Avoiding The Potholes Of Car Insurance
|
Car Insurance is an issue that we all of face in our lives. Do we insure our car or not?
For example, what type of policy should you get? What should you look out for when signing on the dotted line? Car insurance can be a minefield if you do not investigate and take time out to research and evaluate the many types of insurance on offer in today's market.
Some of the main questions you need to ask yourself include do you want car insurance in the first place or are you willing to let luck prevail? Do you want comprehensive cover? Do you want to be covered just for fire and theft or do you want third party property damage insurance?
There is a significant difference in each of these policies and they vary from company to company. Basically comprehensive cover is full cover of your car and the other person's car (or the traffic light you demolished).
Third Party Fire and theft insurance is the next step down and then you have third party cover. Third party protects you for damage to some else's car but not yours.
After working out what type of insurance you want, ask yourself do you want to insure the car at an agreed value or current market value of the car? This is very important to consider. If your car is a special model with lots of modifications, you might consider the agreed value option because it allows you to include added extras.
The majority of people go for the market value option but it is important to read the fine print. This option has a catch. The insurance company pays out the amount the car is worth at the time of the accident. Hence the amount could be different to the market value originally spelled out in the policy when you signed up because of depreciation.
Once you have worked out what type of cover you want you start getting down to the smaller, more tedious options.
Some of the main ones you need to consider include:
(i) How much is the excess?
(ii) Do you want to choose the repairer?
(iii) Do you want loan vehicles if your car is stolen?
(iv) Do you want the policy to cover the car for business use?
(v) What drivers are covered?
(vi) Is it repaired using only genuine spare parts?
(vii) Is there a limit on towing fees?
(viii) Does it cover damaged property and personal belongings inside the car?
(ix) Does it Cover taxi fares?
RAC's Assistant General Manager for Insurance Services, Sam Mola believes it is very important for people to research and investigate all options before taking out car insurance.
"People need to watch out and make sure they are signing up for cover that suits their needs. You need to review the benefits provided and then make an informed decision," he said.
"People need to make sure they are familiar with the cover provided by the policy and not just compare policies on price. They need to make sure the company can provide the appropriate claims service when a claim is made. For example the company should provide a high quality of repairs for a minimum amount of fuss. People need to consider the reputation of the organization. Cheaper does not always mean better."
The Australian Insurance Council's Group General Manager for Western Australia and the Northern Territory Daryl Cameron said in 85 per cent of cases policies are bought on price alone, which can be dangerous for people who do not read their policies extremely carefully. He also said if you are not honest with your potential insurer they may refuse to pay out if the time comes.
"It is vital that all known information regarding the vehicle or any intended driver is fully disclosed to the insurer when taking out a policy or when one is up for renewal. If anything changes that may effect your policy you must tell the insurer; It is extremely important, remember you have a duty of disclosure," Mr Cameron said.
"If you smash into the back of a Mercedes, and you forgot to tell your insurance company about your dangerous driving conviction, they may refuse to pay out despite the fact you are covered by them. So be careful otherwise you may have to foot the bill yourself," he warned.
So be careful, take your time and watch out for the traps that catch many unsuspecting motorists. It is important that you understand what you are getting into and ask as many questions as you can. Remember there is no harm in asking and it could save you a lot of money in the long run.
Here are 10 points to remember when considering car insurance
Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries.
You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com. Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom's blog at http://www.8mmedia.blogspot.com.
|
|
|
Why Dont Women Have Life Insurance?
