Auto Insurance Law

New York Car Insurance Quote Basics

admin — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 15:05:18 +0000

Moving brings lots of new challenges, particularly if you’re moving to a new state. If you’re new to the state of New York, you need to know all the ins and outs on important laws and regulations, including finding out all about a New York car insurance quote. You might get a little sticker shock moving to New York as their rates are a bit higher than the national average. But, there are always ways to save money on your New York car insurance.

New York has a “no fault” law, which means that, in general, each party’s insurance pays for their injury claims in the event of an accident, regardless of who caused the accident. For this reason, all drivers in New York must carry Personal Injury Insurance (PIP) in the amount of at least $50,000. Your PIP insurance will cover medical expenses, loss of wages, loss of services, and offers a death benefit.

In addition, New York drivers must also carry liability insurance to pay for property damage and bodily injury to the other party in the event that you are at fault in an accident. The minimum on liability property damage insurance is $10,000. The minimum on bodily injury is $25,000 per person or $50,000 per accident. In addition, New York car insurance laws require that you carry a minimum $25,000/$50,000 in uninsured motorist coverage, too.

Overall, New York car insurance typically costs the average driver about $400 per year more than the national average. This is due to the combination of higher limits being required by law and the fact that drivers are required to carry liability insurance to pay for the other party along with PIP insurance to pay for their own medical expenses.

In addition to carrying the New York car insurance required by law, you may also want to consider adding other coverage, such as collision insurance. Though your PIP insurance covers your injuries in an accident, without collision, you’ll have no insurance coverage for your vehicle in the event of an accident that you cause. Collision will cover your vehicle’s repair or replacement. In addition many drivers consider adding comprehensive insurance. Comprehensive insurance covers your vehicle for damage caused by fire, natural elements, vandalism and theft. You may also want to add items such as rental car coverage and roadside assistance to your policy.

Because rates on a New York car insurance quote are fairly high, it’s very important to shop around so that you can ensure the best deal. Take the time to gather several quotes before you choose an insurance policy. Asking each company to quote the exact same coverage will help you compare your quotes more easily.

Once you’ve gathered your quotes, be certain to ask around about the company’s customer service before you make your final decision. Great rates are always enticing, but it’s just as important to have a car insurance company that will be responsive when you have to file a claim.

By: Barry H Brenner

Texas Department of Insurance and Texassure Non-Compliance Vehicle Notices

admin — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 00:18:20 +0000

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) announced that as early as Spring of 2010, non-compliance notices will be mailed to owners of uninsured vehicles. The notice will provide a warning for those driving uninsured – the situation will need to be corrected immediately. The notice will list the potential fines for driving uninsured and advise repeat offenders they face suspension of driving privileges.

The non-compliance notices are going out as part of the TexasSure Uninsured Motorists Verification program passed by the 79th Legislature. The law requires insurers to submit their active policyholder information to the state, who in turn matches the submitted Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) with the VINs contained in the registered vehicle database at TxDMV. Of the VIN numbers submitted by insurers, 99 percent were successfully matched to the vehicle registration database.

One in Four are Uninsured

While TDI will not release specific statistics, it is estimated at a minimum, one out of every four vehicles on Texas roads is currently not insured. In June of 2008, access to the TexasSure program was provided to DPS officers and all 254 county tax offices. The program was an immediate hit. “Motorists have overwhelmingly embraced the TexasSure database, especially given its 99 percent success rate of matching vehicles to their insurance coverage,” said Rebecca Davio, TxDMV’s Director of Vehicle Titles and Registration. “Its proving to be a tremendous resource for identifying those without insurance.” Notices are currently being mailed to the one percent of policyholders whose insurer reported coverage, yet their VIN number was unable to be matched to a current vehicle registration.

Ongoing Monitoring of Uninsured Vehicles

“Texas insurance agents and citizens alike have long awaited this time.” comments Christine Huddleston, President of the Alliance of Insurance Agents of Texas (AIAT). The AIAT played a significant role in the passage and implementation of the TexasSure program.

Law enforcement throughout our state have praised the system and appreciate the ability to verify whether a vehicle is insured by just running their license plate number. However, it has always been our top priority to prevent the uninsured from getting behind the wheel in the first place. These notices will serve as a proactive approach in reducing the number of uninsured drivers and we commend the TDI for all of their efforts in getting us to this point.

