Getting Answers to Auto Insurance Questions

February 6th, 2010

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Questions

Auto insurance policies can become quite complicated and there may be many questions that arise when individuals begin shopping for coverage. Most commonly, motorists are always seeming to wonder how to find the cheapest rates and understand the laws of the particular state that they reside in. There are many ways to go about getting a question answered if an individual is uncertain about a particular area pertaining to coverage, laws or necessary protection. Local agents can be found in any phone book that are usually more than happy to answer any inquiries that a motorist may have, although they may be little biased when it comes to which company is best and which offers the cheapest rates.

A great way to get car insurance questions answered is to use the World Wide Web which is continuing to grow in popularity as a resource for information. Individuals now have the luxury of typing in any inquiry that they may have into any search engine and there is a good chance that there will be a wide range of results with an answer to the question. Keep in mind that some answers may come from industry professionals and some may come from individuals which may strictly be an opinion. The Internet is also a great way to get the opinions of customers; typing in a question such as, “What is the best auto insurance company?” can get results from blogs and individuals who have had experience with certain companies which may have been pleasant or poor and can help the inquirer steer clear of a carrier who people seem to complain about and get insured with a provider that receives a lot of praise.

Using the Web to Find Answers to Car Insurance Questions

The Internet provides a very easy and convenient way to locate practically an unlimited amount of information regarding any subject and this is especially true when it comes to auto insurance. There are thousands and thousands of websites which contain valuable information surrounding the automobile insuring industry. Thanks to search engines, consumers simply need to type in any inquiry which they may have and there is a very good chance that there is some website that contains the answer which they are looking for. This can save a lot of time compared to contacting various companies by telephone or sitting down and talking with agents. Many of these sites will allow for contact if a more specific answer is desired to clarify issues in certain states or the various types of coverage; each state has different laws and consumers may need some clarification about the laws in their particular state.

Almost all of the major insurers have an online presence and many of them contain answers to common questions and information that can be useful to motorists, but a great resource that individuals have are those of comparison websites. These sites specialize in providing visitors with quotes from various companies and provide informative content which is unbiased and straightforward to simply help consumers stay informed with industry updates, statistics and law changes; also included on many of these websites is an FAQ section which contains answers to some of the most frequently asked questions. One of the most trustworthy sources that motorists can turn to is that of government websites; every state has a department that regulates insurers and their websites will keep residents up to date with rate changes, industry news, consumer guides and statistics. The website of the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance contains an FAQ page along with consumer guides to help residents get properly insured. There are many ways to get a question answered, but consumers should be aware that in some cases they may find answers that may be the sole opinion of an individual; the consumer should check the source providing the information before relying on it.

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Car Insurance Coverage Options

February 6th, 2010

Auto coverageMotorists have many options when it comes to the protection that can be purchased for their vehicles and themselves; some are required by law and some are optional. The majority of states follow the Financial Responsibility Law which mandates that drivers maintain Liability policies consisting of bodily injury and property damage to compensate third parties from accidents they have caused; these states set a minimum limit which must be purchased, but consumers have the option to purchase higher limits which should be considered because it may help avoid future financial burdens. States such as California have set liability limits of $15,000 for bodily injury for one person, $30,000 for bodily injury to two or more people and $5,000 for property damage; as an example, if an individual were to cause more than $5,000  in damages to another party’s property with their vehicle may be held accountable for any remaining compensation due to the property owner. It is often suggested that motorists raise their liability limits; preferably to $100,000, $300,000 and $50,000.

Many states follow the No-Fault law requiring motorists to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) which aims to ensure that compensation is in place for injuries regardless of who is responsible for causing a traffic accident. The state of Florida requires drivers to carry $10,000 in PIP; just as financial responsibility laws may not mandate adequate protection, the $10,000 limit in FL can easily be exhausted if the motorist sustains a serious injury and it may be wise to raise the limit. In some states this auto insurance coverage is optional and is often referred to as Medical Payments; for those who do not have a health or life insurance plan may benefit from this because it will pay for medical expenses and funeral costs resulting from a traffic collision for the policyholder, family members and passengers.

