How to Get Cheap Car Insurance for Lady Drivers!

Here's something you may not know! There is a very good chance that the car insurance rate you are paying right now is a direct result of your gender. Sometimes your gender will play a very significant role in the rate that you are quoted for car insurance. When it comes to car insurance rates, women drivers tend to pay cheaper premiums than men. This is because statistically speaking, women drivers tend to be more reliable drivers in general, who drive vehicles which a re safer, and who tend to file significantly less insurance claims. Not all women drivers are better than men when it comes to driving, but many car insurance companies are picking up on what the statistics are saying, and are adjusting their rates accordingly. This is a common practice for insurance companies both in the United States and in the United Kingdom as well. In fact, in the United Kingdom there are agencies which exist solely to find low cost insurance options for women drivers. Many of these agencies can be found simply by doing a basic search on the internet. Cheap car insurance for lady drivers is typically fairly easy to find, provided that you qualify for the insurance that you are applying for.

Car insurance companies have spent many years doing research on data pertaining to men and women drivers, and many of the findings have pointed directly toward the idea that women drivers are simply safer and more reliable drivers than men are. For example, women drivers do not appear to be involved in near as many accidents as men drivers are, and when they are involved in accidents the amount of damage involved is typically significantly less. This may be because they are more cautious in general, or it may have to do with the fact that they choose safer cars in general. Additionally, women drivers are much more likely to pass their driver's license exam on the first try, which is not nearly as typical for male drivers. This has nothing to do with the fact that one gender is more intelligent than the other, and is likely because women take the initiative to spend more time practicing and studying before the exam.

These statistics have led car insurance companies to re-evaluate the way that they offer car insurance premiums to female drivers. As a result, insurance providers are much more likely to offer cheaper car insurance premiums to women drivers than to men. So women are not being offered cheaper rates simply because they are women -- They are being offered these rates because the statistics show that it would not be a dangerous bet to offer a lower rate to a safer driver. It has nothing to do with the fact that car insurance companies tend to favor women, or because car insurance companies have been led to believe that gender has anything to do with actual driving skills. All it means is that the statistics have shown that women driver tends to be safer and much more cautious than a male driver, which makes them a safer bet when it comes to automobile insurance risk.

Though women drivers may get lower car insurance rates than men, they are still subjected to all of the exact same criteria when it comes to determining whether or not they will be approved for car insurance, and what quote will be offered to them. All of the following criteria play a part in determining whether or not you will qualify for cheap car insurance.

o The driving record and driving history of the policyholder, and anyone else that will be driving the vehicle.

o The location where the policyholder lives, and where the car will be parked.

o Details about the vehicle, including the make, model and year. Additionally, the vehicle will typically have to pass a safety inspection or at least appear to be in safe working order.

o The credit score and history for the policyholder. Credit history plays a part in whether or not car insurance is awarded in order to insure that insurance is only granted to responsible persons who can handle the monthly premium payments.

o The age and experience of the driver and the policyholder also play a part in the decision. On one hand, many young drivers can acquire special deals and discounts on their insurance policies because they are new to driving, but some insurance policies tend to charge more instead because new and inexperienced drivers are more prone to having accidents or incurring traffic violations which can negatively affect their premiums.

In order to make it easier to find cheap car insurance for lady drivers, it is necessary to practice all of the following:

o Safe driving habits.

o Driving vehicles which are known to be safe.

o Parking or storing vehicles in locations which are safe.

o Paying attention to their driving records and making improvements whenever it is possible.

o Paying attention to their credit scores and reports and making improvements whenever it is possible.

The statistics that have led car insurance companies to offer cheaper premiums to women drivers were never meant to be sexist or discriminatory, but they have done a lot to help women drivers secure car insurance premiums which are inexpensive. This does not mean that men cannot turn around and secure car insurance rates that are just as affordable, but it is generally a lot easier for a female to find the cheap rates than for a male to. Hopefully the rising costs of car insurance premiums will urge more male drivers to take up safe driving habits or to drive cars which are safer in general. If men drove as cautiously as women drivers do, their car insurance premiums would likely be just as inexpensive.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/533546

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How to Buy Classic Car Insurance

Collector Car Insurance and Classic Car Insurance

If you are fortunate enough to own a classic car - or any collectible automobile - then you want to ensure that your luck does not run out because of having inadequate insurance coverage. Call it covering your butt - or covering your "asset" - but by all means, call one of the major providers such as American Collectors, Haggerty, or Parish Heacock insurance companies and let them put you in the driver's seat in terms of professional protection of your cherished automotive investment.