TDI advised auto insurers the non-compliance notices will begin in Spring of 2010. All registered vehicles will be tracked on an ongoing basis to monitor their insured status. After a vehicle is listed as uninsured for nine (9) consecutive weeks, a letter of non-compliance will be mailed to the registered owner.

Insurance Agents, Are You Ready to Handle the New Business?

“Agents need to be prepared. It is going to be the 1980s all over again.” says Mary Ann Hooten, a Territory Manager for GAINSCO Auto Insurance. Mary Ann worked for an insurance agency in 1982 when the mandatory insurance law initially passed in Texas. “Our phones rang off the hook every night until midnight. We had to turn the phones off at night, even though they were ringing, because we simply could not handle any more business.”

Insurance Technologies Corporation offers four key software packages to insurance agents to generate leads, decrease time quoting and binding, and streamline customer service processes. Now is the time to address your automation needs so you are prepared for the New Year.

By: David Burelsmith

Massachusetts Car Insurance Requirements When Getting Quotes

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:05:28 +0000

It helps to have a few things ready when shopping for car insurance in Massachusetts, including your current policy information. Also you should know what the minimum requirements are for Massachusetts auto insurance. Here is some helpful information.

Massachusetts requires car insurance by law and is a state with a no-fault system, meaning you need to have Personal Injury Protection which will pay for your injury claims — up to a limit– no matter who’s at fault.

Massachusetts’ compulsory — or required — coverages are (keep in mind these are minimums and you may want higher limits for better financial protection):

Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, which pays necessary medical costs if you are injured in an accident. Minimum coverage of $8,000.

Bodily Injury — $20,000 per person who is hurt or killed in an accident, and $40,000 per accident if several people are hurt or killed.

Bodily Injury Caused By an Uninsured Auto — $20,000 per person who is hurt or killed in an accident, and $40,000 per accident if several people are hurt or killed.

Property Damage Liability — $5,000 for property damage caused by you in an accident.

Car insurance rates in Massachusetts are strictly regulated by the state. However, Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner Nonnie Burnes is currently trying to pass a plan to deregulate the insurance industry in her state. This would bring in more car insurance companies and more competition which could bring down rates and costs to car owners.

However, you should always do some comparison shopping when looking for car insurance; you may be able to save on overall costs and you’ll certainly get a better idea of how each company’s service is going to be. Try to get at least three different comparison quotes. To get the most accurate comparison, make sure you provide the same information about deductibles and coverage limits to each company.

By: Justin Scott

California Rental Car Insurance

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:04:13 +0000

When someone rents a car, the automobile rental companies hold the renter accountable under the rental agreement for damage to their car. They offer a Damage Waiver at an extra cost. This Damage Waiver is not insurance, but a contractual agreement between the renter and rental company. If a waiver is not purchased, it is important to review your own automobile policy to determine if any extension of coverage applies. Also, establish how the liability coverage afforded by your policy applies in the event you are at fault in an accident with the rented vehicle. In California, you are required to have auto insurance regardless of whether you are driving your own car or if you are renting one.

Rental car agencies do provide wide range of auto insurance coverage and it would not be prudent to blindly select rental car insurance as every policy offers its individual advantages under particular situations. You should examine each policy so offered and judge it against the requirements you have. It would be prudent to discuss the policy with the car rental agent, rather than just read the summary over the website.

Sometimes you are not required to purchase any car rental insurance because you are already covered by your car insurance. Usually, your coverage does remain the same with a rented car as it would if you would be driving your own vehicle. Also, you could be covered by auto insurance coverage under your credit cards. You should check with your credit card company about the coverage to which you are entitled.

Before you rent a vehicle, check the financial and insurance obligation you will face, and find out how these would be covered by your own auto insurance. In case you do need to exercise your insurance policy and realize that certain aspect is not currently covered, you should check if it would be covered under other insurance policies.

