Auto Insurance Primer - What is auto insurance?

Auto Insurance Primer - What is auto insurance?
What is auto insurance? Auto insurance (or car insurance, motor insurance) is insurance consumers can purchase for cars, trucks, and other vehicles. Its primary use is to provide protection against losses incurred. By buying auto insurance, depending on the type of coverage purchased, the consumer may be protected against: * The cost of repairing the vehicle following an accident * The cost of purchasing a new vehicle if it is stolen or damaged beyond economic repair * Legal liability claims against the driver or owner of the vehicle following the vehicle causing damage or injury to a third party. Liability insurance covers only the last point, while comprehensive insurance covers all three. Even comprehensive insurance, however, doesn’t fully cover the risk associated with buying a new car. Due to the sharp decline in value immediately following purchase, there is generally a period in which the remaining car payments exceed the compensation the insurer will pay for a “totaled” (destroyed, or written-off) vehicle. So-called GAP insurance was established in the early 1980’s to provide protection to consumers based upon buying and market trends. The escalating price of cars, extended term auto loans, and the increasing popularity of leasing gave birth to GAP protection. GAP waivers provide protection for consumers when a “gap” exists between the actual value of their vehicle and the amount of money owed to the bank or leasing company. In some countries including New Zealand and Australia market structures mean that people are more likely to buy a nearly new car than a new car so this is less of a problem. In the United States, liability insurance covers claims against the policy holder and generally, any other operator of the insured’s vehicle, provided they do not live at the same address as the policy holder and are not specifically excluded on the policy. In the case of those living at the same address, they must specifically be covered on the policy. Thus it is necessary for example, when a family member comes of driving age they must be added on to the policy. Liability insurance generally does not protect the policy holder if they operate any vehicles other than their own. When you drive a vehicle owned by another party, you are covered under that party’s policy. Non-owners policies may be offered that would cover an insured on any vehicle they drive. This coverage is available only to those who do not own their own vehicle. Generally, liability coverage does extend when you rent a car. However, in most cases only liability applies. Any additional coverage, such as comprehensive policies, i.e. “full coverage” may not apply. Full coverage premiums are based on, among other factors, the value of the insured’s vehicle. This coverage may not apply to rental cars because the insurance company does not want to assume responsibility for a claim greater than the value of the insured’s vehicle, assuming that a rental car may be worth more than the insured’s vehicle. Some states, such as Minnesota, may require that it extend to rental cars. Most rental car companies offer insurance to cover damage to the rental vehicle. In some regions, the costs associated with not having access to the vehicle (”Loss of Use”) is also covered. Auto insurance resources

Been in the Insurance business for over 10 years.

The Real Cost Of Motor Vehicle Theft
Ever had a car stolen? Did you collapse, broken-hearted, on the floor when told that its burnt-out chassis had been found at the bottom of a dry creek bed and was now home to a family of very large rats? The stereo was gone, the seats were gone, the woofers, gone. And the fluffy dice ? they even took the dice!

No more ?DOOF-DOOF?, no more dice
No more back seat paradise?

I know ? you were much younger then?.

The negative impact caused by car theft spares no one. Its effects are felt right across the community. For example, an increase in motor vehicle thefts means an increase in motor vehicle insurance claims and this ultimately leads to a rise in motor vehicle insurance premiums.

But it doesn?t stop there. Even those who don?t own a vehicle end up bearing the cost of motor vehicle thefts indirectly as taxi fares, bus fares, even school excursions become more expensive. And if you believe you?ve been excluded from these increased costs because you walk or cycle everywhere, think again.

Higher motor vehicle insurance premiums mean higher transport running costs, which lead to higher freight charges, and this translates to higher prices on the supermarket shelves.

And let?s not forget the individual. The poor motorist who has had his car stolen must now cop a reduction in his No Claim Bonus as well as pay a hefty excess. If he relies on his vehicle for work there is also the alarming prospect of a temporary loss of income.

So what can be done to combat these heinous crimes?

Many new cars these days have built-in anti-theft devices such as car alarms, engine demobilisers and wheel nut locks. Even so, there are several things car owners can do to prevent the their vehicles being stolen.

? If your car doesn?t come with an anti-theft device, buy one.

? When parking on the street at night, always choose a well-lit area.

? That anti-theft device that you bought?use it!

? Never leave items that may be tempting to a thief in plain sight. These may include department store shopping bags, mobile phones, wallets, gifts or other valuables. If such things absolutely must be left in the vehicle, hide them away in the glove box, boot or even under the seats.

? This may sound obvious but keys should never be left in the ignition. Many a car has been stolen from right under its owner?s nose simply because the key was left in it. Even if you?re just popping in to pay for the petrol you just pumped, take out the key. Theft of your vehicle will take less than ten seconds with the key already in the ignition.

? If you have a garage, put your car in it instead of the pool table. And, having done that, don?t forget to lock it.

? If you don?t have a garage, park in the driveway instead of the street. (If you don?t have either? have you considered a pushbike?)

? When leaving the vehicle unattended at home, take your car keys with you.

? If leaving the car with a mechanic for maintenance or repairs, only leave the ignition key with the car.

? Never leave spare keys in or on the vehicle.

? Don?t leave important papers such as registration, license or mail in the vehicle while unattended.

