Auto Insurance Law » Insurance

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

Not Having Auto Insurance Could Lead to Ruin!

admin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 02:07:11 +0000

When you are involved in an accident, no doubt you feel quite stressed. Not only is your car ruined: but, you may possibly be faced with a major court case ahead of you. In the meantime, you may be dealing with injuries and possibly hospital bills if the accident was severe enough. If you have auto insurance, this will ease some of the burden: but, could you imagine how much worse the situation could be if you didn’t have it?

Not having an auto insurance policy could cause a plethora of problems. One thing that could occur is that the other person could lie and say that things were your fault making you the scapegoat all because you did not have an auto insurance policy. You’d be left paying off all the charges and he could twist things around to work in his benefit though he was at fault. This unfair incidence is just one of the many scenarios that could occur.

Another thing that could occur is that the courts will not have mercy on you. Not only will you not have no claim of your pain and suffering caused by the accident, they may ask you to bring bail money all because you did not have insurance. Other fines and fees could be tacked on top of that. It won’t matter to them that you just experienced trauma and are badly hurt. They’ll just expect you to come up with the money, even if you have to magically pull it out of a hat; You could plea all you want that you were innocent: but the way the old saying goes, no claim no game. The point is that they won’t care.

If the accident is found to be your fault partially or fully, then you could lose everything. Your property, life savings, and whatever goods that can be liquidated will be seized. How terrible that would be.

Something else you should know is that it is against the law in western nations not to have auto insurance. IN the united States, for example, those who are pulled over and found not to be carrying an auto insurance policy will suffer penalties such as arrest, tickets, fines, license suspension, or whatever penalty seen fit by the authorities.

So, to prevent all of this from happening, and to make your life ten times easier, it is imperative that you get an auto insurance policy. You’ll be very thankful that you did as you’ll not have to experience unnecessary suffering.

By: Alejandro Bustos

Car Insurance Myths

admin — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:09:27 +0000

Learning about insurance coverage can be confusing, even with the most comprehensive information and the most detailed accounts of policies. Regardless of how much information is out there, the bigger concern is how much misinformation exists regarding car insurance. As the result of this misinformation, there is a detailed mythology involving car insurance that may cause some potential consumers reservation when it comes to applying for appropriate coverage.

Colour Matters

One myth, believe it or not, is that the colour of the vehicle makes a different when applying for insurance coverage. A lot of people believe that coverage for the make, model, and especially the colour of the vehicle can make a difference in the overall quality and amount of coverage given. This is a myth, as it doesn’t matter what colour your car is. The coverage will be the same.

Parking Ticket Problems

Some people believe that getting a parking ticket can influence insurance rates. Surely if this were the case, we’d all be facing skyrocketing rates on a regular basis. Car insurance rates are not affected by parking tickets or other similar situations. These tickets by themselves do not count against any insurance record, but not paying tickets can impact your ability to renew your driver’s license which could, in turn, affect your overall rate. The lesson learned here is clear: pay your parking tickets!

Speeding

Speeding is a serious problem that can impact your driving record, but a single speeding ticket will likely not impact your insurance rates. Of course, if your single speeding ticket involves driving at a reckless speed several dozen miles over the limit, you can bet that your rates will be impacted. One or two minor convictions for speeding likely won’t have a say in your rates, but accumulate a few more of those and you can rest assured that you’ll be paying more when it comes time to renew your policy.

It’s Not My Fault!

One myth about accidents is that you don’t have to pay deductible if the police assert that an accident is not your fault. This is not necessarily the case. The police may not have deemed you criminally responsible as a driver in the accident, but it is your insurance company that holds the key as to whether or not you’ll be paying. If the insurance company investigates the accident and discovers that it wasn’t your fault, you’re in the clear and they will waive your deductible. If their findings differ, however, you’ll be paying.

Cheap is Best

Many people think that insuring cheaper cars is more affordable than insuring more expensive, luxury cars. This is not the case. The premium paid for automobile insurance is based on a combination of factors, including the original price of the car, any repair costs, theft frequency, and any claims history on the vehicle. If you’re older, cheaper car has a history of repairs and problems with other claims, it will likely not be cheap to insure. If a newer, luxury car lacks any history of repairs and has no claim history, it may be less expensive than your older car. Every rate is different.