By: Eric Morris

Car Insurance Made Easy

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:35:38 +0000

While loads of car insurance companies are in operation, finding the best deals can be somewhat challenging. Besides the number of companies in the business, there are also several other variables to consider. Here are some tips to help you find the lowest car insurance possible:

1. Take out multiple policies from the same company.

If you already have a health insurance or life insurance policy through one company, then consider taking out auto insurance from the same company. Insurance companies wouldn’t mind getting the extra business, and they’re often willing to provide fairly hefty discounts for repeat customers. However, as a word of caution never assume that a current insurer will always provide you with the best deal. So shop around to ensure that you get the absolutely, positively, best deal possible!

2. Look for student discounts.

If you’re a high school or college student, you might be eligible for student discounts. Typically, insurers offer these discounts to students who maintain a “B” (3.0) average. Of course, you’d need to submit official documentation certifying the grades. If you’re a parent of a student, then these discounts can serve as a fantastic motivator. Either your child hits the books, or they’ll be less “mobile” until they do.

3. Buy a used car.

You’ll need to take out more insurance for a new car, so one of the best ways to save on auto insurance, is to buy a used car. And it doesn’t have to be a lemon for you to enjoy substantial savings!

4. Keep your driving record clean.

This is one of the easiest ways to find cheap car insurance, since auto insurance companies provide various discounts for clean driving records. While accidents can happen, you want to avoid those in which you’re at fault. At-fault accidents can add points to your driving record, which can cause your auto insurance to shoot through the roof! If you already have point(s) on your driving record, then avoid any future at-fault accidents. That will help you to secure cheaper insurance once the points disappear.

5. Maintain good credit.

What does your credit rating have to do with car insurance? More and more insurers are looking at an applicant’s credit rating, to determine the interest rate that they’re willing to offer. The assumption is that someone who’s fiscally disciplined is likely to be disciplined behind the wheel. If you have outstanding credit, then look for insurers who consider one’s credit rating as a crucial factor to determine interest rates. And if you have less-than-perfect credit, this is a motivator to start paying your bills in full and on time!

6. Shop around.

This is definitely one of the key steps you should take when searching for auto insurance. The good news is that the Internet has made the process much more convenient. It’s now very quick and easy to get online quotes from various auto insurance providers. But always make sure that you’re comparing apples with apples, and orange with oranges. In other words, the quote that you get should be applicable to you, in terms of your age, gender, driving record, and so on.

Following these tips will help you to find cheap AND good auto coverage. Good luck!

By: Graeme Renwall

Gap Car Insurance Protects Your Auto Financing Investment

admin — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:41:58 +0000

What is Car Gap Insurance For?

If you have purchased a new or used car with a loan, you probably owe more than the book value of the car for the first several months you pay on your loan. If you did not put down a large down payment or if you rolled over a loan from your old car, you may owe quite a bit more than your car’s value. You are probably willing to accept this fact because you are really just making car payments, have a car you like, and know that you will get the car paid off in time. But the fact is, most cars lose 20% of their value the minute you drive them off of the car lot.

If you buy a $20,000 car, the actual value of that car may drop to $16,000 very quickly. You have just taken the 20% hit. However, accidents happen. If you have an accident, or your car is stolen, you may be asked to settle for the book value. That means, you still owe $4,000 more on a car you cannot use!

Car Gap Insurance closes the gap between a car’s value and your loan. You normal car insurance will still pay off the car’s value. The auto gap insurance policy will make up the difference. Now some comprehensive auto policies may pay the financed value, but most do not. Be sure to look at your policy or ask your agent to make sure.

Where do you Buy Car Gap Insurance?

When you buy a car, your dealer will offer you a car gap insurance policy. He or she may even offer to roll the price into your loan. However they will charge you a premium price. Some people choose to purchase auto gap insurance this way because it is simple, or because they don’t realize they even have an option!

However, you do have a choice. You do not need to pay $700 or $800 for car gap insurance from a car dealership. You can buy the same policy online, directly from the insurance company. Online car gap insurance policies ill cost less than half as much as car gap insurance from the dealer. You could pay $399 instead of $700 to $800!

Your other choice is to find a comprehensive car insurance policy that will cover your car’s financed value. You can call around, but it is easier to use an online quoting system. Look for an insurance quoting system that is BBB approved and has a stated privacy policy.

