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Posts Tagged ‘a’

Car Insurance: Steps for Making a Claim

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

A car accident can be a harrowing and traumatic event. One will be shaken and often not thinking clearly. If you are involved in a car accident, you have to think about your condition as well as the events that took place because you will most likely have to file a auto insurance claim.

In order to prepare for the results of a car accident, the following steps should be followed in order to make a proper claim:

1. After an accident, your heart will be racing and you may be disorientated. You need to gather your thoughts and think about how to proceed. If you are hurt, and the car is not a danger such as on fire, retrieve your cell phone and call 911. If there is no emergency such as a serious injury, call the police. Check to see if anyone else is hurt. Ask for people who witnessed the accident to stay and talk to the police.

2. Swap contact information, including phone numbers, license plate numbers, and car insurance details with the other drivers involved in the accident. When the police arrive share all the details you remember about the accident so that they can write an official report that can be given to the insurance companies. Make sure you tell the police officers that you want a report. If the officers won’t do it because the accident took place on the property of an establishment like a store parking lot, then ask the store owner or a security guard to write something up. If you have a camera, take pictures of the accident scene that includes any vehicle damage.

3. Contact your insurance company, even if you are not at-fault. Also, compensation is based on the extent of fault so you need evidence to support your claim. Most insurance providers have a toll free claim number. Make sure you have your policy number available. If the other person is at-fault, you must make a claim. You are entitled to have the insurance company process your claim and resolve any disputes. Your insurance company will advise the other driver’s insurance provider that you are making a claim and seeking compensation. You will have to make a list of all items damaged. If the other driver does not have car insurance, you will have to negotiate directly or go to court. Some experts suggest that if the other party is at fault, you should file claims with both insurance providers.

4. Once you have submitted all of the paper work to the insurance companies, they will sort out the claim. You may have to speak to the other driver’s provider about your recollection of the accident. Your insurance provider will tell you what statement is required. Before you give your statement, write down what you remember about the accident.

5. A claims adjuster will inspect your damaged car in order to assess the costs of the loss. They will also assess if the damage can be repaired or if you require financial compensation. If you are financially compensated, the insurance company will write you a check minus the deductible. A car accident can be a very emotional time in one’s life. It is important to remember that you need to keep yourself together so that you can make the right decisions regarding your physical well-being as well as filing a car insurance claim.

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Vehicle Inspections: Your Insurance Company And You

Monday, August 17th, 2009

Insurance companies offering Insurance quotes usually ask for little information about the vehicle that has to be insured such as the type of vehicle, model name, year of manufacture, make, the total mileage and the condition of the vehicle. The other way is to analyse using the VIN number. Every vehicle has a unique VIN number of its own and If the vehicle’s VIN number is supplied ,the actual quote given will be more tailor made, based on its previous Insurance history, the car’s condition and the number, type of accidents so far the vehicle has encountered.

While you may think your car is in excellent condition, it may be only in average condition. And if you are planning on buying a policy that insures the car for far more than it is worth, you are only hurting yourself financially by throwing money away on expensive yearly policy premiums.

Many times an insurance company will require an inspection to verify the condition of a vehicle. Many older or classic cars can have a wide range of replacement values depending upon their condition. Rust, issues with paint quality, and upholstery issues can all effect the value of a car and, thus, effect the amount an company is willing to insure. Unfortunately, insurance companies have a lot of experience with car owners who claim their older or classic car is in ?mint? condition when it really is more than a little banged-up.

Typically vehicle inspections are very rare. The situation that most often tends to draw the extra attention of insurance companies are customers who insure older cars for full-coverage. Such inspections make sense for both insurance companies and car owners. It is in the insurance company?s best interest to verify that vehicles they insure are valued properly and, additionally, it may lead to lower premiums should car owners over-estimate their vehicles? worth.

It is in your best interest to be truthful with your insurance company when searching for a quote. If your passenger door is about to fall off and you are just waiting to lie to the insurance company and tell them you were a victim of a hit and run and that your car door is now totaled, the insurance company can throw you in jail for insurance fraud. They may even already have pictures of your car before you created the accident.

This is why inspections can happen at any time. The insurance company needs to know if you are honest. So it is best to be truthful when looking for a quote because the day after you get your policy, the insurance company might be at your place taking pictures of your car.

