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Posts Tagged ‘Driving Without Insurance’

How To Save Money And Get Discount Automobile Insurance In Arkansas

March 10th, 2010 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

Arkansas requires that every driver in the state purchase automobile insurance before a vehicle can get a registration certificate. The penalties for driving without insurance in Arkansas are extremely high – it is simply not worth the risk.

Therefore it is up to each and every driver in Arkansas to use every means possible to save money and get discount automobile insurance.

Fortunately there are several things you can do that can help to keep your insurance rates their lowest.

First is the vehicle you?re driving. Not all vehicles are created equal when it comes to paying for automobile insurance; some vehicles cost a lot more to insure than others. Talk to your automobile insurance agent to help you find the vehicle that?s right for you and which you can afford to insure month after month.

Secondly, keep your driving record absolutely clean. This means no speeding tickets, no moving violations of any kind, and definitely no convictions for DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or for DWI (Driving While Intoxicated).

If you?re under 25 stay in school and work hard to keep your grades up. A ?B? grade point average or better qualifies most young drivers for a hefty Good Student Discount on their automobile insurance.

Older drivers, those 55 and older, can also save on their insurance by taking a special driver?s refresher course. Not all automobile insurance companies offer this program so check with your agent to see if you can qualify.

Find out what the Kelly Blue Book value is on your vehicle. In most cases your insurance company will not pay you more than the Kelly Blue Book value if your car is damaged or totaled in an accident. This means that if your car is so old or in such bad shape that it has little or no Kelly Blue Book value you?d probably be smart to save the money and cancel your collision and comprehensive coverage ? if your car is damaged or totaled your insurance company will not pay you anything anyway, even if you pay for the extra insurance.

Increase your deductible. This means you will be putting yourself at greater financial risk in case of a claim, so consider carefully what you can actually afford to pay for repairs to your car if the need arises. The more you can afford to pay and the less your insurance company must fork out, the better it will be on your monthly automobile insurance premium.

So now it?s time for you to get online and see what kind of a deal you can find at several of the websites designed to let you make easy side-by-side comparisons of policies, companies and prices.

Don?t fall into the trap of believing that checking just one site tells you everything you need to know ? because it doesn?t. No site compares all automobile insurance companies doing business in Arkansas ? you need to make comparisons on at least 3 different websites before you can feel comfortable that you are seeing comparisons of all possible insurance companies.

Now it?s time to pick the best policy at the best price ? and to sleep easy knowing that you have done everything possible to save money and get discount automobile insurance in Arkansas.

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How To Get Affordable Car Insurance In Florida

February 25th, 2010 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

Whatever you do, don’t try driving a car in Florida without insurance. The state of Florida keeps track of every vehicle registered in the state and the moment one of those vehicles is uninsured the state is notified. The penalties for driving without insurance can be severe and the risk simply isn?t worth it.

It is much better instead to simply find affordable car insurance ? and, fortunately, that is possible for most Florida drivers.

If you want to keep your car insurance rates low then you’re going to have to do your part by driving safely and within the law at all times. If you get a speeding ticket or any moving violation then you’re not going to get the lowest possible rates on your insurance.

Even worse is a conviction for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) or a conviction for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). A first conviction for either of those offenses and your car insurance rates will go sky-high. If you are convicted of a second offense you will be scrambling to get any car insurance you can in the high-risk insurance pool at whatever price they want to charge you.

A few positive things you can do to keep your car insurance rates low are to keep your car in a garage at night, keep the number of miles you drive each month to a minimum, stay in school and get good grades if you’re under twenty-five, and talk with your insurance agent about any unadvertised insurance discounts that you might be entitled to.

Another quick way of reducing your monthly insurance premium is to increase your deductible. Your deductible is the amount you agree to pay out of your own pocket before you ask your insurance company to pay anything whenever you have a claim. Consider carefully how much you can realistically afford to pay before you raise your deductible too high.

So now that you know all the tips and tricks for creating a car insurance policy that will save you the most money, it’s time for the final step ? it’s time to go online and find several of the websites that allow you to make quick and easy comparisons of the prices you will pay for your dream policy at various insurance companies.

Keep in mind that since no one website compares all of the different insurance companies operating in Florida that you will want to take the extra time to make your comparisons on at least 3 different websites.

