UK Insurance & Consumer Protection 'ACT'

UK Insurance & Consumer Protection 'ACT'

In the UK, the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and the EC Directive on Product Liability require that manufacturers or suppliers of goods carry some form of product liability insurance that is usually part of a combined liability policy. In public liability insurance, premiums depend on the type of business, turnover and number of employees. It is a good idea to compare the quotes given by your broker with the quotes being offered by other brokers. When you apply for an insurance policy, you fill out a proposal form which is your offer to the insurance company where you state the premium amount you are willing to pay.

Sometimes, they will agree to accept your offer if you make certain changes to the terms you have proposed. In this case, get advice from several brokers about whether the amount the insurance company has quoted is reasonable or not. Get advice from more than one broker about this that you do not offer to pay more than is necessary. The insurance company will either accept or reject your offer. Obviously, you should apply to several well reputed, reliable and licensed insurance companies to be able to choose the best possible quote. In an indemnity contract, the insurance company will pay you no more than the actual loss suffered. This will ensure that you remain in the same financial position that you were in immediately prior to the accident which led to the insurance claim. Most personal accident insurance contracts and all life insurance contracts are non-indemnity contracts. You need to watch out for under-insurance and excess clauses issues in your contract. Do not under insure your property in order to pay lower premiums. This is not a wise decision because if you under-insure a car worth 20,000 at 10,000, if there is partial damage to your car your insurer will pay only a percentage of the 10,000, which means you will have to bear the remaining amount of loss yourself.

Commercial insurance brokers deal with commercial fleet, product liability, public liability and employer’s liability (workers compensation), among other things. An example of a major UK commercial insurance broker is Marsh & McLennan Companies.

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Auto insurance is mandatory in the commonwealth

Auto insurance is mandatory in the commonwealth Drivers must purchase and maintain car insurance in order to legally drive in Pennsylvania . Under Pennsylvania law, this is called maintaining “financial responsibility” on your vehicles. A lapse in insurance coverage may result in the suspension of your vehicle registration privilege for three months, unless the lapse of insurance was for a period of less than 31 days and the owner or registrant proves to the Department of Transportation (PennDOT) that the vehicle was not operated during this short lapse in coverage.

If you are stopped for a moving violation and it is determined that you are operating your vehicle without insurance, you could face the following penalties and expenses: A minimum of $300 fine for driving uninsured A three-month suspension of your vehicle registration A three-month suspension of your driver’s license Restoration fees to restore your vehicle registration Restoration fees to restore your driver’s license Vehicle impoundment Pennsylvania ’s required coverages When you purchase private passenger automobile insurance, there are certain coverages that are required and others that are optional. The required coverages are: Medical Benefits — This pays medical bills for you and others who are covered by your policy, regardless of fault. The minimum limit is $5,000 of coverage. Higher limits are available if you so choose. Bodily Injury Liability — If you injure someone in a car accident, this coverage pays their medical and rehabilitation expenses and any damages for which you are found liable. The minimum limit is $15,000/$30,000. The $15,000 pays for injuries to one person, while the $30,000 represents the total available for one accident. Property Damage Liability — If you damage someone’s property in an accident and you are at fault, this coverage pays for it. The minimum limit is $5,000 of coverage.

Limited or Full Tort — You can choose to have full or limited tort coverage. Limited tort coverage offers you a savings on your premiums. You are still able to recover all out-of-pocket medical and other expenses; however, you are not able to recover certain damages - such as payments for pain and suffering - unless the injuries meet one of the exceptions to limited tort as defined in Act 6 of 1990, title 75, section 1705 (d). With full tort coverage selection, you retain unrestricted rights to bring suit against the negligent party.

Pennsylvania ’s optional coverages In addition, private passenger automobile insurance policies offer a variety of additional optional coverages that can be purchased. These include: Underinsured Motorist (UIM) — This coverage applies to you, your family and your passengers for bodily injury if you are hit by an at-fault motorist who does not have enough insurance to cover your claim. This does not cover damage to property. Uninsured Motorist (UM) — This coverage applies to you, your family and your passengers for bodily injury if you are hit by an at-fault uninsured motorist. This does not cover damage to property. Stacking of UM or UIM — This coverage allows you to either multiply the amount of uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage by the number of vehicles on your policy or to receive uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage from more than one policy under which you are insured. It costs extra to stack uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Funeral Benefit — This coverage pays, up to a certain dollar amount, money for funeral expenses if you or a family member dies as a result of an auto accident. Income Loss — This coverage pays a portion of your lost wages when injuries sustained in an auto accident keep you from working. Collision — This benefit pays to repair damage to your car as a result of an accident. Most banks or lenders require you to buy this coverage to receive a car loan. Under Pennsylvania law, the insurance company applies a $500 deductible unless you request a lower amount. Generally speaking, the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. Comprehensive — Generally, this pays for theft or damage to your car from hazards including fire, flood, vandalism or striking an animal. Most banks or lenders require you to buy this coverage to receive a car loan. There are various levels of deductible that may be purchased. Extraordinary Medical Benefits — This coverage pays for medical and rehabilitation expenses that exceed $100,000. It provides a maximum of $1 million of coverage. Accidental death benefit — This is a benefit paid to the personal representative of an insured if the bodily injury from a motor vehicle accident results in death within 24 months of the date of the accident. Rental reimbursement coverage — This pays for an individual’s expenses, up to the limit on their policy, to rent a vehicle if they have a covered comprehensive or collision loss. Towing coverage — This reimburses an individual, up to the limit on their policy, for towing and labor costs for a covered disabled vehicle. This coverage is usually only available if comprehensive and collision is carried on the vehicle. Gap coverage — This pays the difference between an insurance company’s payment for a totaled vehicle and the balance of a vehicle loan. This coverage is traditionally only available when an individual is purchasing a new vehicle.