How to Kick the Tires on Classic Car Insurance

The whole idea of insurance is that it needs to do what you expect of it in an emergency, when the rubber really hits the road. And classic car insurance is as different from conventional auto insurance as, well, a classic car is from your run of the mill generic vehicle.

When you buy a classic car insurance policy, you are essentially purchasing protection for those times when - God forbid and knock on wood it doesn't happen - disaster strikes in the form of a fire, a collision, or an act of theft or vandalism. Just as we now have modern airbags to save us in the event of a crash, we also have collector's car insurance, to protect us with adequate moneybags when calamity throws a wrench in the works.

The time you invest in choosing the right classic car insurance coverage is well worth the value and peace of mind that a quality collector's insurance policy delivers for owners of classic motor cars.

The Nuts and Bolts of Classic Car Insurance Coverage

Collector car insurance is not the same as the insurance you buy for normal coverage of your daily transportation. Collector car insurance, or classic car insurance, is made especially for the needs of the car collector. And while ordinary insurance does offer some protection, no matter what you drive, it can leave you high and dry in the event of a loss that it not effectively covered by the terms of the insurance contract.

For example, you may have a garage-kept Cadillac Sedan DeVille with swooping fins your grandparents bought for $7,000 brand new back in the 1960s. But dealers have offered you three times that much, and you saw another one sell at an auto show for $35,000. If you don't have special collector car insurance or classic car insurance, and the car is totaled, you will be lucky to get $7,000 for it. With depreciation calculated in, the insurance statisticians may decide that it is worth only half that much, or less, and you could wind up with two or three grand in exchange for your dream machine.

Stipulations or requirements normally encountered while shopping for collector car insurance or classic car insurance:

• A decent driving record.
• At least 10 years driving experience
• No teen drivers on the policy or drivers with poor driving records
• Secure and out of the weather garage
• Proof that you have another car for daily transportation
• Collector vehicle insurance is sometimes limited by the age of your car, and if your car is too young it may not qualify for a particular policy.
• Limited mileage. You probably don't want to drive your creampuff car all the time, and your insurance company doesn't want you to either. Mileage limits have increased recently, though, so if you can live with 250 miles a month you're probably okay.

Coverage with collector car insurance or classic car insurance: Three kinds of value are important to understand when buying your policy. 1) Actual cash value: This is what you usually get with ordinary insurance, and is based on replacement cost minus depreciation.

2) Stated value:

The insurance company pays up to the stated value of the car, but may not guarantee the full stated value. And deductibles of up to $1,000 usually apply.

3) Agreed value:

In most jurisdictions, those who provide collector car insurance or classic car insurance are allowed to insure for a value that you and your insurer agree upon. And for most autos, there is no deductible. If your $100,000 vintage Rolls get trashed, you get a check for 100 grand, plain and simple - which is exactly why collectors use special classic car insurance coverage.

Do a periodic review of your coverage limits, because classic car prices are rising. What you insured your cherry classic for ten years ago may be a fraction of what it's worth today. And if you are restoring a vehicle, ask your agent to give you appropriate insurance. There is no need to pay extra based on mileage statistics, if your car is up on blocks with no engine inside it. And as the car's value increases thanks to your hard work of restoring it, you should raise the coverage to keep up with the added value of the restoration.

Keep all your receipts and paperwork - for everything from parts and labor to expenses incurred to take it to a classic car show - so that you can document the total investment your collector's car represents. And take photos and keep them updated, for the same reason. And Last But Not Least: Special Savings Opportunities

As long as you meet the criteria in terms of how you use and take care of the car, you can usually buy a policy.

