such a policy will be a lot better than going with the cheaper firms. But the one drawback of going with such a large firm is that you will need to have very good evidence and also a really good lawyer to … Click here to read more

  • The Impact Of The Type Of Car On Auto Insurance Rates

    by Hayden Krueger

    Not many of us would actually think about this when we go out to buy a car. In fact this will be the one thing that is furthest away from our thoughts. The things that we will want to do are decide a color, take it for a test ride or take the family along for a ride. None of us will ever think that the make of our car will affect our future insurance rates. But this is very true.

    Auto insurance companies admit to the fact that the make and model of the car do have a say when it comes to the insurance rates. Whenever a new car model is released, the auto insurance companies will rate it or give it a symbol. This rating will be based on its initial ex showroom cost and claimed safety features. But then as time goes by and the insurance … Click here to read more

  • The Impact Of Car Color On Auto Insurance Rates

    by Hayden Krueger

    There have always been various urban legends that keep making circles around different groups of people. And these rumors slowly transform into fact. And larger groups of people start believing and propagating this information. There has always been this idea that the color of your car will help decide your auto insurance rates. We shall now see whether this is really true or not.

    It is an oft repeated statement that people with red cars are more likely to speed and hence get more citations or get involved in more traffic accidents. It is true that several psychological studies have shown that people who buy red cars are those who are rasher in the head. But such a study cannot be used to determine the auto insurance rates of a potential customer. There are just too many uncertainties associated with the statement for it to be adopted as a policy.… Click here to read more

  • The Benefits Of Drivers Education While Buying Auto Insurance

    by Hayden Krueger

    Drivers Education has a lot of benefits for a person who wishes to apply for a license, a person who pays a high premium on his insurance policy or even a teen ager or a senior who pays a sky high premium based on their age. If you fall under any of these categories, or know anyone else who does, please advise them to take the course, you may even help them to get it started if they are diffident. 

    What is Driver’s Ed? 

    Drivers Ed. or Drivers Education is a series of educational programs run by government authorities, as well as private entities. Today the course is not only beneficial but also compulsory. A driver can take the course at various DMV’s and other public offices, however the most popular method to take the course is online. To sign up for the course all you need to do is … Click here to read more

  • Save On Auto Insurance By Preventing Your Car From Being Stolen

    by Hayden Krueger

    Auto theft has become a very popular crime in the United States due to the ease with which it can be carried out. And there is no way of easily detecting who the thieves were in order to serve justice and retrieve the property.

    A car theft is not covered by all policies. You will need to have a comprehensive policy in order to get reimbursed for auto theft. If you just have a third party auto insurance policy then you are out of luck. You will just have to file a police complaint and hope that the car is found before it is ripped apart for parts.

    The general modus operandi of all car thefts these days is to break it apart and sell it for parts. The thieves will never sell the car as a whole because it can be easily identified and they can be traced. But … Click here to read more

  • Getting High Risk Auto Insurance Simplified

    by Hayden Krueger

    Before we start dwelling on the subject of how to get high risk auto insurance, we need to first find out how to classify a high risk driver.

    A high risk driver is considered to be a higher economic burden to the insurance company. This is because this drivers driving record would be tainted. The state department of motor vehicles in every state maintains a constant record of all the traffic accidents and citations that the said driver has received.

    Once a record is made the driver cannot do anything to expunge it from the record. It will stay with you for life and whenever you go out to change or renew your policy, you will have to explain this one recording. And your rates will be marginally increased in order to compensate for the added risk that the auto insurance company is taking by insuring you. Because they are … Click here to read more

  • Common Auto Insurance Claims Fraud

    by Hayden Krueger

    Insurance companies are finding that the number of claims just keep going up with a failing economy. And this means more work for the special investigations unit of the company. Every auto insurance company will have a unit dedicated to finding individuals who are faking an auto insurance claim. And if discovered, it can mean not only that your policy will be terminated and your loss will not be reimbursed but also that you might end up in jail for fraud.

    It has become very common for fraudster to leave their car keys inside the car with a hope of increasing the chances of it being stolen. The insurance companies know this and will hence ask for both the set of keys that you entitled to have when you file a claim. They will also get suspicious if the car is found without signs of forced entry or with the … Click here to read more

  • 5 Steps To Get A Cheap Auto Insurance Policy

    by Hayden Krueger

    Getting an auto insurance policy is not like buying a commodity from a shop. You cannot just walk into an auto insurance company and ask for a policy. This is very much possible but you will end up paying a lot more than you have to for a lot lesser than what you can get.

    The first step to take when looking for an auto insurance policy is to go online and look for quotes. A lot of websites offer auto insurance quotes. These are an estimate of what exactly you will be paying for a set of benefits. And what’s better is that it is totally free. You will need to fill in your personal details like name, contact number, address and some more secure information like your social security number, driving license number and vehicle identification number. Always be careful when divulging this extra important information on the … Click here to read more

  • Monthly Payments vs One Time Auto Insurance Payments

    by Hayden Krueger

    Auto insurance bills are anything but cheap, and a majority of people wish they had an easier way out. It is common knowledge that adequate insurance is mandatory and driving without insurance is illegal, which rules out not buying insurance or buying inadequate insurance. The consumer has to thus shop around and find a good auto insurance deal in order to pay the least towards his/her auto insurance bills. 

    Auto insurance companies are corporations which don’t really work as per their consumers’ desires, but on the basis of profitability. These companies took into consideration the need for monthly payments and worked out a plan which is in the benefit of the company as well as the consumer. 

