Category: Auto Insurance

Firstly, find out how much vehicle insurance you actually need?

It is always important for drivers to be fully insured for any type of mishap that may happen whilst driving, however, depending on your location you may be required to have a certain type of vehicle insurance if you are of a certain age, driving level skill i.e. how long you have driven for, your gender and most importantly your age and the distance you travel. Are you driving long distances every day or only using your car for driving to work and back short distance? You may want to save some money by using a third-party insurance cover which covers only property damage. Are you a younger driver or a senior citizen? You may want to invest in a more comprehensive cover which will protect you from larger accidents were they to happen.

Some insurance companies will rate drivers differently according to age, gender and experience you should always have that in mind when shopping around for insurance in order to look for companies that will give you the best deal according to the consumer, you!

Now secondly, how to you go about shopping for the best deal?

Time to begin shopping! It is important to mention that with most new vehicle purchases – depending on your location – You will be required to buy full comprehensive insurance, especially if you are buying a new car, then your decision-making has just been made easier! But for those of us who couldn’t afford a brand new car – not yet anyway – here are some options to look for.

Vehicle insurance companies will vary largely, depending on your driving record, the type of vehicle you would like to insure and your credit history so it’s wise to do some research. It’s important to do a quick Google search for vehicle insurance comparison websites and take a look, you will find there are 3 main types of insurance companies such as:

1. Direct sellers – These are insurance companies which will bypass traditional insurance brokers and sell directly to you which usually mean there’s no agent to pay a commission to so the savings are passed on to you! Because of this, these sellers usually accept only the very best drivers, something to be watchful of if you have any prior driving violations.

2. Large National brands – Although their pricing may be a bit more expensive than the previously mentioned, these insurance companies are better equipped if you may have a bit of a blotchy past, they are also usually good at matching the pricing of the direct sellers.

3. Independent insurance agents – These sellers offer all kinds of insurance from different companies, good if you are trying to compare different policies from different insurers and you are finding difficulty due to perhaps a patchy record.

The application stage. This is where you fill out an application to get car insurance. You will need the following documents to apply: a social security number, driver license number, knowledge of driving history, and credit information for all applicable drivers.

The approval stage. After submitting your application for insurance, an insurance provider will show you which plans are available, and for how much. Your annual premiums will be determined by a number of factors including,but not limited to, your age, location, gender, driving history, and marital status.

And finally, the maintenance stage. After being approved for insurance, this is the final stage. In this stage your goal is to keep your costs down by driving safely and reducing the risk you present. You should check with your provider for deals, or look around at competitor’s deals every three to six months. It is not hard to switch insurance providers, and it’s worth looking to find a company that keeps you happy.

You are currently in stage one, getting ready to apply. Everyone driving has been there. And if you just take the first step, either by calling a rep or using an online service, you will find that it’s quicker and easier than you expect.

By using services like Progressive or InsureMe, customers are comparing the rates of companies and their competitors. Users are finding themselves making more informed buying decisions when they can compare plans side by side.

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Should you absolutely need to drive in icy road conditions the tips below will be a helpful safety guide.

• Buckle up the safety belt. While this is a given, it is especially important for the driver and passengers to secure themselves before riding in a vehicle in icy weather conditions.

• Don’t drive fast! Speeding in the ice can make tires lose essential traction and cause a driver to dangerously lose control. Exercise extra caution and drive especially slow when in contact with black ice.

• Turn in the direction the car slides to! Steering towards the direction your car or truck is going from the rear is the best way to keep control. In the event you turn too far off, change course and steer in the opposite direction.

• Do not slam on the breaks! Putting excessive pressure on the breaks can make you slide and lose control in icy weather. Remember that the car’s antilock feature will not work properly in these conditions so don’t think you can rely on them!

• Avoid hills or inclines. This is a no-brainer. When gravity mixes with the already unfavorable conditions of iciness, you can find yourself without control and in a very risky circumstance.

• Save the saving for the authorities! Though you are a nice guy, kindness in a situation that can cause a collision is not kind. Do not stop to assist those in an accident because you may slide, exposing yourself and other drivers to the potential dangers of a single or multi-vehicle accident. When it is safe to do so, call the authorities and direct them to the scene of the accident.

And don’t forget, if you do find yourself involved in a vehicular accident, call your independent insurance agent as soon as you notify police. Your insurance professional will direct you in a trying time so the incident will end as favorably as possible.

There are plenty of insurance policies that you can choose from. The most common ones are:

Third party only (TPO): This is the minimum level of insurance cover that you need into drive legally on the road. The insurance company pays for the damages caused on others but it won’t pay for your losses. This means that you are liable for the repair costs of your van in the event of an accident or theft. Due to the simple nature of this insurance, it’s cheap.

Third-party, fire and theft: This policy covers you in the event of an accident that came about as a result of your fault. In addition to covering you, the policy will also cover the damage caused to another vehicle, property and if people were injured in the process, the policy pays for the people’s medical treatment. This policy also covers you from theft. When your vehicle is stolen it’s good to note that you will have to pay the excess. This is usually the first amount of claim that you are placing.

Fully comprehensive: It’s the most extensive insurance cover. It provides you with protection against damage to your van, your property, and even to yourself even if the accident was your fault. The cover will provide you with protection against loss of personal effects, damage to your vehicle, medical expenses, and even breaking of the windscreen. You should note that the policy doesn’t cover you in the event your van breaks down. If you want to be protected you have to get a separate van breakdown cover policy.