Traditional insurers will either refuse coverage, offer only a replacement value based on the nuts and bolts (minus heavy depreciation) of the car, or will charge you a prohibitive amount for the premium. But many collectors find that special collector's coverage saves them money - as much as half - while insuring them for higher limits, sometime three or four times what a traditional company gave them.

Yes, it's possible to get collector's insurance coverage for full market value for your car, and save up to 50 percent off of the premium you'd pay with ordinary insurance. That makes classic car insurance a must-have for any serious car buff.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/310140

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Collector Car Insurance and Classic Car Insurance

If you are fortunate enough to own a classic car - or any collectible automobile - then you want to ensure that your luck does not run out because of having inadequate insurance coverage. Call it covering your butt - or covering your "asset" - but by all means, call one of the major providers such as American Collectors, Haggerty, or Parish Heacock insurance companies and let them put you in the driver's seat in terms of professional protection of your cherished automotive investment.

How to Kick the Tires on Classic Car Insurance

The whole idea of insurance is that it needs to do what you expect of it in an emergency, when the rubber really hits the road. And classic car insurance is as different from conventional auto insurance as, well, a classic car is from your run of the mill generic vehicle.

When you buy a classic car insurance policy, you are essentially purchasing protection for those times when - God forbid and knock on wood it doesn't happen - disaster strikes in the form of a fire, a collision, or an act of theft or vandalism. Just as we now have modern airbags to save us in the event of a crash, we also have collector's car insurance, to protect us with adequate moneybags when calamity throws a wrench in the works.

The time you invest in choosing the right classic car insurance coverage is well worth the value and peace of mind that a quality collector's insurance policy delivers for owners of classic motor cars.

The Nuts and Bolts of Classic Car Insurance Coverage

Collector car insurance is not the same as the insurance you buy for normal coverage of your daily transportation. Collector car insurance, or classic car insurance, is made especially for the needs of the car collector. And while ordinary insurance does offer some protection, no matter what you drive, it can leave you high and dry in the event of a loss that it not effectively covered by the terms of the insurance contract.

For example, you may have a garage-kept Cadillac Sedan DeVille with swooping fins your grandparents bought for $7,000 brand new back in the 1960s. But dealers have offered you three times that much, and you saw another one sell at an auto show for $35,000. If you don't have special collector car insurance or classic car insurance, and the car is totaled, you will be lucky to get $7,000 for it. With depreciation calculated in, the insurance statisticians may decide that it is worth only half that much, or less, and you could wind up with two or three grand in exchange for your dream machine.

Stipulations or requirements normally encountered while shopping for collector car insurance or classic car insurance:

• A decent driving record.
• At least 10 years driving experience
• No teen drivers on the policy or drivers with poor driving records
• Secure and out of the weather garage
• Proof that you have another car for daily transportation
• Collector vehicle insurance is sometimes limited by the age of your car, and if your car is too young it may not qualify for a particular policy.
• Limited mileage. You probably don't want to drive your creampuff car all the time, and your insurance company doesn't want you to either. Mileage limits have increased recently, though, so if you can live with 250 miles a month you're probably okay.

Coverage with collector car insurance or classic car insurance: Three kinds of value are important to understand when buying your policy. 1) Actual cash value: This is what you usually get with ordinary insurance, and is based on replacement cost minus depreciation.

2) Stated value:

The insurance company pays up to the stated value of the car, but may not guarantee the full stated value. And deductibles of up to $1,000 usually apply.

3) Agreed value:

In most jurisdictions, those who provide collector car insurance or classic car insurance are allowed to insure for a value that you and your insurer agree upon. And for most autos, there is no deductible. If your $100,000 vintage Rolls get trashed, you get a check for 100 grand, plain and simple - which is exactly why collectors use special classic car insurance coverage.

Do a periodic review of your coverage limits, because classic car prices are rising. What you insured your cherry classic for ten years ago may be a fraction of what it's worth today. And if you are restoring a vehicle, ask your agent to give you appropriate insurance. There is no need to pay extra based on mileage statistics, if your car is up on blocks with no engine inside it. And as the car's value increases thanks to your hard work of restoring it, you should raise the coverage to keep up with the added value of the restoration.

