May 24, 2011, 1:30 am
Every day thousands of automobile accidents happen in the United States. People who have comprehensive or collision auto insurance coverage and have vehicles that need to be repaired will have to pay their deductibles in order to pay for the necessary repairs to be completed. A deductible can range from $250 to $1000 depending on the insured person’s wishes. Here are some tips on how to address the issue of not being able to pay your auto insurance deductible.
Delay Having the Automobile Repaired
It might be a good idea to delay having your vehicle repaired until you can put together the money that is needed to pay your insurance deductible. Try asking a close friend or family member to lend you the money until you can come up with the money and repay them. Usually people who have become involved in an automobile accident need their vehicles repaired quickly because they are either using a rental car or are using public transportation to get to work and run their errands and want their vehicle back.
It is a great idea to delay getting the automobile repaired until you get your claims check issued to you from your auto insurance company. You will still have to pay the deductible but the delay might give you a financial cushion so that you can scrape together the money if you cannot borrow the funds from someone else. Other ways to fund the auto insurance deductible in an emergency include credit cards, cash advances and payday loans.
What Could Happen if You Do Not Pay Your Auto Insurance Deductible
If a person cannot pay their deductible then they will have an issue with the garage or body shop that is conducting the repairs on their vehicle. If a person does not pay for their auto repairs in full then the garage or body shop can charge the person storage fees for holding the vehicle longer than necessary. If the vehicle keeps being abandoned by its owner then the mechanic or body shop can place a lien on the vehicle for the amount of money that is still owed for the repairs. If the lien is on too long then you may lose your vehicle.
How to Prevent This Scenario
In order to prevent this scenario from happening, drivers need to keep emergency funds set aside for the insurance deductible. If the deductible is too high for your personal finances then reduce it the next time that you renew your auto insurance policy.
May 24, 2011, 1:00 am
Some parents face a huge dilemma when their kids become young drivers. They do not want to insure their child because it is too straining on their household budget. A parent does not have to insure their child on their auto insurance policy unless the child has a driver’s license and will be driving their vehicle. Here are some tips on how a parent can cope with auto insurance issues affecting their children.
Consider Making Your Child Get Their Own Policy
It is a good idea for parents who can afford it to buy their child an inexpensive vehicle such as one that costs less than $5000 and help their child get their own auto insurance policy. Even though a young driver brings a lot of risk to an auto insurance policy it may be in your best interests to get them a starter vehicle and have them get their own insurance coverage. Young drivers are often involved in automobile accidents and allowing them to drive the family’s car puts the vehicle in jeopardy ever time that it is driven out of the driveway. If the vehicle is involved in an accident then not only would the vehicle probably be out of commission for a while but the parents would probably have to pay a deductible and have their insurance premiums increased.
Make the Child Wait to Get His or Her Driver’s License
There are no laws that state that every child has to get their driver’s license at the age of 16. Tell your child that they must wait until they are at least 18 years old until they can get their driver’s license. They can still practice driving on your vehicle if they have the right permits and if they are enrolled in a driver’s education class. If the child wants to get a driver’s license then make them earn it by proving to you that they will get a job in order to help pay for their auto insurance coverage.
Help the teen get insurance quotes from auto insurance providers that offer low premium rates for teen aged drivers. Assist the child in finding the best premium rate so that they can find a policy that is right for them. This will teach them responsibility because if they allow their auto insurance coverage to lapse then they will be breaking the law so you may need to take the keys until they pay their premiums and have their policy re-instated.
May 23, 2011, 11:30 pm
Many young drivers have no idea on how the real world works. They think that they are invincible and that when they head out and hit the highway they take risks and do not think about the consequences associated with those risks. Being properly insured when you are under the age of 25 is very important. Here are some tips on how young drivers can understand auto insurance.
Why Young Drivers Are the Riskiest Drivers to Insure
Young drivers are the riskiest drivers to insure because of the lack of maturity that they have. It takes many years for people to become good drivers. Statistics have found that younger drivers become more distracted than older drivers and due to this they become involved in more automobile accidents than older drivers.
How to Get a Good Insurance Premium Rate
In order for a young driver to get a good premium rate they need to act as responsibly as possible. Get good grades because auto insurers do give discounts to policy holders get good grades. Try to attend defensive driving classes and other driver’s education classes in order to get discounts. Your driving record needs to stay as clean as possible in order to have the best premium rates possible.
