The Automobile Insurance Blog

Car repair and car insurance

One of the things that your car insurer may tell you is that your car needs to be repaired and that you must repair it to the insurer’s recommended shop. While at first you might think that there is nothing wrong with this, since ‘the insurer said so, that’s why it must be good for my insurance,’ well think again. If you don’t agree to repair damage that is covered by insurance, the insurer still owes you for the value of repairs that your car needs to be restored to its former condition. However, if this is the situation, your insurance company will not be required to insure the car for its full retail value.

Car use affects car insurance

The way you use your car affects the cost of your insurance. The more you drive, the higher the risk that you’ll be involved in a car accident. Because of this, frequent drivers often pay higher premiums than those who don’t drive much or those who take the public transportation. Also, the insurers would consider the person driving the vehicle. Does he have a disability? Poor eyesight? Back aches? If there is an inexperienced driver in the car, the risk increases and so does the premium. If there are different drivers using the car, there would be a greater possibility that the one who drives can’t drive well and have an accident, thus premium increases also.

Questions to ask for your car insurance

Before you got involved in a car accident, you must be prepared to ask your insurance agent a few important questions that could determine whether or not you get the best out your policy:

Is replacement of your car’s parts covered by the auto insurance policy? Some policies will only pay for generic car parts from other manufacturers.

Where do your payments go? If an auto insurance policy is sold for a low price, the total amount spend will barely cover for replacement or rental.

Is there adequate coverage for your car? See to it that your needs are provided and you are not paying something that isn’t necessary.

Choosing coverage limits and deductibles

What optional coverage limits and deductibles do you choose? Upon purchasing your car insurance, you could choose from a lot of options. For most states, there is a requirement of at least a minimum amount for coverage for third party liability. However if you choose a higher limit for your coverage, you will pay a higher premium also. Also, if you have a car but you don’t think that it is suitable for comprehensive coverage, don’t purchase because it is not worth the expensive payment on premiums. Finally, in order to get the best deal, shop around for insurance quotes and an easy way to do this is via internet.

Dollar a Day Policy

The Dollar a Day policy or Special Automobile Insurance Policy (SAIP) is a new initiative that will help to make limited auto insurance coverage accessible to drivers who are qualified under the Federal Medicaid with hospitalization. These drivers will obtain medical coverage only policy at the low cost of only $365 annually.

Payment for the insurance policy can be paid upfront at the cost of $360 or two equal payments that will total $365. This covers emergency treatments immediately following the accident and the treatment of serious brain and spinal cord injuries up to a maximum amount of $250,000. This policy also provides for a death benefit of $10,000.

Parts of an Auto Insurance Policy

• Declarations- this part of the policy indicates the personal information of the driver. The contract can be void if any information here is not true.
• Coverage plans- here you will know what you can claim from the insurance company. The coverage can be that of liability, medical, collision and or comprehensive.
• Exclusions- this part gives you the idea of what items are not covered because of the restrictions of your policy.
• Legality- this part is focused on all legal matters concerning both parties.
• Definitions- terms and privileges of the insurer and the insured are defined in this part.

How car insurance premiums are set

How do car insurance companies tell how much you’ll pay for your insurance? First, they check the model of your car. They will check the repair costs, rate of damage and likelihood of theft. They would do this so that they would know how risky owning your car is and then they will set the cost of your insurance premium. That also means that if you are a good driver, you’ll reduce the cost of your premiums. Also, how much your car costs when you sell it is another thing which they consider. Also, when you live in urban areas, it is very likely that your car insurance premium will be high. .

Auto insurance grounding, Tip 5

5. Don’t forget your umbrella.

Umbrella policies are usually very affordable and can help drivers (and homeowners) weather the most severe storms. Let’s say there has been a severe car accident that involved a huge amount property damage extending beyond what a solid insurance policy covers. When this happens, policy holders need umbrellas to shelter them from liability extending beyond the limits of their standard policy.

Since these umbrella policies protect are merely a safeguard against the worst accidents, they rarely pay out and so can be bought for very little, sometimes $200 for a policy stretching from where the liability stops to around $2 million in damages. This could be an amount of car insurance coverage that gives most drivers a smoother ride on the road.

Auto insurance grounding, Tip 4

4. Don’t ignore car ownership.

This won’t necessarily arise as a problem when buying insurance, but vehicle ownership can make all the difference in potential payouts. If a husband and wife share ownership, both are exposed to liability if either one causes an accident. Both can be sued by any party caused damage.

Parents should be aware of the age of majority (usually 18). When the kids reach it they should assume title for their cars so that parents can avoid liability for any mishaps caused by drivers who are of age, but still young. This has already arisen as a problem in several cases wherein parents are sent to jail for loving their kids too much and giving the keys too early in their years.

Auto insurance grounding, Tip 3

3. Don’t presume all cars need the same insurance.

Just as you shouldn’t waste insurance on minor incidents, some cars don’t really need full expensive package insurances. Drivers always need to maintain their liability insurance in case they cause an accident but some cars just aren’t worth the hassle, or the expense for that matter. For example, an old Toyota pickup wouldn’t be missing or noticed it if it falls off a cliff the next day. Insuring it with a reasonable deductible would also be useless. It would irritate insurers without promising much upside in the event of a claim.