By: Levi Quinn

Progressive Auto Insurance Company Website Review

admin — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:15:26 +0000

Walk into any room filled with people who have auto insurance and ask them to name an auto insurance company and there’s an excellent chance that most of them will say “Progressive.” We have all seen their TV ads and their billboards. We know that they claim their website is extremely easy to use. We see them everywhere; and I don’t know about you, but when I see their advertising, it makes me feel like I can trust them. I decided to pay a little visit to their website and see for myself if Progressive Insurance lives up to its reputation. Here’s what I found in a ten minute website visit.

User Friendly Website?

Here’s what you’ll find when you visit the Progressive website. First, you see the famed white SUV barreling up an incline- presumably on their way to help you out in a crisis. You also see their “Get a Quote” box immediately. With the words “save hundreds” and “lower” enticing me I entered Auto and my zip code and sat back to wait. Very quickly I get sent to an information page that allowed me to continue on my own or connect with a representative who could chat with me and give me a hand.

At first, I was happy with how quickly the website was moving along. Then we reached a question where I incorrectly entered information and then tried to change it. The system got hung up and wouldn’t accept my corrected information. At this point I needed to access an agent for help. I must admit, this is frustrating to me. I like to do things online quickly and efficiently and when I get involved in customer service chats, things generally get bogged down as they ask me all the questions I already filled out on the form. Strike one.

I tried to return to the home page without completing my quote request and I had to enter my email address before I could get a link back to home. Strike Two.

The home page offers many different links to gather information about Progressive Insurance. It also offers several options for getting business taken care of. You can call by land line phone, you can use your cell or PDA, you can text message, email or chat. They offer online billing and paperless documents of your policies and other information. This is a huge Hit!

Each page I visited allowed me to get an instant quote, sign in to my account, or link to other information, including the home page. This is a big Hit as well.

I continued exploring the site and eventually began a chat with a customer service representative. She was friendly, very helpful and was eager and prepared to help me. HOMERUN!

The Importance of Your Representative

Don’t underestimate the importance of the professionalism and friendliness of your agent or customer service representative. This can speak volumes about the company itself. Remember, when you’ve got the stress and pressure that lead to the need to file a claim, you don’t want to deal with a difficult “helper” on the other end of the phone line. Looking into the customer service satisfaction rates of different companies can tell you a lot.

So, where does Progressive Insurance rate with me, after a 10 minute website, visit? They provided me with enough options and help that I would definitely continue on with a quote request or any other question. While the process isn’t perfect they do have a great reputation and the people on the phone seemed genuinely interested in helping me.

Compare Multiple Companies

By: Robert McKnight

NJ Auto Insurance Companies

admin — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:26:55 +0000

A car owner looking for NJ auto insurance companies can easily get a list just by browsing through the Internet. No need to waste time and effort by personally going to each offices; anyone can just research on the Internet and get the desired list of NJ auto insurance companies.

Residents of New Jersey who are planning to renew their policies or get an entirely new car insurance policy should first get a list of NJ auto insurance companies before deciding on what company to get their car insurance from. Such list can be requested from the various online companies offering a list of NJ auto insurance companies and can be received in a matter of minutes.

Car insurance is a must for car owners and this should be the very first thing that should warrant their consideration. NJ auto insurance companies offer different insurance package that responds to the diversified needs of every car owner. It is important to know the different NJ auto insurance companies to enable a car owner to make an intelligent decision on his car insurance.

The first consideration one should look into when considering NJ auto insurance companies is the type of insurance coverage that is required by the car owner. Another important consideration that should be looked into when considering NJ auto insurance companies is of course the cost of the insurance policy.

While car insurance is a necessity a person should not just get insurance from the first NJ auto insurance companies that offer him a package. It is important to take note of the coverage of the insurance policy and match it to the needs of the owner.

It is also recommended that the car owner do some research on the type of insurance company he will be getting his car insurance from. He should talk to former or present clients of the car insurance company who can give him feedback as to how the company processes the various car insurance claims that are filed in their office.

The best thing about NJ auto insurance companies is that the car owner has an option to cancel the insurance policy within a pre-agreed period. He will then be entitled to a refund of a portion of the car insurance policy which he has already paid and which has been cancelled.

While NJ auto insurance companies offer a lot of benefits and insurance package, all insurance carry the basic coverage for any personal injury that may be suffered by the insured or the car passenger in case of an accident. There is a provision in which the insurance company agrees to pay for the medical and other bills of the injured passenger no matter whose fault the accident is.

There is also another type of insurance that pays for damages if the insured is at fault for the accident. This can be very helpful in case the driver is sued by the injured victim.