Once you have done that then you will know for sure that you have found the very best and most affordable car insurance in Florida.

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What You May Not Know About Automobile Insurance

February 4th, 2010 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

Perhaps the most commonly purchased type of insurance is automobile insurance, also called driver?s insurance or car insurance. Although laws vary somewhat, virtually all states today require drivers to carry some sort of automobile insurance to legally operate a vehicle on public roads. The penalties for driving without insurance can range from fines to a suspended license or, in the case of repeated infractions, possibly even a short jail sentence. Given that driver?s insurance is required in pretty much every state, it?s worth having some basic knowledge about the subject.

Types and levels of Coverage

The type of insurance coverage a person needs, and how much they will pay for that coverage, vary depending on a number of factors, such as the age of the driver, his or her driving record, the age and value of the vehicle, the dollar amount of the coverage, and whether the vehicle is fully paid for. While auto insurance can get pretty complex, there are four types that everyone should be aware of.

Liability coverage is the most basic type of coverage; it protects the driver against any claims that might be brought after an accident or other incident that is the driver?s fault. This is usually the minimum coverage that a driver needs to be considered insured. Liability insurance usually has the lowest premiums, but it doesn?t cover any damage to the driver?s own vehicle; thus a lower monthly premium needs to be balanced against the risk of a potentially large financial burden. Also, most loan lenders require a driver to carry comprehensive coverage until the borrower has paid off the loan in full.

Collision insurance covers part or all of the cost of repairs to the driver?s vehicle in the event of a collision, based on an estimate of the project cost for the repairs. While collision insurance can definitely pay for itself in the even of a car crash, the monthly premiums are higher than simple liability. Most policies are also subject to a deductible, which means that the policy carrier is responsible for paying a set amount before the insurance company pays. Deductibles vary widely; generally speaking, though, the higher the deductible, the lower the monthly payments, and the lower the deductible, the higher the monthly payments will be.
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Comprehensive coverage is typically required for vehicles that are still in the process of being paid for. Many vehicle owners also carry comprehensive coverage for expensive or otherwise valuable vehicles. Comprehensive coverage covers damage that isn?t the result of a collision ? fire, theft, vandalism, and so on ? although the exact items covered can vary quite a bit from one policy to the next.

Uninsured Coverage protects you if an uninsured or underinsured driver hits you or your vehicle. Although insurance is a legal requirement in most places, that doesn?t mean that everyone on the road is insured. This type of coverage means that you won?t get stuck with the repair bill if someone less responsible than you involves you in an accident.

Each type of insurance is available at several different levels of coverage; the higher the coverage (in dollars), the higher the premium will be. Premiums will also increase if the driver is involved in an accident or receives tickets for traffic infractions. Additionally, premiums are higher for males than for females, for younger drivers, and for drivers in urban or higher-crime areas. Despite this, however, automobile insurance is a necessity for any responsible driver.

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How To Compare Low Cost Automobile Insurance In West Virginia

November 11th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

If you’re going to drive a vehicle on any roadway in West Virginia then you’d better buy automobile insurance. The consequences of driving without automobile insurance are far too costly, both in time and money, to make the gamble worthwhile.

Rather than risk being caught driving without insurance why not explore all of the different ways of comparing low cost automobile insurance in West Virginia and getting your car insurance at a price you can actually afford to pay?

For example, if you are in the market for a car it might pay you to consult with your automobile insurance agent first. The reason is because not all cars are equal when it comes to insurance costs – some cost a lot more to insure than others. Before agreeing to purchase a car which you are not going to be able to afford to insure, why not ask your agent for a list of the least-costly cars to buy insurance for?

The way you drive your car affects how much you pay for insurance more than any other single factor. If you collect speeding tickets or any other moving violation or if you have even one conviction for DUI or DWI then you can forget about finding the lowest-priced automobile insurance for at least 3 years.

Can you park your car in a garage at night? If so let your agent know as this will save you money.

Ask your agent if your insurance company offers a discount every month if you buy and use a steering wheel locking device. Talk to your agent about other simple, low-cost anti-theft measures that you can take that will save you cash month after month on your automobile insurance.

Drive less. Many people are now using public transportation for most of their “driving” needs. If you can reduce your driving to under 500 miles per month you could qualify for a Low-Mileage Discount.