Keep all your receipts and paperwork - for everything from parts and labor to expenses incurred to take it to a classic car show - so that you can document the total investment your collector's car represents. And take photos and keep them updated, for the same reason. And Last But Not Least: Special Savings Opportunities

As long as you meet the criteria in terms of how you use and take care of the car, you can usually buy a policy.

Traditional insurers will either refuse coverage, offer only a replacement value based on the nuts and bolts (minus heavy depreciation) of the car, or will charge you a prohibitive amount for the premium. But many collectors find that special collector's coverage saves them money - as much as half - while insuring them for higher limits, sometime three or four times what a traditional company gave them.

Yes, it's possible to get collector's insurance coverage for full market value for your car, and save up to 50 percent off of the premium you'd pay with ordinary insurance. That makes classic car insurance a must-have for any serious car buff.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/310140

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How To Get Even With Your Car Insurance Company In 10 Easy Steps

In Part 1, we detailed the first five strategies on how to cut your car insurance costs. In Part 2, we show you the second five.

STEP 6 - Review, Change or Cancel No Fault & PIP (Personal Injury Protection)

No-Fault Coverage, and it's Twin - PIP - started out as great idea's. Your premiums were actually going to be lowered. Then, your State Politicians got involved (at the urging of Insurance Lobbyists, of course) and mucked it up.

You see, no-fault insurance coverage was originally intended to have each individual's losses, covered by their own car insurance company - no matter who was at fault.

Today, in many States, car insurance companies are making a ton of money on no-fault because the insurance companies convinced State law-makers to make "modifications."

Today, because of the these changes, car insurance companies have actually used the no-fault laws to reduce payments on a claim made by a customer, instead of reducing car insurance premiums as it was supposed to do.

So, premiums keep going up-and-up and insurance companies end up paying less for claims - Someone's getting rich on that deal....and it's not you.

And to make matters worse, some States (with really, really talented Insurance Lobbyist's) also require an additional premium be paid on top of the no-fault premium. This beauty is called Personal Injury Protection (PIP).

PIP is a "wide-blanket" of coverage and can provide Collision Coverage, Hospitalization, Social Security Disability, Workers Comp, Personal Disability Insurance & Life Insurance.

The problem with PIP and what it covers is....

You already gave most, if not all, of these coverage's anyway, don't you? So, you're paying twice!

So, you need to do a couple of things:

Google "minimum levels of required auto insurance" to see if No-Fault Insurance and/or PIP Is required in your State;

Then, check your policy. If it's not required by your State to have No-Fault/PIP Coverage and it's on your policy - cancel it. If No-Fault/PIP is required by your State....take the absolute minimum. Here's how.

If you must have No-Fault/PIP, ask for and get a deductible from your car insurance company.

STEP 7 - Cancel Medical Coverage.

Medical Coverage, on most car insurance policies, is a promise to pay "reasonable" medical expenses for anyone who is riding in your car should you have an accident...as well as anyone in your car should it get hit by someone else.

Cancel it. You don't need it.

Why is that you say? Well, medical coverage as part of your car insurance policy is a duplicate of your own:

- Medical Plan; - Any Life Insurance Coverage you might have, as well as; - The Liability Sections of almost every car insurance policy written in the U.S.

Think of it this way....Do you have a Health/Medical/Hospitalization Plan through work or an Association you belong to?

Then why are you paying premiums for Medical/Hospitalization Coverage on your Car Insurance Policy?

Here's what's going to happen when you tell the car insurance company or Agent that you "Don't want the Hospitalization/Medical Coverage." You're going to hear very slick "scare tactics" to help change your mind.

The insurance company employee will say "Well, if you're in an accident, and it's your fault, who's going to cover the medical bills for any injured passengers in your car?"

Here's your answer. Your family is already covered by your Health/Hospitalization Plan. If anybody else is in the car and they're injured - they're covered by your Bodily Injury Liability coverage that you're already paying for....and their own Health/Hospitalization Plan.

So go ahead - save some more money and get rid of this coverage.

STEP 8 - Cancel Death, Dismemberment & Loss of Sight.

Do you have any of these coverage's on your existing car insurance policy? If so - cancel them.

And if you're a first time car insurance buyer or, just looking at getting several car insurance quotes, don't let anyone talk you into them!

