Auto Insurance Law » Liability Insurance

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

What to Look for in a Full Coverage Car Insurance Quote in Maryland

admin — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 16:37:35 +0000

Under Maryland state law all drivers must have 3 different kinds of automobile insurance. Each driver must have liability insurance, uninsured motorist (UM) insurance as well as personal injury protection (PIP) insurance.

The state mandated minimum liability coverage every driver must purchase is $20,000 of medical coverage for each person with $40,000 per accident, and $15,000 per accident for property damage. In the real world these minimum amounts may not cover all of the damages ensuing from even a small accident, which could leave many drivers who have such insurance still owing additional money as the result of an incident.

Depending on your financial situation, and the assets that an injured party could lay claim to, you may wish to consider much greater coverage amounts not only for your liability insurance but for your uninsured motorist coverage as well as your personal injury protection coverage.

In addition to the state-mandated minimum insurance coverage, any vehicle that is financed will be required to carry collision as well as comprehensive coverage. Again, the amount of such coverage can be determined based on how much protection of your personal assets seems reasonable as well as the replacement value of your vehicle.

Depending on the value of your vehicle and the amount of protection you purchase, your automobile insurance premium could be quite high. Fortunately there are a few things that you can do to help keep your monthly premium outlay under control.

First and foremost are your own driving habits. Tickets for speeding or reckless driving can, in some cases, as much as double your monthly insurance premium. Convictions for drunken driving or for driving while impaired can also cause your monthly premium to skyrocket and to remain in the stratosphere for quite some time.

Drivers under 25 are in a special risk category and, on the whole, have higher insurance premiums than most other drivers. Younger drivers who stay in school and maintain a “B” grade point average are often eligible for a Good Student Discount of up to 5% on their monthly car insurance premiums.

Older drivers, who are often also placed in a higher-risk insurance category, can often reduce their monthly premiums by up to 10% by taking and passing a special driver’s refresher course. Not all insurance companies offer such a program, so check with your agent.

Ask yourself how much you can afford to pay out of your own pocket for each claim against your car insurance company. The money you pay out of your own pocket following an accident is known as your deductible. The more money you can afford to pay — in other words, the greater your deductible – the lower your monthly premium will be.

Lastly, go online and find two or more websites that allow you to make side-by-side comparisons of auto insurance policies and their prices among a variety of insurance companies. In order to insure that you are comparing as many different companies as possible it will be necessary for you to fill out the form on at least two different websites and preferably three different sites.

Making comparisons on multiple sites is an added time expense, but the results can be worth it when you consider that the savings you receive will continue month after month.

By: Larry Nez

Car Insurance – Tips to Help You Make a Decision

admin — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:58:03 +0000

Often people do not have an auto insurance because they do not know what auto insurance policy to get, as there are many policies that you can choose. Or either, so it happens, that they do not have a clue about where to buy the insurance policy. If you own a car you should know that there are numerous options available for you, but you have to first figure out what you exactly need. Your goal is to find a coverage that will facilitate your specific demands.

Begin by looking at different auto insurance policies and compare the coverage rates. Keep in mind the money that you will be spending to get the protection, and make sure that your budget does not go overboard.

There will be many factors that will be taken into account when insurance companies are deciding on the premium rates. You will get a discounted price for have a clean driving record. If you mange to keep a stable driving history then, unlike many other people, you will not have to face increases in your premiums at the time of your policy renewal. There are many other aspects which can also be taken into account for which you get low rates, like your loyalty to your insurance company and having multiple policies with the same company.

You might also want to look at the discounts that are available to you if you are a senior citizen, or a student who has consistently shown a remarkable academic performance.

When deciding on the limits, try to have a conversation with your insurance agent regarding it. It is always a smart move to have a high deductible as it reduces your premiums significantly, and you should also enhance coverage of your liability insurance. By increasing your liability insurance you are also increasing the financial protection which you will receive if there is an unfortunate accident.

It might be interesting to note that there about 186 million motor cars in America and a significant percentage of this number are the cars which are driving somewhere uninsured. To guard yourself and your loved ones be sure to check online to see what may be available to you, as you never know what options may exist out there and how affordable coverage may actually be.

By: Marcel A Johnson

Car Insurance Pricing Plans

admin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 20:17:33 +0000

The law requires liability insurance for all drivers and vehicles. This means that if you are involved in a serious accident, and it turns out that it was your fault, your insurance company will pay out any claims that are made against you. Extra coverage on your own vehicle, called comprehensive insurance, is optional.

Insurance companies based on a number of risk factors will calculate the price you pay for this insurance. Basically how it works is the more they feel you are at risk of crashing, and the more they think the resulting crash will cost them, the higher the premium you’ll pay.