Many drivers under the age of 25 have to stay insured by their parents until they leave home or complete their college educations. It is important to be able to have a driving record that looks as good as policy so that when you do have to go on a single auto insurance policy you are not paying too much for your monthly auto insurance premiums. Avoid getting traffic citations by not drinking while driving, not driving above the speed limit and by obeying all posted road signs.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
Be aware of your surroundings while driving in order to avoid getting involved in an accident. Keep the radio volume as low as possible, do not text or call people while driving, stay focused and always keep your eyes on the road and your hands on the steering wheel. Do not ever engage in street racing or use your vehicle in a way that could inflict harm on you or other people.
If you do become involved in an accident then inform the police exchange information with the other people involved, and contact your insurance company immediately. Stay insured no matter what because letting your coverage lapse is illegal in most states.
May 23, 2011, 2:00 am
Many people have auto insurance deductibles. A deductible is a certain amount of money that an insurance policy holder is financially responsible if they become involved in an automobile accident. Typically drivers who have an insurance deductible have a collision or comprehensive auto insurance coverage policy. These auto insurance policies protect drivers and their vehicles so the deductible helps the driver pay for the expenses that are incurred after the crash. Here are some tips on how a driver can pay for their auto insurance deductible.
Find Out What Your Insurance Deductible Is
Make sure to verify your auto insurance deductible with your auto insurance company. Most people select higher deductibles such as those that are $750 to $1000 in order to have the lowest auto insurance premiums possible. If your auto insurance company is closed then you should look for your auto insurance policy documents. The documents should disclose what your deductible is. Make sure that you have this money readily available. Most insurance companies now let you pay for the deductible by cash, check, money order, or credit card.
Check on the Status of Your Vehicle
After a crash has occurred, some vehicles will have minor damage while others may be totaled. If your car is totaled then you will not have to pay your deductible. In this situation, the auto insurance deductible amount is subtracted from the vehicle’s value on the day of the crash and then the policy holder is issued a check from their auto insurance company after the investigation process has been completed.
Consider Paying Your Deductible Directly to the Garage
If you are having body work done on your vehicle then consider making an appointment to have the body work done and pay your deductible directly to the garage that is doing the work for you. Notify your auto insurance company of your intentions before you actually do this. Make sure to have copies of your receipts and keep one copy for yourself.
After you submit the receipt for the deductible payment to the auto insurance company they should cover the rest of the expenses that were incurred at the time of the auto accident. Make sure to check in with the claims adjuster frequently to make sure that they did receive a copy of your receipt and that they will pay for the expenses for the body work and any other expenses.
May 23, 2011, 1:30 am
Many parents have teenagers who want to drive the family vehicle or want to have a vehicle of their own. Parents want to insure their young drivers in a way that works best for their personal finances. Here are some tips on how parents should handle auto insurance issues with their children.
Teach Your Child Responsibility
Before ever insuring a child, it is important to make them earn the privilege by teaching them responsibility. If you add your child to your auto insurance policy and they drink and drive or kill someone in a fatal accident then your premium rates will soar and they never will be the same way again.
Teach the child that they need to be responsible while driving and ask them to help pay some of the additional costs because they will value the insurance coverage more if they have to help pay for it. Make sure to check your child’s driving record frequently and look for speeding tickets and other traffic citations because they increase the risk of the insured parties. When the policy comes up for renewal the premium rates will increase if the risk associated with the child has increased.
Make Your Child Qualify for Discounts on Auto Insurance Coverage
Young drivers can qualify for good grades discounts and discounts for having taken driver’s education classes. Make earning these discounts mandatory for getting auto insurance coverage. If their grades drop then consider taking the keys to the vehicle away from them until they improve. For a good grades discount, a child must have at least a 3.0 out of 4.0 grade point average.
Have a Family Auto Insurance Policy
It is important for parents to understand that adding their children to their auto insurance policy is a very cost-effective approach to insuring the child. Deciding to buy a single auto insurance policy for a teen aged driver is too expensive for most parents. If a parent adds a child to their auto insurance policy especially if it is already a multi-car policy then their insurance premium rates will increase. However, the amount of additional money that needs to be spent will not exceed the price for premiums for a single policy.