    Monthly payments 

    Auto insurance companies have insurance tenures of 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, for which customers need to make a full payment. In recent years, these companies have introduced an installment … Click here to read more

  • Auto Insurance Coverage Tips For New Cars

    by Hayden Krueger

    Who doesn’t love the feeling of a new car? The clear glossy paint, the alluring smell of the new car and the thrill of impressing all your friends and family members! However, all this can be short-lived if something happens to your brand new car. Are you adequately insured to cover its repair bills? Many people find out a little too late that they don’t have adequate insurance, but by then the damage has been done! 

    Cover 

    If the third party (other driver) involved in the accident doesn’t have insurance, or has inadequate insurance, the government of the United States protects you and you can sue the other driver for damages. It’s no secret that court cases are not something either party can take lightly. Even though you are right, you will still need to pay for legal fees. Insurance claims that go to court don’t generally get settled quickly … Click here to read more

  • Auto Insurance Details For Dummies

    by Hayden Krueger

    A car is the second biggest investment a person is likely to make, the first being a house. Risk management is a financial scheme wherein the owner of an asset approaches a bank to insure the asset. The bank bears responsibility to reimburse the customer of any losses he/she may incur due to damage or loss of the asset, the customer in turn pays the bank a monthly or annual premium for this service. The bank or the insurance provider decides on the premium by analyzing the risk factors involved. The risk factor of an asset is based upon its value and the chances of it being stolen or destroyed. If anything does happen to the asset, the insurance company initiates an investigation into the matter to ensure that the loss or damage wasn’t intentional. If the case is legitimate, the insurance company makes the payout of the sum insured … Click here to read more

  • What are OEM parts and does your auto insurance cover them?

    by Hayden Krueger

    If you have had the misfortune of being involved in an accident, you are probably under a lot of stress right now. You have to first take care of all the injuries that have been sustained by your passengers. You have to also make sure that there is no long lasting disability as a result of negligence on your part. But in the mean time, there is also the other part about filing claims with your auto insurance company and also sending your car to a repair facility.

    Filing a claim can get pretty complicated. Any normal individual with a full time job will know that there is practically no time to do anything else but go about day to day activities. And then the bombshell is dropped. You need to do a lot of extra paper work and also talk to a lot of different people and research a … Click here to read more

  • The security of gap insurance

    by Hayden Krueger

    People generally think they know all there is to know about auto insurance. But then along came gap insurance. Gap insurance is an absolute necessity for leasing a vehicle, however trivial it may seem. If a small down payment was made at the time of purchasing a car, then gap insurance could just prove to be a lifesaver. Let’s first understand what it is.
    What a traditional auto insurance policy does not cover is covered by the gap insurance. If your car is totaled in a mishap or stolen, and you owe the company some money then gap insurance can close that gap.

    How does gap insurance really work?

    Let’s examine a test case. A person bought a car around 2 months ago for $25,000. He chose to pay $500 a month, at an interest rate of 6 percent. Then one day a tree fell onto it absolutely flattening it … Click here to read more

  • Surviving a car crash and filing auto insurance claims

    by Hayden Krueger

    It is always traumatic to be involved in an accident. But it is especially traumatic to be involved in a very serious car accident. Only few escape unscathed, a majority aren’t so lucky. If you’ve been involved in such an accident and escaped without a bruise, thank your stars. But your vehicle wasn’t as lucky as you. That brand new SUV you’ve just bought has been reduced to the size of a Mini Cooper.

    The bonnet’s folded over like a paper fan; you can barely recognize the interiors of the vehicle. A million questions swirl through your mind- How did survive it? What’s going to happen to the car? What should i do next? Will my insurance company compensate me? Calm down. If ever you catch yourself in such an unfortunate situation, don’t panic; read these steps now to be prepared.

    Read through your policy papers from time to timeClick here to read more

  • Steps to help you switch auto insurance policies

    by Hayden Krueger

    The time has come for you to change your auto insurance policy. It may be done for a variety of reasons; maybe you’re selling your car, or you’ve got a job in another state and don’t need this car, or maybe you’re just plain unhappy about your present insurer’s service. If you’re one such person, then read on to know some important points that one must keep in mind while switching auto insurance policies.

    Send a written notice to cancel the policy

    The first thing to keep in mind is that a sufficient notice period must be given to your insurer, else you will end up spending more money and the whole thing will affect your credit history in a bad way too.

    At any point of time during the term of your policy one may send a written application to the auto insurance company mentioning the cancellation date on … Click here to read more

  • Simplifying the process for buying Auto insurance for teenage drivers

    by Hayden Krueger

    If you are a teenager or the parent of a teen, you must be going through a lot of heart ache trying to figure out the best way to get the cheapest and best policy for your needs. Car insurance companies consider younger drivers to be a risk factor to the firm and hence charge a lot more in the name of premium.

    Drivers between the age group of 16 and 25 are considered to be high risk drivers. The car insurance companies depend on historic statistical data to come to this conclusion. So how did we arrive at this conclusion?

    it has been found that drivers between this particular age group are much more susceptible to be involved in an accident related fatality. There is almost a 50% greater chance of meeting with an accident related fatality for this age group. We now arrive at the question of why … Click here to read more

  • Picking an auto insurance company to buy insurance from

    by Hayden Krueger

    It isn’t really hard to pick an insurance policy, what with all the help available on the internet, but what about choosing the right company? How can one ascertain that the company is reliable and legitimate? How will you know the way the insurance company treats its customers and handles claims? Read on to know what to keep in mind while going about choosing your auto insurance company.

    Visit the website of the department of insurance of your particular state:

    All states have their own individual department of insurance, even though many may not know about it. A ‘consumer complaint ratio’ is marked for each and every insurance company operating in the state, and this information is published on the website. Through this ratio, you will come to know every 1000 claims filed, how many complaints were received by the insurance company.

    These complaint ratios must be compared thoroughly in … Click here to read more