Why?

Because, these coverage's are an absolute waste of money. Most of these optional coverage's are simply "glorified" life insurance policies with ridiculous provisions and horribly overpriced premiums. If you need life insurance, make it a separate Insurance Policy.

STEP 9 - Cancel The Extras

Do you have "Roadside Assistance" or "Rental Car Reimbursement" on your policy? If so, cancel them.

And again, if you're a first time insurance buyer or getting a few car insurance quotes, don't bother with these coverage's.

Why? Because they're severely overpriced, are rarely ever used, and limit what you can and cannot do.

For instance, some rental car reimbursement" coverage is almost $100 a year for each vehicle on your policy. So if you have two cars, you'll spend almost $2,000 on rental car coverage in the next 10 years - and likely never even use it.

And roadside assistance? The piece-of-mind it offers gets trampled by the premiums the car insurance companies want for this coverage. Roadside assistance is a good idea. But use AAA for a cheaper solution.

STEP 10 - Terminate Comprehensive & Collision Coverage On Older Cars.

If you have an older car - by that I mean one that's worth less than $2,000 wholesale (the amount a car dealer would give you if you were trading it in) cancel any Comprehensive and Collision Coverage you have or decline that option when getting a car insurance quote.

Here's why. If an 8 year-old car and a brand new car have identical damage, the cost to repair both will be identical as well, even though the 8 year-old car is worth next-to-nothing.

You see the cost of a bumper and fender are the same - whether it's for a brand new car, or one that is 8 years-old. That's why your premiums don't go down as the value of the car goes down. Your payments remain almost the same, year-after-year-after-year.

But, the bottom drops-out of what you'll be able to collect on that older car. For instance, if your car is "totaled", your insurance company will only pay you the wholesale value of your car.

So, let's say your car is worth $1,000, but the total damage is more than $4,000, the insurance company is only going to give you a check for $1,000....minus your deductible, of course.

So you might end up getting $500 back. Sounds like a lousy deal....but that's how it works.

So, the rule-of-thumb is this - cancel your comp & collision coverage when your vehicles value is less than $2,000....or you'll be throwing your money away.

Okay - you've jotted down some notes and are ready to make some changes to your car insurance policy. So pick up the phone and start slashing your premiums!

Tom

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/168386

read more...

In Part 1, we detailed the first five strategies on how to cut your car insurance costs. In Part 2, we show you the second five.

STEP 6 - Review, Change or Cancel No Fault & PIP (Personal Injury Protection)

No-Fault Coverage, and it's Twin - PIP - started out as great idea's. Your premiums were actually going to be lowered. Then, your State Politicians got involved (at the urging of Insurance Lobbyists, of course) and mucked it up.

You see, no-fault insurance coverage was originally intended to have each individual's losses, covered by their own car insurance company - no matter who was at fault.

Today, in many States, car insurance companies are making a ton of money on no-fault because the insurance companies convinced State law-makers to make "modifications."

Today, because of the these changes, car insurance companies have actually used the no-fault laws to reduce payments on a claim made by a customer, instead of reducing car insurance premiums as it was supposed to do.

So, premiums keep going up-and-up and insurance companies end up paying less for claims - Someone's getting rich on that deal....and it's not you.

And to make matters worse, some States (with really, really talented Insurance Lobbyist's) also require an additional premium be paid on top of the no-fault premium. This beauty is called Personal Injury Protection (PIP).

PIP is a "wide-blanket" of coverage and can provide Collision Coverage, Hospitalization, Social Security Disability, Workers Comp, Personal Disability Insurance & Life Insurance.

The problem with PIP and what it covers is....

You already gave most, if not all, of these coverage's anyway, don't you? So, you're paying twice!

So, you need to do a couple of things:

Google "minimum levels of required auto insurance" to see if No-Fault Insurance and/or PIP Is required in your State;

Then, check your policy. If it's not required by your State to have No-Fault/PIP Coverage and it's on your policy - cancel it. If No-Fault/PIP is required by your State....take the absolute minimum. Here's how.

If you must have No-Fault/PIP, ask for and get a deductible from your car insurance company.