Additional Options for Auto Insurance Coverage

Uninsured Motorist and Underinsured Motorist is required by certain states such as North Dakota, but is optional in many others; generally the limits necessary must meet the minimum liability limits of the state. According to the North Dakota Guide to Automobile Insurance motorists must carry a minimum of $25,000 and $50,000 for bodily injury; other state limits may vary. For those who reside in a state that does not require this type of car insurance coverage may want to take it into consideration; this will pay for injuries sustained by the policyholder, family members and passengers resulting from a traffic accident caused by a motorist who does not have a policy, is underinsured or if victims of a hit-and-run. This will also pay for injuries of the policyholders and family members living in the household if injured by a collision as a pedestrian.

A common addition to policies is Comprehensive and Collision which offers protection if the insured’s vehicle sustains physical damage. The majority of individuals purchase this coverage because they are financing a vehicle and their financial institution will require that the vehicle be covered as part of the loan agreement; this is to protect the lender’s investment, but also benefits the policyholder since they would making payments on a damaged vehicle or have to pay for repairs out of their own pocket. This can also be beneficial to those who own high end vehicles or classic cars due to the fact that repair costs can become quite expensive or if the vehicle is stolen, replacing it can be quite costly.

Additional options to choose from include Rental and Towing Reimbursement which can be purchased for a minimal additional premium. Rental reimbursement will pay for the cost to rent a vehicle for a set daily amount and specified number of days while a vehicle is being repaired or if stolen and awaiting compensation. Towing reimbursement will pay for the cost of a tow when a policyholder’s vehicle becomes unable to operate. Although some coverage is mandatory, some of the optional add-ons can be quite beneficial; motorists should take the time to see if any additional protection can benefit them and compare quotes from various companies to see if it can be afforded.

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Tennessee Car Insurance Laws

February 6th, 2010

state of TennesseeIn 1977, the Volunteer State became one of the many states in the nation that follow the Financial Responsibility Law which mandates that any person operating a vehicle must have compensation available in the event that they are found liable for causing an accident which results in bodily injury or property damage to a third party. The financial responsibility law is designed to ensure that motorists have a way of recovering losses for injuries and damages that they sustain as a result of a traffic collision if struck by another driver.

Operators can comply with these laws in a couple ways; an individual may obtain a certificate from the Department of Safety dictating that a cash deposit or bond has been posted. Due to the amount that needs to be posted with the Department of Safety, most motorists choose to purchase a policy from a Tennessee auto insurance company licensed to issue coverage in the state. If choosing to buy a car insurance policy the limits purchased must meet the minimum required by law; the minimum liability limits are $25,000 for bodily injury or death to one person, $50,000 for bodily injuries or death to two or more people and $15,000 for property damage per accident. Individuals can choose to purchase higher limits for an additional premium.

Failure to Comply with TN Auto Insurance Laws

Proof of financial responsibility must be carried at all times while operating an automobile and will be asked for by a law enforcement officer in the event of an accident; evidence of coverage will be requested by the officer regardless of who seems to be at fault. Failure to furnish such proof can when requested can result in fines, suspension of driving privileges and/or having a STOP placed on a vehicle. Once a STOP has been placed on a vehicle it will prevent a vehicle from being registered until it has been removed.

A conviction for a failure to provide proof of financial responsibility is considered to be a Class C misdemeanor which is punishable by a fine up to the amount of $100. Once convicted, the state will be notified of said conviction which will result in the suspension of the convicted individual’s driving privileges and the STOP will be placed on the offender’s automobile. In order to have driving privileges reinstated, the individual would have to provide proof of valid financial responsibility, payment of any applicable fines and reinstatement fees. Once these requirements have been met, the STOP may be removed and the vehicle can be registered. For more information on removing a STOP from a vehicle following a conviction, one can visit the Tennessee Department of Safety for more information and where to send necessary documentation.

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Michigan Auto Insurance Requirements

February 6th, 2010

Michigan stateThe state of Michigan has one of the most comprehensive no-fault car insurance systems in the country and in order to maintain registration in the state vehicles must continuously be insured. Motorists in MI must purchase quite an extensive policy in order to be in compliance with the laws of the state. Individuals who own a vehicle and operate it or allow others to do so without proper coverage can be held accountable for any damages resulting from a traffic accident and be subject to a lawsuit. In addition, if convicted of driving uninsured it may result in a misdemeanor and a fine ranging from $200 to $500, or sentenced to jail for up to one year or both.

