Reader’s Question:
Being a first time buyer of auto insurance, I don’t really know the ins and outs of the business. What are the things that I have to decide on when buying my auto insurance here in Indiana?
Derek
South Bend, IN
There are a lot of things that you have to decide on when you are buying auto insurance in Indiana for the first time. First, you need to make a decision on the type of coverage that fits you and your car. This means that you may just get liability coverage for your auto insurance which will pay for the injuries and damages you cause to other people as well as other properties. You may also opt to have full coverage for your auto insurance which includes benefits such as roadside assistance, towing, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, etc.
If you already know the type of coverage you want for your auto insurance, you have to shop around for different quotes. You could get a lot of quotes for your auto insurance from comparison websites which would allow you to submit your information just once and then you will get quotes from different insurers for you to compare. As a first time buyer for auto insurance, be reminded that you need to consider the way you drive your vehicle and your budget. Be sure that you don’t have a lot of points on your driver’s licence if you want to pay less for your auto insurance. You will also encounter some insurers that are aggressive in selling you auto insurance, but don’t get scared. If they are forcing you to add coverage on your auto insurance plan other than those you have already chosen, just tell them it doesn’t go well with what you’ve expected to have on your plan.
January 16 2009 by author in Uncategorized |
Reader’s Question:
How much automotive insurance coverage should a motorist get in the state of Washington?
Wally
Seattle, WA
Financial accountability laws in the state of Washington dictate that every resident motorist must have the capacity to offer monetary compensation to the injured party for any bodily harm or property damage he or she may cause in an accident. This is the underlying rule that makes liability automotive insurance a requirement in this state. Unforeseen mishaps such as road accidents tend to be expensive and therefore disruptive to one’s financial stability. With this policy in hand a driver would not have to worry about losing his or her personal material assets.
The state of Washington will hold liable a motorist guilty of causing an accident for at least twenty five thousand dollars worth of medical expenses for the other motorist. If there were more than two injured parties, a total of fifty thousand dollars of combined medical expenses for all occupants will be due. As recompense for property damage which may include but is not limited to the victim’s automobile, ten thousand dollars will be owed by the guilty motorist to the injured party. Remember these amounts when purchasing Washington automotive insurance. They are the minimum liability coverage every motorist should have. Buying anything less would make a motorist underinsured.
Another type of automotive insurance which is not required but highly advisable to acquire is comprehensive coverage. While liability covers the other motorist’s injuries and property damage, comprehensive insurance in the meantime pays for the damages to your own property and that includes necessary repairs to your automobile.
Your insurer will carry the repair costs up until the Blue Book value of your automobile. Exceeding that, your insurer will pay you the total cash value of your automobile instead.
A readily available source of information for Washington automotive insurance matters is the state’s insurance regulator, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner. Don’t hesitate to contact this agency or visit its website to get more details and familiarize yourself with the ins and outs of automotive insurance in this state.
Reader’s Question:
Why do automotive insurance companies conduct annual risk assessments? What effect does it have on my premiums?
Bridget
Nashville, TN
Basically, automotive insurance companies conduct annual risk assessment for them to determine your premiums based on calculated risk. Annual risk assessment is a point system used to gauge if have you been a good driver, or whether you have
had charges brought against you, moving violations, reprimands, usage, miles covered, etc., etc. This would be the insurance carriers’ basis for setting your current premiums. If your rating is high based on the calculated risk, these automotive insurance companies will most likely charge you higher premiums. You have to remember that the higher the risk, the higher your premiums get.
Depending on jurisdiction, your premiums can either be authorized by state laws or determined by your carrier. More often than not, your automotive insurance company determines your monthly premiums and has more freedom to set the actual coverage that you are going to get. With these auto insurance companies, setting the premiums vary, depending mostly on the factors that could affect the cost of future claims. Therefore, your risk for accidents, citations, etc., would, in this case, translate to higher probability of repair or damage cost, penalties, fines, and higher probability for benefit claims. Insurance companies use this as a standard on which to base their clients’ premium rates, and it would definitely help if you could make sure not to be a “high risk driver.”