Assessment

Common factors that will be used to assess the premium are the value of the car you’re driving, the safety of that vehicle, the coverage you want, will there be deductibles or limits etc.? How much you’ll drive the car, how your driving record stands, how long you’ve held your license, your age, and if you are young, also your sex.

The premium is then calculated. Usually there is a flat per car, per year rate that everyone pays, regardless of other factors. The other factors will then alter this rate, generally upwards. So if your car is especially fast or dangerous your rate will be increased by a set amount. If it is very old, your rate goes up. If you’ve had one or more accidents in the past, your rate will go up. If you’re young and male, your rate will go up. The more of these factors you satisfy, the more your rate will be going up.

Discounts

As a sales enhancement, many car insurers offer a “low estimated future mileage” discount to customers who predict that the car’s mileage will be below some stated limit during the next premium period. There is no verification involved and no additional charge if the car is subsequently driven more than the stated amount. This arbitrary discount tends to foster customer belief in the mistaken idea that “miles” are just one of many classification factors used to raise or lower prices from the territorial base rate. In fact, odometer miles (which insurers do not use) are not a factor but a metric – the only valid basis for measuring each car’s consumption of insurance protection in on-the-road use.

The best way to save on car insurance is to shop around, keep a good clean driving record, drive safely, and choose reliable cars that are not known for their power and speed.

By: Joseph Kenny

About US Auto Insurance and the Quotes

admin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 13:16:51 +0000

US has a strict car insurance policy which is made mandatory in almost all states. According to their law, every person who owns a car needs to have insurance coverage. Not only that, the family members who are of age to obtain a drivers license must be covered by the insurance plan. Therefore, being a US citizen one can not but look for auto insurance quotes which suit their requirement the best.

About US Auto Insurance

In US, many types of insurance policies are available. One can go for a liability insurance plan which covers the insurance holder along with those in his family who have attained the age of holding a drivers license. However, if a member is not having his own automobile and is operating the vehicle of some one else, the coverage plan is not valid. One can also get insurance coverage from the party’s policy which covers a person when he is driving an automobile owned by that party. If someone does not have his own car, he can have non-owners policies, which are especially useful to those whose drivers’ license has been suspended.

Some car insurance companies give full coverage to rented cars which are established in advance. Other car insurance policies offered in the US states cover for the automobile’s bodily injury, property injury and other damages caused by an accident. Other forms of insurance policies available in US are loan/lease payoff coverage, car towing coverage or Roadside Assistance, auto policy and behavior based insurance coverage. With so many policies, one can also get a variety of auto insurance quotes to choose from.

How to get the best auto insurance quote

Getting the auto insurance quotes of various insurance companies is not a tough matter. Nowadays, automobile insurance quotes are easily available in websites on internet. All one need to do is click on the website and choose his state (only applicable to US citizens). He would be required to fill an online questionnaire which is nothing but a set of simple answers relating your requirements. This questionnaire will be sent to the respective companies of the state. They would receive it and send the auto insurance quotes available for those companies. A person can evaluate these automobile insurance quotes and compare them at the same time. If he is interested in any particular quote that satisfies his requirements then he can make a purchase. The steps are simple and hassle-free.

There are ample such websites which will offer you auto insurance quotes that range from very expensive to cheap rates. It is a common tendency of people to go for the cheapest auto insurance quotes available without considering the other factors. One should avoid this and go for that quote which is both affordable and ideally satisfies his requirements. These are common pitfalls that one should not fall in.

Auto insurance quotes depend on many factors which influence their rates. The factors include the driver’s history, make and model of the automobile and the location. It has been found that the auto insurance quotes offered in different states of US are different. Therefore, before settling down with a policy one must carefully do a research in the market and find out the latest trend.

By: John Moorish

Auto Insurance Simple Basics

admin — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 19:32:38 +0000

Auto insurance helps cover expenses caused by an automobile accident. You sign a contract with the insurance company that describes what type of expenses are covered and how much money they will pay. The cost for auto insurance is a premium which you pay to the insurance company. So you pay the insurance company money to help relieve you of the expenses of an accident should you have one.

Car insurance provides multiple types of coverage. Property coverage covers the damage or theft of your automobile. Liability covers your legal costs for damage to other people or their property. Medical coverage pays for the cost of injuries and rehabilitation. These are just a few types of coverage that an auto insurance policy can cover. You can learn more by talking to a car insurance company.

Most states today require that you have some type of auto insurance before you can legally drive. If you are financing a car, the lender will also require you to have insurance so that they get the rest of the car paid off in case it is in an accident. Vehicle insurance policies last anywhere from six months to a year, and you will get notified via mail or e-mail whenever your next premium is due.