Carpooling at work can also save you money every month on your car insurance. Part of your automobile insurance premium is based on the number of miles you drive to and from work every month. If you can cut the number in half by carpooling then your agent will see to it that your insurance rates are reduced.

If you retire from work or if you stop driving back and forth in rush hour traffic for any other reason then let your agent know. Your insurance rates will drop.

Pay your premium automatically out of your checking account each month. Automatic payments save your insurance company billing costs and they pass the savings on to you.

If you have medical insurance that’s separate from your automobile insurance policy ask your agent if you could save money by canceling or reducing the Personal Injury Protection portion of your policy.

Don’t pay for collision or comprehensive insurance on older cars that no longer have any Kelly Blue Book value. In fact, since your vehicle loses value every year, talk to your agent about reducing the amount of your collision and comprehensive coverage every year to correspond with the dwindling value of your vehicle.

Increasing your deductible will immediately lower the cost of your automobile insurance. Of course, increasing your deductible also obligates you to pay more cash out of your own pocket or purse should you have a claim, so don’t agree to pay more than you can actually afford.

Do not make a lot of small claims. The longer you can go without filing a claim the better your rates will be.

The last thing you want to do is to find 3 different websites that will let you compare low cost automobile insurance in West Virginia. Don’t rely on just one of these websites, as you won’t see the prices from every car insurance company operating in West Virginia.

If you’re serious about saving money then take the extra time and make your comparisons on a minimum of 3 different websites. Also be certain you use the information you have learned in this article and fill out all three forms in exactly the same way. Only by filling out the forms with the exact same information each time will you be comparing the same insurance policy across all three websites and saving the most money.

Once you have made your three comparisons then all that’s left is to review your results and choose the least expensive automobile insurance policy. And that’s how you compare low cost automobile insurance in West Virginia and find the best policy for you at the very best price.

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The risks of driving without insurance

October 24th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

There are several reasons why it is a very bad idea to drive without proper motor insurance. First and foremost, it is illegal; if you drive without insurance you are liable to an IN10 ‘Driving with no insurance’ penalty.

It may seem like a good idea at the time to save yourself a considerable about money by failing to take out insurance cover for your vehicle. You may of course drive around for a long period without being involved in any kind of accident or being stopped by the police. However, it is certain that in the end, one of these two things will definitely happen.

The idea of car insurance is that you take out a policy, and hopefully you will never need it. Therefore, it may seem like a waste of money, but car insurance is there to protect you and others, should you be involved in a minor or serious accident.

So you may be lucky and drive around for let’s say two years without ever having even a near miss. But then, you get involved in a minor bump. Now you will become liable for those legal penalties.

The IN10 can result in 6 to 8 penalty points and/or a ban from driving, and in addition a fine of up to ?5,000. If you already have points on your licence, you could receive an automatic ban.
Once you have been convicted of an IN10, it can then be extremely difficult to find any insurance cover. In addition, even if you do, it will certainly come with a very high premium.
This is because insurance companies regard driving without insurance on a similar level to drunk driving. As the results of both of these offences, tend to cause injuries to other people and property. As such, this is considered highly inappropriate action that is heavily penalised by insurance companies.

Moreover, of course, if you have damaged another vehicle property, it is likely that you will be facing a civil suit for damages. If you cause an injury to another person, while driving without insurance, you could face serious criminal charges. For which you will have no insurance cover to pay for your legal costs. Don’t forget, that addition to all of the above, you have no insurance for your own vehicle. Therefore, there will be nobody to pay for the repairs, or if it’s written off, to replace it with a new car.

In addition, even if you do get away with driving an extended period, without incident, the insurance company will want to know why there is a gap in your insurance record. You could of course lie and say that you have not been driving. Again, this is a huge risk as if you make any false statements on your application. Insurance company will not pay out if you have an accident. If you are driving without insurance, it is more likely that you will actually have an accident, as you are liable to be permanently looking in the mirror to see if there is a police car behind you. The police do not legally have to catch you driving to prove that you are committing an offence. They merely have to prove that the vehicle itself has been used on a public road without proper insurance cover.

The Crown Prosecution Service, does not have to prove in any way that you were driving the vehicle. Only that the vehicle is or has been ?in use?. There is no legal defense that allows you to claim they you were unaware that you need insurance, or that you posted of your payment, but never received the documents. Or any other claim to indicate that not having insurance was somehow an oversight is not permissible in law.

