Archive for the ‘car insurance’ Category

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Car Insurance Most Affordable in MA for 2nd Year

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

Massachusetts residents can rest easy knowing they have the most affordable car insurance in the United States for the second year in a row.  Unfortunately for Louisiana residents, they have the least affordable car insurance for the second year in a row.  InsWeb’s 2011 Car Insurance Affordability Index ranked the 50 states from most to least affordable.  It’s a study performed yearly by InsWeb and the results have been detailed in a company press release.

The states are ranked on an affordability factor.  It is not simply how expensive car insurance rates are that is taken into effect for the rankings.  They also look at the median income of residents in the state.  The median car insurance rate is divided by the median household income to determine each state’s affordability factor.  Many studies compare the car insurance rates and rank the most expensive to the least, but InsWeb’s study helps us understand how much of our budget is going towards car insurance.  Finding cheap car insurance relative to your income is easiest in Massachusetts and most difficult in Louisiana.

After Massachusetts, the remaining top ten states for most affordable car insurance in order are Hawaii, Minnesota, North Carolina, Utah, Wisconsin, Iowa, Idaho, Ohio, and Vermont.  Companies like Allmerica car insurance offer rates that are low in comparison to median salaries in these areas for many different reasons.  The ten states with the worst affordability factors following Louisiana in the 51st spot are Washington D.C., West Virginia, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Kentucky, Rhode Island, Arizona, New York, and Florida.

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Posted in Allmerica car insurance, car insurance, finding cheap car insurance, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Car Insurance Should Cover Basketball Hoop Damage

Monday, April 4th, 2011

Many different question and answer sites have people asking what to do when a basketball hoop falls down and damages their car.  Whether the hoop was attached to the garage or freestanding in the driveway, many people are not sure if the damage will be covered by car insurance or homeowners insurance.  According to multiple sources, it is most likely that your car insurance will cover damage from a falling basketball hoop whether it is attached to a building or freestanding.  Most car insurance companies would include that with your comprehensive coverage.  Damage from falling objects such as tree branches or basketball hoops falls under that category of insurance.

One of the responders on Yahoo!’s question and answer site said that their State Farm auto quote covered their car’s basketball hoop damage.  It sounds like this problem is very common.  Whether high winds, storms, or rough play on the hoop is making them fall down, many cars are getting damaged from basketball hoops.  It’s important to get repair quotes from a few different insurance companies before making a claim for your basketball hoop damage though.  If you have a higher deductible, it is possible that you would be better off just paying for the damage to your car instead of filing an insurance claim.

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Top Car Insurance Companies Reward You

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

Good behavior is rewarded by top car insurance companies, according to a recent article by Motley Fool writer Selena Maranjian.  In “5 Car Insurance Surprises,” some benefits and downsides that you may not be aware of are highlighted.  Some insurance companies offer accident forgiveness for your first at-fault accident.  While you may have to be with the company for a few years before you qualify, there are insurers who offer this type of plan right away.

Having a good driving record free of accidents and violations means you will pay less for car insurance than someone without a clean record.  State Farm car insurance quotes may also give you a better rate if you have a high credit score.  You can purchase breakdown insurance which will cover repairs to your car that are not included in any warranty you may carry.  This does cost a good chunk of money though and isn’t available for cars that are too old.

More expensive cars typically cost more to insure, but rates can actually vary significantly from company to company based on your make and model.  That is why it is so important to shop around and get numerous quotes from companies like Mercury insurance.  As long as you were not at fault in an accident, fourteen states have the option of diminished value insurance coverage.  This will compensate you for any difference between what was covered in damage to your car and what value you may have lost.

Gap insurance is available to cover any difference between what your insurer pays you for the value of your totaled car and what you actually owe on the car.  It is possible that without this coverage, you would have to pay the difference out of pocket between your loan or lease amount and the money covered by insurance.  That is in addition to buying another car.  Shop around online for car insurance because Consumer Reports says that 14% of you could pay less with another insurer.

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Posted in car insurance, Mercury Insurance, state farm car insurance quotes, top car insurance companies | No Comments »

Finding Cheap Car Insurance in North Dakota

Monday, January 17th, 2011

If you are looking for inexpensive car insurance, North Dakota is a good place to live.  According to “ND Reportedly One of the Cheapest States for Auto Insurance,” John Pirro of Online Auto Insurance News discusses results from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).  Finding cheap car insurance in North Dakota shouldn’t be difficult, according to Insurance Commissioner Adam Hamm.

