Auto Insurance Term » Auto Insurance Terms

An Intro To Auto Insurance

admin — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:38:42 +0000

Although premiums, policies and prices vary widely, the mandate does not. Automobile insurance is an unavoidable expense of driving. Ideally, you will never have use for your auto insurance. In the event that you do; however, you will considerably improve your satisfaction with the claims process by doing thorough research before policy inception.

Begin with an understanding of auto insurance terms:

• Bodily injury (also called liability)

This coverage offsets costs related to the bodily harm and property damage of the other driver(s) when you are at fault in an accident. Insurance companies impose limits on the amounts that they will pay to the victim(s), and for each accident. Your premium amount is determined, in part, by the limits you select. Higher potential payouts by your insurance carrier translate to higher insurance premiums for you, the consumer.

• Collision

In the event that you have an accident, your medical expenses and property damage will be covered if you select collision protection as a part of your plan (again, there are limits).

• Comprehensive

This category covers costs related to damage, theft, vandalism, etc. For example: if someone breaks your car window, you would access your collision coverage to repair the damages. Again, higher payouts mean higher premiums. If cost is a concern, increase your deductible to decrease your premium. The deductible is the amount, usually between $250.00 and $1,000.00; you pay toward accident/theft related expenses before the insurance company contributes.

• Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist

Although automobile insurance is legally required, some drivers do not comply. If you have an accident with such a driver this coverage will provide some compensation for medical expenses.

Auto insurance can be quite costly, but it is far more expensive to forgo. Many states arrest and/or fine drivers found to be uninsured. Additionally, accidents, theft and damage can create financial chaos for uninsured/underinsured motorists.

When choosing an insurance carrier, make sure that you have chosen a reputable firm that is accessible, responsive and financially solvent. The coverage is of no use to you if you can reach no one to file a claim, or if there is no money to pay it. Check with agencies such as Standard & Poor’s and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to get the information you might not get from a slick brochure or salesperson hoping to close a deal.

By: Nicole Soltau

Understanding Basic Auto Insurance Terms

admin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:36:06 +0000

If you have to move around often and are constantly having to change auto insurance companies it can become tricky to understand the different terminology that each state has. Sometimes you can luck out and move around within different states that have similar coverage. Some of the states that have similar terminology for car insurance are Oregon, Idaho and Washington.

Three of the broad auto insurance terms that are used in Oregon, Idaho and Washington are:

- Property auto insurance

- Liability auto insurance

- Medical coverage

These are pretty easy to understand, but it breaks down to even more basic terms. Here are some of the other terms that are used in Oregon, Idaho and Washington car insurance companies:

- Liability: This offers protection against claims, property damage or bodily injury to a third party that your or a member of your household accidentally cause while driving your car.

- Medical Payments: This provides medical coverage for everyone that is in your vehicle if an accident happens. This also covers dental services that are a result of an accident regardless of who caused the accident.

- Uninsured motorist / Underinsured motorist: This protects you if you are involved in an accident with an uninsured motorist or a hit and run accident. The underinsured motorist insurance provides car insurance for you if the other driver doesn’t have enough insurance to cover your expenses.

- Damage to your auto: There is collision, comprehensive and different situations where damage is not covered.

- Personal injury protection (No Fault): This protects you regardless of who is to blame for the accident.

- Additional, optional coverages: This is and additional / optional coverage that helps with towing and labor, rental reimbursement, CD coverage, CB Radio or car phones.

With these simple terms and understanding of auto insurance in Oregon, Washington and Idaho it will make it easy for you to get what best fits your needs.

By: Billings Farnsworth

Auto Insurance Terms Explained

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:22:26 +0000

The typical insurance policy will use terms of language that are not used in regular situations. These terms may actually be unique to the auto insurance industry and used exclusively. If you want to be in a knowledgeable position where it comes to your insurance coverage, you should have, at least, some grasp of the auto insurance lingo you might encounter.

There are a few basic things you should understand about car insurance. If you do not have insurance you need to realize that you lack any sort of protection if you happen to get in an accident. Without insurance protection, you can be held legally libel and subject to lawsuits. If sued, you may have to pay for any damages sustained in the accident if it was your fault. On the other hand, if the accident isn’t your fault, you may still have to pay for your medical bills, those of your passengers, as well as repairs or replacement of your automobile. These consequences underscore the need for auto insurance coverage. This fact, of course, explains why most states make some level of auto insurance coverage mandatory.

There are really only five basic terms you might want to understand when reading a policy or discussing it with an agent. Those terms are liability coverage, physical damage coverage, medical coverage, emergency assistance coverage, and unattached equipment coverage.

For many car owners, the above terms might be somewhat recognizable. They may have come up in early conversations about insurance. Other may be less familiar to you. Liability, medical, and physical damage coverage are considered more recognizable to car owners who know a little about insurance or have discussed it in brief. Meanwhile, emergency assistance and unattached equipment coverage are mentioned less frequently and remain more obscure to the average insurance policyholder. They are not typically considered as important as other types of coverage. Still, they do offer some great advantages if added to your policy.

Above all terms, liability will probably be the most familiar to you since it is the most basic coverage. Liability coverage is usually the minimum amount of insurance you can have. It protects the driver from any costs for damages sustained in a collision. When you have liability coverage, the point is to have protection from any fees incurred when damages are done. If you do not have sufficient coverage it may mean you will pay the victim’s damages or injuries yourself. Physical damage insurance is simply that coverage you used to pay for repairs or a to replace a damaged vehicle. Of course, medical coverage is meant to cover not only you but passengers as well by paying for medical expenses.

