If you left your keys inside the vehicle, on the ignition or even left the car running when you just popped in a shop for a few seconds and your car was stolen, you may have worries as to what sorts of questions you may face from your loss adjuster when you report the incident….
Continue readingDealing with Claims
What Is Uninsured Motorist Coverage?
Uninsured motorist coverage (UMC) steps in to cover the costs of injuries and damages sustained by you and your passengers in the event of an accident caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver. Essentially, UMC acts as a substitute for the liability coverage that the responsible driver should have had but didn’t. With approximately 12.6%…
Continue readingCan Asking Advice about an Accident Raise my Car Insurance?
Numerous automobile insurance providers have confirmed that they will exclude an incident from their premium calculations if it is reported to them but does not result in a claim. However, the treatment of such incidents varies depending on factors such as the insurance company involved, the extent of the reported damages, the parties involved, and…
Continue readingHow Auto Insurance Accident Forgiveness Work
Car insurance accident forgiveness is a provision offered by many insurers to mitigate the impact of the first at-fault accident on premiums. While maintaining a clean driving record for several years can help keep rates stable, a single at-fault accident can cause up to 42% premium increase. To address this issue, insurers often provide accident…
Continue readingHow Much Does Insurance Pay for a Totaled Car?
Dealing with a totaled car can be a challenging experience, but understanding how insurance companies determine the payout can help you navigate the process more effectively. It’s important to keep in mind that you have the opportunity to conduct your own research, perform calculations, and present your input to the claim adjuster. Below, how auto…
Continue readingInsightful Auto Insurance Decisions to Avoid Stressful Claims
The process of making a claim can become quite overwhelming if you lack the necessary coverage for your losses. Similarly, insufficient coverage might not fully compensate injuries and damages caused to third parties in cases where you are responsible for an accident. Car insurance serves as a safeguard against potential future losses, highlighting the need…
Continue readingReasons for Being Refused Auto Insurance
In virtually every state, minimum liability car insurance coverage is a legal requirement to operate a vehicle. However, there are circumstances that can render a driver or vehicle uninsurable. This typically stems from personal details, non-standard application characteristics, the risk associated with the vehicle, or a combination of factors—such as a high-risk driver paired with…
Continue readingWhat Is the Difference Between Insurance Agents and Brokers?
The fact that people can buy policies through both intermediaries can make them think that they are interchangeable but there are key differences. Agents are authorised by insurance companies to sell policies and therefore they represent and work for the insurers. They can also bind the insurance company to a policy contract. On the other…
Continue readingAuto Insurance Without Coverage History: Tips & Considerations
Many drivers can buy car insurance even if they haven’t had coverage for some time or are obtaining it for the first time without encountering significant obstacles. However, individuals in these situations might be required to pay higher premiums compared to those with a consistent, long-standing insurance history. Auto insurers require a clear and verifiable…
Continue readingWould Car Insurers Pay Repair Claims Directly to Policyholders?
Auto insurance companies may be happy with repair estimates they received from the policyholders, especially if they are for minor work, and send the claim payment to the policyholder directly, if the vehicle is owned outright. Then, it would be up to the vehicle owner to get the repairs done within the budget. The insurer…
Continue readingIs the Car Owner or Driver Liable for an Accident?
Often, individuals may drive vehicles owned by others and become involved in accidents. In such situations, if the at-fault driver had the owner’s permission to use the vehicle, the owner could bear responsibility for compensating damages and injuries. Consequently, the owner’s car insurance policy may be utilized to cover the resulting damages, as owners are…
Continue readingDoes My Own Insurance Go Up if I Crash Someone’s Car?
When you are involved in an accident while driving someone else’s vehicle and their insurance policy pays for the damages, the claim will typically be filed under their policy. This can affect their insurance rates for a certain period, usually 3 to 5 years, depending on their insurer’s policies and the specific circumstances of the…
Continue readingCan I Keep a Totaled Car and Get It Repaired?
When buying your car back from insurance after it has been salvaged, the process typically involves several steps. First, you’ll need to reach out to your insurance company and express your interest in buying back your totaled vehicle. They will provide you with the necessary paperwork, such as a salvage title application, which you’ll need…
Continue readingHow Long Do Car Insurance Claims Take to Settle?
Majority of companies settle small auto insurance claims with minimum fuss and they send the money within days, after the policyholder submits the required estimates and details. Some insurers may assess and settle them automatically too. But they may investigate larger claims to determine fault and check if there is coverage for the damages and…
Continue readingDoes Auto Insurance Cover Snow and Ice Damage?
