August 2007

Monthly Archive

Car Insurance Covers Against Car Flooding

admin 04 Aug 2007 | : Uncategorized

Sofia Abasolo asked:


Drivers with car insurance whose cars have been flooded may be covered for more than they think. The Better Business Bureau and Insurance Information Institute recommend that all car owners read their car insurance policy closely or they will miss out on reimbursements or other benefits they are entitled to when disaster strikes.

“Drivers spend a lot of money on auto insurance, but too often they wait until they need to make a claim after an accident or emergency and don’t remember what their policy will cover,” said Steve J. Bernas, president & CEO of The Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois. “After a widespread emergency such as a flood, when many people are making claims simultaneously, it’s important for car owners to ask the representative handling their claim about their coverage and deductible, as well as any options that are included, so they get their money’s worth.”

According to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.), a non-profit organization, comprehensive coverage will reimburse drivers for loss due to damage caused by something other than a collision with another car or object, such as fire, falling objects, catastrophic storms, vandalism, or contact with animals such as birds or deer. This includes flooding.

“Although many states do not require that you purchase comprehensive coverage, if you have a car loan, your lender may have required you carry it until your loan is paid off,” said Carolyn Gorman, vice president of the I.I.I. “Comprehensive insurance is usually sold with a $100 to $300 deductible.”

Many drivers also have coverage for a replacement rental car, although they may not realize it because this optional coverage was added at such a minimal expense, usually just a couple of dollars a month. This coverage provides immediate access to a replacement rental car until repairs are made to their flooded car or they are authorized by their insurance company to purchase a new car.

Drivers whose cars are totaled may not have to continue making payments on the balance they owe on the car if their auto insurance included gap coverage. This coverage pays the difference between the amount the insurer pays for the totaled car and the amount the insured owes on their lease or loan. Without this coverage, drivers are responsible for paying the remainder of their lease or loan even when their car is totaled.

The best advice is to be prepared to know what your auto insurance covers and what you should do if your car sustained damages in the flood by following these tips:

Report damage as soon as possible. If your car is not drivable, your agent or claims center may be able to save you time and money by having the car towed directly to the repair facility instead of to a temporary storage facility. In addition, arrangements may be made immediately to provide you with a replacement rental car, if your policy includes this coverage.

Know what your deductible is and any other additional charges before authorizing work. Expect your insurance adjuster, claims representative or repair facility appraiser to review the damage with you and explain the repair process, including the use of original or generic auto parts. Before authorizing repairs, know what your deductible is, as well as any additional charges you will be expected to pay once repairs are complete.

Ask about warranties on repairs. Ask whether your insurer has a repair facility referral program that offers a written limited or lifetime repair warranty backed both by the repairer and insurer for as long as you own your vehicle.

Do business only with a reputable company. Obtain insurance from companies, independent brokers or direct marketers that have a proven track record of handling auto insurance claims effectively. Get a referral, or contact BBB or your State Department of Insurance.



Car Shopping With Cheaper Car Insurance in Mind

admin 03 Aug 2007 | : Uncategorized

Anthony Peck asked:


When you go car shopping, what are you looking for? Are you looking for a sporty little two seater that’s going to impress the ***** or a sensible sedan with plenty of room for car seats? Do you want a car that’s going to be good on gas mileage or one that will give you plenty of space to spread out? These are all things that people think about when they’re standing in the middle of a car lot looking for their next set of wheels. What they don’t usually consider is which car will give them cheaper car insurance.

Unless you’ve taken the time to sit down with your insurance agent and find out how they calculate the cost of your car insurance you probably don’t realize that your car itself has as much to do with your insurance premiums as, say, your driving history. Insurance companies don’t like to pay out claims, and there are certain cars that seem to attract trouble like a magnet! You could be the best driver in the world, but if you’re behind the wheel of a “high risk” car cheaper car insurance is going to be as hard to come by as front row seats at a Hannah Montana concert.

So how do you know which cars are going to give you cheaper car insurance? You do your homework. The first thing you should do is make a list of what, exactly, you need in a car. There are a lot of resources on the web that will help you find cars that are cheaper to insure, but they usually forget to mention that this isn’t a one size fits all solution. You’re not going to fit five kids in a Toyota Prius. Not legally, anyway! That means you need to shop with your family in mind.

When you’re shopping for a car you can find out how big a risk your car is the same way your insurance agent does-by consulting the Highway Loss Data Institute. The HLDI has statistics on just about every make and model on the market, and they can tell you whether the car you’re considering buying has losses that are considered to be less than, equal to or greater than the average loss for its vehicle class. Fewer losses and expenses as a result of accidents and/or theft=cheaper car insurance every time.

Regardless of what type of car you’re going to buy, know that cars with advanced safety features are always going to equal cheaper car insurance premiums. Safety features like airbags and anti-lock brakes are going to minimize the injuries suffered by you, your car and your passengers if you’re ever in an accident, which is going to lower your comprehensive and liability insurance costs dramatically. Remember, the less they’re likely to have to pay out, the less you’re going to have to pay in!

Security features like car alarms and GPS tracking systems can also pave the way to cheaper car insurance. Since your car insurance provider has to pay the bill if your car is stolen and/or vandalized, taking steps to stop that from happening will always win you bonus points with your insurer-and the cheaper insurance premiums that go with it!

Cheaper car insurance might not be the first thing on your mind when you go shopping for a new car, but it shouldn’t be the last either. Do your homework before signing on the dotted line and you’ll have the hottest car insurance rates in town every time.



Instant Car Insurance Quote: Save Money and Your Car Too

admin 02 Aug 2007 | : Uncategorized

Henry Bell asked:


Car insurance is must because you never know when what damage can occur to your new car. Owning a car is not so easy and therefore, after buying your favorite car would you like to loose it? Even though anything bad happens to your car, after insuring it you will get this relief at least that the money will be back to you. Therefore, everybody should practice the insuring system; the moment one buys a car. For that you can look for instant car insurance quote.

For the best and cheap insurances you can take help of the online search engines. The websites containing such insurance quotes are quite helpful as here you will get the option to find out your favorite deal. As the quotes made by the companies are being highlighted, you will be easily able to decide which one will be good. The online services are also being considered to be the best for fast services. There is assurance for the clients to receive fast response from the car insurance companies and therefore, getting your car insured faster with the best deal is quite easy. Instant car insurance quote is therefore; best to be searched on the Internet.

The price of the car insurance actually is based in the price of the car. To get insurance with low premiums will be easier if your car is of lower value. Moreover, certain other things too are given importance and these are like the size and model of your car, the driving record of the driver, his experiences, the use of the car and many more.

Such insurances will help you in getting the value of the car back even if it gets damaged due to accidents or fire. Also, car insurance papers help in proving your ownership if ever you get involved in some accidents.



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