The last auto insurance terms are not essential. If you have emergency assistance coverage, you can access roadside assistance programs. Once emergency assistance coverage is added to your policy, you can feel safer knowing that you can make use of towing and other services when your vehicle has a problem. Unattached equipment coverage deals with those aspect of your vehicle that may have been added later, after purchase that are not permanent parts of the automobile. They may be expensive additions like fancy lighting, customizations, or sound systems; all may be eligible for protection under this last form of coverage.

If have a working knowledge of these types of terms, you will be able to approach the topic of auto insurance with far more confidence than before. You will understand what each means so you can better evaluate plans to see if they are fitting your insuring needs.

By: Alisdair Cosgrove

Common Auto Insurance Terms – Car Insurance Terms That You Need to Know

admin — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 07:53:14 +0000

Before you start shopping around for auto insurance, you should get a handle on some of the common car insurance terms. In all reality, the more you know about car insurance, the better chance you’ll have at finding the perfect coverage for your vehicle. Sure, you’d love to think that all companies would be upfront and honest with you about what you need and what you don’t need. But come on, what company doesn’t want to make some profit? This is why having the basic knowledge when it comes to car insurance can make all the difference when it comes to your auto coverage. Read on to learn some common auto insurance terms and then see how much money you can save!

Absolute Liability

This is liability without fault, also known as liability without regard to fault or strict liability. You may see this pop up when something considered contrary to public policy happens, even though the event wasn’t intentional.

Liability Insurance

In a nutshell, liability insurance is risk transference. Not only does give you protection against loss that arise from third parties, it covers your legal liability from injures to other people or their property.

Collision Insurance

This type of insurance is optional. Collision insurance provides coverage for the insured’s vehicle, subject to a deductible, that is involved in an accident. Basically, this covers you whether the accident was your fault or not.

Deductible

Also known as excess, this is the amount you agree to pay toward the total amount of an insured loss, whether it is per claim or per accident. Usually a fixed rate, the deductible must be paid before the policy benefits can be applied to a claim.

Uninsured and/or Underinsured Coverage

This type of insurance is great protection for you and your family if you happen to be hit by someone without insurance coverage. Having uninsured or underinsured coverage allows you and your family’s bodily injury to be paid for.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive insurance covers your vehicle in case of non-collision related incidents such as fire, theft, weather, impact with animals and vandalism.

Gap Insurance

This insurance is good for people who have just purchased a new vehicle. In a nutshell, new cars depreciate right after leaving the dealership lot. Gap insurance covers the difference between what an insurance company says your car’s worth and what you would actually owe on the vehicle.

Gap insurance usually only covers theft and accidents, but that can vary depending on the insurance policy. You can also purchase gap insurance from the dealership. However, you can expect to pay even higher premiums.

Property Damage Coverage

This covers any damage you may cause to another’s vehicle. Basically, if you cause it, you’re covered.

Claim

This is your request for reimbursement concerning a loss covered by your auto insurance policy.

Full Coverage

Actually, full coverage isn’t really what it sounds like. Technically, full coverage is a combination of collision and comprehensive coverage, meaning that your car’s physical damage is covered.

Secondary Driver

Also known as an occasional driver, this person is covered for driving the insured vehicle. However, this coverage does not mean that they’re the primary driver.

Shop Around To Find Cheap Auto Insurance

Familiarizing yourself with the above common car insurance terms will result in you making a wise decision when it comes to your auto coverage. Take your time and shop around before committing to a provider and you will be find the cheapest auto insurance company that will still meet your coverage needs.

The above terms are just the ones most frequently talked about or that affect the majority of drivers on the road. There are more common car insurance terms, but they are mainly state specific. The best way to find out what’s required in your state is by visiting your local DMV’s website.

By: James J. Robinson

Auto Insurance Definitions Simplified

admin — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:13:11 +0000

Auto insurance terms can be confusing, to say the least. Below are auto insurance definitions in layman’s terms.

Anti-Theft Device – Anything on your auto that reduces the chance that it will be stolen or that makes it easier to find if it is stolen. Examples include:

* Car alarms

* Keyless entry systems

* Starter disablers

* Vehicle identification number etchings

* Auto tracking systems

Bodily Injury Liability – The amount your insurance company will pay if you injure or kill someone else with your auto.

Collision Insurance – Coverage from your insurance company for repairing or replacing your auto if it collides with another vehicle or object.

Comprehensive Coverage – Coverage from your insurance company for repairing or replacing your auto if it is damaged by anything other than a collision or is overturned.

Claim – Any request for payment under the terms of your insurance policy.

Deductible – The amount you pay out of pocket before the insurance company begins to pay on a loss.

Good Student Discount – A discount that insurance companies give students who earn high grades in school.

Insurance Comparison Website – A website that allows you to quickly and easily get auto insurance quotes from multiple insurance companies (see link below).

Medical Payments – The amount your insurance company will pay for medical and funeral expenses caused by an auto accident.

Multi-car discount – A discount that insurance companies often give if you have more than one vehicle insured on the same policy.

Multi-policy discount – A discount that insurance companies often give if you have more than one policy with the same company.

Per Occurrence Limit – The maximum amount an insurance company will pay for all claims from a single incident.

Per Person Limit – The maximum amount an insurance company will pay for one person’s injuries caused by a single incident.

Property Damage Liability Insurance – The amount your insurance company will pay for damage you cause to someone else’s car or property.

Where to Get Cheap Auto Insurance Rates

By: Brian Stevens