How rates are determined When you are ready to purchase insurance, the insurance company or producer (agent) will ask you a series of questions and, based on your answers, will decide whether or not they will accept you as a policyholder. This practice is known as underwriting. By law, insurance companies may not unfairly discriminate by using underwriting standards based on things such as race, religion, nationality or ethnic group, age, family size, occupation, place of residence or marital status. Based on your answers and your circumstance, the appropriate rate to charge you for your premium will be determined. When you’re ready to apply You need to know what coverages you want, what limits of liability you require and what deductibles you desire. Also, you need to have the following basic information available on all drivers in your household: All drivers’ names, ages, sex and marital status Driving record (accidents and moving violations) Annual mileage driven Full vehicle identification number Year of vehicle Cost of vehicle Special equipment, such as anti-theft devices, airbags, etc.

A Day In The Life Of A UK Insurance Broker (A Day In The Life of A UK Insurance Broker)

A Day In The Life Of A UK Insurance Broker (A Day In The Life of A UK Insurance Broker) Harold Bodego is a rather experienced health insurance, home insurance and auto insurance broker. On Monday morning, he knew it would be just another day of shuttling back and forth between the big insurance companies and his clients, if not physically than mentally and electronically. But Harold looked forward to this because it gives him a great sense of satisfaction to get a good deal for middle and lower middle class families. He searches through a stack of policies for the policy that will be most suitable and beneficial for his client. He also aims to get his clients a reliable policy with the lowest premium payments, so they do not need break the bank each month to make payments. Home and Auto Insurance UK Harold came from a middle class family too.

He learnt about the benefits of insurance at an early age. When he was 11 years old, he lost his father in a car accident. The father was the sole earner of the family, and with 5 more children to support the only thing his mother could fall back on was Mr. Bodega’s life insurance policy. The money that the family got from the insurance company helped to pull them through the hard times and all the children were able to complete their education. A number of people who opt for home and auto insurance live in dangerous neighborhoods where gang warfare is becoming increasingly prevalent and the crime rate is high. In such areas there are acts of arson, car thefts, burglaries, etc. Of course, people who live in safer areas opt for home and auto insurance too because none of these people will be able to bear the financial loss if their home is destroyed by a natural disaster or fire. It would be a significant financial blow for them if their car were stolen or damaged as well.

Harold relates this personal incident several times because he wants middle class families to have a social safety net to rely on in case one of the income earners passes away. With the rising rates of obesity and heart disease, such tragedies are unfortunately becoming more likely. As Harold gets into the elevator, he adjusts his tie and golden tie pin. Although Harold is a Bermuda shorts and flip flops kind of man, when he comes to work he dresses meticulously because he knows that the great impact his attire has on his clients. His well tailored and sober clothing gives an impression of organization, seriousness, hard work and reliability. Once Harold enters his office, he is sucked into a whirlpool of activity. The phones are ringing all around him and his young trainees run back and forth, receiving calls, scribbling down notes and contact information, skimming through folders, struggling through files and spilling coffee on the fairly new dark olive green carpet.

Cheap Auto Liability Insurance Quotes

Cheap Auto Liability Insurance Quotes

Auto liability insurance is an integral part of auto insurance policy. When you have committed mistake in an auto accident, liability coverage pays property damage expenses for the individual you injured and bodily injury. Furthermore, liability coverage also pays your legal defense bills.

You may need to buy collision and comprehensive coverage as well because liability coverage does not cover the repairing cost. It is worth mentioning in this regard that collision coverage not only covers the repairing cost but also substitute your car when you are responsible for any accident.

Comprehensive coverage also pays when your car is stolen or damaged. Personal injury protection coverage pays for your and your passenger's medical bills when you are responsible for any accident. Another good thing about personal injury protection coverage is that it also pays for your and your family's medical bills when you suffer injury because of a high speed car. Uninsured motorist coverage pays for bills related to your injuries that has occurred due to an uninsured driver or a hit-and-run driver. If you are interested in getting cheap liability auto insurance quote you need to shop around in the market.
Generally speaking, liability insurance is denoted as three numbers. For example if you live in London, the minimum liability requirements are 25/50/10. In other words, you must carry :

$25,000 worth of bodily injury coverage per individual.
$50,000 worth of bodily injury coverage per accident.
$10,000 worth of property damage coverage per accident.

In addition, there are number of insurance comparison website in the web where you can get cheap auto liability insurance quotes from plenty of reputed companies. Majority of people opt for basic auto liability insurance policies as they are not that expensive. However, these policies does not give you maximum number of benefits. It is basically an agreement between you and the insurance company, in which you need to pay a premium. Insurance company, on the other hand, will offer you financial support on the basis of the terms and conditions of insurance policy. If you are looking for a comprehensive coverage then basic auto liability insurance policies are not ideally suited for you.

Donegal insurance

Donegal insurance
Insuring Your Motor Vehicle On Cross-Country Road Trips
Everyone needs a holiday at some point or another.

There are various ways to travel into another country; be it by plane, ship or train. Some people love the lure of the open road, and would much prefer to take their own vehicle on their holiday. This can make the journey itself a little holiday, and not only the destination. It can also be nice to have your own car on your holiday, as you will not have to worry about transportation in the new country. Furthermore, the whole drive can be turned into a lovely road trip.

When people take their cars cross country they are usually worried about customs legalities, and whether or not their car will be legally allowed cross border.

In addition to this, they will usually be concerned about what the roads in the other country will be like, and will make sure they have spare tires, and emergency kits in case of breakdowns and problems along the way. Unfortunately, what some people do not even consider is the insurance on their car. In most cases, a car insurance policy will not include cover outside of the country jurisdiction.

You have just as high a risk of having a collision in another country, if not more, since you will not be familiar with the roads. What also needs to be taken into consideration is the theft risk that the country bears. These are all reasons why it is important for you, before you venture on your trip, to ensure your car will still be covered.

Approach your auto insurance company and ask them whether or not your car will still be insured when entering another country. In a lot of cases, it will not be. Some vehicle insurance companies will make you pay an extra fee to have your car insured in another country.