Add the Child as a Secondary Driver
In some cases, such as where a child goes to school and lives on campus then a parent can list their child as a secondary driver on their insurance policy. Consider doing this as a way to save money on your auto insurance premiums.
May 22, 2011, 11:30 pm
Many young drivers want to be covered by their parents’ auto insurance coverage because they cannot afford getting insured on their own. Drivers that are below the age of 25 pose a huge risk to auto insurers so they are given higher auto insurance premiums. It is important for young drivers to know if they can be added to their parents’ auto insurance coverage. Here are tips on how a young driver can know if they can be added to their parents’ auto insurance coverage.
Your Age Matters a Lot
Most drivers between the ages of 16 and 25 can be added onto their parents’ auto insurance policy based on their age. If you are under the age of twenty five then in most cases you can be added to your parents’ auto insurance coverage if you are still listed as their dependent. A dependent is someone that a person can claim on their tax returns as being financially responsible for. If you file your own taxes then you cannot be listed as a dependent on your parents’ tax returns.
Do You Attend College?
College students that attend classes full-time may stay on their parents’ auto insurance coverage. It is important to be able to produce proof that you have maintained your full-time student status. Submit the necessary paperwork every six months when the auto insurance policy comes up for renewal. If you live on campus or commute to school then the insurance premiums that your parents will have will be higher than before. This is because college campuses are not a very safe place for vehicles. Many students have gotten out of class only to find that their vehicles have been broken into or stolen.
Are You Married?
In most states, if a person is married to someone then they cannot be listed as their parents’ dependents and are classified as independent people. If you are married then you cannot be added to your parents’ auto insurance policy. It is important to weigh the pros and cons of being added to your parents’ auto insurance policy before doing this. You need to consult a licensed auto insurance agent in your area to see if the added expense is worth the investment. College students that attend school may want to take public transportation in order to avoid placing such a huge financial responsibility on their parents.
May 22, 2011, 12:30 am
When a parent sends their child off to college it can be an emotional time for them. Many teen aged drivers go to college and have never had their own auto insurance policy. Attending a college or university can be quite costly because students have to pay for their text books, tuition, and other bills. As a parent, you want to help your child out financially. One way to accomplish this is to insure your child’s vehicle. Here are some tips on how a parent can insure their child’s vehicle.
Call Your Auto Insurance Company
When you want to insure your child’s vehicle you will need to put the auto insurance coverage in your name because you carry less risk than your child does. Parents typically receive an age based discount before they are 25 and in some instances receive a discount for a clean driving record. Because a teen has such a brief driving history they pose much more of a risk to auto insurance companies than you do so putting the insurance in your name can save a lot of money on auto insurance premiums.
You need to contact your auto insurance company and ask to speak to a customer service agent. Ask them for information on adding a member of your household to your current auto insurance policy.
Consider Registering the Car in Your Name
If your child is buying a new vehicle then you may want to register the vehicle in your name. This is because it saves money and helps with the auto insurance process. Check with your auto insurance provider and see if there is an age limit in place for registering a vehicle in a parent’s name.
Call Other Auto Insurance Providers
In order to get a cheap auto insurance rate, get quotes from several insurers. Make sure to tell them that you will be insuring your child’s vehicle and adding them to your auto insurance policy. They will need to recalculate your premiums based on this new information. Review the quotes and consider updating your coverage term limits because you are adding another person to the coverage so the coverage limits should be increased.
When you have found a quote that is the cheapest, contact the auto insurance company and request an application for auto insurance. Send the auto insurance provider a check or money order for your premiums to start the coverage.
May 22, 2011, 12:30 am
When a teenager enters college their life changes forever. College is a time when young people discover themselves and take classes to work towards a degree. Many college students now own vehicles and commute to college or commute to jobs off campus. It is important for these students to have cheap auto insurance coverage. Here are some tips on how a college student can get cheap auto insurance coverage.
Ask Fellow Students Where They Get Their Auto Insurance Coverage
Ask your fellow college students which auto insurance company they use for their insurance coverage. It is mandatory in most states for college students to be insured so always have auto insurance even if money is tight because you need to pay for tuition, textbooks, food, and other expenses. Ask for advice from your classmates not only about which insurers to seek out an auto insurance quote from but also on the coverage terms that they selected for their auto insurance policies. Write down the information and review it later when you get home.