Automobile insurance policies cover all types of expenses, and the amount you payee for each premium will be determined by what coverages your policy covers. Here are the 3 basic types of coverages an automobile policy may have.

Bodily Injury Liability

This type of insurance coverage pays expenses that you cause to others in an accident. You and any family members listed on the policy are also covered if you are driving someone else’s car with their permission. You want to be sure to have plenty of liability insurance because if you cause a serious accident, you may be sued for quite a bit of money. This is one area of coverage that you do not want to skimp on when it comes to auto insurance.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

But get coverage pays for injuries to the driver or passenger of the ensured car. It can cover any thing from a medical payments to lost wages to funeral costs.

Property Damage Liability

This liability coverage will pay for damage that you cause to someone else’s property. This could be damage to another person’s car, house, fences, buildings, livestock, etc. Basically if you damage it in an accident, property damage liability should cover it.

These are 3 of the 6 types of auto insurance coverages you should have and make sure that you get with your policy.

By: Christopher M. Hall

Chicago Used Car Insurance

admin — Wed, 26 May 2010 08:22:02 +0000

Chicago insurance companies tend to set an average driving amount for each car type. Insurance companies normally charge more for high-performance cars because of their increased susceptibility to accidents and theft. As a general rule of thumb, there is some flexibility in the types and amount of coverage you need for a used car, but Chicago has insurance laws and you will need some kind of coverage regardless of what it is worth.

Chicago law states that you have to carry liability insurance. It provides financial protection from claims when you cause an accident that results in bodily injuries to other people or damage their property. The feeling is that if you caused the problem, you insurance should compensate victims. Because liability fees can be high (way beyond what you have to have), you might consider taking out a greater amount of liability coverage. In Chicago, collision and comprehensive insurance is optional. It covers physical damages to your vehicle form a crash of fire or falling object, etc.). If you’ve purchased an older used car, this type of insurance is expensive and probably not necessary.

In Chicago, like any other big city, it is important to update the information that your insurance company has on fine for you, your car and your driving record. You may be eligible for a rate reduction if you have gotten married, moved to the suburbs, no longer insure a younger driver, installed an anti-theft device, or if it has been at least three years since your last violation.

Used car insurance rates can vary widely by hundreds of dollars from company to company because of various claims experience, cost of doing business. Car insurance is priced to cover the costs of accidents that may happen in the future. Information about the past claims experience is used to see the future of a company.

By: Eric Morris

Auto Insurance FAQs: Your Questions Answered

admin — Thu, 20 May 2010 04:56:02 +0000

When it comes to auto insurance, most consumers have questions about the kind of coverage they buy, what they’re required to have and if there are options for high-risk drivers.

Learning the answers to these and other questions can help you make better purchasing decisions when it comes to car insurance. And now, finding answers is easier than ever!

Frequently Asked Questions about Auto Insurance

Can I drive without car insurance?

No! Almost every state requires its motorists to carry liability insurance, which covers damages to people and property resulting from an accident for which you are at fault.

All states also have financial responsibility laws, which require you show the state that you have the funds to pay claims if you have a bad accident. If you don’t have proof of sufficient funds (which varies by state), you’ll need to purchase at least the minimum state-required coverage.

What are the minimum insurance requirements?

While minimum coverage amounts vary by state, all state-required insurance will cover your liability for bodily injury and property damage.

For example, if the minimum auto insurance requirement in your state is listed as 25/40/15, this means that you’ll have coverage up to $40,000 for all motorists injured in an accident, up to a $25,000 for one person in an accident and $15,000 for damaged property.

While this may seem like a healthy amount of coverage, purchasing the state minimum is really purchasing a bare bones insurance policy. The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) recommends carrying at least $300,000 liability coverage per accident and $100,000 per person–and your insurer will encourage you do to the same.

What happens if I can’t find car insurance?

If you’ve applied for car insurance and been turned down because of your driving record or other factors, fret not–you still have options available to you. According to the I.I.I., you have two options: join a state assigned risk pool or buy a policy from a non-standard insurer.

An assigned risk pool consists of insurers in your area, who under state law, are required to participate in proportion to the amount of voluntary business they accept. As a result, insurers must accept motorists assigned to them and write policies accordingly. But because insurers have to take a substantial risk on insuring high-risk drivers, premiums are significantly more expensive.

Non-standard insurers may also be able to write you an auto insurance policy. These types of private insurers typically write policies for motorists with a poor history of accidents, people who live in “high-risk” neighborhoods and those who drive high performance cars.

