Tag: car-insurance

Protecting Yourself: Why Car Insurance is Essential for Traveling

Traveling is a way to break from your routine, experience new adventures, and appreciate nature. However, while it can be an avenue to enjoy life, it also comes with inherent risks.

Auto accidents can occur anywhere and anytime when traveling by car. This is why having sufficient auto insurance is essential for tourists. Auto insurance offers financial security against unforeseen accidents by covering vehicle repair expenses, medical costs, and other damages associated with the crash.

 

In this article, you will learn the importance of having insurance when traveling and what to do if you are involved in a car accident with an uninsured driver.

 

Can I Drive Without Auto Insurance?

 

In most states, driving without auto insurance is against the law. Auto insurance is required to guarantee your financial security and the financial safety of others in case of an accident.

 

Aside from purchasing one, drivers are often required to have proof of it when traveling. If authorities determine that you lack insurance and evidence of buying one when driving, they may impose legal consequences, such as fines.

 

Furthermore, if you drive without insurance, you risk facing significant financial consequences because you will be solely liable for paying for any injuries and property damage. This is why insurance protects you from legal repercussions and financial burden from a car accident.

 

Why Is Car Insurance Essential for Traveling?

 

From legal obligation to financial responsibility, there are a few reasons why car insurance is crucial when traveling by land.

 

Legal Obligation

 

In most jurisdictions in the United States, driving without insurance is not permitted. Hence, your legal obligation is to secure car insurance before traveling. Failure to follow such law may lead to legal consequences, such as fines, license suspension, vehicle impoundment, or even legal action.

 

For example, in California, drivers are obligated to fulfill specific liability requirements, which include:

  • $15,000 coverage for injury or fatality to a single individual

  • $30,000 coverage for injury or fatality to multiple individuals

  • $5,000 coverage for property damage

 

Moreover, you are not only required to secure insurance in California, but you also need to have proof of purchasing one when driving.

 

Financial Protection

 

One of the most essential advantages of having auto insurance is financial protection, which covers a range of costs related to collisions, such as medical bills, auto repairs, and legal fees.

 

In a car accident, the driver who causes the crash must cover the damages expenses. In most cases, they will use their auto insurance policy to cover the damage costs of the victim.

 

People who don’t have auto insurance risk having to pay for the damages out of pocket, which might put them in serious financial trouble or possibly bankrupt them. Consequently, having auto insurance provides people with financial security and peace of mind by protecting them from unforeseen expenses brought on by road accidents.

 

Medical Assistance

 

Car accidents may result in significant injuries or wrongful death, depending on the factors affecting the impact of the collision. When you have car insurance, the provider will likely pay for the medical expenses associated with the crash. These can include hospital bills, medication expenses, and other costs related to your injuries.

 

If the car accident results from another driver’s negligence, you may also claim compensation for future medical expenses, especially if it causes significant injuries. Future rehabilitation, treatments, and care plans may all be included in the compensation.

 

Car insurance enables individuals to receive the medical treatment they require without worrying about the hefty costs associated with healthcare services, offering critical support during challenging times.

 

Emergency Assistance

 

Car insurance provides emergency help, which can be extremely useful while traveling. In the event of a breakdown or accident, insurance coverage frequently includes towing, roadside assistance, and vehicle repairs.

 

These services ensure that travelers receive fast assistance, decreasing downtime and further issues on the road. Whether you have a flat tire, a dead battery, or run out of gas, having auto insurance with emergency assistance coverage provides peace of mind and ensures that help is only a phone call away.

 

What Happens If I’m Involved in a Car Accident While Traveling?

 

If you are involved in a car accident while traveling, the driver who causes the collision should be responsible for the damages. If the crash results from another party’s negligence, they should cover your damage expenses. On the other hand, if you cause a collision, you should cover your and the other driver’s losses from the crash.

 

Note that your right to pursue a car accident claim for compensation relies on the other driver’s liability for the crash, the presence of injuries and other damages, and sufficient evidence to support your claim.

