Friday, April 6, 2012

How to Insure a Rental Car

Renting a car can be a logistical nightmare, particularly if you are renting because your car was damaged in an accident. You may not get the car you prefer or the company wants to charge you fees not included in the original quote. It is not necessary to add the uncertainty of auto insurance to the mix. Knowing in advance how to properly insure a rental car can reduce some of the stress.

Personal Car Insurance

As long as you have more than liability coverage, your car insurance may be sufficient when you rent a car. A policy that includes collision coverage is needed to cover damage to any car you drive. Even if your insurance policy includes the cost of a rental car in case of an accident involving your car, you may be unaware of exactly what is covered by the policy.
Your policy may require you to also purchase insurance from the rental agency for your personal coverage to be valid. The best thing to do in this situation is to contact your insurance provider and ask what is included in your existing policy. Always consider the deductible you are required to pay before coverage is activated.

Credit Card Insurance

Since you will most likely be required to pay for the rental using a credit card, your credit card company may provide insurance coverage for rentals. Many offer this benefit at no cost to particular customers. Get the cost for this insurance and understand what it covers. It is always best to have coverage details in writing so do not accept a verbal explanation from a card company representative.

Rental Agency Car Insurance

Rental agencies sell waivers and actual insurance coverage to renters. Waivers are important because they relieve you of responsibility for all damages and injuries that occur if you are involved in a car accident or if the car is stolen or vandalized. But do not assume a waiver automatically kicks in – the rental agency can void waivers if you caused the accident due to unlawful behavior or negligence.
As long as your policy will cover the rental car as well as damage to any other vehicles, it is not recommended that you purchase the insurance and waivers offered by the rental agency. However, if you do not have sufficient coverage and will only be renting the car for a short period of time, it is worth purchasing the waivers offered by the rental agency.
Do your homework when it comes to rental car insurance so you can save time and money. You can ask the rental agency for a copy of coverage options so you can review them with your insurance agent to see which are most beneficial. Of course, if you do not currently own a vehicle, you probably do not have auto insurance at all. In this case, you will either want to quickly purchase insurance which you can do by comparing online quotes from multiple insurance companies or purchase as much coverage as possible from the rental agency.
source by :  http://www.onlinequoteservice.com

Insurance for Antique and Classic Cars

People frequently seek insurance to protect the items they collect. This is especially true for people who collect antique and classic cars. When purchasing car insurance, collectors look at specific aspects of the coverage. The overarching concern is to maintain the value of the car at all times. Insurance helps protect the investment of money put into restoring and maintaining antique and classic cars.

Defining Antique and Classic Cars

There is no unifying definition of "antique" for insurance purposes. It is not unusual for insurance providers to establish specific guidelines for this group of cars. Some may actually lump antique and classic cars together as collector cars.
A car is determined to be a "classic" from an insurance standpoint if the vehicle is at least 20 years old. Furthermore, to qualify for classic car insurance, the vehicle must contain all original parts from the time it was originally manufactured and be in good shape. Otherwise, standard auto insurance is sufficient for older cars.

Classic Auto Insurance

If you actually drive your classic car, even infrequently, your insurance premiums will be higher. The primary reason for this is because older cars have fewer safety features that make them higher risks for insurance companies. Classic auto insurance is very different from standard insurance. While each insurance company has individual qualifying requirements, there are several aspects that most policies have in common.
Your coverage will limit the number of miles you can drive your car each year. The intent is to reduce risk. You will be allowed to drive the car to events such as car shows. Leisure driving should be kept to a minimum. To make sure you meet this requirement, you may have to prove you own additional vehicles for everyday use and have standard insurance on them.
Classic cars that have been modified in ways that increase risk may not be covered. The insurance company will even have a say in how and where you store your classic car. Your car must be protected adequately when not in use. High-risk drivers may find it impossible to secure classic car insurance if they have had violations within the past five years.
Most collectors prefer insurance coverage with an agreed value option for claims. This means that you and the company will mutually determine the value or worth of your classic car at the time the policy is being developed. This reduces the likelihood of disputes if something happens to your car.

source by : http://www.onlinequoteservice.com

Why Auto Insurance is a Must

When purchasing auto insurance people often feel emotions that range from mild irritation to outright annoyance. Many view insurance as nothing more than a state mandate that drivers must meet to drive legally. They erroneously believe that the only time a lack of insurance can be a problem is if they are involved in a car accident. The truth is that insurance is an investment that can protect your future and that of your family.

Legal Reasons to Have Insurance

Not having insurance when it is legally required can impact your life in several ways. You can be caught not having insurance if you are pulled over by the police for speeding or other traffic violation. At that time, you will be asked to present proof of coverage. Your inability to do so can result in the state suspending your driving privileges. Specific penalties vary by state but can include suspended driver's licenses and vehicle registrations for up to two years. Some states may confiscate your car license plates if you have multiple violations of not maintaining car insurance as required by the law.
Obviously, if you are in a car accident, insurance can help cover some of the costs associated with vehicle damage and medical expenses if there are injuries. Unfortunately, many people are willing to settle for minimum coverage because of a false belief that they will not be in an accident.
Worse is the belief that if you are involved in an accident that is not your fault, you have no need to worry about legal action so you do not require additional coverage. The reality is that if you cause an accident and do not have sufficient coverage, the other party can file a lawsuit against you for damages. Or if you are the victim of an accident caused by an uninsured driver, without sufficient coverage on your end, you may be forced to sue the other driver for compensation.

Financial Reasons to Have Insurance

It costs money to reinstate your driving privileges if they are suspended. Additionally, anytime a lawsuit is filed against you, your personal assets are at risk. The outcome of a lawsuit can be particularly devastating if you did not have insurance at the time because you were driving illegally. In some states, you risk losing your home if you are unable to adequately defend yourself against a civil lawsuit.

Additional Reasons to Have Insurance

Losing your driving privilege or having to miss work to attend court hearings may jeopardize your job. At minimum you can lose wages due to court appearance. A good policy will actually cover lost wages under these circumstances up to a specific amount. Your policy may also pay for a rental car if your car was damaged in an accident.
At the end of the day it is easier and less expensive to obtain auto insurance. You can quickly compare online rates from multiple insurance companies so you can get the best deal with great coverage today!