If, even after being as careful as possible, your vehicle is stolen, report the theft immediately to the police. They will take details of the vehicle, where it was parked and for how long, as well as information about any items that may have been inside it at the time.

You will then need to make a claim through your insurance company ?assuming you have comprehensive motor vehicle insurance, of course ? as soon as possible. These days many insurance companies allow you to report the claim online as well as in person or over the phone. The important thing is to do so promptly, giving as much detail as is available so as to help streamline the process.

Once the claim is reported, a claims officer will most likely contact you within a day or two to confirm the information. If accepted, it may then take up to a further six weeks to pay the claim if the vehicle is not recovered. If it is found within that time, the vehicle will be assessed as to whether it can be repaired and, if so, at what cost. If the repair costs would be more than the vehicle is worth, it will be deemed a total loss and the claim paid for the insured value less any excess.

Any way you look at it, motor vehicle theft is a crime that causes loss and anxiety in several different ways. The best we can do is take as many steps as we can to prevent it and support car manufacturers that provide security devices in their cars.

As for the car thieves?placing them in stocks and throwing rotten tomatoes at them springs to mind?

QuoteSphere was developed to help those that are in the middle of an insurance crisis. In the United States we have seen a continuing rise in the cost of home insurance. <a href="http://www.quotesphere.com">car insurance</a>

A Look Over the Volvo V50 Posted By : John Eva
An article with infomation about the Volvo V50.

Car Insurance Top Tips
The car insurance industry has got really competitive in the last few years, so prices haven’t really changed much. There are now over 100 car insurers to choose from, so there are some very good deals out there for those who are prepared to shop around. 23% of motorists still choose to insure with the same company as the year before, but they could undoubtedly save money if they did check out some other companies.

Motorists could be forgiven for not getting other quotes, it used to be a very laborious exercise involving long waits while getting routed through the call centre, and boring repetition of facts to sales advisors. Now, thanks to the internet, it’s all a lot more simple. Car insurers also offer extra discounts to people who buy online.

However, you need to consider the quality of the policy, not just the price:

? Check that your low quotation is not due to an extremely high excess.

? Check that you will get a courtesy car if your car needs to be taken in for repairs.

? Check that legal insurance cover is included, if you want it, and automatic windscreen replacement.

? Find out if there is an accident help line in case of an emergency.

It’s a good idea to ring the insurer direct to talk through the policy in detail before signing up online.

Money saving tips ? recommended!

You can get a quote with over 40 car insurers if you input your details into a good car insurance broker’s website. You’ll only need to give your details once. Call the insurer with the quotation to check exactly what is and isn’t covered.

If you have a garage, then you’ll save by keeping your car there overnight. You’ll also make savings if you can keep your car on a driveway. This is because there is more chance your car being broken into or vandalised if it’s kept on the road.

Give your insurer an accurate picture of how many miles you do each year ? you will save if you travel less.

Some occupations, like being a landlord, journalist or professional footballer (if only) attract higher premiums. You can save money if you work in finance or the civil service.

Get married! Men under 30 pay more if they’re not married ? it’s just the excuse your girlfriend is looking for!

Under 25’s pay more, but you can get lower premiums if can put a driver over the age of 25 with a good driving record on your policy as a named driver. That person must be under 60 though, as premiums rise again at that age.

Agreeing to higher excess (the average cost is ?100) will help lower your premiums.

If your car is not of a high value, you could get third party cover and make quite a saving compared to fully comprehensive insurance.

Pay as you go insurance is a new option for 18-21 year olds. It’s a recent development introduced by Norwich Union, in which you pay a unit cost per mile. The cost per mile is more between 11pm and 6am. You pay an initial fee of ?199 to have a Global Positioning System fitted to your car, and then it transmits details of your mileage direct to Norwich Union. They send you a monthly invoice and you pay for the miles you’ve done!

Taking Pass Plus lessons to improve your driving abilities could save you around a third on your premiums. They cost ?15 - ?30 an hour and cover driving at night, in busy rush hour jams and fast motorway driving. You can find out more at www.passplus.org.uk . You can also improve your driving skills and make insurance savings with the Institute of Advanced Motorists ( www.iam.org.uk ).

Find out the insurance group of a car before you make the purchase. There are twenty insurance groups ? the slower and less desirable the car (to criminals) then the lower the rating. You could make considerable savings by choosing a car in a lower insurance group.

If you want a high spec or performance car then you can expect to pay a lot more on your insurance. They’re a lot more likely to be stolen or involved in an accident. Making the sensible choice might be a bit boring, but it will be a lot cheaper.

Watch your speed. Most insurance companies will let you get away with a single fixed penalty fine but if you repeat the offence then your premiums will rocket.

Protect your no claims discount as soon as you can (usually after four years). It costs a bit extra but it’s well worth it.

Satellite navigation in your car will lower your premiums. Insurers have found that people concentrate more on their driving and less on trying to find their way, which means less chance of having an accident.

It’s a good idea to have an engine immobiliser or alarm fitted not just because it could help you keep hold of your car, it will also make you a saving of 5-8%.

If there’s two or more cars in the household, get them on the same policy to get a good discount.

Michael works as the content editor for One Stop Car Insurance Shop who offer <a href="http://www.one-stop-car-insurance-shop.co.uk/">car insurance</a> online.