Auto Insurance Secrets

Archive for October, 2009

According to the article “Credit Scoring Is Hurting Customers” found on sacbee.com from The Dallas Morning News, even if you are a responsible driver you may end up paying higher car insurance rates if you have blemishes on your credit file.  Whether or not this is fair is currently a huge debate.

The Dallas Morning News analyzed the insurance industry and found that people with poor credit paid 35% more on home and car insurance.  In certain cases, the insurance rates were more than double people with good credit, even if they had similar claim history.  This just goes to show how crucial it is to stay on top of your credit score.

Auto insurance companies believe that using credit as a risk factor helps to identify higher risk customers.  They cite The University of Texas research that shows drivers with lower credit ratings file more claims with their insurers.  They say that if it weren’t for the credit rating factor everyone would pay higher rates.  Credit scoring is no where near an exact science and can often hurt good customers.

As you are shopping around for car insurance quotes try to identify if your credit may be affecting your premiums.

Allstate Auto Insurance recently gathered data that showed an increase in Texas auto insurance claims for hit pedestrians during the week of Halloween.  This is according to the article “Texas Pedestrian Accidents Jump 23% During Halloween” by Kristen Beaman for Allstate found on reuters.com.

Allstate looked at claims in Texas over the last 5 years and found a large jump in accidents around trick or treating.  Last year, Allstate claims more than doubled over the Halloween week compared with the rest of 2008.  Their data matches up with a report from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety which showed that October 31 is the 2nd highest day of the year for pedestrian deaths.  The first is Fourth of July.  With Halloween falling on a weekend this year, there may be more people out than normal so it’s crucial that drivers are extra careful.

The article offers some important tips to follow while out on the road, especially at night when pedestrians are out.  Never drink and drive.  A designated driver should always be assigned before heading out for the evening.  Texting while driving can be very dangerous so keep your phone in your pocket until you can pull over to text or make a call.  As a pedestrian, it’s a good idea to avoid texting while walking.  Anything that takes your eyes off the road can be very dangerous.  Not only will following these steps make you a safer driver but it may eventually lower your car insurance quotes.

A proposed bill to ban higher auto and property insurance rates for those living in Detroit, Michigan and surrounding areas failed in the Senate recently according to the article “Bill to Ban Higher Insurance Rates In Detroit Fails” by Karen Bouffard on detnews.com.

The Senate brought the bill for a vote by Sen. Martha G. Scott, D-Highland Park, who urged Congress to pass the bill.  She said the state of Michigan pays the 12th highest auto insurance rates, but in the urban area it’s the highest in the country.  Sen. Alan Sanborn, R-Richmond believes the ban would increase rates for people who live in non-urban areas.

The new bill could result in higher auto insurance rates for 3 out of 4 Michigan drivers according to Sanborn.  He believes there needs to be another way to solve the high cost of Michigan auto insurance.  As many people are struggling in this economy, auto insurance costs are becoming challenging for many residents.  Hopefully something can be worked out to help make auto insurance more affordable for all.

According to the article “Additional Auto Insurance May Not Be Needed For Rental Cars” by Lawrence Shipman on usinsuranceonline.com, rental cars have auto insurance through the state of Minnesota.

Auto insurance to cover a rental car can be up to $10-$15 per day.  This is a lot of money, especially if you are renting the car for an extended period of time.  That’s why it’s important to understand what type of coverage you have through the state of Minnesota and Minnesota auto insurance.  The minimum coverage for covering a rental car in the state is $35,000.  This is probably plenty to cover the car you are driving but the only thing to consider is that if you wreck multiple cars it could end up costing you more.

You will also want to check with your personal auto insurance policy to see if there is any additional coverage for rental cars.  When you are shopping around for Minnesota auto insurance quotes you can ask if there are any policies that offer such a benefit before making a purchase.  The Insurance Information Institute says consumers are usually covered when they rent a car.

