car insurance

Top 10 Misunderstood Things About Car Insurance
After spending many years in the insurance industry we have come up with a top 10 list of most misunderstood things about car insurance.  These car insurance myths are some of the most common questions that most people have about direct car insurance either buying or reviewing their  auto insurance coverage.  Its better to find out now before you have a claim and  it's too late.

I just got my 1st speeding ticket my insurance rates are going to go way up.

Reality:  If this is your first ticket your rates probably won't even change.  Most direct car insurance providers will give you a pass if you don't have any other tickets or claims in the past 3 to 5 years depending on the company.

That new Plasma TV I bought last year won't affect my Car Insurance

Reality:  If you didn't pay the credit card  you charged it on then it just might.  Almost all insurance companies now use some form of credit scoring when determining not only if you will qualify for insurance, but also what you will pay.  There can easily be 50% difference in rates for a person with excellent credit to someone with poor credit.

I just slammed my car door into my lawnmower parked in my garage, my homeowners policy will cover it

Reality:  Your homeowner's coverage has nothing to do with covering your car.  The only way your car will be covered is if you have Comprehensive (Comp) coverage for your car.  And then only after you pay you deductible.

I just cracked up my friends car and I tell him don't worry my insurance will cover it

Reality: It will but only after your friends policy pays first.  So let's say your friend has a $500 collision deductible and you have a $250 deductible.  You would have to give your friend the $500 for his deductible as his insurance company is Primary.  Meaning your insurance will only pay after his policy limits are exhausted.  So just remember in this scenario your deductible does not matter its going to be based on your friends.

If you're riding your bicycle and get hit by a car your car insurance won't get involved

Reality:  If you get hurt or killed while riding your bike or even walking down the street you maybe surprised to learn that you may be covered by your direct car insurance policy.  If the person driving the car didn't have any insurance or not enough insurance to cover your injuries, your Uninsured or Underinsured coverage would pay for your claim.

Someone just broke into my car and stole all of my personal belongings out of it i.e. Cd's, Cell phone, Christmas Presents, my car insurance will pay for it.

Reality:  Your car insurance does not cover your personal belongings left inside the car.  You are going to have to file a claim with your Homeowners or Renters insurance policy to be compensated for these items.  The general rule of thumb is your car insurance will only pay for items that are attached to the vehicle

I am going to be charged more for my  Car Insurance because my car is red, blue, black, pink...

Reality:  The color of your car has absolutely nothing to do with your rates.  If you like red buy a red car, if you like black buy a black car.  Don't ever let this silly nonsense stop you from buying a car.  

I didn't have a car for the last 2 years, this won't affect my rates.

Reality:  Not having continuous car insurance is frowned upon by most direct car insurance companies now a day's.  Some companies won't penalize you for not having prior insurance.  If you don't have prior insurance make sure you have a good excuse like you took the bus, or you were in the military, or some other legitimate reason.  Oh and by the way I couldn't afford my insurance is not on that list

Telling a little white lie on my insurance application won't affect my coverage if I ever have a claim

Reality:  This is one of the worst things a person can do.  If you lie on your insurance application there is a good chance you won't have any coverage when you need it the most.  You think they won't find out?  Remember these 2 things when insurance company is on the hook for a ton of money.  #1 They are going to start asking questions and the first thing they look at is your application.  Wouldn't you if you were them?  And reason #2, the insurance companies have more money than god and they have people working full time to find this stuff out.

Buying a cheaper more reasonable car will be less to insure the a more expensive car.

Reality: There are a lot of different factors insurance companies use to determine rates, however there are many times were the rate for the more expensive car is less than the cheaper car.  One of the biggest factors for the Comp & Collision coverage's are how much do replacement parts cost.  Sometimes on those cheaper cars or the more exotic cars the replacement parts can cost a lot to replace.

So just remember the next time your online looking for a cheaper insurance policy, to consider some of your options.  There are hundred's of direct auto insurance companies out there looking to get in your pocket, just make sure when the time comes you can get into theirs.

Renewing Car Insurance Policies - Do's and Don'ts
Having an adequate car insurance cover for your vehicle has become extremely imperative while driving on today's accident-prone, high traffic roads and dealing with uncertain conditions almost every day. Car insurance cover relieves your mind of the financial tension at least, takes your mind off the continuous worry of the expense that may occur from any unintentional damage occurred. So, one must be consciously aware of the car insurance term at any given point of time lest it expires and you are caught off guard with an unwarranted situation, only to find out that your car insurance is due for renewal.

While the mandatory renewal of car insurance every year may seem like a monotonous and rather tedious procedure but it is critical to get it done on time in an appropriate manner. Moreover, it is important to consider certain aspects in mind while renewing your car insurance policy; there are some do's and don'ts that can go a long way in helping you to have your car insurance renewal done in an informed manner. Let's have a quick at some of these points and help to smoothen out the process for you and also help in going for relatively cheap car insurance, at best price with the best services.