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First Time 4×4 Insurance Buyers

Monday, August 17th, 2009

Different vehicles require different types of insurance. Each type of insurance is specifically geared toward the vehicle it is insuring, whether a motorcycle, truck, or regular car. 4×4 insurance must be tailored to fit the needs of the vehicle and the driver. This insurance is often more expensive than regular car insurance because of the specific risks involved with owning this type of vehicle. Before you purchase a policy you should do as much research as possible to find the best one for you.

4×4 vehicles are specifically singled out because they can handle off road driving. Insurance companies have much more to worry about with off road driving, especially in vehicle damages. If you choose to use your 4×4 on the street only you can lower your insurance premiums. Off road coverage is extra and will cover damaged incurred from popped tires, broken windshields, or dents. If you choose to drive off road without purchasing the extra insurance your policy will cancel out until you return to the road. You may choose to be covered for only a few days if you are going out for a short excursion.

4×4 trucks and SUVs have all of the regular types of insurance available for drivers. The minimal type is called liability insurance, and it covers other vehicles and individuals that were involved in an accident, but not your own. Comprehensive and collision insurance can also be obtained like an average vehicle. Unfortunately these will often be more expensive than regular policies. The monthly rate you pay will reflect on how much overall coverage you have. The extra cost will cover the increased likely hood that your 4×4 may be stolen or vandalized.

4×4 vehicles are often more expensive to insure because they cost more to repair. Unlike cars and other mass produced vehicles, the parts for 4×4 trucks and SUVs are harder to find a replace. Your insurance company will therefore have to pay more to fix your vehicle. If you have added anything on to your 4×4 you can expect that it won?t be covered by traditional insurance policies. These add-ons will have to be individually insured or paid to fix by you. Wide screens are very popular features of 4×4s that are not covered by regular insurance. If the truck has this feature be sure that your policy insures its repairs.

Salvage retention rights allow you to take advantage of certain rights that other drivers cannot use. These rights allow you fit on parts to your 4×4 or make updates when needed. Most other policies will void the contract if you attempted this. Your salvage retention rights also allow you to keep the parts of your 4×4 if it is totaled. Those who fix their own cars find this very helpful for repairing other vehicles for no additional cost. Most policies, even those for 4×4s will not come with salvage retention so make sure you add it on if necessary.

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Q & A About Rental Insurance

Sunday, August 16th, 2009

There has been on going debates about the importance of taking rental insurance, when you are renting an automobile. Many believe that their own car insurance will cover them while they are driving a rental and other feel that the credit card they use to rent the car offers them protection. Somethings that you should take into consideration is that rental companies only push this rental insurance for two reasons; the first is so that they will make extra money on your rental and the second is so that the rental insurance will protect their car. In the end, their car is all that is important to them.

Here are some of the most asked questions about rental insurance, and the answer are most likely going to surprise many of you.

Q: DOESNT MY REGULAR CAR INSURANCE POLICY COVER ME WHEN I AM DRIVING A RENTAL CAR?

A: This is a big YES! Almost all car insurance companies will cover you, even when you are driving a rental car. I would, however, suggest that you contact your insurance company prior to getting your rental just to be 100% sure.

Q: WILL THE CREDIT CARD THAT I USED TO RENT THE CAR COVER ME FOR ANY DAMAGES?

A: Again the answer to this is most likely. Most major credit cards like Visa, American Express, and Master Card do offer you additional insurance protection when you charge your vehicle rental to your credit card. Again this is something that you can easily check into by calling the company in advance.

Q: IF MY CREDIT CARD AND INSURANCE COMPANIES COVER ME FOR RENTAL, DO I STILL NEED TO TAKE OUT CAR RENTAL INSURANCE FROM TEH RENTAL COMPANY?

A: Absolutely not. Many companies will tell you that your insurance wont cover everything or that you are leaving yourself open to liability if you don’t take their coverage, however most car rental coverage doesn’t even cover you as well as your own. Many times the companies and their representatives will lead you to believe that this coverage is necessary, but in reality it will provide you with no benefit at all if you are already covered, and therefore this will just be unnecessary money that you will be handing over to the car rental agent.

