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Why Do My Car Insurance Rates Keep Going Up?

Written by Michele Wilmonen. Posted in Ask An Insurance Question Last Updated: 01/01/2017

Q: No matter how much I lower coverage we don’t need and they wouldn’t pay anyway I find every 6 months car and home insurance increases.

A: Understandably, people get upset when their car insurance rates and homeowners rates increase at their renewal. Insurance is a hard commodity to understand because you can’t touch or see it, but it is no different than anything else you purchase. Just like when your gallon of milk increases in price to make up for the increased price of gas to deliver it or because there is a drought and they have to pay to bring in extra feed to replace the dead grass, so your insurance premium has to increase to make up for the increases in cost for medical treatments, building materials and more technologically advanced vehicles. If they didn’t increase your premium to keep up with the rising costs everywhere else they wouldn’t have enough money to pay out for claims.

How Many Car Accidents Are Too Many?

Written by Michele Wilmonen. Posted in Ask An Insurance Question Last Updated: 01/01/2017

Q: I’ve had 3 car accidents this year…I know… terrible! First was not my Fault but the person did not have insurance, so my insurance paid… second was my fault, minor fender tap but involved 2 other cars, even though no one had damage, surprising enough everyone filed a claim so that was more than $2k between the 2 cars… and now  Today I got into an accident again… this one was pretty bad but no one got a ticket… how likely is progressive to drop me? Should I try to avoid filing a claim?

A: Sorry, we can’t tell you if you should file a claim or not.  However, unless you can afford to pay for the accident, that is what your insurance is for.

As far as whether you are going to get dropped or not for that many car accidents, probably not with Progressive. Progressive seems to be a more forgiving insurance company than others, but you never know. Also, insurance companies don’t look at years like everyone else does, they  look at years in terms of your policy dates. So, if your accidents happened in different policy terms that would work out to your benefit.

 

What Does Excluded Driver Mean?

Written by Michele Wilmonen. Posted in Ask An Insurance Question Last Updated: 01/01/2017

Q: My car insurance company wants me to exclude one of the drivers that live with me, what does that mean?

A: It means that your insurance company does not want to insure the actions of that driver.  Most of the time it’s because they have too many accidents or violations and the insurance company considers them a high likelihood of causing an accident. Your only options in this case, is to sign the papers to exclude the driver or find another insurance company.

On the other hand, you can also use a driver exclusion to your benefit and exclude high-risk drivers from your policy to decrease your premium, but if that excluded driver has an accident in your vehicle the insurance company will not pay for it and you will be on the hook to pay for the damages.

How Do I Get My Car Insurance Policy Documents?

Written by Michele Wilmonen. Posted in Ask An Insurance Question Last Updated: 01/01/2017

A: How do I get a copy of my Liberty Mutual car insurance policy?

Q: There are three ways you can get a copy of your car insurance policy. First, go to your agent and have them print you off a copy. Second, call the company directly and have them order you one to be mailed to you or ask them to email you a copy. Third, create an online account with your car insurance company and print them off for yourself.

If you need the legal packet that accompanied your car insurance policy that tells in details what is or what is not covered, you have to ask for that specifically.  That is usually only sent out when you initially purchase your policy because of mailing costs.

Your DMV and Your Car Insurance Company

Written by Michele Wilmonen. Posted in Ask An Insurance Question Last Updated: 12/31/2016

Q: Why is it so hard to get my insurance company to send proof of car insurance coverage to the DMV?

 

A: This topic is such a sore spot for customers and those that work for insurance companies. With electronic proof of coverage that is sent to the states, many things can go wrong.

1) The person keying the information could get one digit wrong and the state rejects it.  There is no forgiveness when it comes to proof of coverage the DMV

2) Just like any other form of electronic communication it can get lost in cyberspace

3) The DMV is known for having LONG processing times and just because your insurance company sent it within 20 minutes of you asking for it, it can still take some DMV’s up to 11 weeks to process.

How can you expedite this process?

Try and find a direct contact at the DMV that would accept proof of coverage from your insurance company, try and get an email address as this is much more reliable than a fax number. Then contact your insurance company or agent and ask them to send your car insurance ID card directly to that contact.

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Car Insurance Guidebook Unravels the Car Insurance Mystery

Unless you work in the car insurance industry, the topic is probably a mystery to you. The words deductible, comprehensive, collision, liability, premium, loss of use and bodily injury are all gibberish when they reach your ears.

Unfortunately, insurance is something that you are required to have by law if you want to drive. Because of how confusing it is many people go around in almost an insurance daze while they get car insurance quotes from the auto insurance companies that they have heard of. In reality, they are completely lost as to what they are actually buying.

Instead of looking at what each insurance company offers in the terms of protection for both themselves and their car, they are instead looking for cheap car insurance. Finding the cheapest car insurance coverage makes having to buy the required product all that much less painful, but misses the whole point of having insurance.

Learning about insurance through your insurance agent or websites like Car Insurance Guidebook will give you the upper hand when you looking for car insurance. You can take your knowledge and not only find the best price for insurance, you can use it to find really great insurance to protect you and your assets. Then you aren’t stuck settling for just average car insurance that can hurt you financially if you ever need it because there isn’t enough protection.

For example, when looking for insurance the car insurance rates are just the first of many factors that need to be taken into account when you are shopping around for car insurance. You also need to take into account the type of vehicle that you are driving. Many people don’t know this.

Are you driving around a vehicle that is a new sedan and can be protected under any blanket insurance policy? Or do you have an old car that you fixed up that needs special protection and could be better covered under classic car insurance?

Don’t just assume that when you compare car insurance that it will be a one-size-fits-all policy. This is where the insurance knowledge will come in handy; you will know what you need to protect yourself and your vehicle.

You will understand what your insurance agent is talking about when they use insurance terms and you will actually be able to make an informed decision. This is much better for you instead of the “nod and smile” approach people take in their insurance agent’s office.

Also just like your life changes your insurance needs will change. This year you may just need to learn about the best deductible to have. Next year you may need to educate yourself on car insurance for young drivers. As the years pass, motorcycle insurance may be something you will need to know.

Many wise people say that you never stop learning, so take their advice and educate yourself on the insurance that you spend a lot of money on and can’t get away with not having.