NJ auto insurance companies carry within their policy coverage for both physical injuries as well as damage to property. Such insurance policy may cost more but when a person is faced with a lot of people injured and property damaged as a result of an accident in which he is at fault then he will think that the money he paid for the car insurance policy is meager compared to what he has to pay if he was not covered.

It is understandable that every car owner would favor getting car insurance policies that are cheaper. However, do not be fooled by cheap car insurance offers because they may cost you more in the future.

The proper thing to do is to weigh all factors that should be considered when choosing an auto insurance agency. Price is of course an important consideration but a car owner should look more into the benefits and the coverage he can get from the insurance policy.

A car owner who is ready to face the task of getting the appropriate insurance coverage for his car should not hesitate to request for a list of NJ auto insurance companies and narrow down his choices from these list. Only then can he assure himself he has made the right choice.

By: Nathalie Fiset

Affordable Car Insurance Rate

admin — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 05:01:36 +0000

Car Insurance Scam

admin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 03:54:21 +0000

Have you wondered why your premiums are going up for your car insurance? There is a motoring scam currently sweeping across Britain’s roads with fraudulent motorists staging crashes in order to claim compensation. This is seen as making money quickly by criminals who deliberately slam on their brakes so the unaware driver behind them bumps into the back of them. Then it’s a case of faking whiplash symptoms to the doctor and claiming through the other driver’s insurance for damage and injuries.

This potentially lethal scam is not only increasing the premiums on the involved driver’s policy, but in fact, everyone’s policy. The estimated value of fraudulent cases per year is around £1.6 billion. This has resulted in the insurance companies increasing the cost of annual policies around £50 in a bid to balance the cost that the insurance companies are losing through the claims.

The police have warned people to be ever so vigilant on the roads and to keep a safe distance between other cars. This is a popular scam adopted by many well organised criminals.

Some fraudsters who are not even on the scene at the time of an incident are claiming compensation claiming they were a passenger in the vehicle, after one or two simple visits to the doctor/hospital; they can receive up to £2,500. An owner of a towing company has also been prosecuted as he had claimed he had towed hundreds of vehicles from crash scenes which had not even been involved in an accident.

This will no doubt lead to a review of the claiming process where claims will become a lot more complex.

By: Barry Loughran

Car Insurance Rates For Teenagers

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:46:32 +0000

Do you have a teenager that is getting ready to be of legal age to drive? Are you worried about how you are going to pay for the insurance that you will need for your teen driver? There are ways to get discounts for your teen driver and there are things that you should expect when it comes to car insurance rates for teenagers. Here are some tips to help you out.

Sure, it is true that your teen could cause your insurance rates to double, maybe even triple. This all has to do with the fact that there are more than triple the amount of accidents that involve someone under the age of 20 than involve someone that is over 20. This is why our insurance rates go down at 25. We have matured and we are now able to be safer on the roads.

Teenagers are just learning how to drive and too often we make mistakes and learn the hard way. When I was a teenager I was involved in 5 different accidents and two more before I turned 25. Now I have not been in a single one since I turned 25 and I have notices that I drive much safer and I am always watching out for the other guy.

You can get discounts for your teens by sending them to drivers school or drivers education classes. If the pass the classes and get their certificate, this can save you between 10% and 20% each year on your policy.

There is also a discount offered for good students, which are those with a “B” average or better. This is worth another 20% for your teen and your policy.

You can also get even lower rates if your driving record is clean and your teens driving record stays clean. Now you should not panic when they get their first speeding ticket or other infraction because it will probably happen. The first one is a bit of a freebie though because they can use the deferral program and as long as they do not get another ticket for a year it will be wiped off their record.

Car insurance rates for teenagers are very high and you should explain to your teenage driver why that is. By telling them about the dangers that they face you might just be able to put something in the back of their mind that will keep them safer on the roads.

By: Benjamin Robert Ehinger

Rental Car Accident – The Process and Your Rights

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 12:00:43 +0000

Getting into a rental car accident could be frustrating.
Usually you are in a city that you do not know, a state with laws that you are
not familiar with, and you are driving someone else’s car. This is a formula
that can give you a big headache. So here is an overview of how rental car
accident claims get handled and settled.

When you rent a vehicle, the rental company will ask you
for your proof of insurance. Many of them will ask for your
Declarations Page. They want to see what coverages you have. They will be
looking for liability, collision, and comprehensive, in your policy.
Liability is because it is required by law, but collision and comprehensive will
protect the car you will be driving. 99% of the companies out there will extent
coverage to the rental car and the rental company knows that.