So before yo arrive at the rental car company to pick up your vehicle check with your insurance and credit car companies to see what you are covered for. This will make you more confident when you refuse the rental companies insurance and you will be saving a lot of money.

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Car Insurance Providers

Saturday, August 15th, 2009

If you want to save money on your auto insurance, keep in mind that there is not one company out there that will always give out the best quotes. Although there are many commercials from insurers saying that they are the best, this is not the case.

You have likely seen Progressive’s Flo and Geico’s world famous Gecko. Yes, both Flo and the Gecko are very admirable. Despite this, you should keep in mind that they were created to make you want to shop with only the advertising insurer.

Did you know that car insurance quotations can vary by as much as $1,000 for a year’s worth of insurance?

Your state insurance website, which you can access from the NAIC site, may have a survey, which gives sample prices from your local insurers. These surveys are created not so you know which insurer is the cheapest, but to remind you that the best thing you can do, when getting a new quote, is to shop around.

Online comparison websites may not be as great as you think they are. The prices that you get from these sites may not be accurate because the more direct contact you have with an insurer, the more discounts you can find out about and take advantage of. Also, some of the lowest prices will not appear because these providers do not pay these comparison sites anything.

It is always a good idea to speak to an independent car insurance agent. Agents that are independent can analyze your situation and match you with the best insurer. For example, you may have poor credit and have trouble getting a decent quote. Because they have links with many providers, they can get you a good quote.

You can find an independent agent by looking through a local business directory or the Yellowpages. Generally, if the name of the insurance agency is one, which you do not recognize, it is independent. If the name is something like State Farm-Tom Barr you are dealing with someone who can only give you insurance from that one company.

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Car Insurance-Checklist for Initial Examination

Friday, August 14th, 2009

Whether it is an accident, vandalism or burglary, the best thing about owning a car Insurance is, you can make the Insurance Company handle the replacement of the missing expensive accessories / damaged parts or repairs in many cases by just filing a claim and paying a minimum amount of deductible.

When you speak to the insurance agent about the claim they will start an initial examination checklist to ensure that the claim is valid and what part of the claim if any is to be paid by the insurance company according to your policy. There are many questions the insurance company might ask of you and any other information gathered will be from your policy and coverage information.

The first thing the insurance agent will check for is to make sure your policy is active. When you file a claim your insurance policy must be paid up-to-date and not have lapsed to obtain your coverage.

The Claims are usually Validated after reviewing the policy rules and if there are items damaged or stolen which are not covered by the policy contract, the coverage amount cannot be claimed. You will also not be able to claim if you just have a liability insurance or a third party cover in instances of car burglary.

The checklist examination is the guideline for what will be covered. The checklist will allow the agent to determine if “acts of God” are covered under you policy. If they are not and you suffered from fire or flood, then your claim is not valid and will receive no reimbursement. Also, if a vehicle is stolen or vandalized and contains expensive items inside, those items are only subject to an insurance claim if it is stated so on the insurance policy you have.

While the insurance company is liable for valid claims, it is dependent upon the policy holder to uphold the policy requirements. If the holder failed to take the proper actions on their end, the insurance company will deny the claim. This will leave the victim of the crime responsible for the damages that occurred.

Other than looking out for policy reasons, the trained insurance agent might even carry a checklist to rule out suspicion in case of fraudulent claims. For example Expensive trunk load of goods carried in an old car, if reported as stolen and has been filed for a claim, the agent might raise a suspicion that it might be a fraudulent claim by the policy owner. Misleading facts and false information might lead to the coverage being denied. Once the checklist is complete along with the Initial examination, the agent forwards the case to its assessor along with his reports of examination, to assess and approve claim, if it is genuine.

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How To Lower Your 4×4 Insurance Premiums

Monday, August 10th, 2009

4×4 insurance rates are often higher than the rates for other vehicles and take extra effort to find good rates for. Your 4×4 will be seen by insurers as extra risky and more hazardous, making your insurance rates much higher. You can avoid these prices by taking the right actions. The most important factor to getting low rates is to search online for multiple different quotes.