Do's - Get it right

1. Comparison among policies- The first and foremost thing to consider while renewing the car insurance policy is the fact that there is a wide variety of insurance covers in the market to choose from with absolutely no compulsion to continue with the same policy taken. In case you experience certain inadequacies in the interim of one year of the policy or you may wish to upgrade your policy as per the changing demands, then, you always have the option of switching to a new one. Before that, it is critical to take note of the varied policies available in the market and make a thorough comparative analysis.

2. Accurate Details in the Form- While filling up the form for car insurance renewal, it is utmost important to fill inaccurate details about your car and to the best of your knowledge so as to get a suitable policy by the company. Thus, it is advised to fill up the form in a relaxed state and on your own as you know your requirements better than any company agent.

3. Policy Record- Once you have renewed the policy, make sure to fill a copy in a file and keep it with for the record or if it's a soft copy, then save it with you on a hard drive so as to not lose it. It's important to maintain a proper record as it gives all information required at any point and leaves no room for any confusion when it comes to availing the No-Claim Bonus (NCB) or any other future claim.

4. Add on Covers- Before taking up any policy, it is vital to take note of all the add-on covers and go through them at length so as to choose wisely the ones that suit your needs instead of blindly going for everything and end up paying a huge amount unnecessarily.

5. Registration Certificate (RC)- While renewing your policy, also ensure that your RC is updated with your present address, name and other details. Also, see to it that the vehicle specifications are accurate and the details mentioned on the RC are in sync with the policy details.

Don'ts - Not to Mess Up

1. No blank columns in the form- Do ensure that you end up leaving no columns in the form blank or unanswered that may impact your policy renewal in an adverse way. Instead, one must provide all possible information, just to be sure to be taking the right help from the insurance company.

2. Not to miss timeline for renewal- Keeping in mind the expiry of the car insurance plan is critical not just from the perspective of any damage occurring in the interim when you are uncovered but also for saving up on the late renewal charges if any by the company. Moreover, it gives one time to think and then act rather than being in a hurry to insure with the first plan that comes your way.

3. No Incorrect Declarations- One must never make any incorrect declaration or give any wrong estimate to the car insurance company, intentionally, as that can end up in getting you the wrong cover. Tell them precisely what your requirements are, what the car condition and car value estimation is and your future claims will remain uninterrupted.

4. Not to forget about the transfer of name- In case of acquiring a pre-owned vehicle, make sure to have the policy transferred in your name and do not have it renewed in the previous owner's name itself by any chance.

Why Do You Need to Have an Adequate Car Insurance Coverage?
Nowadays, when you buy a car, you must also carry adequate insurance. You may be wondering why do you have to cover the extra cost of the insurance. Actually, the premium is affordable and you can get discount when you buy it online. It is common for people to get into accident every once in a while. Therefore, it is best to always equip yourself with adequate insurance coverage just to be on the safe side.

Driving a car without car insurance is illegal. If you get caught, you may get a hefty fine. The premium of your car insurance policy must meet the minimum requirement of your state. Every state has different insurance requirements. Most of the states require you to have liability insurance. Some states like New York and Florida require drivers to have a personal injury protection.

Having an adequate car insurance can protect your finance in case you encounter an accident. If your car collide with someone else's car and you are at fault, you will have to pay an expensive damage fees. The damage fees will cover the other party's car's damages along with the hospitalization or medical fees of the driver or passengers.

The damage fees often reach up to a few thousands dollars. You will be broke if you use the money from your savings to pay the damage fees. If you don't pay for the damages, the other party may sue you in the court. If you have an insurance policy, you just have to file a claim and they will reimburse the damage fees.

You may want to consider getting a comprehensive/collision car insurance as it not only protect the damages of the other party's car but also the damage you suffer as a result of the accident. Many people who drive on the highway don't carry enough car insurance. For this reason, if someone collide with your car and run away, you will at least can claim the damage fees from your insurance company.

Comprehensive/collision coverage provides coverage when you accidentally hit an animal that is crossing the road. It covers damages on the broken windshield, hail damage, fire damage or collision that happen as a result of a storm. Your comprehensive insurance will also reimburse the compensation on a stolen vehicle that has gone missing for over 1 month.

It gives you coverage over any type of vandalism performed on your car, for example, someone uses a key to scrap the paint off your car. It offers coverage when your car is damaged due to high flooding water caused by a hurricane. It is your comprehensive coverage that will pay for the damages when your car is being smashed by a fallen tree.

The comprehensive coverage will protect your vehicle when it is parked in place. Your home insurance will not provide coverage when the garage collapse or other physical damages happen when it is parked.

When purchasing car insurance, you have to choose a deductible. The deductible is the amount that you have to pay upfront when you want to claim a compensation. Higher deductible reduce your annual premium cost but lower deductible can increase your annual premium cost.