Rental companies will want to know how much your
deductible is. Your deductible is the portion of the loss that you are “self
insuring”. For example, if the damage to the car is $5,000 and your deductible
is $500, then the insurance company will only pay $4,500 ($5000 – $500
deductible); you will have to pay the $500 out of pocket. Many rental companies
will require that your deductible be less than $500 or you will have to buy
extra insurance at the time of renting the vehicle.

When you rent the car, then rental agent will ask you if
you want extra insurance. Three things can happen: you decline all together, you
buy extra insurance, or you buy a collision damage waiver. Depending on which
option you select, the rental car accident will be handled differently by your
insurance company.

First, if you decline all together, then you better have
an active policy that will provide first party coverage for the rental car. Your
insurance company will be responsible for paying the rental company for the
rental car, but those payments will be subject to all the terms of your policy.
What this means is that your deductible will apply and you will have to pay that
to the rental company up front. It does not matter that you were not at fault
for the accident; the rental car company is entitled to get the car fixed as
soon as possible. Your insurance company will be responsible for going after the
responsible party

The restrictions of your policy can cause several
problems. Mainly it will be on the loss of use,

click here to learn more about the LOU in a rental car accident. If you do
not carry rental coverage on your policy, you will owe the rental expenses to
the rental company as if they had to rent a car. If the vehicle will take five
days to repair, then you will owe the five days rental. Also, if you do carry
loss of use coverage (rental car coverage) in your policy, but the limit is
below what the rental car would rent for, then you would owe the difference. For
example, your rental coverage is $40 per day, but the rental car cost is $50 per
day, you will owe the $10 difference between the two.

Second, you buy “extra” insurance. This is where things
can get a little complicated. The insurance adjuster must look at actual policy
that you bought (not given to you when you sign). The terms of that policy will
determine how the accident will be handled. Some rental insurance coverages
provide complete coverage any rental car accident as long as you pay the
premium. They would cover the car that you hit (if you are at fault), and the
rental car damage. You could still have a deductible. Your insurance company
usually will step in as a secondary form of coverage in case the rental car
insurance policy limits are low. However, you need to read both insurance
polices together to see which one would pay first and which one would pay as the
secondary.

Last, you buy collision damage waiver. Many people will
tell you that this is coverage for your deductible. This is not true. When you
rent a car, you agree that you will return the vehicle as it was given to you.
You also agree that in case of a rental car accident, you will pay for the car.
A collision damage waiver will waive that provision of your
contract. This means that you are no longer responsible for the rental car.
However, you still need to file a claim for your medical bills (in case of
injury) and to defend you or pay for the car you hit (if you are at fault).

By: Hector Quiroga, J.D.

Auto 101 – How to Choose Auto Insurance

admin — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 11:12:06 +0000

When thinking about auto insurance, you want to be sure that you are adequately covered in the event of something happening, but you also don’t want to be paying too much. It is actually quite easy to find the balance and be able to do both, if you are able to choose a good policy in the first place. So, this makes your first goal, thinking about what sort of coverage it is that you actually need. The first step is to look into the laws in your own state as to how much you have to have, and then go into what makes you feel the most safely covered.

First of all you want to consider your own driving habits, because if you are a less than careful driver, purchasing more comprehensive coverage really might be your best way to go. You will need to take a look at your history and see if you can afford not to have that sort of coverage versus how much you’ll be paying out in premiums every month and balance your needs against that. However, if you own an older vehicle and have a fairly clean driving record then you may be able to decline the collision and more comprehensive coverage in light of a more cost effective coverage that does reflect your driving record and current driving habits. The flip of that would be if you live in a high crime area, you may want to go ahead with the comprehensive coverage- basically, you need to consider the factors that truly impact you and what you will need versus what you fear you will maybe need.

Once you have in mind exactly what your needs are, this is where you begin to shop around to find competitive rates. Even if you have a blemished driving record, you may find coverage that is not highly priced in respect to what you need. The first stop for most in this is on the web- there are a number of sites where you can compare plans, rates and this is usually one of the easiest ways to get a loose idea of what price range you are looking at to begin with. When you do use a site to get your quotes, though, understand that not all will provide an instant quote, so you may find yourself talking with a Representative or waiting on an email quote. As you do this, make a list of these companies by name, include the quote, taking note of annual and monthly rates, discounts you could utilize for each, a customer service number, and payment policies. Make sure that you leave room for additional notes about the company as you contact them with further questions. From there you can comparatively shop, researching the individual companies and paring it down until you have a small handful that seem the most promising to you- and then, you have a good head start on finding the best possible auto insurance rate for you.

By: Henry Fleet