If you have a garage or underground parking then you will be able to help lower your premium. This is because a vehicle that?s parked indoors is less likely to get singled out for theft or vandalism. The insurance company will be able to reduce your rates if you?re able to reduce the risk of something happening to your vehicle.

Extra driving experience on 4×4 vehicles is also a plus for insurance agents. You might have to borrow a vehicle from a friend or family member to gain this experience, but it can shave a few dollars from your monthly payments. With a little experience under your belt you will be more comfortable with the handling a 4×4 before you sit behind the wheel of your own. Obviously, a few years of experience driving one is better than a few weeks.

Your driving record will always take a toll on your insurance rates, no matter what type of vehicle you plan on getting. The insurance company will review how many claims you have received over the time that you have had insurance. Even just one claim may make your rates higher, while two or more will single you out as a high risk driver. Keep your record clean and clear for as long as possible by driving carefully. If you have no claims for a long enough period you may be able to get a claims bonus on your 4×4 insurance. Some people will even pay out of their pockets for an accident rather than making a claim. In some cases this may be less expensive than paying for your increased rates and deductibles.

Security measures are very important on 4×4 vehicles. Obviously hiding your truck or SUV in a garage helps lessen the chance of theft, but premium safety features are extra assurances agents like to see. The security of your vehicle is divided by categories. You will want to find a 4×4 rated with 1 or 2 security systems. As technology increases you may want to try upgrading your vehicle to accommodate new features.

If you are in the military or National Guard be sure to mention it to your agent. Insurance companies offer special rates for these individuals without much hassle. If you are not in the military try to take advantage of the other discounts available to get lower rates. Search around online and compare quotes to find the company with the lowest prices before visiting their company for an in depth policy.

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Consequence of Lying to Your Car Insurance Company

Friday, August 7th, 2009

Car insurance companies are very strict on their insurance packages and most times, they look at your details to be able to award you the necessary insurance. Therefore, it is not uncommon to find car insurance buyers looking for ways to falsify their details in the bid to reduce their premium price and get cheaper auto insurance quotes. In fact, research has shown that in the UK alone, over 10% of all drivers have lied at a point in time about their details or records while in the US, it is estimated at a whopping 27%. Details that are mostly lied about include the age and address of the driver. In some cases, drivers have been known to leave out speeding tickets, drunken driving records and bans on driving they may have received.

Sadly, many drivers seem to think this is the norm and therefore lie about all these when they are applying for an insurance policy. And this is further influenced by the thinking that the companies are mandated to pay and reward them. Most informed drivers know that falsifying your records is seen as fraud while the uninformed drivers think it is ok to lie about their records. The truth is insurance companies are beginning to catch up with this trend and are taking steps against the frequent occurrence of such acts. One of these steps is in the installation of software that will function as a lie detector and will compare all the different data for traces of irregularities. Besides this, insurance companies now have penalties that are meted out on culprits of this act. These include:

1. Cancellation of the Insurance Policy. All culprits will lose their rights to any form of insurance with the company of they are caught. This means that all the monies paid prior to that time will not be retrieved or paid back and the driver will forfeit all attendant benefits.

2. All Claims will be lost and denied. All drivers caught in the act of falsification will be denied all claims. During accidents, most drivers and car owners resort to the insurance company to offer some form of relief. Even if the claims are genuine, the insurance company will desist from making the required payment if it detects false information.

3. Blacklisting in all car insurance companies Depending on the severity of the false information, most insurance companies will willingly blacklist the driver thus making it really hard for him to drive his car.

4. May pay Fines If the driver is found guilty of severe falsification or under the insurance act, he would be required to pay the sum of one hundred thousand dollars and another two hundred thousand dollars if there are other offences discovered. 5. Jail Terms.

In Canada, all offenders could face up to ten years in prison and may be forced to pay a sum greater than five thousand dollars if found guilty. So whatever the case may be, it is in your best interest to tell the truth at all times.

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Strategies For Maintaining Low Insurance Premiums

Friday, August 7th, 2009

Getting a quote for car or truck Insurance is easy but there is a little known hidden fact about the premiums when you get the quote for your Insurance agent. Premiums are pre determined on the basis of your previous Insurance history and if it is your first policy or if it is your brand new policy ,the percentage offered by the Insurance companies is usually greater than a having a strong history of previous Insurance coverage.