While both of these options may have you forking over some extra cash, they might be your only source of auto insurance until your circumstances improve. Just remember to keep shopping around so you can switch insurers once you find a better premium price.

What are the differences between nonrenewal and cancellation of a policy?

You or your insurer can choose not to renew your auto insurance policy after it expires for a variety of reasons. You might decide not to renew your policy if you find a better deal somewhere else or weren’t happy with the service you were receiving.

An insurer may not renew your policy if you did something to substantially increase their risk to cover you–or if the company decides to write fewer policies in your area.

Cancellation, on the other hand, is more serious. According to the I.I.I., insurers cannot cancel a policy that’s been in force for more than 60 days unless:
You fail to pay your premium You defraud the company Your driver’s license is suspended or revoked
Cancellation of your policy may also make it harder to find insurance in the future, thus forcing you to buy a high-risk policy for a more expensive premium.

What if I’m not satisfied with my insurer?

As a consumer, you have rights when it comes to your auto insurance. If you’re not satisfied with your agent, let him or her know. If your complaint still goes unchecked, see if the insurer has a consumer complaint department and file a complaint.

If your issues remain unsolved, contact your state department of insurance. The department of insurance exists for consumer education and protection, and they can provide you with help and resources to take your complaint to the next level, or find a new insurer. You can contact your department of insurance by phone or find them online for more information.

A knowledgeable consumer is a powerful consumer!

Finding questions to your auto insurance answers is the first step to becoming an educated consumer–allowing you to make wise purchasing decisions about affordable car insurance. Find more answers to your auto insurance questions by contacting your state department of insurance!

By: Megan Mahan

Minimum Levels of Required Auto Insurance

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 09:45:43 +0000

All 50 states have different requirements when it comes to budget auto insurance. In some states, motorists can’t register a car without showing proof that they have liability insurance, while other states use an “honor system” that doesn’t ask for proof of insurance until drivers have accidents or tickets on their records.

Only two states do not require motorists to carry liability coverage, but those that do demand that drivers purchase at least the state’s minimum. In other words, if you live in a state that requires liability insurance, you can’t walk into your insurance agent’s office and buy only $2,000 worth of liability coverage. If you’re going to buy it, you must purchase at least the minimum amount required.

How to Read Liability Limits

The following information will help you understand the table of liability limits.

First number: bodily injury liability maximum for one person injured in an accident.

Second number: bodily injury liability maximum for all injuries in one accident.

Third number: property damage liability maximum for one accident.

The Insurance Information Institute provides a chart of minimum insurance requirements by state, including uninsured motorist coverage. So, looking at their table below, you find that in Alabama the minimum liability limits are $20,000 for injury liability for one person in an accident, $40,000 for all injuries in an accident, and $10,000 for property damage in an accident.

What is No-Fault?

Some states have “no-fault” laws, meaning your auto policy must pay medical bills for injuries suffered in an auto accident regardless of who caused the accident. The laws were enacted in an attempt to reduce auto-injury fraud and keep car insurance costs down.

By: Amy Danise

Colorado Auto Insurance Minimum Coverage Requirements

admin — Tue, 11 May 2010 20:02:59 +0000

Are you aware of the Colorado auto insurance minimum coverage requirements? The minimum levels of auto insurance coverage requirements are set by CO lawmakers. Driving without the required insurance is a very serious matter and can result in penalties and unwanted hassle.

Bodily Injury Liability

As a Colorado driver, you must have at least $25,000 in individual bodily injury liability insurance in place. This type of insurance pays for the medical expenses of a person injured in an automobile accident where you are considered the at-fault driver. Your policy must also have a cap of at least $50,000 to pay the medical bills for two or more people injured in the same accident.

Property Damage Liability

The property damage liability portion of your policy pays for damage caused to objects, such as the other driver’s vehicle, a mailbox, a fence, or a shed. The minimum level of coverage required by law in CO is $15,000.

Please keep in mind that the minimum levels of insurance coverage set out here are just that. Drivers in Colorado do have the option of buying more coverage if they want to. Before you make a decision about what level of coverage to buy, you will need to keep in mind that if you at the at-fault driver in an accident, you will be responsible for paying for damages above your policy limits.

It makes more sense to insure your vehicle properly and not take the chance that you will have to consider tapping into your savings or liquidating your assets after an accident. Your insurance company or agent can help you to figure out how much coverage you should have in place.

Find Colorado Auto Insurance Coverage Today

Now that you know what the Colorado auto insurance minimum coverage requirements are, why don’t you get take the next step and make sure you have enough protection for your needs? Spend a few moments comparing rates from some of the top companies and you can be on your way to the best Colorado car insurance in a jiffy!

By: James J. Robinson