Posts Tagged ‘Vehicle Insurance’

Classic Car Insurance Tips

January 4th, 2010

A classic car is big investment. Every classic car aficionado needs to protect that investment with adequate insurance coverage. The coverage you need for your classic car depends on how you will use the car.

There are three types of car insurance. Actual cash value is the most common type of car insurance. It pays out the depreciated book value of the car. Stated value allows the car’s owner to state a value for the vehicle that is greater than the actual cash value. Agree value guarantees the car’s owners will get all of their money back in the event that the car is a total loss.

These types of insurance are offered through a standard insurance provider. The owner of a classic car should also consider a classic car insurance policy. These policies can be cheaper and less restrictive than a standard car insurance policy. Some classic car insurance policies require the driver to be 25 years or older. Some programs even require the driver be at least 30 years old. Classic car insurance programs could also limit the amount of driving you do to 2,500 miles or less a year. Annual odometer readings could also be required. The insurance provider will give you specific information on what requirements need to be met in order to insure your classic car.

Whether you choose a standard car insurance policy or a classic car insurance policy, make sure you find an insurance policy with flexible usage guidelines. You want to make sure the car insurance policy is flexible enough to meet your needs while providing adequate coverage to protect your investment. Many insurance providers offer mileage programs for classic cars, which tend to be driven less than other vehicles. Some programs will allow the driver to drop down their premium if they only drive the classic car a certain number of months a year. This is an option to consider if you keep the classic car in storage for part of the year.

When it’s time to choose a car insurance provider, do your research. Make sure you find a car insurance provider with the knowledge and experience in insuring classic cars. You want to make sure your car insurance provider knows how to properly protect your classic car investment without taking advantage of you. Research both standard insurance providers and classic car insurance providers. Shop around and get more than one insurance quote. Compare quotes and see which provider offers you the best deal. Just make sure the policy offered meets your needs. You don’t want to accept an insurance provider’s offer because the price can’t be beat, only to discover later that the insurance coverage is not what you need for your classic car and driving situation.

Regardless of what type of car insurance policy interests you, make sure you work with a qualified insurance provider. They can look at your exact situation and recommend the insurance product that will best suit your specific needs and protect your classic car investment the way it should be protected.

Tom Martens is the content syndication coordinator for Carinsurancesa.co.za. South Arica?s leading car insurance portal.

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How To Process A Car Accident Insurance Claim?

December 18th, 2009

Filing a claim for accident insurance is very easy, but the anticipation regarding the accident make the process seems very tough to get completed. If you file your claim correctly, in the right way then it should be processed in less than a week?s time, though it may take almost a month before you receive your check for any medical expense or damage.

Once you are in an accident you should first check to make sure that everyone is all right. If it was a severe accident someone may have to call 911 to get help. It is also important to remember that you should not admit fault at any time after an accident. If it turns out that the accident wasn?t your fault you may still end up paying as a result. Try to get everyone calmed down and relaxed before approaching the other driver or drivers.

You must not get involved in any other thing except exchanging information with the driver or drivers. Get each other?s names, phone numbers, addresses, and other insurance details. You can wait for the police officer to come and do this for you if the other party seems offended. After the police officer arrives, they will create a report with whatever information available.

One of the foremost things to do is to take some pictures of the accident spot and surrounding areas. If the accident happens in a busy area then they may want to quickly clean up the mess and get the cars removed immediately. Therefore you must quickly click some pictures before anything is removed from the spot. You must click pictures of the damaged cars as well as the surrounding areas.

You must also call your claims representative at this time. If both the parties have a little time to spare then the claims representative can come at the spot and inspect. They assist in the claims process by taking pictures, questioning the witnesses, and preparing the report accordingly. The agents also assist you by filling up the form either with you in person or over the phone. The agents may want to know the accurate time and location of the accident. You may also get a copy of the police report and send it to the insurance company.

After you call your claims agent, take pictures, and get the other driver’s information you will be able to leave the scene. If you hit someone’s car and leave without leaving any information it is known as a hit and run. A check should come to you through the mail for the damages, but this can take a long time. You will probably have to pay for repairs out of your pocket before you are reimbursed for them.

You can ask several things to the claims agent to clearly understand the claims procedure. You may ask things like your coverage details, as different types of plans offer dissimilar coverage. You may question the agents as to when the remaining paper work is due, though its generally done in less than a week. In case of grave accidents, you may get your lawyer have a look at your legal formalities and paper work.

Graham McKenzie is the content syndication coordinator for Carinsurancesa.co.za. South Arica?s leading car insurance portal.

For information on Car Shipping visit MetroGistics.

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Handling The Costs Of Auto Insurance

October 6th, 2009

If you own a car, then you must have auto insurance. Car owners are required to maintain auto insurance. This requirement is not only for US car owners, but is universal, required by most countries in the world.

One problem, though, is that we all need the best deal for our money. Because costs continue to rise we must look for strategies to reduce the expense and still find the best coverage.

There are several ways to accomplish this goal.

For starters, the internet is invaluable for researching different auto insurance companies. The local insurance broker is a great resource also. Look for various price quotes from insurance companies? websites in addition to quotes from local insurers.

But remember, cheaper isn’t always better, and you get what you pay for. Don’t go for the best bargain if it’s from a company that isn’t stable. You should get your insurance from a reputable company with a solid history backing it up.

Basically you should research a company, especially an unfamiliar one, before doing business with them. Sadly, there are some corrupt insurance companies in business.

Basic liability insurance is the primary part of a policy, and in many places it will meet insurance requirements. This basic form of coverage is for your liability for injuries or property damages that result from an accident.

Minimum coverage does have a drawback, however. It won’t necessarily protect your personal belongings, funds, or other assets from an accident victim’s attorney, so it’s a calculated risk.

Base insurance price will also go up or down for different vehicles types. Sports cars, convertibles, and other high risk vehicle types will mandate a higher price on your insurance than a family car would.

So it makes sense to think about what kind of money it would take to insure a car when you’re thinking about purchasing a new one. A car that looks good to your insurance company might be better than one that looks good to you personally!

Likewise, auto insurance companies also keep track of the types of cars that are most frequently targets for thieves. You’ll probably want a basic grasp of that list yourself.

While minimum insurance is a risk, don’t insure too much, either. It doesn’t matter how much you pay for coverage over the actual value of the car, after all.

To avoid confusion, purchase insurance based on the ability to replace the vehicle if it is considered a total loss. Your decision on purchasing comprehensive and collision coverage should be based on your ability to afford to replace a totaled vehicle. In essence, if you do not have a need for the extra expense of the policy, do not purchase.

It’s also not a good idea to under-insure. With basic liability insurance, will you be able to replace your car if it’s considered to be totalled? In that case you need extra coverage, though it will cost more. Generally if the car is worth less than $2,000, basic liability should serve your needs.

Furthermore, a vehicle aged 10 years or more will save you a lot of money because it doesn?t require a lot of comprehensive coverage.

A higher deductible (the European term is “excess”) can be a wise choice in some cases. The part of your claim that you have to pay is higher, so the price of your coverage is much lower.

Your insurance costs will be lower if you purchase a vehicle that has low mileage. Also, having a clean driving record is a bonus.

Males under 25 years old are considered by the insurance companies to be high risk. Statistics have shown that this group is more prone to having accidents, making them more expensive to insure (to the insurers delight). It would be wise for these young drivers to drive a sedan until they are at least 26 years old and married. Then go and get that cool sports car.

In some cases there are ways to reduce your rates by taking advantage of insurance company incentives. Anti-theft devices, defensive driver courses and safety features all help to make your rating with the company increase and improve your premium rates.

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