This can be an extension added onto your policy. If you are planning on traveling a lot, it can be a good idea to take this extra out permanently on your policy.
Luckily, comprehensive car insurance which includes acts of God is not usually much more expensive. If you have to make a claim on because of an act of God, like a tornado sucked up your car and spit it into pieces, then you will be covered. Your premiums are not likely to rise for a single act of God claim because these claims are not preventable and no one is at fault.

Allied insurance company

Shop car insurance quotes: Keeping It Simple

Getting the best general auto insurance means looking to many companies to give you car insurance quotes. The web can provide you with an amazing opportunity to shop for auto insurance online using several different car insurance companies at the same time. And with technological advances, getting online insurance quotes has never been safer or easier. Why get online insurance quotes? Well, first of all, getting online insurance quotes means that you can leave the sales pitch behind. By using your computer, you can get several online quotes that do not have an agent or broker breathing down your neck to sign on the bottom line.

The process to shop car insurance online can allow for you to take some time to review both your needs and your budget. Another great reason to shop car insurance on the web is that many auto insurance companies offer discounts to clients that get their online insurance quotes and then sign up for car insurance on the internet. Companies know that providing online car insurance quotes saves them money in manpower, and they can then pass those savings onto you, the consumer.

Women auto insurance

Fee-for-service. The provider (such as a doctor or hospital) gets paid for each covered service. With this type, you go to a doctor of your choice, then the doctor or hospital submits a claim to your insurance company for payment. The insurance company will only pay the provider for "covered" services. Most fee-for-service plans have a deductible amount that you must pay each year before the insurance company will begin to pay for medical services. Many plans also require you to pay a portion of the medical expense — called "coinsurance."
Managed care. Managed care plans have contracts with certain doctors, hospitals and other providers to provide medical services to plan members. The three main types of managed care plans are:
Health maintenance organizations (HMOs). They provide health services for a fixed monthly payment, called a "premium." This monthly premium is the same whether you use the plan's services or not. The plan may charge a copayment for some services — for example $10 for an office visit or $5 for a prescription. HMO plans usually require you to select a primary care physician (PCP), who manages your care. As long as you use the doctors and hospitals that participate in the HMO, your out-of-pocket costs should be very small. The HMO Act of 1973 created this alternative to traditional health plans as a more affordable option.
Preferred provider organization (PPO). This option offers more choices than an HMO, but premiums often are higher. Most PPO plans do not require you have a PCP to manage your care. You can keep your out-of-pocket costs low by using "in-network" providers.
Point of service (POS). This plan is similar to a PPO, but your care is managed by a PCP. For example, with a POS plan, you would need a referral from your PCP to see a specialist.
People who have private insurance either buy it themselves or get it through their employer, called "group insurance." Group insurance obtained through an employer typically requires the employee to pay some of the overall policy cost.
Comparison between employer-sponsored and private health insurance Employer-sponsored.

Statistically speaking females have fewer accidents, lower claims and even if they are engaged in an accident the extent of damage is low when compared to men. This happens to be the main reason why females are awarded discounts on the car insurance policies. But there are several discounts you can club with your existing low premiums to and implement them before filing for a policy or a premium renewal.
Drive safely. Statistics prove that females are safer drivers than men; but you will not get any sort of discount if you are a reckless female driver with a poor driving record. An excellent driving record can do wonders for you as well as your insurance policy. If you do not have any claims and are not involved in any accident you can avail more bonuses for your safe driving record.

Compare multiple auto insurance

Do you have more than one car in your family, with your children driving one, whilst yourself and your spouse both have a vehicle each? Car insurance could save you and your family money by combining all of the insurance policies into one, simplifying the bill and giving your insurer reason to offer a discount.

Ask about matching the no claims bonus discounts on any new cars added to the policy and make sure you know how losing the no claims policy on one vehicle will affect the others in the policy.
When it comes to auto insurance, you want to be adequately covered if you get in an accident, but you don't want to pay more than you have to. Unfortunately many people are doing just that, simply because they don't want to spend time shopping for car insurance. It's not inherently enjoyable, after all, despite how it looks in commercials featuring disgruntled cavemen and joke-cracking spokespeople.

But by doing some comparison shopping, you could save hundreds of dollars a year. When one of our editors used a rate-comparison service, he got basic coverage quotes for his two old cars that ranged from $1,006 to $1,807 — a difference of $801 a year. If you're paying thousands to your current insurance company because you have a couple tickets, an accident or an out-of-date and unfavorable credit rating, shopping your policy against others might be well worth the effort. Look at it this way: You can convert the money you save into buying something you've wanted or needed for a long time.

Step 1: Decide How Much Coverage You Need
To find the right auto insurance, start by figuring out the amount of coverage you need. This varies from state to state, so take a moment to find out what coverage is required where you live. You will find a list of each state's requirements and an explanation of the various types of insurance in "How Much Car Insurance Do You Need?" Also, check out "Little-Known but Important Car Insurance Issues," which has a glossary of basic insurance terminology. If you're a first-time driver and need a comprehensive overview of car insurance before you go on, review this guide from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Now you're ready to make a list of the different types of coverage you are considering.

Once you know what's required, you can decide what you need. Some people are quite cautious. They base their lives on worst-case scenarios and insurance companies love that. Insurance companies are in the risk business, and they know a policyholder's likelihood of being in an accident, as well as how likely it is for a car to be damaged or stolen. The insurance company crunches the information it has collected over decades into actuarial tables that give adjustors a quick look at the probability of just about any occurrence. You don't have those tools at your disposal, so your decision will depend on your own degree of comfort in assuming a certain level of risk.

Insured cars

In The USA this will vary state by state according to local regulation as well as the type of Auto Insurance Policy in place at the time. But It's pretty much the same as UK. It's always best to get coverage advice from your Insurance Agent.

As a general rule, If Coverage is afforded under the vehicle owners policy then it will act as primary coverage. If coverage is not available to the driver through the owners policy then the drivers own auto liability insurance can invoke as first party coverage The drivers auto insurance policy, depending on the policy and broad coverage providing, liability, uninsured motorist and medical portions of your personal auto insurance policy can follow you and provide coverage.