STEP 7 - Cancel Medical Coverage.

Medical Coverage, on most car insurance policies, is a promise to pay "reasonable" medical expenses for anyone who is riding in your car should you have an accident...as well as anyone in your car should it get hit by someone else.

Cancel it. You don't need it.

Why is that you say? Well, medical coverage as part of your car insurance policy is a duplicate of your own:

- Medical Plan; - Any Life Insurance Coverage you might have, as well as; - The Liability Sections of almost every car insurance policy written in the U.S.

Think of it this way....Do you have a Health/Medical/Hospitalization Plan through work or an Association you belong to?

Then why are you paying premiums for Medical/Hospitalization Coverage on your Car Insurance Policy?

Here's what's going to happen when you tell the car insurance company or Agent that you "Don't want the Hospitalization/Medical Coverage." You're going to hear very slick "scare tactics" to help change your mind.

The insurance company employee will say "Well, if you're in an accident, and it's your fault, who's going to cover the medical bills for any injured passengers in your car?"

Here's your answer. Your family is already covered by your Health/Hospitalization Plan. If anybody else is in the car and they're injured - they're covered by your Bodily Injury Liability coverage that you're already paying for....and their own Health/Hospitalization Plan.

So go ahead - save some more money and get rid of this coverage.

STEP 8 - Cancel Death, Dismemberment & Loss of Sight.

Do you have any of these coverage's on your existing car insurance policy? If so - cancel them.

And if you're a first time car insurance buyer or, just looking at getting several car insurance quotes, don't let anyone talk you into them!

Why?

Because, these coverage's are an absolute waste of money. Most of these optional coverage's are simply "glorified" life insurance policies with ridiculous provisions and horribly overpriced premiums. If you need life insurance, make it a separate Insurance Policy.

STEP 9 - Cancel The Extras

Do you have "Roadside Assistance" or "Rental Car Reimbursement" on your policy? If so, cancel them.

And again, if you're a first time insurance buyer or getting a few car insurance quotes, don't bother with these coverage's.

Why? Because they're severely overpriced, are rarely ever used, and limit what you can and cannot do.

For instance, some rental car reimbursement" coverage is almost $100 a year for each vehicle on your policy. So if you have two cars, you'll spend almost $2,000 on rental car coverage in the next 10 years - and likely never even use it.

And roadside assistance? The piece-of-mind it offers gets trampled by the premiums the car insurance companies want for this coverage. Roadside assistance is a good idea. But use AAA for a cheaper solution.

STEP 10 - Terminate Comprehensive & Collision Coverage On Older Cars.

If you have an older car - by that I mean one that's worth less than $2,000 wholesale (the amount a car dealer would give you if you were trading it in) cancel any Comprehensive and Collision Coverage you have or decline that option when getting a car insurance quote.

Here's why. If an 8 year-old car and a brand new car have identical damage, the cost to repair both will be identical as well, even though the 8 year-old car is worth next-to-nothing.

You see the cost of a bumper and fender are the same - whether it's for a brand new car, or one that is 8 years-old. That's why your premiums don't go down as the value of the car goes down. Your payments remain almost the same, year-after-year-after-year.

But, the bottom drops-out of what you'll be able to collect on that older car. For instance, if your car is "totaled", your insurance company will only pay you the wholesale value of your car.

So, let's say your car is worth $1,000, but the total damage is more than $4,000, the insurance company is only going to give you a check for $1,000....minus your deductible, of course.

So you might end up getting $500 back. Sounds like a lousy deal....but that's how it works.

So, the rule-of-thumb is this - cancel your comp & collision coverage when your vehicles value is less than $2,000....or you'll be throwing your money away.

Okay - you've jotted down some notes and are ready to make some changes to your car insurance policy. So pick up the phone and start slashing your premiums!

Tom

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/168386

read more...

