Posts Tagged ‘Comparison Shop’

Information About Travelers and Short Term Auto Insurance

December 27th, 2009



Are you a regular traveler who loves to take road trips? Then you are aware of the need for travel insurance policies. You may already know there are many possible risks involved and if you purchase this type of auto insurance coverage for every single trip you take you probably will be wasting your time, effort and money. All you need to do if you are a regular traveler by car is to purchase an annual travel insurance plan that will save you a lot of money in the long run.

If you have never bought an annual travel insurance plan there are a few basics that you should use when choosing the proper insurance plan. There are certain guidelines that will assist you to comprehend your vehicles insurance needs in this specific type of policy.

Since insurance coverage minimums and maximums vary from state to state, you need to be aware of the best insurance for your traveling needs. As always, the best way to find the type of insurance coverage you need is to go on the internet and comparison shop. When doing this you should make sure that the insurance you are purchasing will cover the different requirements of each state you are traveling through. It would be wise to chose one of the top insurance companies that have offices and representatives in every state so that if you are in an accident all you have to do is call your insurance company’s 800 number to locate the nearest representative and report the accident.

If you are a person who travels a lot for business or pleasure you should always have the car rental option on your policy. Then when you are in an accident, no matter where you are, you will not be stranded without an auto. You insurance company will provide you with a rental car while yours is being repaired. If your auto is totaled in an accident you will be provided with an auto to finish your trip and then come home. Also, the towing and special roadside needs is something you should also have on your auto insurance policy and these options will keep you from being stranded in some strange place far away from your home with no one close to call for assistance.

Short term coverage may be the type of coverage you need versus long term insurance. This would protect you when you needed to have someone else drive your vehicle for a few days, or when you need to borrow someone else’s vehicle for a short while. You can purchase short term insurance for a day, a week or a month saving you having to go through lengthy paperwork or extra costs just to make a minor change to your already existing policy.

Of course, you should have the main types of coverage on your policy, such as, comprehensive, liability, collision and uninsured or underinsured motorist. This way you and your property will always be protected no matter where you are.

By: Otto Ingrid

Auto Insurance Student Driver

November 25th, 2009



There are many issues, concerns, and considerations when thinking about automobile insurance for a student. Many of them have to do with discounts and savings, some have to do with options on coverages. Let’s dive in.

If the student is just getting their driver’s license, the parents can expect to see a hike in their insurance premiums. These hikes historically have been greater for boys than girls (though statistically girls are proving to have more accidents, so this trend is reversing). It is not unheard of for premium rates to increase as much as 50 to 100 percent. Yes, you read that correctly.

That leads to one of the primary courses of action one should take (whether you’re adding a student driver to your policy or not), and that is to do some comparison shopping. Not all insurance providers are created equal and one of the greatest differences may not become apparent until you see how they handle drivers in the 16 to 25 age range. It could pay you greatly to take the time and comparison shop.

The insurance industry is all a numbers game. That is they have researched which types of people tend to be better drivers (have less accidents and claims) than others. They have found a correlation between good grades in school and fewer accidents. Therefore, if a student maintains a B average they can qualify for a “good student discount” which may be as much as 5 to 10%.

Driver’s education program have become pretty much standard fare. Discounts do apply. Some states require such courses for a teen to get their license at age 16, otherwise, it will be at age 18. Driver’s education can provide a discount of up to15%.

Related to a driver’s education program is the safe driving programs that are specifically tied to some insurance providers. Some insurance companies offer their own driver’s safety program. Teens who apply for a complete these programs can qualify for another discount of up to 15%. Check with your insurance provider, or, this may be a consideration when doing your comparison shopping.

Another consideration that can greatly affect automobile insurance premium rates has to the with the car itself. Younger drivers (and many older ones) are greatly enamored with a certain kind of car – their dream car. Many times that translates into much higher premium rates. Cars with more safety features and less horsepower can be much less expensive to insure.

One final insurance matter that often applies to students has to do with short term auto insurance. Of course, the cheapest option is for a student not to be a full-time insured driver. That’s not always possible, but many university students can get by without having or using a car regularly. But the time does come when that person is going to have to drive. Temporary insurance can be secured for as short a time as one (1) day and up to twenty-eight (28) days. That may just fit the bill for a university student needing to drive home for a break or the end of a semester.

By: David Deffenbaugh