Auto Insurance Law » Minimum Coverage

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

How to Compare Low Cost Car Insurance In Michigan

admin — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 10:36:38 +0000

Most of us do some comparison shopping when we are looking for a big ticket item like a refrigerator or a television. However, many people in Michigan never take the time to try and find the best deal on car insurance. The best way to compare low cost car insurance in Michigan is to call up a few agents and ask for quotes. You do need to be aware of exactly what type of car insurance you need before you pick up the phone.

Purchasing the minimum coverage required by state law in Michigan may be sufficient if you drive an older vehicle on an occasional basis. If you are driving back and forth to work or school daily, you need to consider a policy that offers more types of coverage. The additional types of coverage include comprehensive and collision coverage, uninsured motorist coverage, and limited property damage liability coverage. Once you know exactly what types of coverage you feel are necessary you can then start gathering quotes.

Start with your homeowner’s insurance company. Explain that you already have a policy with them and you’d like to add on car insurance coverage. In most cases you’ll be offered a discounted rate because you are purchasing more than one type of insurance. Adding on a health insurance or life insurance policy can result in lower premiums for all of them. This is a great approach for someone who already has policies spread out over several companies.

Call agents that represent other companies as well though. Even if you suspect that you have already been offered a rock bottom price you may be surprised. Insurance in Michigan is a competitive business. There is a law in the state which prohibits one insurance company from contacting another just to compare rates. This means the consumer can expect to have several companies all clamoring for their business by offering a good rate. The resulting lower price for premiums is great news for all drivers.

By: Deborah Mills

California Auto Insurance – Simples Steps to Help Lower Your Auto Insurance Rates

admin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:18:29 +0000

California auto insurance is compulsory for all drivers in the state. California is a tort state, which makes you financially responsible for injuries and damages in auto accidents. Maintain a good driving record with higher deductibles to arrive at affordable California auto insurance with sufficient coverage. Of course, other factors like number of miles driven each year, driving experience, etc. play prominent roles in deciding your insurance rates.

What decides my financial responsibility?

You can prove your financial responsibility in any one of the following ways:
Have an automobile liability insurance policy Surety bond for $35,000 from insurance company to do business in California Self-insurance certificate of DMV, if you own more than twenty-five vehicles Cash deposit with DMV for $35,000

What is the minimum coverage available?

California auto insurance offers minimum liability insurance of $15,000 for physical injury or death per person per accident, $30,000 for all persons affected in an accident, and $5,000 for damages to property per accident. Your insurance coverage should have this minimum coverage; otherwise, you should provide alternative methods of paying for damages due to any accident. California law does not make other coverage like collision, comprehensive, medical payments, uninsured motorist, etc. compulsory.

How you can acquire auto insurance?

There are many insurance companies in California offering different insurance rates for their policies. Different companies calculate their rates according to their experiences, expenses, losses, etc. You need to scout around for various insurance companies, agents, brokers, etc. to get a fair idea of different rates in same geographical region. You can take help of the Internet or call up different insurance companies to gather information. Thereafter, you can choose the most suitable insurance company, which offers necessary coverage at rates affordable by you.

What if no company is willing to insure my vehicle?

It is possible that no California auto insurance company is willing to provide you coverage. You can then receive liability coverage through California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP). You need to approach such agents or CAARP directly. They then assign your application to any licensed insurance company. All such insurance companies have to accept CAARP applicants and there can be no broker’s fees or charges. You can take up a regular insurance from standard companies after three years of clean driving record.

By: Austin Davis

Auto Insurance – The Questions You Ask

admin — Sun, 30 May 2010 13:01:40 +0000

Once you own a car, it becomes mandatory by law that you get a minimum insurance cover at least to ensure the safety of other road users. Since it is compulsory, you need to note some these facts.

You need to first know the types of car insurance.

The first is Liability coverage which is actually compulsory because it protects other road users. You can in addition to this take up a collision coverage which pays you for damages to your car caused by accidents. You can also decide to take up a comprehensive coverage to take care of any damage to your car. Adding a personal injury coverage will ensure that whatever injuries sustained in an accident would be taken care of.

You need to decide exactly what you want and then look at the types of coverages that are available and pick policies that soot your need.

Next know the implication of your deductible. What is this?

This is the amount you are required to come up with before the insurance company would make good on your claim. The rule for this is simply this. The higher the deductible you choose, the lower the rates you pay and the lower the deductible you choose, the higher the rates you pay. A lot of people rush into choosing the lowest deductible possible thinking they have a wonderful deal. You would likely be better of with a higher deductible and a lower premium.