An Independent Look at Rental Car Insurance

When you step up to the Rental Car Counter the Rental Agent is going to ask you if you want to purchase insurance for the rental vehicle. If you say no they will ask you to initial next to each coverage that you decline. The decisions that you make in these few moments could have a dramatic impact on your financial situation. Deciding if you need to purchase the auto insurance offered at the Rental Car counter before you arrive can keep you from incurring a serious financial loss or wasting your money on insurance that you already have or do not need. One of the questions that we are asked most as auto insurance agents is "Do I need to purchase the auto insurance offered at the rental car counter when I rent a car?" The answer to this question is maybe. You may be able to provide coverage for the rental car using insurance policies you already own or you may decide you need to purchase additional protection. In this article we are going to give you the information that you need to make these crucial decisions.

When You Rent A Car There Are Several Ways To Secure Coverage For It Without Having To Purchase Coverage At The Rental Car Counter.

Transfer Coverage From Your Existing Auto Insurance Policy - If you are going to be renting a car and you have an existing auto insurance policy you should take your insurance I.D. card with you when you rent the car. The car rental company may require it and it can save you a lot of time and aggravation if you are pulled over by the police in your rental vehicle. The coverage and deductibles on your own auto insurance policy will automatically transfer to cars that you rent as long as you are not using the rental car for business purposes or renting in another country. You should check the declarations page of your personal auto insurance policy to find out if you currently carry Property Damage Liability, Comprehensive and Collision coverage. Make note of your Property Damage Liability limit and your Comprehensive and Collision Deductible. If you are renting a car in another country you should definitely consider purchasing coverage at the rental counter as most personal auto insurance policies only cover their owners in the country where the policy was written.

Damages to your rental car will be covered by the Property Damage Liability portion of your personal auto insurance policy if you are renting the car for pleasure use. However, if you were involved in an accident that is covered by your auto insurance policy and your car is in the shop being repaired. Damages to the replacement car that you rent will be covered by the Comprehensive and Collision coverage portion of your personal auto insurance policy. That means that you will have to pay the deductible for these coverages if you damage the rental car.

Use Coverage Provided By Your Credit Card - Most major credit cards advertise rental car insurance as one of the benefits of owning their card. The truth is that the coverage that these cards provide usually only pays after your personal auto insurance policy limits have been exhausted and only if you used their card to pay for the entire price of the rental. The level of protection with credit cards seems to change on a daily basis so we recommend calling your credit card company to determine your exact level of protection for rental cars. When you talk to the credit card representative ask them for information about Liability, Comprehensive and Collision coverage for rental cars. It is best to get this in writing as it is not unheard of to get several different answers from the same credit card company. You should also ask if there are any exclusions. Many credit cards exclude coverage for luxury or exotic car rentals.

Purchase A Non-owned Auto Insurance Policy - If you rent cars frequently but you do not have your own auto insurance policy you can save yourself a lot of money by purchasing a "Non-Owned Auto" Liability policy. This policy provides you with the same type of protection as the Excess Liability coverage offered at the rental car counter. These types of policies usually cost around $300 a year and will cover you when you are driving any private passenger automobile. This policy only provides protection for Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability. It will not pay for damages to your rental car so you will still need to purchase the Collision Damage Waiver or use one of the coverage methods we discussed earlier.

If you are unable to secure coverage by using any of the methods listed in the previous chapter you should seriously consider purchasing coverage at the Rental Car Counter. It can be hard to get an honest advice about these coverages from the rental car agent because they are paid a commission every time they sell it to you. Don't worry; we have provided you with all of the help you need below.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) - This protection is also called the loss damage waiver (LDW) by some rental car companies. It is often referred to as insurance but this is incorrect. It is actually a waiver of responsibility. When you purchase this protection the rental car company waives your responsibility for damages or theft of the rental car. If something were to happen to the car you would simply file a quick claim form when you returned the car and the rental car company would pay to repair or replace it. The price for this protection usually ranges from $15 to $25 depending on where you are renting.
Caution: This coverage may become void if you cause an accident while breaking the law. This includes excessive speeding, driving off road or driving while intoxicated so be careful when you are driving a rental car or any car for that matter.

If you carry a minimum limit such as $10,000 for Property Damage Liability coverage you may want to consider purchasing the Collision Damage Waiver because this low limit may not be enough to pay for repairing or replacing the rental car. Remember you could also be held responsible for damages to other peoples car's or property if you are involved in accident and found to be at fault and Rental car companies will charge you for loss of rental income for the car that you damaged. These are all important factors that should be considered when deciding if you should purchase the Collision Damage Waiver.