 

This means that if you are responsible for the crash, you don’t have the right to file a claim for compensation. However, some jurisdictions allow victims to pursue a case even if they are partly at fault. It is best to determine the jurisdiction in the state where you had the accident to know if you are entitled to compensation.

 

For example, you were traveling in Carlsbad when a drunk driver hit you. Consequently, you were distracted on the phone when the collision occurred. Since you didn’t understand the jurisdiction in the state where the accident happened, you decided to avoid filing a claim. Unfortunately, if you had pursued a case, you would have received a settlement depending on how much the other driver caused the collision.

 

In such a case, a Carlsbad accident attorney understands the importance of determining jurisdictions in several states, builds a case for compensation if you are entitled to one, collects evidence, and negotiates fair settlements.

 

Having legal representation during a travel accident can significantly impact your ability to navigate the legal system and ensure your rights are upheld. From comprehending legislation to engaging in negotiations with insurance providers, an experienced lawyer may offer crucial legal assistance and direction throughout the process. They can assist you in gathering proof, estimating the degree of your losses, and pursuing just compensation.

6 Things You Should Know About SR-22 Car Insurance

Most drivers have never heard about SR-22 insurance, probably because they have never been in a situation that demands that they have one. But if you recently got into situations like license revocation or suspension after a major traffic violation, you already have heard about SR-22 insurance.

After fulfilling the conditions of your license revocation, your local DMV will demand that you carry SR-22 insurance. If you are having difficulty understanding what SR-22 insurance is all about, this post can clarify it.

What Is SR-22 Insurance?

While SR-22 is often used to refer to a specific type of insurance, it’s not technically one. Instead, SR-22 is the name of a certificate issued to a policyholder by an insurer. An SR-22 is provided at the request of the local DMV as proof that the policyholder carries the minimum auto insurance coverage.

This insurance is only a requirement for individuals seeking reinstatement of their driving privileges after fulfilling the conditions of their sentence.

You May Not Need to Pay SR-22 in Certain Circumstances

SR-22 is only a requirement for serious traffic offenses such as a conviction with DUI, vehicular homicide, and accidents resulting from blatant disregard for the safety of other road users.

Minor moving violations may not warrant getting SR-22 insurance unless you accumulate points on your license that earn a license suspension. If you are unsure how to avoid SR-22 insurance, you may want to read more on this article, as CheapInsurance explains various dos and don’ts.

The SR-22 Certificate Is Not Expensive

Getting an SR-22 from an insurer may not cost you much. Depending on your insurer, you may be required to pay anything between $15 and $50. Having an SR-22 on your license is what makes insurance premiums expensive.

The price of insurance premiums can shoot to as high as four times than pre-conviction rates. But you do not have to contend with inflated prices. You can shop around for cheap SR-22 insurance on the internet.

Most SR-22 Insurance Remains in Place for Three Years

Different states have different requirements for the period an SR-22 holder will have the status on their license. If your insurance lapses while having an SR-22 status on your license, your insurance company is supposed to notify your local DMV, which could result in severe consequences such as a re-suspension of your driving privileges. So, it is essential always to ensure you renew your insurance before time to avoid a lapse.

Also, an SR-22 certificate has a lifespan of three years. That means you will need to reapply for renewal if your state requires you to carry one for more than three years.

An SR-22 may not automatically fall off your license. Therefore, you must ask your insurer to drop it after fulfilling your sentencing requirements. Once you drop the status from your license, you can start enjoying lower insurance rates.

You May Need an SR-22 Even When You Do Not Own a Car

Even when you do not own a car, you may still need to meet the minimum coverage requirement and an SR-22 certificate before reinstating your driving privileges.

Not having a car doesn’t necessarily mean a driver won’t drive a car in case of an accident in a borrowed or hired vehicle. The non-owner SR-22 coverage steps in to cover the damages caused.

