Wednesday, January 29, 2014

The Best Approach to Auto Insurance Quotes

Auto insurance quotes are generally free so don't just take out an auto insurance policy based on the first auto insurance quote you get.

The best possible way for saving money on your auto insurance is to get at least three insurance quotes. Granted, getting multiple insurance quotes will take you time but if you compare your hourly rate at work to the amount you could save on your auto insurance I think you will agree that getting several auto insurance quotes is a valuable use of your time.

One of the best ways to get as many auto insurance quotes as possible in the shortest period of time is on the internet. You might have to trawl through a few user unfriendly insurance quote sites but there are several little gems out there where you can get multiple auto insurance quotes in one go and most of the main providers of auto insurance not only offer online quotes but also provide consumers with discounts when they get their insurance quotes online.

A decent auto insurance broker is well worth their weight in gold. Using a broker to get your insurance quotes will mean that you only have to fill out one form and then the auto insurance broker will trawl through loads of insurance quotes until they find the best possible insurance package for you. What's really neat is that nowadays you don't even have to leave the comfort of your own home as there are more and more insurance brokers offering their services on line.

As you can tell I love the online approach, for those that hate the sales pitch that accompanies a 'face to face' or telephone insurance quote online insurance providers are the answer to your prayers.

Don't wait until you change cars every year that better offer could be available. Just because you got the best possible auto insurance quote last year it doesn't mean to say you can't beat it when the renewal notice comes through your door. With online insurance, it's easy, spend a little time one evening getting comparable auto insurance quotes, there's loads of deals out there with so many auto insurance providers fighting for your business and you could save yourself wads of cash.

When looking for alternative auto insurance quotes make sure that you check that the lowest auto insurance quotes are for a similar level of cover to those that are more expensive.

Always know what you are buying, don't leave yourself exposed by paying for a cheaper but relatively useless auto insurance.

One last word of advice, the lowest auto insurance quote isn't always the best to go for even if it does provide you with the right amount of cover. Low cost auto insurance is good but it's also important to use a reputable insurance provider. There is no point getting really cheap car insurance if the company that you are insuring with either messes you around, or even worse, doesn't pay out!

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

How Much Liability Auto Insurance Should You Really Have?

Trying to determine the right amount of auto insurance coverage you need for your car or automobile can initially look like it will be a daunting task at best. With the state mandated auto insurance requirements different between every state perhaps the best place to start would be to find out exactly what the minimum requirements for auto insurance coverage are in the state you currently reside in. For instance Alaska requires the minimum liability coverage to be in the amounts of $50,000 of bodily injury liability for one person, $100,000 bodily injury liability for all people and $25,000 property damage liability. Now compare that to Florida where the state car liability insurance requirements are as low as $10,000 of bodily injury liability for one person, $20,000 bodily injury liability for all people and $10,000 property damage liability.

Liability vehicle insurance is required in order to protect other drivers in the event that you are the individual responsible for causing an accident. As previously mentioned it is the lowest set standards or requirements in terms of insurance that you must have in order to legally drive your automobile in your state of residence. Liability auto insurance doesn't offer any protection or coverage for your own auto or vehicle. In fact, most banks will not loan you the necessary capital needed to purchase a new or used car unless you have full coverage auto insurance, which is comprehensive coverage and collision coverage. That's because should you get in an accident and become found, as at fault, full coverage auto insurance will pay for all the damages to your own vehicle as well as the car you struck during the accident. With liability auto insurance your car will not be covered thus a bank will not loan money on an underinsured vehicle.

Still, many consumers only carry liability auto insurance for the simple fact that it allows a cheaper monthly rate or auto insurance premium to be paid. Also many folks only insure their car for what it's worth so in some instances, perhaps only having the liability portion of auto insurance is all that's needed. The reality is if your vehicle isn't worth a whole lot and you can afford to purchase another vehicle should your current car get totaled in an accident then liability insurance may be the only type of auto insurance coverage you require.