Your Personal auto Policy will "Not" follow you for operation of a hired business or commercial use vehicle.

If the "personal" use vehicle being driven has adequate active coverage then that policy is customarily treated as primary and any coverage the driver has is secondary or excess in the event damages exceed the limits of the vehicle owner's insurance policy or the event of no coverage for the operator under the owners policy.

If the vehicle owner has purchased a limited form type or a "named driver" policy. though sometimes economic, no coverage at all may be afforded to occasional or permitted drivers.

The degree of coverage beyond the above that may invoke are dependent on various factors such as the reason for driving the other vehicle, loaners, rentals or replacement status vehicles and other local or state regulations.

It's always best to talk with your agent and make sure you undertsand your coverage before loaning or borrowing another vehicle.
The Top Ten Insured (Quoted) Cars in the UK
Rank Make Model
1 FORD FOCUS ZETEC 16V
2 FORD KA
3 VAUXHALL VECTRA LS 16V
4 PEUGEOT 206 LX
5 FORD FOCUS LX 16V
6 VAUXHALL CORSA SXI 16V
7 FORD MONDEO ZETEC
8 FORD FOCUS GHIA 16V
9 FIAT PUNTO ACTIVE 8V
10 NISSAN MICRA S

In the UK - the general rule is that the driver's own vehicle insurance will pay for any accidents other than when the driver is driving a car with permission and is named on the car owner's policy of insurance to drive the vehicle. If the driver has no insurance the driver has a personal liability to pay for injuries and damage to third parties, but either the car owner's insurance can be used to meet a compensation claim or the Motor Insurers Bureau will step in to pay compensation if no car insurance is available from either the driver or the owner. See the related link entitled "accident car insurance" - for an explanation of all forms of car insurance in the UK and the function of the MIB.
Insurance Coverage in Someone Else's vehicle - US
In The USA this will vary state by state according to local regulation as well as the type of Auto Insurance Policy in place at the time. But It's pretty much the same as UK. It's always best to get coverage advice from your Insurance Agent.

Auto insurance claims

"Sixty-three cents of every claim dollar goes to [pay for] physical damage on your car," says John Eager, senior director of claims services for the National Association of Independent Insurers, based in Des Plaines, Ill. Although a personal injury claim may require a different level of proof and persistence than a vehicle damage claim and insurance regulations vary from state to state, the basic steps to take information needed to file a claim are fairly similar. For the most part, the claims process for vehicle damage is simple: You make a claim, the adjuster comes out to estimate the cost to repair the damage, the insurance company sends you a check for that amount and you use it to pay for the repairs.

Step 1 (at the accident scene): Call 911 if someone has a life-threatening injury. If there's no emergency, don't tie up 911, but get any needed medical attention and call the police directly. Remember, you need that police report. Step 2: Exchange license plate numbers, contact information and auto insurance information with the other parties involved. Most states require drivers to have an insurance identification card in the vehicle and it will provide most of the pertinent information, Eager says. Fill in any gaps, though. Make sure to get phone numbers. Step 3: Look for witnesses who will be willing to tell what they saw and get their contact information as well. If you are unable to gather information at the scene, the police report can be a back-up source of information on the other parties involved and witnesses. If the accident happens in a parking lot, an officer may plead no jurisdiction. Insist on an incident report, Howard says. Failing that, in a mall or other facility that has a security force, you may ask security to file a report. In a lot without any security, you may want to ask a shop owner. "You want to get something in writing," Howard says, because "insurance companies are obliged to believe the story given to them by their own policyholder" unless there's proof to the contrary. Step 4: Contact your insurance company as soon as possible. With a cell phone, you may call your company right from the scene. Many have 24-hour claim-filing service by phone. Your insurance ID card should provide the number. Whoever takes your claim will walk you through the process. Although the other party may be at fault, both Eager and Howard agree that generally you should file the claim with your own insurance carrier. Each carrier is obliged to protect the interests of its own insured, making your claim a secondary concern for the other party's carrier. Chances are you'll get the service you need more readily from your own carrier. "You have rights with your own carrier that you don't have with the other party's insurance," Howard says. This includes the right to a process for resolving disputes over what expenses should be covered by the insurance. With no-fault insurance, you have no choice initially but to file with your own carrier. No-fault insurance has thresholds below which your own carrier pays all expenses, except the deductible. Above those thresholds, you may seek restitution from the other party. These thresholds vary by state. Assuming the other party is at fault and you do not have collision coverage on your vehicle, you will have no choice but to file a claim against the other party's carrier. On the other hand, if the other party does not have insurance, you will have to negotiate with the other party directly or go to court. Step 5 (if the other party is at fault): You should advise the other party's insurance company that you're pursuing a claim through your carrier and will seek reimbursement for costs your carrier will not pay, including your collision insurance deductible, time off work, auto rental differential and the amount of your diminished resale value, Howard says. If you have the patience to take an unconventional route that will be challenged by your carrier, Howard believes that if the other party is at fault, you should file claims with both carriers. "You cannot collect twice for the same thing," he says. However under "multiple source recovery," he adds, "you can collect from two sources and put the checks in a kitty and decide how much was paid for what." This means meticulously itemizing every expense involved, and which carrier's check paid for which expense. At the end of the process, you would submit the itemized list to your carrier and, if there's anything left in the kitty, you would write a check for the overage to your own carrier. Step 6 (this may happen earlier or later in the process, depending on the other insurance carrier): You'll get a phone call from the other company asking for your version of events that led to the accident. You need to prepare for this, Eager says. "Especially with an injury claim, you'd want to check with your insurance carrier to see what statements you need to make to the other insurance carrier." It's a good idea to write down exactly what you will tell the other carrier beforehand so that in the worst-case scenario -- a lawsuit -- your statement will remain consistent. Don't trust your memory. The other carrier will be taping your statement and will have your exact words at their disposal. Step 7: The adjuster comes out to take a look at the damage to your vehicle and comes up with an estimate of what it will take to restore it (or replace it, if it's totaled). Then, the insurance company will cut a check in the amount of the repair, minus any collision deductible amount. If an insurance company has a direct repair program, the adjuster might not even have to come out, Eager says. Under such a program, your insurance carrier will refer you to a shop with which they have an agreement. So, depending on the insurance company, the damage claim estimate may be done by the shop itself, the shop won't have to wait to start repairs and the check can be transmitted right to the shop, Eager says. The shop may also make arrangements for a rental vehicle if you need one. If the adjuster says the car is totaled (in other words, beyond repair), the adjuster will estimate your compensation on the actual cash value (or depreciated value) of the vehicle before the accident, essentially enabling you to buy a similar used car. However, if you've bought coverage for replacement cost value, the estimate will cover the cost of buying a similar new vehicle. Step 8 (When disputes arise): If you think your carrier's damage settlement offer is too low, you may ask your carrier for a form of arbitration to resolve the dispute. This process may take two to six weeks, but generally speaking, you will not have to wait for payment. In most cases, the insurance company will pay you the amount it offered immediately, and you'll get the rest when and if the dispute is resolved in your favor. On the other hand, if you disagree with an offer from the other party's carrier, you may or may not be offered such dispute resolution. If not and the amount in dispute is significant, it may be worthwhile to take legal action. Easy Ways To Save Money On Your Car Insurance Policy With the rising cost of living, it is easy to become overwhelmed with your bills every month! In this article we will discuss some simple methods to lower your auto insurance policy. Firstly, you can request a higher excess. The excess is the amount of money you have to pay back to your insurance company before they will pay out the amount of value on your car. The excess is usually a percentage of the payout amount that the company needs to pay to repair the vehicle, and the higher you make that percentage to be, the lower your monthly premium. This can leave you in a catch 22 financial situation when the time comes to pay that excess, but if you take into account all the money you saved on premiums, then it sort of balances it out.