Some States Have Alternative Names to SR-22

Not all states have an SR-22 requirement on drivers after license revocation. Some states have different names for proof of minimum coverage. If you live in Missouri, Georgia, and Texas, SR-22A is the state’s equivalent of SR-22 insurance.

In California, vehicles with more than four wheels must carry an SR1P certificate as proof of minimum liability. In Florida and Virginia, drivers are required to carry an FR44 certificate which serves the same purpose as an SR-22 certificate.

Does a Speeding Warning Affect Your Insurance?

The roads are dangerous, and no matter how well you learn to drive or how many miles you have driven, there is always the risk of getting into an accident looming over everyone. According to a survey in 2019, there are more than 6 million road accidents every year! This is only counting the passenger vehicles. There’s no doubt why insurance companies do such thorough background checks, examine driving records, and consider so many different factors before giving you an auto insurance quote. But does a speeding warning affect your insurance?

There is no simple, straightforward answer to this question because the calculation of auto insurance prices is such a complex process. But there are some ways to look at it and find out whether you’ll have to pay higher insurance prices just because you got a little passionate on the roads and decided to do 100 on a 75.

 

Warning vs Felony

There’s a difference between a warning and a felony. Speeding can be considered as a part of both. While a felony is chargeable, a warning usually means that you were about to commit the felony but stopped somewhere, or it was not severe enough to be considered as one. This is why you are given the warning to avoid such mistakes which could potentially become a crime.

But when it comes to speeding, the line between felony and misdemeanor is very thin. The very act of going over the speed limit is a traffic violation, which can easily increase your insurance rates. It depends on the type of warning that you get and whether it can be severe enough to impact your insurance rates.

 

Can A Speeding Warning Affect Your Insurance? 

From every insurance company that we know, there is little to no chance that a speeding warning or any type of warning will affect your insurance rates. So the next time an officer pulls you over and tells you to drive within the limit, consider yourself lucky that you did not get a speeding ticket and your insurance rates are unaffected. But don’t take this too lightly, it takes no time before a warning turns into a felony.

 

How Insurance Rates are Affected

Insurance companies are very smart when it comes to deciding insurance rates. Even the most affordable insurance company that might offer the best prices for the insurance will look into your driving records, coverage gaps, and other factors to decide the price.

Auto insurance companies look at the CLUE report, which contains all the tickets, charges, accident records, and everything about the person. You can get a copy of your CLUE report for free to see how many traffic tickets you have in your name. This is how insurance companies calculate your insurance quote.

So it all depends on whether a speeding warning gets registered on your CLUE report or not. It is very rare to have a verbal speeding warning to be considered a traffic violation. But what about a written warning? A written warning is far more severe than a verbal warning, right?

While written warnings are a little more serious than verbal ones, a warning is still a warning. And warnings do not affect your insurance rates because they are like your one-off pass for a violation. But remember that things can be serious, depending on the state you are in or the officer.

Repeated warnings might result in a hefty fine and a ticket, which will be added to your CLUE report and will increase the price of your auto insurance. For example, if the officer noted down your license plate and found you speeding again, you are looking at a ticket for sure. Tickets and fines go directly to the DMV, and from there to your CLUE report. So it is better to be safe than sorry and pay a lot of money for insurance which works as an insult to injury.

So the bottom line is, that warnings will not affect your auto insurance rates, as they are just verbal or written warnings that are not registered anywhere. But if the warning is repeated and you are caught doing the same thing again, it will result in a ticket. But here’s an extra step of precaution you need to take if you want to keep your insurance rates intact.

 

Don’t Contact Your Insurance Company for Speeding!

Yes, you read that right. Let’s say that you got a warning for overspeeding and that was it. But you want to make sure that your insurance rates are still the same. You should stop right at that moment. Why? Because just talking to your insurance company might increase your insurance prices. Just by talking!