If you do decide to only insure your car or automobile with liability auto insurance then no matter what your state mandated minimum insurance requirements are it would be beneficial to carry the following amount of auto insurance, $50,000 bodily injury liability for one person, $100,000 for all folks injured in an accident and $25,000 property damage liability. This breaks down into 50/100/25, which remember was the state of Alaska's minimum amount for liability auto insurance.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Popular Auto Insurance Companies

The American auto insurance sector is characterized by the presence of a large number of players. Some are large general insurance companies that have diversified into auto insurance and some are pure play auto insurance companies. Here are some of the notable players in auto insurance business.

State Farm Insurance is one such company. It is a national insurance company and one of the biggest general insurance companies in the US. For the year 2003, the company had a revenue of about $56 billion. Headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, State Farm Insurance is a very popular auto insurance provider in the US. With a nationwide network of branches and attractive discounts for various categories of people SFI has an edge over its competitors. SFI is also the largest insurer of cars, trucks and SUVs in the US.

American International Group or AIG is another big company. It is the second largest general insurer and also the second largest auto insurer in the US. The Farmers Insurance Group of Companies is one of the largest general insurer and the third largest auto insurer in the US. Like SFI, this company has also got a large network of branches in all the states in the US.

Apart from these, there are other players in the American market. Some of them are 21st century Auto Insurance Group, which has its strength in auto insurance space and operates in eight states. Some niche players include Auto Owners Insurance, which has been operating in the nation since 1916 and covers 22 states across the nation.

One feature of the American auto insurance space is that there is room for all players ? general insurers who have diversified into auto insurance business and auto insurance specialists.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Understanding Auto Insurance

Auto (car) insurance is a type of insurance coverage for damage to and resulting from an auto. Insurance of this type can cover a variety of things depending on the kind of auto insurance that has been purchased.

All auto insurance policies involve a premium, which is the payment a customer makes to have auto insurance. Premiums for auto insurance can be extremely divergent and are determined by a number of factors. Gender is the major determinant for auto insurance premiums. Statistically, men are 80% more likely to be involved in an accident, and therefore have a greater need for insurance. Auto insurance premiums for men are higher than auto insurance premiums for women. Similarly, teenagers are considered high risk and will have to pay higher auto insurance premiums. The auto insurance premium can be reduced if the teenager takes a defensive driving course. Many states require teenagers to take defensive driving courses in order to obtain a driving permit and auto insurance.

It is customary for auto insurance plans to have a deductible that the customer is responsible for before the auto insurance provider offers coverage of expenses. Deductibles can have an effect on the coverage available under an auto insurance plan.

Auto insurance is slightly different than other types of insurance because you can purchase auto insurance that covers specific needs. For this reason there are different kinds of auto insurance. Auto insurance basics are covered by liability auto insurance plans. Liability auto insurance is usually the minimum required by state laws. Liability auto insurance is characterized by a set dollar amount of coverage for damages resulting from accidents or negligence. The coverage amount of liability auto insurance can be applied to property damaged in the accident that is not an auto.

Car insurance also comes as collision auto insurance. Collision auto insurance is meant to cover the cost of repairs to a vehicle involved in an accident, or the cash value of the vehicle if it cannot be repaired.

Comprehensive auto insurance is also available. With comprehensive auto insurance, coverage of fees for repairs is provided for accidents that are not collisions. Comprehensive auto insurance will, for example, cover hail or fire damage.

Whatever type of auto/ car insurance you need, Business Health Insurance can help! We have all of the information on auto insurance in your state.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

How To Buy Cheap Auto Insurance Online

Is your auto insurance expiring anytime soon? Or you just purchased a new car that needs new auto insurance? Then this article is for you. You can discover some helpful advice on how to buy cheap auto insurance online.

Oh! I also compiled more articles that you should read before buying any auto insurance to avoid regrets later. You can view them at my site, look for the link at the bottom of this article.

Tip #1 on how to buy cheap auto insurance online

Shop Around - This advice never gets old when it comes to hunting for a lower price, and hunting for a cheap auto insurance is not an exception. No matter what you do, don't jump on the first offer you find online. That's a 90% move of getting deprived of a cheap insurance. Make your "look and compare" thorough. Visit as many sites as you can.