By: Marilyn Katz

Obtain Affordable Car Insurance Online

admin — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 07:58:26 +0000

Shopping for auto insurance can be really exhaustive and frustrating activity. To ensure that you have availed outstanding coverage for the minimum possible amount will require you to put in extra effort and compare the plans offered by varied agencies. Most favorable means of making the process of purchasing auto insurance go smoothly and steadily are to browse through the Internet and shop online by making a comparative analysis between the various plans and rates of car insurance.

Coming across an car insurance company online is not a difficult task at all. For this all you have to do is type in auto insurance in any of the popular search engines and you will get thousands of results, enabling you to make comparisons between the different plans as well as rates offered by varied companies. Get your personal details such as name, driving license number, phone numbers, date of birth along with details of your car including the model, VIN number, year ready by your side.

Secondly, it is immensely vital to know about your limits. The kind of coverage you require and how much can you spend monthly on it, all such questions need to have an answer in order to save money and buy the best car insurance coverage.

If you are perplexed then it is best to consult an insurance agent. If some information you find online is baffling you then make a selection of the agent from amongst the several websites and buzz them to solve all your queries. If they are ware of all the essential details then they will tackle your questions well and give you satisfying answers devoid of making any strenuous pressures for selling them.

While beginning your search to come across the most affordable insurance coverage, it is very important to be patient. The shoppers will come across several insurance policies some might be lucrative while others not.

Carry out an extensive research and acquaint yourself about the requirements of your state for insurance. Figure out how much you can shell out from your pocket on the car insurance along with figuring out how much is actually required on your automobile. Make sure that you are not pushed into buying an insurance coverage due to the sugar coated words of the insurance agent. By keeping a check over all these things and your patience you will surely success in finding affordable auto insurance.

By: Jessica Cronin

Military Auto Insurance

admin — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 09:06:19 +0000

Most folks don’t realize that pretty much every major car insurance company offers separate, customized plans to those folks who are serving in the military. Military families face many financial and emotional hardships that most other non-military families don’t have to even think about, like being deployed away from your family for extended periods and moving vehicles around the world to places like Europe and Asia on a yearly basis. Military families need a separate kind of auto insurance that can be tailored to their particular situation.

One company that offers a special military auto insurance division is Geico. Geico actually has an entirely separate department to deal with military auto insurance claims. They can custom fit you with a policy that takes financial hardship and frequent moves abroad into consideration when you sign your policy. For some people, you need a separate policy every time you move to a different state, imagine the crazy policy you would need if you were moving from Florida to Germany and then to Japan! But companies like Geico make it easy to get coverage and they often come with convenient payment plans that can adjust when your premiums are due to when you and your family get paid. Make sure you ask for the military auto insurance division when you apply for a auto insurance plan over the phone, or over the Internet so that you can get the right policy for you.

Many companies even offer discounted policies for military members as a way of saying thank you for protecting the country. Military discounts were fairly common place in modern life, but after the events of 9/11, almost all major businesses like car dealerships and other major corporations began offering special military rates. Make sure you ask your car insurance company if they offer military auto insurance discounts. You could save a bundle!

By: David Gilmore

Life Insurance, Auto Insurance, and More in Alaska

admin — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 02:57:58 +0000

I have divided this article into four different sections, each detailing its heading. I hope this makes it easier for you to get the information you require.

Auto Insurance in Alaska

The state of Alaska requires that every single motor vehicle registered there needs to have at least liability auto insurance. Under this State law; all owners of motor vehicles and/or drivers of the same must have the minimum amounts of liability auto insurance, which are:

- $50,000 for death or injury to any one person per accident

- $100,000 for death per accident or total injuries

- $25,000 for property damage per accident

In the event of an auto accident that resulted in property damage, personal injury or death amounting to more than $500; all drivers involved in the accident must show their auto insurance proof. Aside from auto accidents with damage greater than $500, the driver must also present proof of auto insurance any time they are requested to do so by an officer of the law and when comes the time to renew registration. If the driver fails to show proof of auto insurance for accidents with $500 dollars or more worth of damage, the drivers license will automatically be suspended for a period of 90 days to one year. The length of the suspension depends on the drivers driving record. Also, in case of an auto accident here, the guilty drivers auto insurance shall cover the expenses that were caused because of the accident.