While never confirmed but observed, people who get into minor accidents, or just speed have reported seeing a hike in the insurance premiums and price just because they asked the insurance company about the violation. Insurance companies are keeping hundreds of thousands of dollars at stake in your driving record. They will not slip anything which could increase the risk of an accident. And a speeding warning is a factor that increases the risk of accidents.

So not just speeding, but whatever happens, while you drive, never contact your insurance company about any violations, warnings, verbal or written. If they know, the price will go up. Another way of knowing if a speeding warning has increased your insurance cost or not is by requesting a CLUE report after a month or so of getting a speeding warning. The CLUE report is free of cost and does not affect your insurance rates.

Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Policies Online

Comparing car insurance online is on the rise, not only because of the current pandemic but because of how accessible the comparison sites are. In today’s technological world people like to use their smartphones for everything. They are basically handheld computers available in their back pockets. 

The benefits of being able to search up quotes from various companies are many. As AP News puts it, the best thing that people can do when searching for any type of service compares the policies and prices of various companies. Every company has different premium costs. Some policies have riders, or clauses, that make them better, or worse. They are also mostly shifting towards online forms and contracts. This makes their work easier, which in turn could lead to discounts or reduced rates.

1. Save Money 

As mentioned above, many companies will give you a discount because it allows them to get a contract without having to put much work into it. Since they have time for other things, they pass the savings on to you. It may not be a huge amount of money that you get back, but every little cent helps cut the costs of insurance. 

2. Speed

The speed and ease of getting a quote are well worth hopping online when you need car insurance. You no longer must sit at a desk in front of a salesperson that works off commission. The online portals will not talk you into upgrading just so they can get a bigger paycheck. The portals will guide you through questions so that the policy fits your needs. 

3. Free

When you use a site that compares car insurance in NSW the search engine is free, and the quotes that you get from each company is free. They are competing for your business so they will not charge you to run your information through their data banks to give you a policy quote. Even better is that you are under no obligation to accept any of the offers. You can look them over, toss them out, and move on to others if you want to.

4. Customizable

When you use an online portal you can customize the policy to fit your needs. You can change almost all the coverage areas to decrease, or increase, aspects of the policy. When you make changes like this, though, you will lose or gain, the benefits of having the insurance. You must be careful not to only worry about cost, because it could leave you without the coverage that you need if something should happen.

Conclusion

Comparing car insurance quotes online simply makes sense in today’s world of mobile devices. Especially when you go through a comparison site for car insurance quotes like iselect. They take all the leg work out of the equation for you, leaving you with only having to wade through the information and find a company that best fits your needs, and your budget. With the touch of the screen and the push of a button, you can check every insurance company that covers your area.

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A Woman’s Guide To Navigating Car Insurance

There is nothing sweeter than a romantic road trip with your beau or a ride or die vacay with your bestie. And shopping for car insurance has never been easier. You can easily get quotes online and over the phone. There are several factors that can help drive the price of insurance down. Here are  some things that you can do to help you lower the cost of your auto insurance policy.

Gender

Believe it or not, gender can influence the price tag of your insurance policy. Studies show that women are more likely to be safer drivers but as time goes on and women get older they are more likely to have more accidents. Securing your policy early on and locking in those good driver discounts as a woman will help you maintain reasonable insurance as you age oh so gracefully.

 

Claims

If you don’t have as many claims, your insurance price will be cheaper than someone who has a lot of them. Most best car insurance companies will reward drivers who have less fender benders. So drive safe, put down that latte, and save some dough.

 

The Amount Of Mileage

If you keep your mileage low, say, you ride your bike on the weekends or you have your honey drive you around, you can actually save money on your car insurance. After all, it makes sense that the less driving hours you clock, the lower your chances become of being in an accident. So take public transport when available, rideshare, and of course, bike or walk whenever you can. Good for the environment and your wallet.  Some insurance companies offer usage based insurance, where you pay less for driving less, by adding a small tracking device to the car to count your miles.