Tip #2 on how to buy cheap auto insurance online

Learn Advance Searching Skills - If your planning to find auto insurance using search engines, then you must learn a few things to get best results. You must know that typing the word "cheap auto insurance" and "inexpensive auto insurance" produce different search engine results. Its advisable that you come up with as much variation if you can. Such as, cheap, inexpensive or purchase, buy. Following that simple technique may yield you gold nugget. Its also worth mentioning that the more the specific the term the better. One last tip on the subject, add " " (quotes) when searching. For example instead of buy cheap auto insurance online use "buy cheap auto insurance online". This produces a more targeted result.

Tip #3 on how to buy a cheap auto insurance online.

Use You Social Network - One reason why the internet's growth is astronomically fast, is that it made people easy and fast to contact other people. Almost everyone has account with MySpace.com or other social networks. You can use this to your advantage by shouting to you friends that you need to know where to buy cheap auto insurance online. You can also visit chat rooms and forums for advice.

Although finding an auto insurance online may be daunting task. But if you're up to doing the homework you'll also be rewarded with a cheap auto insurance online. This may simple tips yet produce great results. So good luck to your shopping.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Auto Insurance Basics

Auto insurance is a contract that protects your financial security in case of an accident. Although it is not mandated by federal law, the purchase of auto insurance is usually a requirement in most states; every state (with the exception of New Hampshire and Wisconsin) have minimum insurance laws.

These two states, instead of having insurance requirements, have mandated financial responsibility laws, so that the owner of a car is required to show that he has sufficient funds to pay any necessary claims. If said owner cannot produce proof of satisfactory assets, then he must buy an auto insurance policy. Regardless of the law, having good auto insurance is practical for the driver who wishes to avoid lawsuits or immense repair bills.

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), a basic auto insurance policy is comprised of six basic types of coverage. While some of these types of coverage are required by state law, some are considered optional.

These are: 1. Bodily injury liability 2. Property damage liability 3. Medical payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) 4. Collision 5. Comprehensive 6. Uninsured/Underinsured motorists coverage

Liability Insurance

Liability coverage is the foundation of any car insurance policy, and is required in most states. If you are at fault in an accident, your liability insurance will pay for the bodily injury and property damage expenses caused to others in the accident, including your legal bills. Bodily-injury coverage pays for medical bills and lost wages.

Property-damage coverage pays for the repair or replacement of things you wrecked other than your own car. The other party may also decide to sue you to collect "pain and suffering" damages.

Liability insurance (both bodily injury and property damage) is the foundation of most auto insurance policies and is ideal if you are seeking a low cost car insurance policy. Every state that requires auto insurance mandates the purchase of property damage liability, and Florida is the only state that requires auto insurance but does not call for bodily injury liability. If you are at fault in an auto accident, your liability coverage will pay all the expenses, bodily injury, property damage, and any legal bills. The bodily injury coverage would pay for medical bills and lost wages; the property damage coverage would pay for any auto repairs, or replacement. Property damage liability usually repairs damage to other vehicles, but can also cover damages to things such as lamp poles, fences, buildings, or anything else that your car may have struck.

Remember, although purchasing only the minimum can get you a cheap auto insurance rate, if you cause a serious accident, minimum insurance may not cover you adequately. That's why it's a good idea to buy more than what your state requires. If you own a home and have nest egg and a savings account, you should consider more liability insurance because, in most states, drivers are allowed to sue other drivers who injure them in car accidents. If you're sued and your liability insurance doesn't pay for all of the damages, your personal finances are on the hook, and it's likely you'll become a target.

Collision and Comprehensive Coverages

If you cause an accident, collision coverage will pay to repair your vehicle. You usually can't collect any more than the actual cash value of your car, which is not the same as the car's replacement cost. Collision coverage is normally the most expensive component of your car insurance rate. By choosing a higher deductible, say $500 or $1,000, you can keep your premium costs down. However, keep in mind that you must pay the amount of your deductible before the insurance company kicks in any money after an accident.