The next thing you need to do is to ensure that you have bought the cheapest motor vehicle possible. While this may seem like an obvious thing to say, its not, because it is surprising the amount of people who are driving motor cars that they cannot actually afford. The truth is, the cheaper your motor vehicle is, the lower your auto insurance premium will be. Remember that the repairs to a lower cost vehicle will be more affordable. In addition to that, a less flashy car will attract less attention from thieves! You can also combine your insurance policies under one company in order to lower your premium. A lot of insurance companies will offer you a discounted premium if you insure your household contents, car and life under them. Look into deals offered and whether or not you will be saving money by combining your policies. The last easy thing you can do to save on your insurance policy is to ask questions. This can seem so simple, but many people fail to do it. Asking the right questions and enquiring about discounts can go a long way in securing you a lower policy. A lot of people have grey areas in their insurance policies and are not aware of why this is! Clearing up confusion can also help you ensure you are not paying for cover that you do not need, and will also ensure that you understand exactly why you are paying what you are paying.

Affordable auto insurance online

You can choose from buildings insurance, contents insurance, buildings and contents insurance and then add extra cover. And it's easy to get a home insurance quote, without leaving your house or even your chair - just choose which home insurance you're interested in and click.

Insurance Coverage in anothers vehicle
I am an auto insurance adjuster and the quickest answer to your question is - "it depends on the Owner of the vehicle's policy language". Most auto insurance policies WILL in fact cover ANY driver of the insured vehicle, UNLESS that driver has been previously excluded from the policy or UNLESS the driver has STOLEN the vehicle. This would have to be proved with a copy of a theft report filed by the owner. Now, most of the time this is the case - but NOT in all states, and NOT on all policies. I urge you to call your agent BEFORE you drive a friend's car or BEFORE you let a friend drive yours.
Here are more answers and opinions from other FAQ Farmers:
• The insurance will only cover you if you are listed under their insurance with the car owner.
• I had to find this out in a hard way. They will, if the car owner has given you permission to drive. But if not, they won't and I fell into the second case.
• A good rule of thumb is that 'insurance follows the owners liabilities as far as coverage is concerned. The policy in force on the vehicle involved in a loss will cover the damage to the vehicle itself and provide the liability limits if other parties are involved and are covered under the terms of that policy. This does assume that you had the owner's PERMISSION to drive the vehicle involved.
• A lot also depends on the state. I'm in Texas - my policy specifically states that anybody that I allow to drive my vehicle is covered. At the same time, my policy will cover me in somebody else's vehicle (with the same coverages that I carry), and also cover any new car for 30 days, to allow time for me to give them the car information. They tend to be a lot more liberal than most companies though. And I don't carry collision anyway (my car is 15-years-old with 165k miles, not worth it), just theft, uninsured motorist and liability.

A car is insured under comprehensive and collision insurance. The Named Insured Drivers are covered for Liability purposes. For the car to be insured in the case of an accident there are stipulations placed on who can drive the car relating to driver age, experience, driving record etc. this may vary from policy to policy.