Traditionally, life insurance companies solicited men as the main breadwinners in a family to ensure, that they had adequate life insurance coverage.Now, times have changed, but the statistics on women show that great percentage of American and Canadian women carry no life insurance. And those that do have a policy, carry about half as much coverage as men do.Most modern U.S. and Canadian households are dual-income households. If you are married, especially if you have children, would your husband be able to afford the family style of living if you were to pass away? If you are single, who would assume the burden of paying for your final costs if you were to pass away? This may fall ...(related: Insurance)
Business Insurance; Information You Will Need
When you start a small business you will need to have insurance. You would be wise to shop around. Triple A rated carriers like Farmers Insurance, State Farm and All State are definitely places to get quotes from, but also be sure to check out your local independent insurance agents as well. When shopping for a quote there is some things you will need to know. For instance you SIC code and business category. If you are involved in more than one, it pays to look at both SIC codes to see which category is preferred by the agents underwriters. Some SIC codes many insurance companies will not even touch. For instance Car Washes, Amusement Parks, Aviation Businesses and security companies. But there are insurance companies who specialize in these areas. Perhaps you might wish to thumb through a recent trade journal to see which insurance c...(related: Insurance)
Life Insurance Beneficiaries
Naming a beneficiary for your life insurance policy can be a difficult decision to make, not to mention a tricky procedure. A person needs to research the different types of beneficiaries and the different ways to go.In naming a life insurance beneficiary, a person should always specifically name and individual or organization and state the proceeds go to the beneficiary.Multiple beneficiaries may also be another option to your life insurance policy. There is no limit to the number of beneficiaries on a life...(related: Insurance)
Filing Auto Insurance Claims: The Basic Steps To Take
An automobile accident can be a terrifying event for anyone, even when there are no injuries sustained. However, it is stil...(related: Insurance)
The Need For Life Insurance
A person needs to reexamine their life insurance needs every few years because as our life events change so do our needs.When starting a family, a person needs to consider starting a life insurance policy. In the event that death occurs to one of the parents, there needs to be some insurance that money will be there to help raise and support the rest of the family.When buying a home, life insurance needs to be considered or reexamined, as well. If a spouse should die, it is important to know that the other spouse could pay the mortgage and bills.Getting a new job is another life event that requires some tho...(related: Insurance)
Hidden Ways To Cut Car Insurance
Consumers are countering rising gasoline prices and other vehicle operating costs by capitalizing on lower auto insurance rates, according to leading insurers.Auto policy costs and regulations vary significantly from state to state, but there are a number of areas that consumers are able to...(related: Insurance)
Insurance For Those Who Run Bed And Breakfast Properties
A Bed and Breakfast, often referred to as a B&B, is a private residence with several rooms of which are set aside for overnight guests whose paid accommodations include breakfast. Modern Bed and Breakfast often consciously tries to recall...(related: Insurance)
Check Out The Variety Of Auto Insurance Texas Style
They say everything is bigger and better in Texas, and this is true when you look at the wide variety of different auto insurance companies offering auto insurance. Texas drivers have to consider four main options when they choose an auto insurance company....(related: Insurance)
Useful Tips On Reducing Insurance Costs
Most people want lower insurance costs but are often too lazy to do anything about it. All it takes is a little time and effort and you could be looking at a reduced insurance premium.Here are some useful tips on reducing insurance costs:Shop AroundAlthough it may sound an obvious thing to do, you will be surprised at how many people just renew their policy without comparing prices. It'll take some time, but could save you a good sum of money.Check consumer guides, insurance agents and online insurance quote services. Ask friends what they are paying for their policies. This will give you an idea of price ranges and tell you which companies have the lowest prices. But don't cons...(related: Insurance)
Finding A Discount Car Insurance Broker
Discount car insurance brokerTimes past finding a discount insurance broker was important and offered you access to many different outlets for your needs. Today that's no longer the case as finding a discount insurance broker doesn't really provide you with any benefits or advantages as it once did.A simple matter of typing in what you're looking for into the search box on the internet will give you access to anything you need with numerous options and plenty of details.At one time companies didn't have access to the buying public like they enjoy today. So, they used to contract agents and brokers who had been around a long time with a large base of customers. That system was used for years. The publi...(related: Insurance)
What Are The Auto Liability Insurance State Minimums For My State?
As you shop online for the best auto insurance deals you may begin to ask yourself what exactly is required by law when it comes to auto insurance. Fortunately this article outlines the auto liability insurance state minimums that you are required to have in order to legally drive in the United States. No matter what state you drive in all of them have financial responsibility laws and require motorists to purchase minimum amounts of auto liability insurance except for Tennessee, Wisconsin and New Hampshire.Many websites and advocates of insurance (to include myself) recommend having a minimum of $100,000 for bodily injury p...(related: Insurance)
Insurance Adjusters How They Work And How They Think
Here comes the insurance adjuster. Is he overly friendly? If so, watch out! It's OK to be hospitable. Be good-tempered and cordial - - but beware! Never forget he's paid to save his company as much money as he can. That's the name of his game.DON'T SIGN ANYTHING: Don't overestimate the good will of the adjuster. They're trained to investigate accident cases in such a way, if at all possible, to make their insured look good. Many unsuspecting individuals fall prey to the adjuster who seeks to protec...(related: Insurance)
A Life Insurance Quote Became Reality
Life insurance quoteThank goodness John took his life insurance quote seriously. It didn't prevent our daughters from wishing he were still here but thanks to his foresight they and I still have the things he worked for because he turned that life insurance quote into...(related: Insurance)
site-map - Copyright © 2006 Insurance | All Rights Reserved. | Insurance