Taxi auto insurance is extremely important for taxi drivers who want to financially protect themselves and their business.  According to the article “Taxi Drivers Can Protect Business With Taxi Insurance” from Insurance Agents Press Release on 1888pressrelease.com, taxi insurance is the only policy that’s designed to protect the taxi company.

The article points out that over 2 million passengers are injured in the taxi industry which is why it’s so crucial for these drivers to have coverage.  Taxi insurance provides options that are specifically designed for taxi cabs.  Liability coverage is available which protects the taxi company, the driver, as well as the taxi company’s assets.  Comprehensive coverage is also available which protects in case of vandalism, theft, fire or other damages that may be caused by an accident.

To qualify for a taxi insurance policy companies must have taxis that function as fare based and that keep up with maintenance.  Drivers must be between the ages of 25 and 65 and they need more than 2 years of driving experience in the US and have a current, valid driver license.  You can receive taxi auto insurance quotes online or contact an insurance agent.

The state of California has seen suspected California auto insurance theft and arson fraud increase over the past year according to The California Department of Auto Insurance which released information on Friday.  This was found in the article “State Sees Rise In Suspicious Auto Insurance Claims” on Sacramento Biz Journal by Kelly Johnson.

The agency recently gathered data that showed criminals may be committing more auto insurance fraud to obtain insurance cash during these tough times.  Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner stated in a news release that fraud is on the rise.  In 2008, the California Department of Insurance found a 25% increase in suspected car arson fraud cases from the year before.  They also received about 200 more suspected car theft fraud cases in 2008 compared to 2007.

The department receives regular referrals of suspected fraud from auto insurance companies, law enforcement agencies as well as consumers and each case is researched to determine if it is actually a fraud situation.  Other kinds of auto fraud such as inflated damages, vandalism, and hit and run accidents have remained somewhat constant since 2007 according to the Department.

This increase in suspected fraud may continue as the recession remains.  Consumers are feeling strapped for cash and desperate and this seems like the only road for many.  Of course, any type of fraud will end up costing you much more in the end, including possible jail time.

Auto insurance rates are expected to rise up to 19% for Ontario drivers.  The average Toronto area driver may see rates increase by up to 14% according to the article “Auto insurance rates to rise as much as 19% in Ontario” on GlobalToronto.com.

Ten auto insurance companies, which serve more than a fourth of Ontario drivers, have been approved to raise their auto insurance rates once again.  One of the reasons for the increased rates is the cost pressures being placed on insurers.

It’s important to keep prices in perspective though because auto insurance rates are still relatively low when compared to previous years.  When compared to the cost of living, rates are reasonable.  Finance Minister Dwight Duncan plans to announce changes to auto insurance rates during the government’s 5 year review.

The average auto insurance rate in Texas has decreased by more than 14% since the beginning of 2009 according to insurancerates.com.  This was found on the press release “Texas Auto Insurance Rates Decline 14.2 Percent in 2009? on marketwire.

This is good news for Texans as all Americans are trying to save money.  Texas auto insurance quotes are lower and by shopping around you can find competitive rates.  Some other statistics to keep in mind while shopping around are that men in Texas have an average auto insurance rate which is 7% higher than women according to the press release.  Drivers in Texas who are 19 years old or younger pay an average of 140% higher than drivers over the age of 75.

The press release also points out that Texas is currently the 18th most expensive state for auto insurance so the decreasing rates are helpful.  Massachusetts auto insurance is the most affordable and Louisiana is the most expensive.  The best thing that you can do to ensure you are getting a good deal on your auto insurance is to shop around and compare rates.  You may be surprised how much money you end up saving.

Everyone can get high value coverage without breaking the bank. The only things that that keep you from getting a more affordable rate at the moment are relevant information and a commitment to make use of the recommendations you get — Period. Let us get into the tips you need to attract more affordable rates…

1. You will spend far more on car insurance if you live in Los Angeles than you would if you stayed in some rural area. It is advisable to make your residence in a less congested area if it fits your circumstance since the likelihood of vandalism, theft or collision is far less.