Find out what is the minimum coverage for the state you live in as the minimum vary from state to state. Knowing this, you can the decide if it is okay for you or need to get more.

A lot of people pay a lot more than they should pay simply because they did not take enough time to compare several quotes before committing to one.

Free quotes are one of the most effective tools for getting the best deals on your insurance. Many don’t believe until they have tried it.

Try it, get and compare as many quotes as you can before making a commitment and you would testify to how it saved you a lot of money.

Don’t take my word for it, get free online quotes now and decide for yourself if it is worth it. What do you loose, since it is absolutely free of charge and obligation.

In fact, start with these two.

By: Chimerenka Odimba

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

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

How to Find the Cheapest Ohio Auto Insurance – Keys to Getting the Best OH Car Insurance Rates

admin — Sun, 09 May 2010 14:44:34 +0000

Why pay more for Ohio auto insurance than necessary? If you can get the coverage that you need (an the state of Ohio requires by law) then why not find the cheapest Ohio auto insurance policy that you can? In fact, there are a number of different strategies that you can employ in order to find a cheap Ohio car insurance rate.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Ohio holds an estimated population of 11,478,006 as of 2006 and has only grown 1.1% in the last year. This means that rates in the state of Ohio have not seen a big change yet because the number of cars in the roads has not varied much.

Deciding to take the minimum coverage issued by OH state law is not the only solution to cheap automobile insurance in the state of Ohio. People can choose to drop the comprehensive and collision coverage options if their car is just too old, which will allow them the save a lot of money in the long run.

The deductible is another key thing in determining the rate that a person will pay for car insurance yearly. If a person has a low deductible that means that they are covered much more in case of an accident, hence the price of their policy will be higher. For this reason if you increase your deductible even a slight bit, you will be able to save some money. Higher out of pocket costs mean lower monthly premiums, which result in lower yearly rates.

Other ways to save on automobile insurance for Ohio residents include bundling services under one company. This means that if you have health insurance, automobile insurance or homeowners insurance you will be able to get a cheap deal. Simply just find out which insurance carrier offers all three, or even two of them and bundle them together under one policy. A person can save up to 10% off the price if they do this, not to mention that nowadays; most insurance companies offer a variety of services.

An Ohio resident can also opt to asking for discounts for driving less. If you drive less frequently you might be able to get a low mileage discount which can save you some money in addition to the things said above. Not only this, but you can also get a discount for being a safe driver just like in many other states. Believe it or not, insurance companies do not check your driving record that often, which means that you won’t be able to get a good driver discount unless you tell them about it.

It usually takes three years of clean driving with no accidents, DUI’s or citations for an insurance company to even consider giving a clean driving record discount. However, the benefits of this discount are plenty because you can save HUGE amounts of money after a company considers you a defensive driver. It is also worth mentioning that there are many other discounts such as good student and vehicle safety features, but they vary from company to company. Because of this reason it is important to do some research with every single company out there before you decide on which auto insurance company is right for you.

By: James J. Robinson

Auto Insurance For High-Risk Drivers

admin — Fri, 07 May 2010 15:44:33 +0000

If you find yourself unable to obtain auto insurance, then do no worry. There are many high risk car insurance options but do not delay in finding adequate coverage. What will you do if you are involved in an accident, or pulled over for a traffic violation with no insurance? It is illegal to drive without the minimum insurance coverage in this country, but some people find it difficult to get the coverage they need.

There are many reasons why an insurance company could refuse to offer you coverage:

- You live in a high crime area where vehicles are commonly vandalized and stolen.

- You have a special, high-performance vehicle.

- You have a poor driving record.

- You are not an experienced driver or you have no prior record of insurance coverage.

Risk Pool Auto Coverage

Luckily, you do have options if you can’t find a company to provide you with the minimum coverage required by law. Your first option is to join what is known as a state assigned risk pool. This system is made of insurance companies that participate voluntarily and must agree to accept the drivers they are assigned keeping any profit and absorbing any loss that comes with serving a particular driver. You will pay much higher premiums than you would if you had a policy with a traditional insurance company, but it’s a much better option to not having adequate coverage.

High Risk Car Insurance Policies

Another option drivers having difficulty finding insurance coverage may have is to contact a private insurance company that specializes in providing coverage to drivers considered high-risk. You could save money by searching for a private insurance company that offers non-standard policies instead of choosing risk pool coverage. Many of these companies will provide insurance policies for people with multiple accidents, traffic violations, or high-performance cars.