Call Your Parents’ Auto Insurance Company
See about being added to your parents’ auto insurance policy. If you live in the same state that your parents do or live in the same household then being added to the policy can be done easily. If you live out of state then contact the auto insurer and see if they will add you to the insurance policy.
Look for Auto Insurers that Will Give College Students Discounts
If you are a good student and get at least a B in all of your college classes then you will most likely qualify for a good grades discount on your auto insurance premiums. Make sure to ask about the criteria for getting the discount. Most auto insurers will expect you to have a clean driving record before they will give you a discount.
Consider Living off Campus
Many vehicles are stolen or vandalized when they are parked on college campuses. This will make your automobile insurance premiums be much higher. Try renting a home with friends in order to save money on living expenses. Make sure to try and find an apartment or house to rent in a safe neighborhood. Consider having your vehicle registered in your parents’ names in order to get a good auto insurance premium rate. Shop around for a few different quotes and then sign up with your new insurance provider.
May 20, 2011, 8:30 pm
Many people travel to the United States on a visa. A visa is given to people from other countries and allows them to stay in the country for several months. During this time, a person on a visa may need to purchase a vehicle. If they do then they will need to comply with the mandatory auto insurance laws and purchase an automobile insurance policy. Here are some tips on how a driver on a visa can purchase auto insurance coverage.
Apply for an International Driver’s License
In order to be able to obtain auto insurance coverage through any auto insurance company you will first need to obtain and International Driver’s License. Most of the time, applicants need to be at least eighteen years old in order to get this type of driver’s license. Before trying to take the written or road test, it is important to study up on the rules of the road in the United States. Visit the DMV or Department of Vehicles in the state that you are visiting.
They will have a driver’s manual that contains all of the traffic rules for your particular state. Take a driver’s education course in order to get familiar with the road. In many countries, they drive on the opposite side of the road so getting practice with a driver’s education teacher can be very beneficial before actually making an appointment to take your road test.
When you are confident enough that you can take the written exam then you need to visit your local DMV with your passport, visa, and other identification documents. Pay the fee for taking the exam and if you pass the written exam you can schedule your road test. When you pass the road test and get a license then proceed with the process.
Search Online for Auto Insurance Quotes
Search online for auto insurance quotes. If you are unfamiliar with the type of coverage that you need for your vehicle then call auto insurance companies by phone. You can search online using search engines to find auto insurance companies in your state. Gather the relevant information on liability, comprehensive, and collision auto insurance coverage. When you have found a quote that you like you need to purchase the auto insurance policy. Take action quickly if you have already purchased a vehicle and have not insured it yet. If you do not act quickly enough then you could face legal issues for not being insured.
May 20, 2011, 8:30 pm
Many people get arrest for DWI’s in the United States. A DWI is a driving while intoxicated offense. Many drivers have a DWI listed on their driving record. This increases their auto insurance premiums for many years. It is important for drivers to understand how long a DWI will impact their auto insurance premiums. Here are some tips on how to understand how long a DWI will impact your auto insurance premiums.
Start with the Number of DWI Convictions
In order to understand the severity of the scars left behind by your DWI offense you need to first start by tallying up how many DWI convictions that you have. Having more than one DWI offense on your driving record will hurt you for many years to come. This is because it shows a pattern of illegal and reckless behavior. If your DWI offense did not occur a few months from your auto insurance policy’s renewal date then you may get lucky and avoid having it discovered. It depends on how large your auto insurance company is and if they review your driving record every six months.
How Your Auto Insurance Premiums Will Be Impacted
If your auto insurance company knows about your DWI offense then your insurance premiums will skyrocket substantially. Most people can expect their insurance premiums to double or triple because of their offense. The expensive auto insurance premiums will continue for at least three to five years. The only way to help ease the risk is to improve in other risky areas. For example, take a defensive driving class and driver’s education classes to show that you do care about being a responsible driver.
Your Auto Insurance Discounts Will Disappear
When the three to five years finally does end and your DWI will not be causing you very expensive auto insurances you still have an issue because you will not qualify for any insurance discounts. For most auto insurance companies, they have certain rules required of individuals that get discounts on their auto insurance premiums. In most cases, if you have a DWI on your driving record means that you will not qualify for any automobile discounts for a period of seven to ten years. If you do find yourself with a DWI offense on your driving record then you need to contact your auto insurer directly and ask them if they have any advice on how to lower your premiums.