Home Insurance in Alaska

You probably would not know this, but compared with to other states, Alaska pays more for home insurance. The reason for this is that they are always at a risk of floods and sub-zero temperatures. Though they have experienced a high increase in home insurance coverage in the past year, there are several ways to save on home insurance. The first is to compare the different insurance companies and see what each of them have to offer. This will enable you to get the right insurance at the price that fits your budget. Second is asking around about the different types discounts. You can ask your insurance company for the discounts you qualify for. And last is that increasing the deductible can save you a decent sum of money. By increasing the deductible, you are basically telling your Alaska Home Owners Insurance Agent that you are going to do everything you can to avoid any claims.

The most common home owners insurance coverages are:

HO-1 – This is for lighting, fire, vandalism, theft and smoke.

HO-2 – This is the same as the HO-1 only with additional perils, such as building collapse, water damage and falling objects.

HO-3 – This is “all perils”. Depending on your budget, you can choose between basic and all perils. But what is ultimately important is that you have home insurance which will protect you in case of disaster.

Health Insurance in Alaska

Alaska health insurance enables most residents to be able to afford the increasing cost of health care. Those who have health care are able to escape medical debt, which occurs in two out of five locals. Considering the statistics, it is important, and certainly more cost effective, to have health insurance. Although health insurance varies; most policies pay for hospitalization, surgery, medical tests, pediatric care, doctor visits, and maternity care. Generally the exceptions are cosmetic surgery, hearing aids, dental care, eyeglasses, preventive care and experimental treatments.

Those who are denied by private insurance companies because of medical conditions, the Alaska Comprehensive Health Insurance Association will offer them health insurance. Under the program of the association, those with medical conditions can get insurance on different terms.

Life Insurance in Alaska

When it comes to life insurance, the two most common life insurances in the State of Alaska are term and permanent life insurance.

Term life insurance protects the holder for short periods of time. This is usually over a period of one to several years. This means that the insurance pays only if the person dies during the covered period. Also, since the period covered is only of short duration, the premium is significantly cheaper than permanent life insurance.

Permanent life insurance protects the holder for the rest of their life by a guaranteed death benefit. This means that the coverage is for the entire life of the person. The premium for this type of insurance is of course higher than term life insurance.

In the unstable economy today, it is important to have life insurance for the family. This will enable those who are left behind to get on with their lives without financial difficulties. You might want to consider getting life insurance especially if your family depends on your financial contribution. Compare life insurance now and you might be surprised at how affordable it is and how easily you can squeeze it in to your monthly budget.

If this article or a part of this article was beneficial to you, be sure to visit my website(s) as listed in the resource box below.

By: V Kullar

Why You Need Car Insurance

admin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 18:55:18 +0000

Every car that runs on the roads is subject to a mishap. Be it your fault or some one else’s an on road accident is extremely unfortunate and unforeseen too. Hence, it is wise to keep yourself and your car insured and safe for future. Car insurance is important not only for your vehicle but also for the driver. There are several insurance policies available now, that insure the car driver or the victim of the accident along with the car.

Car insurance widely depends upon the kind of policy you are adopting. There are several insurance policies that a car owner can avail. These vary from individual to individual depending on their personal requirement and choices. Some of the most common car insurance policies are: liability coverage, comprehensive coverage, personal injury coverage, uninsured coverage, underinsured coverage, rent reimbursement and so on.

Car insurance policies usually vary from country to country and from state to state. In some states a licensed driver cannot register a car without showing a proof of his license whereas, there are other states where registering a car is comparatively much easier. One can choose an insurance policy that fits his/her requirement.

When deciding on a car insurance plan fro your vehicle, it is advisable to collect quotes and policies from various car insurance companies. These quotes will help in a comparison of which is the best suitable policy and quoted rates that match your requirement. A market study will also help you gain knowledge on the various policies that are available and shall come handy for future references.

There are several websites that provide knowledge on car insurance online. This is more convenient and feasible for people who do not have the time to go bargaining for policies with vendors. Online Car Insurance companies are equally safe and reliable as any other insurance agent who comes to your house with his plan.

By: Smith James