Different companies sell their policies at different amounts. It’s up to you to research and find a company that will sell you insurance cover at a favorable amount. You should visit different companies and collect quotes. When the companies are determining the amount that they will charge you they consider a number of factors such as: your claims history, occupation, use of the vehicle, and security.

Just like when you are getting other car insurance policies, there are a number of things that you can do to lower your premium. Some of the things that you can do include:

Secure your van: As you have seen, one of the factors used to determine your premium is the security of your vehicle. To pay a lower premium you should install security features in your vehicle thus making it difficult for people to break in or steal your vehicle. Some of the things that you can do include: installing an immobilizer, tracker or an alarm.

1. Compare Policy Rates

Prices differ significantly from company to company. Take the time to explore as many options as you can before deciding on one.

2. Choose the Higher Deductible

If you can afford it, choose the higher deductible and pay less each month for coverage. A deductible is the amount you have to pay before your provider will cover the rest of your bill. A higher deductible can significantly lower your monthly bill.

3. Consider Carpooling

The less you drive, the less insurance companies charge you.

4. Buy Only What You Need

What you need for a new model is different than what you need for an older automobile. If your car is an older design, it might warrant you dropping the collision coverage.

5. Combine Your Homeowners/renters Policy

Combining other policies with your car insurance is an effective way to get the most discounts. Car insurance is considered the riskiest investment, but if you combine it with a safer investment, your monthly bill will go down.

6. Get a Tracking Device

It records your driving history-speed, abrupt stops, travel times, distance-and after the first year, you can get reduced rates if you have been a safe driver. You can save as much as 60 percent!

7. Take Care of Your Credit Score

Those with high credit scores may get lower rates as they are considered as less risky choices for providers. Pay all of your bills on time and check your score to stay updated.

8. Take a Defensive Driving Course

By taking this one-time course, your provider might be able to give you a discount.

The state of Virginia allows drivers to pay a $500 Uninsured Motor Vehicle fee if they want to drive without insurance, and at their own risk. This fee has to be renewed when the car registration expires. Drivers that do not carry auto insurance, or pay the state fee can have their driver’s license suspended, be required to fill out a SR-22, or financial responsibility insurance certificate, and pay a reinstatement fee.

Virginia requires that car insurance policies include:

Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability: this covers the driver if they are responsible for causing injury or damage to another person or property. Under insured/uninsured Coverage: Under insured pays if you are involved in an accident and the other driver doesn’t have enough coverage to pay for damages. Uninsured covers if you are in an accident and the driver has no coverage.

Virginia State Law: How It Affects You

There are several laws that are important to remember when shopping for car insurance in Virginia. Car insurance rates are based on driving records, and if these laws are broken they can affect your auto insurance rate.

In Virginia a DUI is considered a BAC (blood alcohol concentration) of 0.08{4577d647af53990bec845572d45ca6ce4e1c4c1d84124a936258afbe5e39f72e}. A BAC over 0.15{4577d647af53990bec845572d45ca6ce4e1c4c1d84124a936258afbe5e39f72e} increases the penalty for DUI. Virginia has several cell phone/texting laws that prohibit drivers from using a cell phone while driving. Teen’s can drive with a permit at 15 years and 6 months. The state of Virginia uses a Graduated Driver Licensing system for teen drivers. Visit a local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) office to get more information about licensing your teen driver.

The state of Virginia wants to help drivers get reliable, and affordable car insurance. A quick search on the state of Virginia’s DMV site will connect you with valuable information on shopping for car insurance. A quick web search will connect you to the auto insurance companies in the state that you can get quotes from. The state of Virginia has also established the State Corporation Commission which provides guides, resources, and information on vehicle insurance companies. This is a good website to visit when preparing to shop for car insurance in Virginia.

Now that you are equipped with the information you need about car insurance, in Virginia, then chose at least three companies to get car quotes from, and begin shopping. With a little information and some time you can get the best car insurance rate in Virginia, and be on your way to safe driving.

Insurance Coverage for Stolen Cars

In order to have insurance coverage in the case that your car is stolen, you must have comprehensive coverage on your insurance policy. This is something that is required in all states. If your vehicle is stolen off of your personal property, you cannot file it under your home owners’ insurance policy; you must have an auto policy with comprehensive coverage to cover the loss.

Car Theft Claims Process

When you are sure your car has been stolen, you must report it to the police immediately for documentation. At the same time, you must notify your auto insurance carrier. Most carriers operate using a 30-day claim waiting period to see if the car is ever recovered, which generally begins on the date of theft. Furthermore, comprehensive coverage does not cover personal belongings that are stolen out of a vehicle. Items like phones, computers, clothing, jewelry, equipment, and more, could be covered in a renter’s or home insurance policy, but not in an auto policy.

Car Theft Investigations

Car theft claims are taken very seriously at insurance companies. They are investigated closely by adjusters to ensure that fraud is not at play. Filing a fraudulent car theft insurance claim is a felony punishable by prison time, fines, and more. They will record all conversations with clients, and ask very detailed and intrusive questions. As long as you are not committing a crime, you shouldn’t take the investigation process personally. The insurance adjuster is just doing their job.

Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer for Fraud Charges

Fraud crimes are charged as either misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the particulars of a person’s case. If you were recently arrested on facing fraud charges in Indiana, you are facing hefty fines, imprisonment, and other severe penalties. The best step you can take toward securing your rights and protecting your freedoms is calling a licensed fraud lawyer for tough and aggressive criminal defense; otherwise, you risk be sentenced to the maximum levels of punishment in Indiana.