 

The Type Of Car You Are Driving

If you have a fancy car that is more desirable, it will require a more costly insurance price because it is more likely to be stolen. At the same time, if you have an old beat up car that does not easily pass smog check, requires a lot of maintenance, and is not as safe, it is more likely to be demolished in an accident. And thus, the insurance price will also go up. Opting in for a middle of the road, safer car, that is fairly new will help you have reasonable insurance rates. Once you figure out that perfect middle of the road vehicle then shop for car insurance with confidence.

Bundling Your Insurance And Sticking With Your Carrier

These days, you can insure your home, apartment and jewelry all with the same carrier. Sticking with the same one and getting good driver discounts through the years will not only simplify the renewal process, it will help give you some great loyalty programs with discounts too.

Request A Higher Deductable

Going for a larger deductable up front can save you up to forty percent on your monthly payment. This way, you keep your money on you for emergencies and you can save each month on your monthly payment. Just be sure to have that extra money handy in case you need to file a claim.

Be Conscious of the Cost of Collision and Comprehensive Insurance

Maybe you drive a beat up old car and a fender bender wouldn’t be worth the cost of fixing the damage. Especially if you have a higher deductable. You should consider ditching the Collision and Comprehensive when you drive around a beat up vehicle. The best way to be sure that it’s time to do so is to total the cost of the value of the car against what you pay annually in auto insurance. If the car is worth less, consider ditching Collision and Comprehensive. And once the car drives it’s final ride, have that money you saved set aside to purchase a new car.

Maintaining Good Credit

Insurance companies will look at your credit to determine insurance costs. Once again, your credit score matters in terms of getting the best rate. Studies have shown that having a better credit score results in filing fewer claims. So keep that credit score up and save some money. Be sure to check your credit regularly to get any errors.

The Occasionial Driver

Becoming an occasional driver means you are added to an existing policy as a secondary driver. While this is usually reserved for spouse and children, it can also be used for siblings and roommates sharing a car. The best time to add an occasional driver to a policy is when that driver is using the car more than two times a week. Having an Occasional Driver Policy is a great way to start building credibility to have your own policy and it will usually cost a lot less than having two separate policies for the same car. It is really important in the long run to be entirely honest with your insurance carrier. In most cases, there are ways to effectively lower the cost of insurance such as an occasional driver discount.  For example, to drive the car regularly uninsured can result in a rejected claim and a higher cost to insure the vehicle moving forward. The cheaper option is to get insured as a part time driver.

Discounts Are Out There

Finally, take the time to shop around. There are many discounts out there, such as student discounts, good driver discounts, loyalty programs, homeowner discounts. As well as driver training and course discounts, state by state discounts, hybrid and safety discounts, muti-car, and bundle discounts, to name a few. It is really so easy to get insurance and customize it for your daily driving life. Drive Safe!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Car Insurance Types In The USA: What Women Need To Know

General Peculiarities and Types of Insurance Coverage

Insurance today is very important for every car because it allows protecting material and moral well-being from unforeseen injuries and losses in case of road accidents. For example, car insurance is designed to protect drivers from high costs and paperwork. And it makes the car owner’s life easier: regular payments under the insurance policy are much less than those that the car owner will spend on car restoration. 

For women in particular, understanding insurance in greater detail matters. And the specificity of car insurance in the USA. Here is some useful information on auto insurance in Texas, California, New York, or any other US state. 

Information About Auto Insurance in the USA

The car insurance market in the United States is one of the largest to date. Therefore, the proposed insurance products are very diverse. This is because the car is the primary means of transportation for many Americans. In addition, car owner liability insurance is mandatory in the United States. Each owner must have an insurance policy when licensing, driving, and renewing a driver’s license. It should be noted that the federal system of regulation of the insurance industry has not been adopted in the USA, and, therefore, each state, in particular Texas, performs these functions independently, which leads to differences in the requirements for car insurance.