Motorists need to have full coverage car insurance if they want to be protected from weather related damages in all seasons including winter. State required Liability policies only compensate for injuries and damages insured vehicles cause to other people and doesn’t include any physical damage provision for own auto. However, Comprehensive coverage together with Collision…
Continue readingCommon Misrepresentations on Auto Insurance Applications
When purchasing vehicle insurance, it is essential for drivers to not only ensure that they acquire coverage that will compensate for damages and injuries in the event of an insured incident but also to establish a solid foundation for their policy. The cornerstone of their car insurance policy lies in the information provided during the…
Continue readingCar Insurance for Drivers with Accident History
Having accidents on record will certainly affect auto insurance premium as it will put you in the high risk drivers category. However, how much it does influence rates depends on many factors like age, experience, the number of claims you made, credit score, when you had the last incident, the provider and state you live…
Continue readingHow Auto Insurance Companies Differ in Handling Claims
When it comes to vehicle insurance, one aspect that holds significant importance is the handling of claims. Dealing with a car accident or any other incident can be a stressful experience, and the presence of a dependable insurance company that handles claims efficiently can truly make a world of difference. Claim handling practices vary among…
Continue readingCan My Auto Insurance Be Cancelled Due to Accidents?
It’s important for policyholders to understand the circumstances under which their car insurance policy can be cancelled, especially in relation to accidents. Typically, the responsibility of covering accident-related damages and injuries is an anticipated outcome of a policy and does not warrant policy cancellation. Nevertheless, there may exist exceptional circumstances surrounding an accident, prompting insurance companies…
Continue readingCommon Reasons for Auto Insurance Claim Denials
Once a vehicle insurance company denies a claim, they have to lay out the reasons in letter, which could be lack of coverage, exclusions and conditions in the policy, disputed liability, failure to submit the claim in time, unaccepted use of the vehicle and misrepresentation of the facts. The insurer may have gotten it wrong…
Continue readingVanishing Deductibles Auto Insurance Policies
Motorists may be able to arrange policies with disappearing deductibles through a few companies. In such cases, there are set amounts for each coverage component at the start but they start going down for every year (or six-month term) if there are no accidents or traffic violations. It is a way of rewarding policyholders and people…
Continue readingWill Insurance Pay If I Damage my Own Car or Property?
Car insurance policies can indeed provide compensation for self-inflicted damages, but it largely depends on the specific coverage you have on your policy and the circumstances surrounding the incident. Let’s delve into the details of when your auto insurance may or may not pay for self-inflicted damages to your car and property: Understanding Car Insurance…
Continue readingWhat Happens if You Don’t Have Auto Insurance?
Car insurance plays a crucial role in protecting both drivers and the general public from financial hardships resulting from accidents and other perils. Unfortunately, a significant number of motorists end up driving without insurance, unaware of the potential consequences. Vehicle owners should not live with the stress of not having insurance and should shop around…
Continue readingWhat Happens if You Get in an Accident Without Insurance?
You are legally responsible for any damages and injuries you cause in an accident. Insurance is just a mechanism to pay for your responsibilities. Without insurance, you have to pay for any damages or injuries you cause in an accident out of pocket. This means you may have to pay for the repairs to your…
Continue readingCan Auto Insurance Defend You from Lawsuits?
Even if you have liability auto insurance you can still be sued by third parties who blame you for their injuries and damages. Even if the third parties know you have insurance, they need to sue you (not the insurance company) if they believe your insurer is taking too long to settle their claims or…
Continue readingWhat Is Subrogation in Auto Insurance?
Subrogation is a legal process that enables insurance companies to pursue third parties who are responsible for damages or injuries suffered by their policyholders, after the insurer has compensated the policyholder for their losses. After an insurance company covers the policyholder’s losses, they assume the policyholder’s rights to seek compensation from the liable third parties….
Continue readingWhat Types of Cars Increase the Cost of Insurance?
Certain types of vehicles are considered high-risk by automobile insurance companies due to various factors such as their value, powerful engine, rarity of parts, or modifications made. As a result, the cost of insuring these vehicles can be substantially higher. While extreme examples exist to emphasize this point, even opting for a sportier model from…
Continue readingCan Auto Insurance Companies Change Rates Mid-Policy?
Vehicle insurance companies cannot modify rates while a policy is active. Regardless of any rate increases affecting all policyholders, the implementation of new rates for a policyholder can only occur at the time of policy renewal. This rule applies even if the policyholder has been involved in an accident or received a traffic violation. However,…
Continue readingNecessity & Impact of Reporting Minor Incidents to Auto Insurers
When faced with minor incidents involving your vehicle, you may often wonder whether you should inform your car insurance company and what impact it would have on your premiums, even if you don’t file a claim. This dilemma arises due to several factors, including the lack of other parties involved, incidents not being reported to…
Continue readingDo You Pay Car Insurance Deductibles If You Aren’t at Fault?
Often, at-fault parties for the accident promptly accept responsibility, and their insurers cover all the expenses, eliminating the need for deductible payments. However, in situations where responsible parties or their insurers delay the process, it may become necessary to explore alternative solutions to ensure timely repairs. In such cases, the final outcome and the payment…
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