Another advantage to this coverage is that there is no deductible. This can come in handy if you were involved in an accident that is covered by your auto insurance policy and you are renting a replacement car while your car is in the shop being repaired. You see in this scenario any damages to the rental car would be covered by your Comprehensive or Collision coverage which means that you would have to pay the deductible.

Excess Liability - Car rental companies are required by law in most states to provide a minimum amount of liability protection for renters of their vehicles but this is rarely enough to protect your interests if you seriously injure someone in an accident. The liability portion of your personal auto insurance policy will transfer to your rental car so you have adequate limits of bodily injury and property damage liability on your personal auto insurance policy we would not recommend purchasing this coverage. This coverage would only pay after your personal auto insurance policy limits are exhausted. This price for this protection is around $10 to $13 dollars per day for 1 million dollars worth of excess protection.

Personal Accident Insurance - If you or your passengers are injured in an accident or as a pedestrian this coverage will pay for your medical expenses and ambulance fees if needed. If you live in a "no fault" state, have health insurance or carry medical expenses coverage you probably already have this protection and do not need to buy it from the car rental company. Check your auto insurance and health insurance policy to find out for sure. A claim for this type of loss on your personal auto policy will not cause an increase in price so if it is covered on another policy there is really no benefit to buying it from the car rental company. The price of this protection usually runs from $2 to $5 a day depending on where you rent.

Personal Effects Coverage - This is coverage for theft of you or your passenger's personal items such as cameras, camcorders or Laptop computers. This protection may also be provided on your homeowners or renters policy if you have one so you may not need to buy it from the rental car company. However, homeowners or renters deductibles are usually $500 or higher and all of your articles may not be covered. Check the declarations page of your policy for your deductible and the exclusions section to find out if the items you are taking with you are covered.

One of the benefits of purchasing this coverage from the rental car company is that you usually do not have to pay a deductible. You simply file a claim when you return the rental car and you are reimbursed for the theft of your items. You will usually need to prove ownership of the items that you claim were stolen by providing the rental car company with receipts or other proofs of ownership. You should also ask the rental agent if any exclusions apply to this coverage prior to purchasing it. The price for this protection is $2 to $5 dollars a day.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/150287

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Know the Basic Principles of Insurance!

Insurance contracts operate on the basis of five major principles. Every investor who plans to enter into a contract with an insurance company should know the basic principles so that the contract can remain valid even in the event of a loss occurring. A person can get captive insurance from a company which is usually established with the aim of insuring risks that arise from their current group. Many people lack this knowledge and find it hard fulfilling all the necessary requirements to start a contract. The basic principles are briefly discussed below.

They include:

Principle of insurable interest. This principle states that an indemnity claim is not valid unless the person can prove that he/she has directly suffered a loss as a result of the calamity occurring. For example a person can indemnify the life of his children because there is sufficient insurable interest in case the children die.

Principle of Indemnity. It states that the company will only pay the replacement value of the property in case the person suffers a loss as a result of any incident. However this principle does not apply to life insurance policy but applies to all the other property insurance.

Principle of utmost good faith. It is also known as the principle of uberrima fidei. It states that the person taking a policy is supposed to disclose all the required and relevant material facts concerning the property or life to be indemnified with all honesty. Failure of disclosure of all relevant material facts will lead to the contract being null and void hence no compensation. One should be keen to ensure he/she does not over or under insure his/her property.

Principle of subrogation. In this principle, whatever of the property indemnified after the insured has been compensated becomes the property of the indemnifier. Take an example of a person who has indemnified his/her car against the risk of an accident. In the event that an accident occurs and the insured is compensated by being given a new car, then the damaged car becomes the property of the insurer.

Principle of proximate cause. This principle states that for the insured to be compensated, there must be a very close relationship between the loss suffered and the risk insured. It means that the loss must arise directly from the risk insured.

Before you decide to enter into a contract with a company, it is important to be aware and know all the basic principles of insurance. If you fulfill all the principles listed above, then your compensation is guaranteed.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7802430

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