The Michigan auto insurance laws requires that all motorists must purchase Personal Injury Protection (PIP), Property Protection (PPI), Residual Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability (BI/PD) in order to receive vehicle license plates. The main goal behind this comprehensive no-fault system is to help ensure that every motorist, their family members and passengers have compensation in place regardless of fault; the no fault laws are also designed to protect insured individuals from being sued unless under certain special situations. No-fault policies will also cover family members if they are passengers in another person’s automobile or are injured as pedestrians while a traffic accident occurs. In addition, it will also cover pedestrians and motorcyclists who are injured in an accident involving the insured’s vehicle.

Breakdown of Required MI Car Insurance

When a personal injury protection policy is purchased it provides the policyholder and family members with an unlimited amount of medical and rehabilitation benefits, limited wage loss benefits and $20 per day for replacement services for up to three years if injured as a result of a traffic accident. Wage loss will be provided at 85% of income that would have been earned had they not been injured for three years; effective 10/01/09, the maximum compensation per month is $4,878 which is revised annually. If the insured is killed in an accident, their family will receive these benefits for the three years. Replacement services will pay for a service up to $20 per day that the injured is no longer able to provide such as yard work and housekeeping.

According to the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth, the required property protection (PPI) limit is $1 million and will pay for damage that that the policyholder’s vehicle causes in MI to another person’s property such as building and fences; it will also pay for damage caused to another party’s properly parked automobile, but does not pay for any other damage to cars (motorists can be sued for up to $500 for damages that they cause to vehicles if they are found to be more than 50% at fault for causing the accident). Residual bodily injury and property damage liability will pay for defense costs and any damages that the insured is found responsible for causing up to the policy limits. The minimum required limits are $20,000 for the injury or death of one person, $40,000 for the injury or death per accident and $10,000 for property damage caused in another state; commonly abbreviated as 20/40/10. Having to purchase such extensive coverage can become quite expensive, individuals should take the time and compare the rates of as many companies as possible to help locate the most affordable policy.

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Teens and Auto Insurance Rates

February 6th, 2010

Teen driverGetting a driver’s license can be quite an exciting time for a teenager and through all the excitement the last thing on the youth’s mind is automobile coverage. Usually these youthful motorists just want to grab mom or dad’s keys, jump behind the wheel, pick up their friends and head to the mall. Unfortunately, what they will soon realize is that before they can operate a vehicle, they must obtain car insurance and even worse it can become quite expensive to insure teenagers, but coverage must be purchased in order for the young driver to legally drive an automobile.

There are many reasons why the cost of auto insurance for teens can be pretty expensive; statistically, motorists in this age group have a much higher chance of being involved in traffic accidents than any other age group. According to a brochure that was provided by the state of Arizona, it states that drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 are four times more likely to be involved in an accident than a more mature driver per mile driven. The brochure also states that 16 year olds are almost 3 times more likely to be involved in crashes than that of those ages 18 and 19. In addition, automobile accidents are the number one cause of death for 16 to 19 year olds.

Get Affordable Car Insurance for a Teen

Right off the bat, teenagers are looked at as a higher risk to insurers and will pay more than their older counterparts; this is due to the statistics that have been compiled and show them as being more likely to be involved in crashes than any other age group. With that being said, there are many steps that consumers can take to make teen auto insurance as affordable as possible. The first step that should be taken is to shop around and compare the rates of as many companies as possible. When shopping around, the teen should see if it would cost less to be added to a parent’s policy or getting covered on their own. In many cases it can be much cheaper to be insured with a parent rather than obtaining their own policy.

If a youth is going to purchase a vehicle, they should consider more economical automobiles that would not be in need of full coverage; the cost of Comprehensive and Collision can make rates increase substantially for a teen driver. The North Dakota Department of Insurance suggests when shopping around, make sure to take advantage of any discount that can be obtained; a discount can help save a significant amount of money. Many companies offer discounts to youths for being a good student (maintaining a “B” grade point average or higher) and some also will reduce premiums for those who have completed a defensive driver course. Also, if purchasing a vehicle, having it added to a parent’s policy may provide a multi-car discount. By shopping around for coverage, comparing options and taking advantage of any applicable discounts, teens may be able to obtain affordable rates.

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