Car insurance rate company

"I let myself get ripped off on auto insurance for a lot of years, but thanks to incurance I was able to find a number of much lower rates for even better coverage. Switched brokers and saved $1200!"
Brian - Alberta
Experts recommend that if you have a lot of assets, you should get enough liability coverage to protect them. Let's say you have $50,000 of bodily injury liability coverage but $100,000 in personal assets. If you're at fault in an accident, attorneys for the other party could go after you for the $50,000 in medical bills that aren't covered by your policy.
General recommendations for liability limits are $50,000 bodily injury liability for one person injured in an accident, $100,000 for all people injured in an accident and $25,000 property damage liability (usually expressed in insurance shorthand as 50/100/25). Here again, let your financial situation be your guide. If you have no assets that an attorney can seek, don't buy coverage unnecessarily.
Your driving habits might also be a consideration in determining the coverage you need. If your past is filled with crumpled fenders, or if you have a lead foot, or if you make a long commute on a treacherous winding road every day, then you should get more complete coverage. Collision coverage pays for damage that your car experiences in an accident or damage from hitting an inanimate object (a tree, light post or fence, for example). Comprehensive coverage addresses damage that didn't occur in a collision — such as from fire, theft or flood. It also covers damaged windshields.
Keep in mind that you don't have to buy collision and comprehensive coverage. Let's say your vehicle is older, you have a good driving record and there is little likelihood that your car would be totaled in an accident, but a high likelihood of it being stolen. Then you could buy comprehensive coverage and skip the collision insurance.
Step 2: Review Your Current Insurance Policy
Read through your current policy or contact your auto insurance company to get the information you need. Jot down the amount of coverage you have now and how much you are paying for it. Take note of the yearly and monthly cost of your insurance, since many of your quotes will be given both ways. Now you have a figure to beat.
Step 3: Check Your Driving Record
You should know how many tickets you have had recently. If you can't remember how long that speeding ticket has been on your record, check with your state's department of motor vehicles. If a ticket or points you earned are about to disappear, thus improving your driving record, wait until that happens before you get quotes. Nothing drives up the price of insurance like a bad driving record.
Step 4: Solicit Competitive Quotes
Now it's time to start shopping. Set aside at least an hour for this task. Have at hand your current insurance policy, your driver license number and your vehicle registration. You can begin with online services. If you go to an online site to get a quote for an insurance rate, you can type in your information and begin to build a list of companies for comparative quotes. Keep in mind that not all insurance companies participate in these one-stop-shopping sites, however. If a recommendation from friends and family or other research points to a company that you think might be a winner, you can go directly to its Web site or call its toll-free number to get a quote.
Each quote form takes about 15 minutes each to complete. It might be well worth your time, since if the entire shopping process takes you two hours and you save $800, you're effectively earning $400 an hour.
When you use these sites, you might not get instant quotes. Some companies may contact you later by e-mail. Some that are not "direct providers" might put you in touch with a local agent, who will then calculate a quote for you.
(A direct provider like Geico sells insurance policies directly to consumers. Other companies, such as State Farm, sell insurance through local agents.) You can learn more about the various kinds of agents here.

Step 5: Gather Quotes and Company Information
While you're researching companies, take careful notes so you can easily make price and coverage comparisons. Keep a list of:
Annual and monthly rates for the different types of coverage. Make sure to keep the coverage limits the same so you can make apples-to-apples comparisons for cost and coverage.
The insurance company's 800 telephone number, so you can get answers to questions you couldn't find online.
The insurance company's payment policy. When is the payment due? What kinds of payment plans are available?
What happens if you're late in making a payment?
In later steps, you'll add some more information to this list.
Step 6: Work the Phones
Once you have gathered information online, it's time to work the phones. Contact those companies from which you haven't been able to get an online quote. Doing the research by phone can actually be easier and faster than on the Internet, provided you have your driver license and vehicle registration close at hand. When you get a quote over the phone, be sure to confirm the price by asking the representative to e-mail the quote to you.
Step 7: Look for Discounts
When you're making these calls and shopping online, make sure you explore all your options relating to discounts. Insurance companies give discounts for such things as a good driving record, your car's safety or security equipment and certain occupations or professional affiliations. Some companies are now offering lower rates if you enroll in "pay as you drive" plans. Some will give substantial discounts for young drivers in the family who have high grade-point averages. (You can use this as an incentive to your teen drivers and offer to share the savings with them.) Also consider using the same insurance company for home and auto policies. That will usually get you a better price. For more guidance on discounts, check out "How to Save Money on Car Insurance" and
"Top 10 Ways To Lower Your Car Insurance Bill."

Health and auto insurance

What does auto insurance have to do with health care?

Most Canadians have never been in a serious car crash, and may not know what auto insurance has to do with health care. In fact, Canada’s non-government home, car and business insurers pay more than $2 billion per year into the country’s health care system, most of it related to auto insurance.
What is a “levy?”

If you are seriously injured in a car crash, most of the treatment you receive is probably covered by auto insurance, but because Canadians have universal health care, any emergency care or visits to your doctor will initially be paid for by your provincial health care plan. You will likely never see the bill, but your auto insurer will – in a manner of speaking. Every year, insurers reimburse provincial health plans for treatment given to crash victims. This is called a “health levy” or “aggregate assessment,” and is an important source of funds for provincial health care systems in Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI and Newfoundland & Labrador.
What about treatment that is not covered by provincial plans?

Buying the right health insurance is important.

Motorcycle auto insurance

Where you live also can have an impact on the rate you pay for motorcycle insurance.

Auto insurance that's right for you.
You feel secure when your home and vehicles are protected. Insurance offers protection that is easy to understand and suited to your unique needs.

Some companies offer a lay-up option, allowing you to remove collision and liability insurance during the winter months when bikes are in storage.
You can often get discounts if you have auto insurance, home insurance or other insurance with your motorcycle insurance provider.
Medical payments coverage. A standard health insurance plan should cover the cost of care for any injuries you suffer in a car accident. But medical payments coverage also can be used to cover the cost of care related to injuries to a passenger – or to yourself if you don't have health insurance.
How much does motorcycle insurance cost?

Your auto insurance

Some car insurance companies make a lot of assumptions about you and your car usage. We don’t assume, we ask. We feel it’s important to understand you and how you use your car, so you only pay for car insurance that you need.
For example, if during the week you use your car less, or park in a secure area, you should pay less for your car insurance. Or if you’re a pilot, a stay at home parent, a retiree, or work from home and generally use your car less, you should also pay less for your car insurance. We believe fewer assumptions means a better understanding of you that should equate to lower car insurance premiums.

The first step to locking in extra savings is to fill out our easy step by step quote form. The entire process can be done in 5 minutes and at the end you are instantly provided with the lowest Canadian car insurance quotes available from our network of licensed insurance professionals. It really is that simple.

No matter where you live in Canada, you should be able to find an insurance broker or agent to meet your needs.

Insurance directory has a broad selection of insurance brokers in every Canadian province and territory.