The average price of car insurance in North Dakota is $644.  This includes comprehensive, collision, and liability coverage.  The data from 2008 says that the average rate in America is $903, giving North Dakotans a 28.5% lower rate than the average American.  A State Farm auto quote for a North Dakota resident will save them money over the national average.  The high competition keeps premiums low in North Dakota and makes it a healthy marketplace.

Iowa and Wisconsin were the only two states with cheaper car insurance premiums in 2008.  With the exception of South Dakota whose premiums were close at $651, North Dakota’s other surrounding states had much higher car insurance.  Minnesota’s premiums averaged $780 and Montana’s averaged $829.  North Dakota did actually have the cheapest car insurance when accounting for the average expenditure.  This average expenditure of $503 assumes that while all vehicles have liability insurance, they may not carry collision and comprehensive coverage.

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Progressive Auto Insurance Tracks Drivers

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

An innovative new device can help drivers get cheap car insurance.  Jolie O’Dell’s article “Insurance Company Tracks Driver Responsibility With In-Car Device” on Yahoo!News describes the “Snapshot” program.  The device plugs into cars to track the responsibility of drivers.  If it shows that you are responsible, you can get up to 30% off of your car insurance premium.  Progressive auto insurance is offering this device in New York right now, but hopes to bring the program to other states soon.

Progressive monitors drivers for 30 days with the small device that plugs right into the diagnostic port in your car.  The “Snapshot” tracks what time of day you drive, how frequently you drive, if you make sudden stops, and other driving behaviors.  Drivers who drive less often or during the least busy driving times will get larger discounts off their car insurance premiums.  There is no GPS with the device so drivers don’t have to worry about being tracked or losing privacy.  This high-tech device may be used by other insurance companies in the future.

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Required Car Insurance in Ohio

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

Drivers in the state of Ohio pay less for their car insurance than drivers in most other states, but they better have the correct coverage or they will pay a penalty.  According to “Complying with Ohio Insurance Law” from Online Auto Insurance, all Ohio drivers must follow the Financial Responsibility (FR) law of the state.  Drivers also cannot allow someone to drive their car if it is not properly insured or if the other driver cannot prove Financial Responsibility.

An insurance company like Encompass Auto Insurance can help Ohioans obtain the minimum coverage they need to be legal.  The liability limits they need to cover are $12,500 for one person’s bodily injury, $25,000 in bodily injury per accident, and $7,500 in liability coverage for property damage.  All car insurance companies will issue an identification card with your proof of coverage that should stay in your car or with you whenever you are driving.  You’ll have to show the police that card in the event of a traffic stop or car accident.

If you really don’t want to purchase insurance coverage, you can satisfy the Financial Responsibility law by purchasing a $30,000 government bond from the Ohio Treasurer or a few other sources and filing a certificate with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) stating your financial coverage.  Without carrying the proper insurance coverage, your license could be suspended, your car could be impounded, and you could pay hefty fees to get both of those back.

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Posted in car insurance, car insurance companies, Encompass auto insurance | No Comments »

Lower Your Car Insurance

Saturday, November 20th, 2010

According to Wallet Pop’s Gina Roberts-Grey, “Cutting the cost of your car insurance” is easier than you might initially think.  The author’s tips usually only take a quick phone call or a bit of research and can save you quite a bit on your car insurance.  Bundle up any insurance policies that you can.  Usually keeping your homeowners and car insurance policies with the same company can save you money.  Always check back in with your insurance company every year or so to see what kind of new discounts may be available.  Most consumers buy insurance then don’t think about it again when this can cause you to lose out on discounts.

Shopping around is crucial to finding the best car insurance.  Agents don’t have access to all insurance companies so shopping online and calling companies like Infinity Auto Insurance to get rate quotes may end up saving you money.  Check your current policy and see if there is any excess coverage that you don’t need to carry and that your state does not require.  Don’t add teenage drivers onto your car insurance policy because your car is almost always covered no matter who is driving.  Adding teenagers onto your policy will inevitably increase your rates, but is not necessary unless they have their own car in their name.

The article recommends dropping collision and comprehensive coverage from your car if it is seven years old or more since the value has decreased so dramatically.  By taking on some more risk and increasing your deductibles, you could save up to 30% on your car insurance bill.  Since your deductible usually is only applied when an accident is your fault, safe driving can help you save thousands by increasing your deductible.  There are also many unique discounts you can find to save you money from having a car alarm to parking your car off of the street.  Contact car insurance companies to find out how you can save money.

