Autosonics Autobody & Collision

Articles of interest....

Cheap Car Insurance for New Driver – Six Ways to Save Money
By Elizabeth Newberry

If you’re a new driver, there’s good news. Your new privilege doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg in insurance costs. There are ways to get cheap car insurance for new drivers. Check out these tips.

1. Shop around. You will hear this time and time again, but it really is in your best interest to look at and compare the policies and rates of several different auto insurance companies.

2. Once you choose an insurance company, talk with your agent about any discounts that the company may offer. Just because you are a new driver does not mean you have to be exempt from certain discounts.

3. Choose a safe, inexpensive car to drive. It is very tempting to purchase a fast, flashy, and expensive vehicle, especially for new drivers who want to turn heads, but these types of vehicles usually result in higher insurance costs.

4. Consider taking a driver education course. Many insurance companies will recognize your effort to educate yourself on the importance of safe driving and may even offer discounts. Before you enroll, talk with your insurance agent about such options.

5. If you are a teen driver still in school, make sure to keep your grades up. Many insurance companies reward teen drivers for good grades with lower insurance costs. Also enroll in a driver education course, especially if your school offers one.

6. Practice safe driving. This means, no alcohol or other drugs and no speeding or otherwise reckless driving. Not only could this help lower your insurance costs now, but clean driving records almost always lower insurance costs in the future.

Remember, driving is a nice privilege, but it also brings many responsibilities along with it. By taking these six tips into consideration, not only are you acting responsibly by helping yourself and your parents save money, but you’re also helping keep yourself and others safe on the road.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elizabeth_Newberry

Do You Need to Buy Rental Car Insurance?
By Matt McWilliams

Do not wait until you are in a quandary at the rental counter.  Before your next business trip, find out if you are covered through your own automobile insurance policy or through your credit card company.

Business Use

Since the expense is for business use, take the coverage the rental agency offers for at least two reasons: 1) If you have an accident, your insurance carrier will not be aware of it and thus it will not affect your personal auto policy rates.  2) It is a deductible business expense whereas your personal auto policy is not.

Auto Insurance

Call your agent to find out what your auto insurance policy covers when you rent a car. To be properly covered in your rental, your existing policy must include liability, comprehensive and collision coverage for rental vehicles. Liability insurance covers you if you injure another person in an accident, and comprehensive and collision insurance cover the rental car if you are responsible for the damage.

Credit Cards

After you know what your auto policy covers, check with your credit card company. Some credit card companies offer collision and theft insurance when you use their card to pay for a rental, but this coverage is usually secondary to your personal auto policy. Significant restrictions may apply: For example, the card company may require that you decline the rental agency’s collision damage waiver — a provision of your rental agreement that limits your liability for damages to the car.
Remember, a credit card will only cover damage to the car, not liability claims against you. That means your credit card will not protect you if you injure others or destroy property. In addition, this coverage might exclude business use or be limited to a certain period of time and geographic area.

Rental Insurance

If you do not have adequate coverage through your auto insurance policy or credit card, you should purchase coverage. The most misunderstood part of rental insurance is the collision damage waiver. A collision damage waiver isn’t really insurance; instead, it is a guarantee that the rental company will pay for certain damages. Rental agencies offer collision damage waivers or loss damage waivers for about $14 to $20 per day. If you decline the collision damage waiver, you accept responsibility for all damages.

The collision damage waiver also covers "loss of use" — the money a rental agency loses when the vehicle cannot be rented due to damages. In most states, an automobile insurance policy will not cover this cost and you could find yourself personally responsible for it.

In addition, when you damage a rental car, some agencies will expect you to pay up front for repairs or replacement costs. This means the money comes from your pocket and you must get reimbursed by your auto insurance company. The collision damage waiver protects you from these up-front costs.

In addition to the collision damage waiver, most rental agencies offer:

• Supplementary liability insurance, which acts as secondary coverage to your personal policy

• Primary liability insurance for drivers who don’t have auto insurance policies or don’t want to use them

• Personal accident insurance

• Personal effects protection that insures your belongings

So, ultimately, it depends on your situation, but do carefully consider all of these possibilities and most of all, make sure you are covered!

Matt McWilliams is one of the co-founders of HometownQuotes.Com, an online insurance quotes web site. He is originally from Pinebluff, NC and attended Middle Tennessee State University. He is considered an expert in the field of online insurance shopping and finding new ways to help consumers save money on their insurance. For more information visit http://www.hometownquotes.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_McWilliams

What Do You Mean My Auto Insurance Policy Doesn't Cover This!!
By Tim Gorman

Auto insurance is an agreement between you and your insurance company where you arrange to pay a premium in an exchange for the peace of mind that your insurance agency will pay for vehicle related financial losses during the duration of the policy. You need auto insurance because you are liable by law to pay for losses you cause to others in the event of an automobile accident. Purchasing auto insurance is the surest way to guarantee you will be able to fulfill your end of the bargain. In some states it is required that you have minimum forms of insurance in order to drive. You also must have insurance in order to finance a car.

One of the first questions you will be asked when obtaining automobile insurance is how much of the covered loss or deductible do you want to be your responsibility? You may choose between $100, $250, $500, or $1,000. The higher your deductible the lower your premium however you must keep in mind that the deductible is the amount you must pay before your insurance will assist you. If you cannot afford to pay the first $1,000 of the covered loss you may want to consider how much you can afford and choose a lower deductible.

Your insurance coverage is broken down into each purpose you would need to be covered for. One of the most common coverages include liability which pays out when the insured driver is legally responsible for bodily injuries and property damage they cause to others. Bodily injury damages cover medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and other special damages. Property damage includes damaged property and loss of use. Liability also pays legal defense expenses. Each state has a set minimum amount of coverage you must carry but you may opt for higher amounts.

Personal injury protection pays medical expenses for covered individuals despite who is at fault for the accident. It also covers rehab, lost wages, replacement of services and funeral expenses. Medical payment coverage pays medical and funeral expenses regardless of fault when the causes of these requirements are due to an automobile accident. Collision coverage pays for damage to an insured vehicle caused by collision with another vehicle or object. Your deductible will apply to collision coverage.

Comprehensive coverage pays for loss of or damage to an insured vehicle unless is damaged or lost as the result of a collision. Comprehensive would cover losses due to theft, fire, wind, hail, flood, vandalism or impact with an animal. Your deductible will apply to comprehensive coverage.

Uninsured motorist pays for loss or damage caused by another driver who does not have liability insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage pays when the insured driver is injured in an automobile accident caused by a driver who has an inadequate amount of liability insurance. Rental reimbursement pays rental vehicle costs when your vehicle is put out of commission as the result of an automobile accident. Daily monetary limits may apply. Emergency roadside assistance coverage pays towing expenses when your vehicle breaks down. Distance limits may apply.

Your policy will generally cover you, your spouse children and other family members who reside in your residence as well as anyone else who has permission to drive your covered automobile.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Best-Free-Insurance-Quotes.com. He provides more insurance information and offers free money saving home, life, health and auto insurance quotes that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Gorman