Affordable Auto Insurance

2. Ensure your auto insurance policy is not allowed to lapse no matter what.. You’ll get more expensive rates for a long time if this happens to you albeit by mistake. Don’t allow this mistake if you’re changing insurers since that’s one situation where this happens to many people.

To avoid this, make sure that the new policy is fully in place before you terminate the old. Many people are paying higher rates than they would otherwise just because they made this mistake. Therefore, make sure you don’t become one of them.

3. It’s a known fact that young drivers attract high rates. Even in this age bracket, a 23-year old driver will pay much less than a 17 year old all other things being equal.

This means that you’ll help keep your rates down if you do NOT have a teen driver on your policy. It will have an adverse effect on your rate. You can discuss with your agent about signing an exclusion form so that your teen driver can have his/her own auto policy.

Let your teen bear the responsibility of paying for their auto insurance. This act will save you more than money as your teen driver will happily listen when suggestions are made on things that will bring down the high rates they pay. Your teen will also be safer as the steps that will bring down his/her rates will make her a more responsible behind wheels.

4. Be sure to NOT give incorrect information as you complete your forms. One of the factors that has kept rates as high as they are is insurance fraud. It’s making everyone pay a lot more.

Furthermore, an insurer has the right to cancel your policy if you give false details. This could make you lose a lot more than what you thought you would save. Insurers increase your rates by a good margin once you’ve let your policy lapse or had it cancelled for reasons like this.

Reports have it that the average American family pays about $1,500 extra premium dollars because of insurance fraud. You can save us all this extra burden by representing your details truthfully.

5. Make sure your car is always parked in a safe place. This means that you have to do all within your power to NOT park your car in a red light district. Furthermore, you might even get discounts with your insurer if you show that you have a good garage.

And, lest I forget, if you drive out in the night do your best to have your car parked in a well-lit area. That will deter thieves.

Start making huge savings now here: Auto Insurance Quotes and Budget Car Insurance. Lou Lynch helps people save on insurance.

In the present nature of society, transport has become one of the major concerns of the population. Because of the fast growth and activities of the modern way of life, people find a great requirement to travel and cover wider grounds for their interest, whether for relaxation, recreation, business, and education.

In addressing this modern need of traveling from one point to another, it’s important for each individual or family to find a cozy and reliable medium for their transport.

When talking about the personal transportation topic, there are the services of direct auto insurance firms that protect individual interest from losses due to unfortunate circumstances and events involving their transportation.

However, presently, the aspect of vehicular property has already developed wherein people are now owning numerous transport interests aside from a personal aspect. For this reason, a hot trend in the car assurance industry is created, by purchasing direct general auto insurance.

Guarantee For Your Transportation Property and More

The services and guarantee of direct general auto insurance principally manifest of similar nature as the normal and conventional types of automobile insurance services with many some significant breakthroughs and benefit enhancements.

The additional benefits presented in direct general auto insurance claims are directed towards 2 particular approaches namely the collective nature of automobile assurance care, and coverage for a wider assortment of automobile and transport concern.

Direct general auto insurances are mainly known for their wide coverage range giving further advantage and assurance for their customers. Most service packages concerned in this nature not only provide coverage from taking losses, but also assistance programs and other fields related to their car condition such as partaking in the maintenance cost, fix cost, and even vehicular enhancement.

In another view, direct general auto insurance claims are employed by individuals and clients with assorted transportation interest and vehicular types aside from private transport mediums such as heavy-duty autos like vans, tractors, and others that are used for business, construction, production, and other interests.

Ordinarily, these types of vehicles are beyond the coverage ground considered by basic auto insurance. Therefore, owners must resort to a more categorical and beneficial insurance claim.

Generally, direct general auto insurance is a development in the trend of vehicle care offering larger coverage benefits and assistance for the owner’s interest. Though, foundations are still applied in this concern whereby investing on this measure is likewise an investment on your interest maintaining the value of your automobile.

Finding the most qualified general auto insurance fit will be easy. All you have to do is visit our general auto insurance website for readily available information on auto insurance.