Insurance companies often will "total" your car if the repair costs exceed a certain percentage of the car's worth. The critical damage point varies from company to company, from 55 percent to 90 percent.

Comprehensive coverage will pay for damages to your car that weren't caused by an auto accident: Damages from theft, fire, vandalism, natural disasters, or hitting a deer all qualify. Comprehensive coverage also comes with a deductible and your insurer will only pay as much as the car was worth when it got wrecked.

Because insurance companies normally will not pay you more than your car's book value, it's helpful if you have a rough idea of this amount. Check the Kelley Blue Book or the National Automobile Dealers Association. If your car is worth less than what you're paying for the coverage, you're better off not having it.

Neither collision nor comprehension insurance is required by any of the states, but some lenders, when the owner finances the car, may require the purchase of collision and comprehensive in the loan agreement. Even when it is not required, collision and comprehensive coverage is highly recommended by the insurance industry, so that in the unforeseen event of damage or theft, the owner of the car can avoid heavy bills. Theft of cars is not as unusual as some people may think. In 2004, a car was stolen in the United States every 26 seconds, and a car had a 1 in 190 chance of being stolen.

Medical Payments, PIP, and No-fault coverages

Medical payments (MedPay) coverage will pay for your and your passengers' medical expenses after an accident. These expenses can arise from accidents while you're driving your car, someone else's car (with their permission), and injuries you or your family members incur when you're pedestrians. The coverage will pay regardless of who is at fault, but if someone else is liable, your insurer may seek to recoup the expenses from him or her.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage is an extended form of MedPay. PIP may cover expenses that are related to injury, but not necessarily medical, such as lost wages, childcare and funeral costs. PIP coverage is currently required by sixteen states. If you are already insured under a good health insurance policy, then fortunately, there is no need to buy more than the minimum required amount of PIP or MedPay insurance.

If you have a good health insurance plan, there might be little need to buy more than the minimum required PIP or MedPay coverages, if at all. And, if you already have disability insurance, there's little reason to purchase higher-than-minimum amounts of PIP.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists Coverages

Uninsured motorists (UM) coverage pays for your injuries if you're struck by a hit-and-run driver or someone who doesn't have auto insurance. It is required in many states.

Underinsured motorists (UIM) coverage will pay out if the driver who hit you causes more damage than his or her liability coverage can cover. In some states, UM or UIM coverage will also pay for property damages. Similarly, underinsured motorists insurance will cover any damage caused when you are struck by a driver who is not insured for a sufficient amount.

If you are hit, as a pedestrian, underinsured coverage will cover the expenses. Uninsured motorists insurance is currently required by twenty states, and Underinsured motorists coverage is required by only four: Connecticut, Minnesota, Maine, and Vermont.

You'll probably want to have at least the minimal amount of UM/UIM because if you can't find the other driver, you'll at least have some coverage for pain-and-suffering damages.

Add-on Features

Several supplemental auto coverages are available, either as separate premium items or included in augmented policies. -Rental reimbursement, a common add-on, covers vehicle rentals required because your car is damaged or stolen. -Coverage for towing and labor charges in case of a road breakdown is also common. -Gap coverage for your new car will pay the difference between the actual cash value you receive for the car and the amount left on your car loan if your vehicle is totaled in an accident.

Basic auto insurance is required by virtually every state and is typically the cheapest auto insurance in the marketplace. Proof of insurance is required at different times throughout the life of a vehicle.

You may be asked for proof of insurance at any and all of these times: at vehicle registration, at the time of an accident, and any time when driving the vehicle. It is suggested that the owner of the car keeps proof of insurance in the car at all times, instead of on his or her person, so that it can be available at all times, no matter who is driving.

Any violations of state law regarding auto insurance could result in, at best, a hefty fine, and at worst, suspension of your driver's license and/or time in jail. The dire consequences of driving while uninsured are not worth the neglect of paying for insurance. The chance that an uninsured driver will avoid detection is slim; he is likely to be caught and strictly punished.