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Posts Tagged ‘Decisions’

Making Sense Of Those Car Insurance Policies And Terms

November 14th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

When it comes time to get auto insurance for your car, you will be faced with a number of decisions about the various types of available insurance. Basically, there are six different parts of an insurance policy. Some of them are mandatory when you purchase car insurance, and some may be optional. Here is a brief explanation of the different types.

Collision Insurance

This is the part that allows your car to be paid for when you get in an accident. If you were to hit another vehicle, have another vehicle hit your car, or you hit another object (such as a tree), then the damage to your vehicle is covered. It also will cover your vehicle in the event of a rollover, too. There are some exceptions, such as stunts and racing, which will void your being covered during those events.

Comprehensive Insurance

This coverage will protect your car in those events that are not listed under Collision Insurance. This means that if your car were caught in a fire, flood, is vandalized, stolen, or damaged by falling objects, then it would be covered. For older cars, you probably should just drop this part of your policy.

Medical Payments

This part of your policy provides medical coverage for any bodily injuries to you or your passengers while you are driving. It also covers people who drive your car with your permission, or you and passengers when you are driving someone else’s car. Funerals are covered, too, in the event of any deaths that may occur. It may also be called Personal Injury Protection in some states.

Bodily Injury Liability

Whenever you get sued because of a bodily injury or a death, then this part of the policy covers you. There are a number of exceptions under this part of the policy as to who may not be covered and under what circumstances. It would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with them – or the liability for a lawsuit may fall on your responsibility unnecessarily.

Property Damage Liability

Any property that becomes damaged as a result of your driving, or if your vehicle is driven by someone that you gave authorization to, it is covered under this part of the car insurance policy. This part is usually written together with the Bodily Injury Liability.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

This is for that other guy who did not bother to buy car insurance. With more than 25%PRCTG% of motorists being uninsured in some states, you definitely need this. It will also cover you in the event of a hit and run driver. It is not available in all states.

Each of these sections of your policy can be adjusted by you in order to lower your car insurance rates if necessary. Ask your insurance agent what the recommended limits (legal) amounts are, and go from there upwards. You should seek to have these minimums – and more, if possible. You can also reduce your insurance costs by raising your deductible amount to %500 or %1,000.

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How To Save On Your Auto Insurance

September 20th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

Let your fingers do the walking? Remember that Yellow Pages Ad Campaign? Excellent advice if you?re shopping for auto insurance. Shop around and do it yearly. Don?t just keep paying the invoice over and over without comparison shopping. Below are a few suggestions to help you get the best deal available on your automobile insurance policy.

Insurance agents really have a lot of leeway. They can price match and they can offer many discounts. There are also many decisions you can make about your policy that will save you a bundle. For example, if you change your deductible on your collision from a %50 deductible to a %1000 deductible, you?re inline for a huge premium savings. If you don?t think you could come up with %1000 out of pocket, then change it to a %500 deductible; you?ll still save a sizable amount on your annual premium payment.

You can also get more of a savings if you change your comprehensive deductible. Many people needlessly carry full coverage on their older vehicle. They originally purchased the vehicle new, paid for full coverage and to this day, continue to pay the same high rate. Their ten year old vehicle may be worth %1000 or less, yet they continue to pay %250-%450 every six months (total %500 to %900 dollars a year) to keep full coverage on their old vehicle.

However, if they have an accident and totaled their vehicle, the insurance company will only pay them the wholesale value of the vehicle. The amount they would receive could be %1000 or less. A vehicle that old just needs the insurance that protects the other person in case of an accident.

Another method to save more on your insurance is by combining your vehicles and other insurance together to get you additional savings. All insurance companies offer a multi-car discount (if yours doesn?t, it?s time to switch companies). Further, many will discount more if you have your homeowners or renters policy with them.

There are a few other discounts that you may not be taking advantage of. It seems obvious, but make sure you are getting the correct rate for your age. There are discounts for various ages than can save you lots of money. Check with your agent on this one. Also alarm systems on your vehicle are usually good for a discount. Additionally, anti-lock brakes and air bags can also help lower your premiums.

Don?t just keep paying the invoice when it comes in. Your insurance bill should be an automatic trigger for you to make a few phone calls to see if you can save even more money on your auto insurance premiums.

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Car Insurance Mistakes That You Can Easily Avoid

August 30th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

Whether you are looking to buy a new car insurance policy or already have a policy, car insurance is something that most of us would rather avoid. After all, it costs money and is one of those services that you hope you will never need to use. Further, car insurance policies can be complicated as coverage for several things depends on the type of policy you purchased and the decisions you made at that time. Sadly, many people make simple mistakes when buying insurance for their vehicle that can end up costing them in the long-run. Fortunately, if you can identify these mistakes, you can avoid them. This article describes 4 costly car insurance mistakes that you should watch for and avoid.

Only Shooting For the Minimum

Each state mandates the minimum amount of coverage that you need in order to comply with that state’s laws. Many people, in trying to save money on their monthly premiums, make the mistake of buying only enough insurance to meet these minimum requirements. While complying with the law is important, buying only the minimum amount of coverage can expose you to larger expenses if you are involved in an accident that results in a lot of damage. If you do not have the resources to pay for potential out-of-pocket costs in the event of a major accident, consider purchasing coverage beyond the state minimum

Small Deductible

If you purchase a policy with tiny deductibles, you may not need to pay expenses for each minor scratch or door ding your car receives (up to the amount of coverage). However, keep in mind that carrying a very small deductible can be very costly over the long-term because you will pay a higher premium each month. So, while your next scratch may be covered because of your tiny deductible, the higher premiums could erase those savings over time. Secondly, having your insurance company pay for each dent or door ding your car receives could impact their willingness to offer you coverage in the future. Consider carrying a higher deductible on your car insurance policy and save the money through lower premiums.

Not Taking Your Umbrella

Car insurance carriers usually offer umbrella policies that can protect you from a devastating financial loss due to excessive damage as a result of an accident for which you are at fault. For example, assume you buy a policy that covers up to %50,000 of damage sustained in an accident for which you are at fault. Your car goes into a person’s home, causing %200,000 worth of property damage. Without an umbrella policy, you would be liable to pay the %150,000 in excess of the amount covered by your car insurance policy. This can be devastating to most people. Consider buying an umbrella policy to avoid such potential financial impacts.

Not Shopping Around

This is one of the easiest things you can do to save money on your car insurance policy. Believe it or not, people often do not compare the policies and rates of several companies. Some simply buy coverage from the same company their parents have always used. Others buy coverage from the company who had the best television commercial. You need to compare the policies and rates offered by several car insurance carriers to know if you are getting the best deal possible. It only takes a little time and can save you a lot of money long-term.

Buying a car insurance policy does not have to be complicated. Simply follow the tips above to avoid some common costly mistakes. Consider buying more coverage than the state minimum, raising your deductible, buying an umbrella policy and comparing rates from several carriers. If you do those things, you can save yourself hundreds, even thousands of dollars over the years.

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