When you get a new auto, or your auto insurance runs out, you want the best auto insurance price you can get. The fact is that if you are not careful, you could end up paying 20-50 per cent more to insure your auto than you need to.
To get a good auto insurance price, you need to shop around, and get at least three quotes. But the question is: How? Sure, you could get on the phone, as most insurers have freephone numbers, or you could just leave it to a broker to get the best price.
You won't get the latest information on the phone
There are two problems with these methods. First, you are not likely to get to all the best auto insurance prices. The Yellow Pages are never completely up-to-date, so if you rely on that source for insurers you may not reach a new, competitive company. If you leave it to a broker, you will only get quotes from companies the broker deals with – not every insurer. In fact, some insurance companies deal only directly with the public and do not use brokers. Because they do not pay the broker a fee, you usually get a better price.
Googling not the best answer for this one
The most up-to-date place to find auto insurance prices is clearly the Internet. But this is one case where you may not get the best answer by Googling. The reason for this is that many of the websites listed are not actually insurers nor brokers but directories of insurance companies – and these sites are not always updated regularly.
You really want to get to a quicker way, where you can be sure that the source of auto insurance prices has can access a large number of insurers. There are a number of sites that do this, but the best I have found is this one. Here you just key in your details and you will get a great comparison of quotes, giving you the best auto insurance prices.
you can discover how to compare auto insurance rates and get the best rates at Auto Insurance.
January 9, 2008
Auto Insurance Price
The Importance of Proper Insurance in Auto Accidents
When a driver is in an automobile accident with another driver who has insurance with proper coverage, recovery for damages is generally straightforward. However, not every driver carries automobile insurance, which is in violation of state compulsory automobile insurance laws, or has the proper coverage. People do drive vehicles without insurance and are cause an increasing number of accidents each year. When an automobile accident involves an uninsured/underinsured motorist, recovery for damages becomes more difficult.
An uninsured motorist refers to a person who is the driver responsible for causing the automobile accident (the at fault driver) and has not insured their vehicle. An underinsured motorist refers to a person who is the driver responsible for causing the automobile accident (the at fault driver) and has insured their vehicle but at limits that are insufficient to cover all of the damages sustained in the automobile accident.
A driver who is involved in a car crash with a driver who has no insurance or has insufficient insurance, then their insurance company would cover the costs if the driver had included uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage in their insurance policy. This takes care of medical expenses, property damage, and other compensatory damages. An insurance policy that includes uninsured motorist coverage can also play an important role in cases or injuries that are due to a hit-and-run car accidents. Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage can also be utilized if a pedestrian is hit by a motor vehicle.
It is extremely risky to drive without insurance or without proper insurance, so always be sure that your insurance is up to date and covers all of your motor vehicles' needs. If you have proper insurance, then your insurance company should cover the costs of an accident in the case that you are at fault. If the other driver is at fault, then their insurance should pay. However, in the case that the other driver does not have insurance or their insurance isn't sufficient, it is wise to have an insurance plan that covers you even if you are hit by someone without insurance.
Although a driver can possibly sue a uninsured/underinsured motorist if their insurance does not include uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, there is no guarantee that the uninsured/underinsured motorist will have the money or assets to pay the judgment. For this reason, having uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage in your insurance policy is a good idea.
If you have been in an automobile accident and have suffered injuries, you may have a legal case. If you would like to contact a lawyer, please use the Find Attorney button at the top of the page.
For your source for everything legal on the web, visit LegalView.com. At http://www.legalview.com , you can gain admission to an entire legal database that includes an attorney referral service available to you at no cost. Visitors who use this service can use the resources to find information on a variety of legal issues and contact expert attorneys such as a traumatic brain injury lawyer or a mesothelioma attorney. Visitors can also find an auto accident lawyer at here
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
December 19, 2007
Commonly used auto insurance terms
absolute liability - the insurance company’s responsibility to a third party regardless of any statutory breaches on the part of the insured
actual cash value - replacement or market value less depreciation
adjuster - a person who acts on behalf of an insurance company or an insured in the settlement of claims
agent/broker - a person who solicits or offers insurance products on behalf of insurance companies.
at-fault accident - those accidents which occur because of your own actions. Comprehensive claims such as windshield damage, or stolen stereos are not considered accidents. They are comprehensive claims made against that portion of your coverage, if you carry it for damage to your own vehicle.
cancellation - the termination of an insurance contract before it expires.
cancellation (flat) – an insurance company cancels a policy as of its effective date, without charging any premium to you. This may happen if an insurance company realizes it has given an incorrect quote. It may cancel the policy and refund all your money. It may also do this if they void the policy. It may void a policy if it determines that not all material information was provided to them to properly assess the risk.
cancellation (pro-rata) – an insurance company cancels a policy and adjusts the premium in proportion to the time the coverage was in effect. It refunds a portion of the premium back to you.
cancellation (short-rate) - an insurance company cancels a policy at your request before the expiry date and charges a premium larger than what would be applicable for the period insured. This must be
provided for in the policy. Generally, this increased charge is made because fixed expenses have been incurred by the insurance company. Insurance companies often use fixed rate tables to calculate the premium they have earned.
claim - a demand for payment for a loss under an insurance policy
deductible - The amount of a claim that you are required to pay. For example, if you have $1000 worth of damage done to your car from vandalism and your deductible is $500, you will be responsible for $500 of the cost. The insurance company will pay for the other $500.
driving convictions - these are any offences under the Motor Vehicle Act or the Criminal Code of Canada. They include speeding, careless driving, impaired driving, not wearing a seatbelt. These convictions are included on your drivers abstract which insurance companies are able to obtain as part of their underwriting rules. If you have one or more driving conviction, your insurance premium will likely increase.
endorsement - a form amending the terms of the policy. Sometimes called a rider.
insurance premium - the price you pay for the insurance policy, based on the risk assessment
lapse in coverage – Companies rate a policy based on continuous insurance history. A short lapse in coverage is no longer a reason to decline someone insurance. It is however a factor in the rate charged by an insurer. Before cancelling a policy for a short term, check with your insurance broker to determine how the lapse in coverage will affect you and future insurability.
not-at-fault accidents - A not at fault accident occurs by action other than your own. For example, when you stop at a stop sign and someone hits your rear bumper. (Please note, a windshield or a stolen stereo are comprehensive claims and while they are also not
at fault they do not involve the vehicle moving.)
risk - the likelihood that a person or thing insured may suffer injury, damage, or loss. third party liability insurance - protects the insured against liability arising out of bodily injury or property damage to others underwriter - a person who decides if an insurance risk is acceptable. He/she decides in what amount and on what terms the insurance company will accept the risk. Also called an insurer.
underwriting rules - rules used to assess the risk in insuring you. In Nova Scotia, these rules are established by the insurance companies and are based on their own business needs.