You can also obtain more comprehensive coverage by going through a traditional insurance company than you can through an assigned risk pool. A high-risk driver is the perfect candidate for an umbrella policy as additional coverage against any lawsuits that may result from a car accident. Most insurance companies advise that you have at least $250,000 on your basic auto policy before they allow you to purchase additional coverage such as an umbrella liability policy.

Insuring Your Teen Driver

Young drivers between the ages of 15 to 21 are considered high risk. If you have a teen in your home that is ready to start driving, make sure to contact your insurance agent or company immediately to have them added to your policy. In many states, teen drivers receive discounts for attending driver’s education or other safety driving classes. They may even be eligible to receive a discount for keeping a “B” or higher grades consistently.

Correct Your High Risk Driving Habits

It takes time to rebuild your driving reputation once you have been labeled high-risk. Here are a few tips that may help:

- Avoid driving when you don’t need to. Remember, the more you are on the road the more likely it becomes that you could be involved in an accident. Limit most of your driving to doing so only when necessary.

- Pay attention to the road. Avoid distractions while driving like talking on your cell phone, eating and drinking. Fender benders caused by distractions like these will wind up increasing your premiums significantly.

- Avoid drinking and driving at all times. A DUI can end your driving privileges and land you in a lot of legal hot water.

Compare High Risk Auto Insurance Quotes Online

By: Robert McKnight

How Much of Auto Insurance Should You Get?

admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:40:20 +0000

Due to the current unemployment rate, there are many people who drop the idea of auto insurance in order to save money. However, with so many drivers on the roads these days, it could be very dangerous to not have insurance. But, it is also important to know how much of insurance do you really need?

If you are one of the people who are greatly affected by the growing inflation, you might be interested in getting the minimum possible insurance coverage as required by the state laws. Even though the amount might not be enough to provide full protection to you, this is still a good start. However, your are recommended to get more than the lowest coverage unless you do not have any assets to protect.

You can check on the internet the minimum coverage required by each state. For instance, if you are living in Alabama, the minimum requirement is $25,000 for a physical injury of one person. There are some states that demand you to purchase auto insurance that also covers your medical expenses.

Whatever the requirement of the state law is, it is in your best interest to purchase higher coverage. For instance, if you accidentally injure somebody else and it is your fault, your minimum coverage might not be able to cover all the medical expenses. In that case, you will have to call up your attorney to take care of your assets. It is easy not to spend so much money on the insurance. However, you should not forget that at some point, this insurance becomes a life saver because in the case of an accident, your insurance will be ready to cover up. However, if you do not have a policy, you can say goodbye to your assets.

By: Danny Carlson

Legal Requirements For Car Insurance – Houston, Texas

admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 16:18:40 +0000

If you live in Houston Texas and would like to take a drive down to a Texan farm, be careful. The law is severe and it prohibits anyone from driving a vehicle without specific car insurance. A car owner must have the minimum liability auto insurance policy while driving in Texas. This means that you must be able to provide for your own cover and the damages that may arise if your car is involved in an accident, which causes damage to third party property and personal injury to others. The Texan law requires minimum coverage, commonly referred to as 25/50/25. This means that coverage must be available to the extent of $25000 for each injured person, $50000 for every accident and $25000 for damage to property. A policy for car insurance Houston Texas may suitably cover the above limits but if the damages are more than the above limits, it is important to note that the party affected may sue the car owner to recover the costs.

A car insurance Houston Texas policy would also need to be updated as per the legal requirements. This means that if you are having a policy that provides for low damage provisions, you need to upgrade that policy immediately to be on the better side of the law. Failure to do so would mean that you stand a risk of your insurance getting revoked and your registration being cancelled. To once again apply for a registration involves the paying of a hefty penalty which might be delayed due to scrutiny of past records.

Major car insurance firms providing for car insurance Houston Texas policies advise their customers regularly about the updates that are available from time to time from the authorities. Immediate online quotes are also provided by most insurance companies providing for car insurance Houston Texas policies. It is always better to be on the safer side of the law and irrespective of whether you are a student or a veteran there are no provisions in the law that would provide you with specific exemptions because of your status. In fact if you receive a ticket for having no insurance while on the road, the second ticket would mean sure trouble which may even include cancellation of your registration certificate and excessive penalties. The internet is the best place to obtain all details about a Texas car insurance policy where you get online quotes as well.

By: Robert Linley