In the end, driving without insurance will definitely cost you more than, if you had taken out even the cheapest, and most basic third party cover, in the first place.

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Car Insurance Essential Information About Excess Payments

September 25th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

An excess payment is the fixed contribution you must pay each time your car is repaired through your car insurance policy. Normally the payment is made directly to the accident repair garage when you collect the car. If your car is declared to be a write off, your insurance company will deduct the excess agreed on the policy from the settlement payment it makes to you.

If the accident was the other drivers fault, and this is accepted by the third party’s insurer, you’ll be able to reclaim your excess payment from the other person’s insurance company. But what if the other driver is uninsured?

All motorists know that it’s a legal requirement (under Section 143 of the 1988 Road Traffic Act) to have insurance for any damage they cause to third parties. But still many drive without insurance. An estimate of the incidence of uninsured driving in the UK is hard to come by and, for the obvious reasons, those drivers involved in breaking the law have every reason to keep quiet about it.

Calculations from the Department of Transport suggest that in the UK around 5%PRCTG% of vehicles are being driven without valid insurance. This group of people not only impose costs on honest motorists in the form of higher premiums, but their presence on our roads also represents a serious risk to other road users. Consequently, uninsured driving is increasingly being regarded as a major social problem.

But driving without insurance is not a victimless crime. If you have an accident with an uninsured driver and the accident wasn’t your fault, the repair costs will be paid for by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau that’s funded in its entirety by the industry, or by your insurer. Therefore, if you’re involved in an accident caused by an uninsured driver you’ll eventually get you car repaired but you’ll still have to pay the excess and there’ll be no one to reclaim your excess from.

What is a Compulsory Excess?

A compulsory excess is the minimum excess payment your insurer will accept on your insurance policy. Minimum excesses do vary according to your personal details and driving record and by insurance company. Today the average excess is around ?100, but younger drivers could be faced with excesses of up to ?500 – whilst more mature, experienced drivers with a good driving record, could be offered an excess of just ?50.

So what is a Voluntary Excess?
In order to reduce your insurance premium, you may offer to pay a higher excess than the compulsory excess demanded by your insurance company. Your voluntary excess is the extra amount over and above the compulsory excess that you agree to pay in the event of a claim on the policy. As a bigger excess reduces the financial risk carried by your insurer, your insurer I able to offer you a significantly lower premium.

The garage has repaired my car but it won’t release the car too me until I pay the policy excess to them. Is this right?

Yes, that is normal practice. But make sure you inspect the car when you collect it. Satisfy yourself that the repair is perfect. Then make sure you keep their receipt for your excess payment as you will need this if you’re reclaiming against a third party’s insurance. And just in case there’s a dispute, it’s a good idea to make sure the repair garage gives you a repair schedule. This will list all the repairs that were made to you car.

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Cheap Car Insurance In Texas

September 6th, 2009 Car Insurance Buyer No comments

Many factors can make the search for cheap car insurance in Texas a rough one. A lapse in coverage, a less than stellar driving record ? they all add up. If you?re having difficulty finding cheap car insurance in Texas, consider looking into the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association. The Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association allows you to obtain the basic Texas liability coverage, personal injury coverage, and even uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.

The downside to the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association is you?ll likely be charged higher rates than you would be charged by your everyday car insurance company. The upside is Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association provides you with car insurance you wouldn?t otherwise have been able to obtain. Without car insurance or some form of proof of financial responsibility in Texas, you?re driving illegally which brings consequences.

In Texas, if you?re caught driving without insurance or some form of proof of financial responsibility, you will be fined anywhere from %175 to %350 ? and that?s just your first offense. If you?re caught a second time, you will pay a higher fine, and if there is a third offense, not only will you pay an even higher fine than the first and second offenses, but you also risk having your driver license suspended. Plus, you will be given a ticket for a surchargeable violation. A ticket. Sounds like no big deal, right? Wrong. In Texas, a surchargeable violation means you can be charged more than once for the violation, i.e., you?ll have to pay a fine for that violation once a year for up to three years.

So, looking to the Texas Automobile Insurance Plan Association for cheap car insurance in Texas may not give you cheaper car insurance rates than standard car insurance companies, but it will give you a cheaper bill than you will get if you?re caught driving without car insurance or proof of financial responsibility.

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