All posts tagged auto insurance

How To Choose the Best Auto Insurance

auto insurance

Auto insurance ensures that your vehicle is covered from injury and damage of property that occur after an accident. However, choosing an ideal insurance company is an overwhelming task since there are numerous options available. You should base the selection on reducing the cost and maximize on the insurance coverage. Here is an insight into how a car owner can select the best vehicle insurance wisely and at an affordable price.

Reflect On Your Insurance Needs

Before selecting an insurance company, you should first decide on the insurance cover that best suits your needs. Each state has a unique minimum vehicle insurance requirement, and thus it is imperative to know these limits before choosing an insurance policy. The minimum requirements are a guideline that might be referred to as one-way insurance. Although, you can settle on higher limits that seem favorable than the minimum.

You can choose between a collision and comprehensive insurance coverage depending on your needs or budget and consider the liability aspect. Moreover, you can take both insurance covers with the standard insurance policy. Selecting a collision and comprehensive coverage will require deciding deductible expenses that are favorable. Other coverage benefits include gap and emergency roadside services.

Select An Ideal Insurance Company

The first step of choosing an indemnity provider is researching if the company is licensed, its financial health, the ratio of complaints, and customer service. It would be best if you worked with a provider that has a state license to sell auto insurance in your locality. The insurance department website of your state should list the providers and assist you when problems arise. Furthermore, the state’s department gives information on how the carrier relates to its customers and their complaint ratio.

The ratio compares theinsurance company number of justified complaints with the total in the state. You should select an insurance provider with the lowest complaint ratio. Additionally, you should check the carrier’s financial strength because it indicates whether it can pay when a claim occurs. You can check company standing and reputation from sites such as A.M. Best, J.D. Power, Fitch, and Moody’s.

Furthermore, you can review the provider’s resolution, customer complaints, and years of operation through the Better Business Bureau. You should select a carrier that is easy to reach when you face challenges and require support. Additionally, it would be best if you compared the insurance company quotes, offers in terms of discounts and good driving reward programs, bundling liabilities, and check their social media handles. Lastly, it would be best to verify the claim settlement ratio and ensure that your preferred provider has a high ratio because it indicates the rate of claims settlement annually.

Type of Provider

There are numerous types of insurance providers available, and you should choose the one that offers coverage at an affordable cost and has the best coverage. Some of these carriers include agents, providers, online-only, and brokers. The agents are captive and independent, while the providers are national, local, and direct. These carriers differ in terms of the policies offered, coverage, and the area the insurance operates. A broker such as KBD insurance works with many companies while an agent only works for a single carrier.

Contact the Selected Provider

It would be best if you had important information ready when making contact with a selected provider such as the driver’s license number and questions regarding discounts to save you money. Discounts include winter storage, good driver, occupational, low mileage, retiree, green car, students, and telematics, among many more programs.

You should understand the insurance policy provided to select the one that best suits your needs. You should also get a list of frequently asked questions from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners site to ask your provider when calling them.

Choosing an ideal insurance for your vehicle requires effort, and following the above steps will help you find a perfect option. Always aim to get the best insurance coverage benefits with the discounts at an affordable price by first checking your coverage needs before researching the providers, and their policies.

image credit: envato.com

5 Signs it is Time to Change Your Auto Insurance

auto insurance

Car insurance is very important. There’s a lot that can go wrong when you take your car out for a drive. It is certainly a calculated risk. Having insurance can help protect you in situations where the worst happens. However, not every car insurance policy is equal. Some are better than others and may do a better job suiting your individualized needs. Don’t be afraid to switch plans or carriers if you can find a better deal. Below are five signs it may be time to change your car insurance.

Your Rates Keep Increasing

One reason to change your insurance coverage is if your rates keep going up. This is especially the case if you did nothing in particular to cause the rate increases. Some companies simply raise rates based on what demographics you belong too, and that can seem unfair. See if you can get an insurance quote for lower rates with the same kind of coverage elsewhere.

You Receive Poor Customer Service

The most important thing about your car insurance is the actual coverage. However, customer service should also be important. Poor customer service from indignant insurance representatives can also be a telling sign that you may have trouble filing a claim later on.

Filing a Claim Is Difficult

The only reason to pay insurance premiums is the promise that you’ll be able to file a claim when something goes wrong. There are some shady insurance companies out there that try to make the process of filing a claim as difficult as possible. If that is the case with your insurer, you should find better options.

You’re Buying a New Car

If you are looking for a new car to buy, you should also consider looking for a new company to insure it with. Sticking with your old insurer even after you change vehicles may not be wise. You may end up missing many of the discounts you would get with a new insurer.

Your Situation Changes

Insurance companies charge drivers different rates based on certain criteria. If you are moving, getting married or your teen starts driving, you may see rate increases. Young men pay the most for car insurance. Look for quotes from other companies to see if you can avoid these increases.

It’s important to have car insurance. However, you shouldn’t be satisfied with lousy coverage or poor customer service. The auto insurance market is large. Look around until you can find the best deal for the best coverage.

In a Car Accident: How to Know You Have Good Auto Insurance

auto accident

Getting into an accident can be a life-changing situation. Despite the best precautions anyone can be the victim of an automotive accident. Even if you are the best driver in the world you cannot control the actions of every driver on the road.