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Posted in car insurance, Infinity auto insurance | No Comments »

Deer Effect State Farm Car Insurance

Friday, November 5th, 2010

The cost of those seemingly cute, cuddly deer out in the streets is actually more than you might imagine.  Not only do they eat plants and crops, they can carry lyme disease and wreak havoc on your car insurance.  Allan Sloan’s Fortune article on CNN Money discusses the financial impact of what he calls “rats with hooves.”  That may be a bit harsh, but “The case against Bambi” has valid financial points.

State Farm car insurance says that 1.14 million accidents between deer and cars occurred in a one year time frame ending this June.  That cost drivers and insurance companies close to $4 billion in damages.  And if you include the accidents where drivers didn’t have any car insurance or comprehensive coverage, the cost of damages is even higher.  In the past five years the number of deer related crashes has increased by 21%, while the number of miles people are driving only went up by 2%.  The likely cause of that statistic is that there are a lot more deer out on the roads than there were five years ago.

The worst part is that deer are causing human fatalities in car crashes.  It is estimated that 140 people were killed just last year because of deer-vehicle accidents.  The top five states where accidents occurred were Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and Virginia.  The fewest accidents were in Rhode Island, Alaska, Nevada, the District of Columbia, and Hawaii.  With fatalities and skyrocketing costs associated with deer-vehicle collisions, the author ponders whether eliminating some deer for the greater good of humans is the next step.

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New Jobs at Progressive Insurance

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Those looking for jobs in the insurance industry are in luck, according to Insurance Journal’s “Progressive Expanding in Colorado, Florida, Ohio, Texas.”  Last month a detailed report on Progressive Insurance hiring in Cleveland was posted on this blog.  The company is expanding their hiring in Colorado, Florida, and Texas as well.  All of the jobs should be added by the end of next January, so interested applicants are urged to act fast.

Available call center jobs in the areas of sales, claims, and service will number in the hundreds in each location.  Progressive plans to add 200 workers in its Colorado Springs, CO location; 175 workers in Austin, Tx; 260 workers in the Cleveland and Mentor, Oh area; and 240 workers in Tampa, Fl.  The company is seeking applicants who are not only smart but outgoing.  They also want people interested in flexible schedules and offer competitive pay and many on-site perks to get the best candidates.

Training is paid and flexible schedule options include working four 10-hour days and getting three days off each week.  The car insurance positions will help answer customer questions and complaints, file claims in the case of a car accident, and sell policies to new customers.  Progressive Insurance is growing fast and hopes to find energetic problem solvers to add to their customer driven business.  Their focus on innovation, diversity, taking risks, and a strong company culture make them a great place to work.

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Cut Your Donegal Insurance Bill in Half

Tuesday, October 5th, 2010

By taking on some more risk when it comes to car insurance, you may be able to lower your insurance bill by as much as half with companies like Donegal Insurance.  Fox Business recently posted an article entitled “How to Cut Your Car Insurance Bill in Half” to explain how to go about it.  First you’ll have to research your individual state’s minimum coverage requirements because they do differ.  Many states have minimum coverage of 25/50/10, which translates to $25,000 of bodily injury coverage per person, $50,000 of bodily injury coverage per accident, and $10,000 of property-damage coverage per accident.  However most insurers set you up automatically with 100/300/50 coverage which is significantly more than the minimum in most states.

By reducing your liability limits to the minimum you can save a lot of money.  Other ways to save include getting rid of your collision and comprehensive coverage, increasing your deductible to at least $1,000, and dropping your uninsured motorists (UM) coverage.  By using all or a combination of these changes, you have the ability to lower your car insurance payments by half.  In the article’s financial example, they lowered their minimum coverage to 25/50/10, eliminated their comprehensive, collision, and rental coverage, but left their UM coverage there.  Payment reductions were 35% for a Cadillac Escalade, 46% for a Chrysler Town & County, 47% for a Toyota Camry, 48% for a Hyundai Santa Fe, and 50% for a Ford F-150.

You have to understand that reducing coverage like this will add a lot of risk to your car insurance needs.  Be sure to speak with an agent or multiple agents to see what type of risk and coverage is best for your individual situation.  Another good way to lower your car insurance payments is to shop around and see what pricing you can get from a company like Farmers auto insurance.  Look for deals and make sure that the company has a good reputation from the BBB and lacks a lot of complaints.  You can save a lot of money by shopping around.

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Posted in car insurance, Donegal Insurance, Farmers auto insurance | No Comments »

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