Types of Insurance Coverage

The following types of insurance coverage are available in the USA:

● Clash. In this case, damage from car damage in an accident is compensated. This type of insurance is the most expensive. A franchise of around $ 1,000 is envisaged;
● Total coverage. Compensation for damage from vehicle damage due to theft, falling objects, collisions with animals, fire, floods, earthquakes, etc.;
● Damage to property. It is a compensation for damage caused to property of third parties (house, fence, car, etc.) in a collision due to the fault of the car owner;
● Physical damage. It includes compensation for damage caused to the health of persons who suffered in an accident due to the fault of the car owner. This is mandatory in almost all US states;
● Medical expenses. Reimbursable medical expenses take place in this case;
● Personal damage. This type of insurance is similar to the previous one, however, the range of expenses is wider here, in particular, the coverage also includes lost income and additional security for the person injured in the accident;
● Insufficiently insured driver. Medical expenses, non-received incomes, and payments of a non-economic nature (moral damage) are reimbursed in the event of a collision with a driver who has insufficient insurance coverage.

In conclusion, we should note that compulsory auto insurance standards exist in almost all states of the United States of America, however, its types and limits of liability may vary significantly due to several factors, in particular, traffic saturation, accident statistics, specifics of civil law regulation, etc. Therefore, car owners should study this information carefully.

41 Reasons Why It’s OK to Not Have Your Driver’s License

Some people have been driving since they were legally allowed behind the wheel of a car (and some even before then).

Some people just haven’t gotten the hang of it, or really, really, REALLY don’t want to. And, unfortunately for some, it becomes a source of embarrassment.

But you’ll get it eventually. Or maybe you won’t. Here are some reasons why it doesn’t actually matter.

  1. You were given legs and you were meant to use them.

  2. You’ve had built-in transportation since you were born!

  3. If walking is inconvenient for you, there’s always public transportation.

  4. There are buses, subways, taxis, trains, railcars, and ferries.

  5. And it generally costs less than gassing up a car.

  6. Per month, you can pay $100 for an unlimited MetroCard…

  7. OR $300 on gas. Your choice.

  8. A lot of things cost less than a car, actually.

  9. You don’t have to pay for oil changes ($30)…

  10. Or car insurance ($900 per year)…

  11. You don’t have to fix broken headlights ($50 for ONE)…

  12. You don’t have to worry about HITTING A SQUIRREL.

  13. Bikes are a thing that still exists.

  14. And you can obsess over it just as much as you would a car.

  15. There are 14 types of bicycles, and literally dozens of bike manufacturers. Go crazy.

  16. You don’t even have to buy your own! Most major cities have bikes for rent.

  17. Scooters and skateboards and roller blades are also things that exist.

  18. And they’re infinitely more fun to use.

  19. Driving can actually be incredibly tedious.

  20. Especially when you’re stuck in traffic.

  21. You see more of the world when you don’t have to pay attention to the cars around you.

  22. You definitely get more fresh air.

  23. Your knowledge of the places where you live and work is better than someone who drives.

  24. You know exactly where the supermarket is.

  25. “Is it on Main Street?” Just look for the Wendy’s, it’s next to that.

  26. “But is it the Wendy’s on Main Street?” JUST LOOK FOR THE WENDY’S.

  27. Not used to public transportation or afraid of getting lost?

  28. There are dozens of transportation apps to help you get around, from trains to ferries.

  29. They’re like GPS for your feet.

  30. Less responsibility – the only person whose safety you’re concerned about is yours.

  31. When you take public transportation, it’s totally OK for you to fall asleep.

  32. Getting to call shotgun…

  33. Because everyone knows that’s the best seat in the house. Car. Whatever.

  34. Every day can be like Driving Miss Daisy.

  35. You get so much more sun when you walk everywhere, too, have you considered that?

  36. People that drive only get tans on one arm. ONE ARM.

  37. Your body will thank you for walking, instead.

  38. Because sitting for too long actually makes you more prone to disease. Yikes.

  39. Permit tests and road tests are awful, anyway.

  40. You’re not missing out on much.

  41. And your legs probably look FANTASTIC.

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