There are a few things that can make bouncing back from a car accident easier. After a good doctor, the next most important factor is your auto insurance. However, not all auto insurance policies are equal. There are some insurers and policies that offer better and more comprehensive coverage than others.

Here are a few ways for you to know that you have good auto insurance.

Easy to File Claims

The last thing anyone wants after an auto accident is a hassle. Some insurers make the process of filing a claim odious and unpleasant. This compounds the hurt caused by the accident and just doesn’t feel good as a customer. On the flip side, a good auto insurance like http://www.unitedsecurityagency.com will hold your hand through the entire process and do everything they can to make things easier on you.

24 Hour Service

Life does not only take place during business hours. You can get into an accident 25/7 365 days a year. This means it is imperative that your auto insurance agent or claims department be available 24 hours a day. They will be there to give you guidance on how to deal with the police officer, the tow truck driver and the other driver or property owner.

Fast Payout/Rental Car

In many parts of the United States, it is impossible to get around without a car. Even though you have a car accident you will still have your normal duties and responsibilities. Whether that is taking the kids to school or getting to work on time you will need a way to get around. A good auto insurance company will help immediately provide you with a rental so you can get around. The initial auto insurance payout should be quick as well- you don’t want to drive a rental car forever.

The aftermath of a serious auto accident is not a place anyone wants to find themselves. Since we live in an imperfect world, a bit of planning ahead will help make a troubling time like right after an accident much easier. Good auto insurance will be a pleasure to work with, rather than a nightmare.

What Every Classic Car Owner Needs to Know to Protect Their Vehicle

classic car

Very few things in the world are as exciting as being handed the keys to a beautiful classic car. In addition to being fun projects, older cars can also be great investments as long as you keep them well-maintained. Here are a few tips and tricks that will help you protect your classic vehicle for many years to come.

Skip the Cheap Cleaning Products

When it comes to cleaning cars, it is difficult to separate fact from fiction. As a general rule, you should only use high-quality products that were specifically made to clean vehicles. Using dish detergent or an old rag to clean your car could strip away the protective sealant and scratch the underlying paint. Many classic car owners find it easier to hire an auto detailing specialist a few times a year.

Continue Schedule Regular Maintenance

One of the biggest mistakes that you can make with an older vehicle is letting it sit without any maintenance for more than a few weeks. Even if you aren’t regularly using the car, you should still have it serviced by a professional mechanic once every two or three months. You also need to drive it a few times a month to lubricate the motor, rotate the tires, and blow out any dust that has settled in the engine compartment.

Leave Major Projects to the Professionals

Unless you have quite a bit of experience working on vehicles, you should leave all major projects to a professional mechanic. Older vehicles are notoriously easy to work on, but you need to spend a few months familiarizing yourself with a car or truck before you work on it. Maintaining a relationship with a reputable mechanic is also going to make your life much easier when the vehicle breaks down or you need to order a custom part.

Get Specialty Car Insurance

An auto accident can happen in the blink of an eye, and that is why you need to contact an insurance provider, such as Marine Agency, to discuss your coverage options. Generic auto insurance might not be a good idea for older vehicles that actually go up in value every year. With a comprehensive classic car insurance policy, you won’t have to pay out of pocket for expensive parts and repairs.

Protecting and maintaining a classic car takes a lot of work, but the payoff is almost always worth it. As long as you remain proactive and don’t ignore your car for months, you should be able to avoid some of the most common problems that classic car owners run into.

The First Four Things Your Should Do After Being In A Collision

Being in an auto accident can certainly be an extremely frightening experience. Even still, you need to keep your wits about you directly after a collision. What you do next can determine if your finances or even your health will take as much damage as your vehicle. Below are the first four things you should do directly after a collision.

Get Medical Attention

If there is any possibility that anyone in either vehicle involved in the crash was injured, the first thing you should do before anything else is call for an ambulance. According to IIHS.org, there are over 30,000 vehicle related deaths a year. However, with proper medical attention, lives can be saved. You should also keep in mind that the seriousness of some injures such as whiplash may not be immediately apparent. Play it safe and call 9-1-1 if needed.

Call the Police

Another thing you must absolutely do is call the police. If you don’t call the police, you will never obtain a police report regarding the accident. According to the DMV, you should be able to obtain the police report a week after the accident. This will insure that the other party involved in the accident won’t be able to lie or shift blame if the details of the accident are disputed.

Swap Insurance Information

To make sure you aren’t held liable for any damage, you must swap insurance information with the other driver. After doing so, call your insurance company immediately. If they aren’t made aware of the crash right away and aren’t able to contact the other driver’s insurance company to work out the details, there is a possibility you may be accountable for your own repair costs, medical costs and other costs related to the accident.

Contact an Attorney

Sometimes accidents result in lawsuits. This is for good reason too. Insurance may refuse to cover all the expenses related to an accident. The other driver may not have insurance and may have been acting negligently. In some cases car insurance may not be able to cover things like lost wages and pain and suffering, that is why it’s a good idea to seek help from an attorney such as those at Snyder & Wenner, P.C. . Sometimes, compensation for these has to be obtained in court.

Being involved in an accident can be very stressful. Even so, you must take the correct actions after an accident. Not doing so can have great ramifications for your health as well as your financial livelihood.