Insurance information

Having Your Car Assessed For Insurance Purposes
Upon signing up for an auto insurance policy, you will be asked a plethora of questions. They will firstly want to know when you got your driver's license, how many accidents you have had and who else will be driving your motor vehicle. Regardless of what you tell the company, most of their information comes from their computer system, where all your driving history and license information has been loaded into a general database for these sorts of purposes.

The insurance company will also be able to determine whether or not you have a criminal record and a good credit report. In addition to all the information they can find on you as a driver, they will also have pre-specified information on the type of car you are insuring. The insurance company will ask you what make and model of car you are driving, and if your car has a good security system such as an alarm or immobilizer.

No matter what you have told your car insurance company about your motor vehicle, they already have prerequisites about it on their system. For example, they will know whether or not the car you are driving is a popular target for theft, or whether it is notorious for being in collisions. The safety standards of your car will also be on their system too. The insurance assessment of your motor vehicle is imperative! Your cover will not be complete until you have had your car assessed. When you take your car to be assessed by your insurance company, they can verify that you are actually driving the make and model which you said you were. Furthermore, they will be able to tell whether there are any dents and scratches on your car already, so that you do not claim from them for damages that were not caused by a future collision or theft attempt.


Also, if you have had your car's CD player insured, they will want to check whether or not you have the right radio for the value you have stipulated. Your existing alarm and security system will also be taken into consideration. Having your car assessed is not something that you can put off, because it is the sealing deal and ensuring your car is completely covered.

Another area to ask about when making the call is if your valuables are insured. On a standard homeowners insurance policy, coverage limits for jewelry, furs, watches, and related items is only $1,000 combined. You can learn more about making sure your valuables are insured here:
Are You A Home Owner with Insurance that Limits Coverages on Valuables?

Coverage characteristics of auto insurance

When shopping for insurance, please remember there are factors to consider other than price,such as the level of service offered. Your premium will vary depending on the coverages youchoose, your driving record, the type of vehicle you drive, your age, and other factors. A list of all companies offering personal automobile insurance in Colorado is available upon request by calling the Division of Insurance.

Liability insurance is the limit of how much the insurer will pay on your behalf to someone you injure while driving.

Property damage is the limit of how much the insurer will pay on your behalf to someone on account of damage to their property you cause while driving.

Сar insurance money

Fully comprehensive is traditionally the most expensive and covers everything - damage to your car, personal injury costs and any third party's vehicle and property.
On very old, cheap cars, annual comprehensive premiums can cost more than the car is worth. But it's a must if you are buying a car using a credit agreement or a loan because if the car is a write-off or stolen you still have to continue paying the finance.
Third party insurance is the minimum legal cover allowed and is typically comparatively cheaper. It covers damage to the other person's car or compensation but if your own car is stolen, burnt out or damaged it is not covered. Third party will often come as third party, fire and theft or can be beefed up using add-on insurance such as Fire and Theft.
But is third party cheaper?
If you are considering third party insurance double check that it is actually cheaper. One of the upshots of the rising cost of insurance for young or risky drivers over recent years is that third party cover - the one they usually take - has shot up in price and can be more expensive than comprehensive. The best way to double check is to use a car insurance finder, such as This is Money's.
How the no claims discount works
You typically get a 30% discount after one year of claim-free driving, rising to 65% after four or five years. But companies vary. Some go up to a 70% maximum while others specialising in younger drivers will give higher discounts at an earlier stage.
Many insurers now offer the opportunity to pay a bit more to protect your no claims bonus. The rules vary but you may be able to make two claims in three years, for example, before your bonus is affected. Protecting your bonus will not stop your insurer from hiking up the premium at renewal following a claim. But at least you won't lose your no claims bonus on top.
Other options: your policy decoded
Protected no claims
This is an added extra that will cost you around £50 or more, depending on your insurance cost. It means that if you make a claim you do not lose your all important no claims discount. Usually, it protects you against the first one or two claims in a year, or over a longer period.
Legal protection
This is an added extra that covers your legal costs if you are involved in an accident and it isn't your fault, this covers the cost of solicitors going after some compensation for you, for either an injury, the loss of your car for a period of time, or the cost of your public transport. It adds about £25 to a policy. Whether it is worth it is a grey area, as there are plenty of no-win, no-fee solicitors out there for injury claims. On the other hand, it costs about £2 per month for some piece of mind.
Car hire / courtesy car
If you are in an accident this will provide a car for you while yours is being repaired. But be aware almost all have time limits and you will not get the use of a hire car forever. It's worth considering whether in the case of an accident you could do without your car.
Legal cover and car hire warning
If you are in an accident that isn't your fault, it's highly likely you will be offered the chance to try and get a hire car through legal cover, ie a solicitor acting on your behalf will claim against the other party. Remember, these costs are not guaranteed to be won back and should be reasonable, otherwise you may face problems down the line.
1. You're a statistic.

To an insurer, you're not a person, you're a set of risks. An insurer bases its premium (or its decision to insure you at all) on your "risk factors," including some things that may seem unrelated to driving a car, including your occupation, who you are and how you live.

2. Insurers differ.

As with anything else you buy, what seems to be the same product can have different prices, depending on the company. You can save money by comparison shopping.

3. Don't just look at price.

A low price is no bargain if an insurer takes forever to service your claim. Research the insurer's record for claims service, as well as its financial stability.

4. Go beyond the basics.

Most states require only a minimum of auto-insurance liability coverage, but you should look for more coverage than that.

5. Demand discounts.

Insurers provide discounts to reward behavior that reduces risk. However, Americans waste money every a year because they forget to ask for them!

6. Ask for the real thing.

Insurers cut costs by paying only for car parts made by companies other than the car's manufacturer. These parts can be inferior. Demand parts by the original equipment manufacturers.