Many will argue that the lack of insurance history should not increase one’s premiums. Regardless, among the many considerations in determining premiums are an applicant’s demonstrated ability to maintain their payment schedule, their proclivity for making claims on their past policies, and their demonstrated clean driving record. A failing in any of these areas will have the effect of markedly increasing your premiums to a much higher rate than you would prefer.

Persons having previous lapsed policies, and are in need to find a new one with better quotes are generally not entertained. Even if it happens, the credit history is checked for timely payment of premiums for the previous policy, so that the new company has some points for consideration.

If you are a new driver, if you have a string of traffic tickets, if you have had traffic accidents, if you have submitted _insurance claims_ for accidents, if you’ve let policies lapse due to non-payment… any (or, you poor sap, _all_) of these things make you a high-risk customer. You can still find insurance, but you will definitely pay a price. You’ll have a higher down payment, higher premiums, a higher deductible, and generally less coverage.

So, for amateurs, it is best advised to go for a short term insurance policy, say around 6 months. Prompt timely payment and a good driving history for at least 6 months will give you a good chance of having a better quote next time. Instead of continuing or extending the same policy after 6 months, it is always better to compare what the other companies are ready to offer you. No doubt, there might be some surprising deals for just 6 months of clean history which might save you a handsome amount, may be a few hundred dollars.

Having a clear history, and extending or renewing the same old insurance policy is actually not a good idea. If you have a strong clean history with the previous insurance company, better look out for what the other Insurance company can offer you, because usually the company itself will not review your actual insurance cover, instead its left you to pick the best deal which suits your need. Switching to them might offer you to save lots of money.

Always do your homework when choosing an insurance policy. Keep your driving and payment histories spotless. _Never_ let a policy simply lapse. This will make you a highly desirable insurance risk. Now shop around for the best offers. You’ll get them.

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The Ways That 4×4 Insurance Varies From Standard Car Insurance

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

4×4 owners may wonder why their insurance rates are higher than they are with cars. The fact is that 4×4 vehicles are much different than normal cars and vehicles. They have extra capabilities and features that the insurance company sees as more hazardous. You should know what to expect before you buy a 4×4 vehicle.

The type of policy you have will affect what type of coverage you?re getting. All types of policies will cover other drivers and their vehicles in an accident. You can also get policies that cover your vehicle and your passengers along with theft and weather damage. 4×4 insurance has similar properties as regular car insurance however there are some slight differences. The main problem is that you?re going to do more damage to another vehicle if you hit them than you would in a car. Since the estimated repair costs will be higher they increase the insurance premium you have to pay.

Another important factor is that 4×4 vehicles are known as high profile vehicles. They usually will be a target for theft more than an average car. This is especially true if the vehicle is kept in a public parking lot. Those who have a 4×4 vehicle and live in the city will pay more for insurance since their vehicle is more likely to be targeted due to higher crime rates.

Costs to fix 4×4 trucks and SUVs are much higher than the cost to fix regular vehicles. This is because parts are harder to find and repair. Insurance companies will look at this as an extra cost to insure your vehicle and will charge you more. If you have extra features added to your 4×4 that didn?t come with the stock you will have to get extra insurance to have these repaired in case of an accident. Insurance companies won?t voluntarily pay for these extra add-ons unless your policy specifically covers them.

Off road driving is the biggest difference between 4×4 and regular car insurance. This option lets you take your vehicle off of the road and through other terrains. If you damage your vehicle, which is fairly likely, the damages will only be covered if you have a specific policy with off-road insurance. A standard policy will become void for the time you drive off road, leaving you to pay the damages yourself. Prices will increase if you regularly participate in races or other all-terrain sports with your 4×4. Some people choose to get insurance for these events just for one day to reduce costs.

It?s important to know that as with sports cars 4×4 vehicles will be more expensive naturally when it comes to insurance. The best thing you can do is to compare quotes from various companies and find the lowest rate. You can also greatly reduce the rate of your vehicle by having it just for a recreational vehicle. You will also want to read through the policies that each company offers. This is because some companies will cover some situations while others won?t. If you plan on doing something besides driving your 4×4 vehicle you should ask your insurance agent what they can cover.

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