Car insurance accident

Keeping Your Vehicle Insured In A Struggling Economy A lot of people are struggling financially, with the world economy taking a downward spiral. People are looking into any way to lower their monthly costs, but this is not something that can reach into their car insurance policies. Car insurance is an absolute necessity, as protecting your vehicle is one of the most important things you can do. Cars are expensive, and are considered assets, never mind the fact that they are very costly to repair and replace. This all taken into consideration, there are also some countries in the world that have made it illegal to drive without auto insurance.

Rather than running away from your car insurance, it is better to tackle proactive ways to keep your vehicle insured. This is the best thing you can do for yourself is to ensure you stay insured. Firstly, you need to review your car insurance policy and make sure that you are not paying more than you need to be. Every now and then, compiling together some comparative car insurance quotes can help you assess your insurance situation. Car insurance companies come up with special offers and deals at assorted times during the year, so if you are keeping your eyes open and net cast out there, you may find that you stumble into an excellent and competitive premium package. The next thing you can do is to keep the running costs of your car low. The first thing you need to do for this is to ensure that you keep to the car's regular service schedule. If you do this, you will pick up any minor problems before they become something major and costly. Simple things such as checking your oil and water levels and tire pressure regularly, such as when you stop to refuel, can help you pick up any problems. Check the quality of your windscreen wipers and the tread on your tires. Problems with these normal running parts of your car can lead to accidents. Simple maintenance on your vehicle can prevent collisions and save you money in bigger problems later. Lastly, review the security of your vehicle, and overall details of your policy. If you install a good alarm system on your vehicle, you will save a lot of money on your premium by lowering your vehicle's theft risk. Keeping your details up to date with the auto insurance company could also save you money. Simple factors such as your address can affect your premium. Ensure that all the information they have is correct, to prevent any future problems.

Although car accidents are more prevalent in the winter months, what you need to do after an accident never changes. Obviously it is hard to think clearly after a car accident so it is important to know before you get into an accident what to do first and what questions may need answered.

Playing Video Games Can Lower Your Auto Insurance Premium Most of the elder generation will vehemently claim that playing video games is a mind-numbing activity. This all depends completely on the video game being played. What if playing video games could lower your insurance premium on your vehicle? There has been a new trend in auto insurance where the companies send out video games to their clients, mostly their elderly clients in the age bracket of 50 to 75. The reason why they sent the games out to the elderly age group is because they contribute greatly to the number of collisions and claims each year, due to the degradation of their driving skills and ability over the years. These games will refresh a few driving rules and regulations that can be forgotten over the years, and claim to sharpen driving skills and acuity. But why would an elderly person, most of who think that video games are mindless, indulge in this pastime? The lure is the offer of a much lower insurance premium. If the insurance company claims that playing the games will improve driving skills and thus in turn reduce motor accidents, then the activity becomes more attractive. Proven statistics have shown that playing these video games will greatly improve driving skills which directly lowers the collision rate amongst the people who have played them. Everyone knows that a driver with a clear accident history will get the lowest premiums possible. Besides these video games that have been made specifically for the improvement of driving skills, there are other experts who claim that the playing of any video game is good for perception and sensory skills. Anything that contributes to these skills is assisting in driving ability.

Оnline auto

Reasons Why You Have To Have Car Insurance

Statistics have proven that there are thousands of motor vehicle collisions on our roads every single day. This means that every time you get into your motor vehicle, you run the risk of being involved in an accident. The accidents on our roads range from minor to major, and the best thing you can do is to ensure you are financially protected in the event of this happening. No one has the spare money lying around that it takes to repair or replace a motor vehicle, so it is best that you are insured to protect your financial health.

It is not unheard of for the repairs to a vehicle to rise into the thousands, and this can even be for minor repairs. The scenario is even worse when it is a luxury vehicle that needs repairing or replacing, as the costs for panel beating or replacement on one of those can be heart attack inducing! If you are repaying the bank on a car loan, and your car is written off or stolen, you would not want to have to pay for a car every month that you do not have. If you have sufficient car insurance coverage, then they will pay out the book value of your car so that you can settle any outstanding monies with the bank. If you have a fully paid off car but lose it, then at least you will be able to purchase a new one.

Furthermore, you need to consider the repercussions if you are involved in an accident with another person whom does not have auto insurance. What then? What if they are completely unable to pay for the cost of repairs or the replacement of your vehicle? Then you will also have to worry about finding the money for that. If you have a good insurance plan in place, then you will be covered. If you are lucky too, depending on the extent of your coverage, then you will even be allowed a hired car to use whilst your vehicle is being repaired, or until you have a new one.

You also need to consider the consequences of crime. You could walk out of a shopping mall to find that your motor car has been stolen. In addition to that, there is also the possibility of attempted theft on your vehicle. Thieves trying to steal your car, or removing belongings from it, can cause expensive damage. If you have car insurance, your vehicle will be covered against this.

In conclusion, it is not difficult to see why it is so important to have motor car insurance. The risk you take driving every day is not worth the far reaching consequences should anything go wrong.

This guide will help you decide if long term care insurance is a good fit for you and it will educate you on how to choose and shop for long term care insurance. So, if you are thinking about purchasing a long term care insurance policy through your local insurance agent or would like to get an online insurance quote, this guide will steer you in the right direction to find the best long term care insurance policy for you. Let's get started:

1. What Kind of Long Term Care Insurance Coverage Do You Need?: Good question! First, you need to understand how long term care insurance works. Considering Long Term Care Insurance is a great article that will let you know how long term care insurance works and give you the info you need to decide if you should consider long term care insurance. If after reading the article you have decided that long term care insurance is something you would like to consider you next will need to research what company you would like to obtain a quote from.

2. Choosing a Long Term Care Insurance Company: When you are ready to select your long term care insurance provider, besides just looking for the best insurance premium, you will want to take some time to research what insurance company you want to go with by learning about their financial strength. Another important aspect of choosing your insurance provider is knowing if and how they will use your credit score to determine your rate. Take the time to research different companies and then make a list of the providers you are interested in contacting for an insurance quote. If you are looking into a local insurance company or deciding to get an online insurance quote, here are some tools to help you research different long term care insurance companies.