Auto insurance is not only a legal requirement to operate a vehicle in Arizona, it’s essential to protect you and your vehicle in case of an accident or theft.  But, buying auto insurance can be overwhelming and in many cases annoying.  Many people end up making mistakes that cost them thousands of dollars in the long run just to save them a couple dollars monthly.

The Top 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Purchasing Auto Insurance

1. Not shopping the smaller carriers that don’t advertise in traditional ways

One of the most common mistakes people make is sticking with the same 4 or 5 insurance carriers they see on TV.  As an auto insurance broker, I have access to companies you may not have heard of but are fantastic to work with.  Some of the smaller name carriers have great financial strength but opt not to spend their marketing dollars on advertising to the direct public.  These carriers often offer the best rates and customer service.

2. Choosing the wrong coverage level

Another mistake people commonly make is choosing the wrong coverage level.  In order to save money, some drivers opt for the minimum coverage required by law.  It should be noted, however, that these liability levels are rarely sufficient to cover the actual costs of an accident.  Most people don’t realize that increasing a few of these coverage levels only costs another $1.00 per month but can save you from a lien against your home or perhaps a garnishment against your paycheck.

3. Not disclosing all relevant information to the auto insurance carrier

When applying for auto insurance, it’s crucial to disclose all drivers that live in your home.  Even if they don’t drive your vehicles often, if they live in the same home and borrow your vehicle, there may not be coverage should they experience an accident.  This can leave you extremely exposed to financial loss for both your vehicle and liability.

4. Neglecting to read policy details and ask questions before purchasing

We all hate reading boring legal documents. However, reading your insurance coverages prior to signing your policy is critical, especially if you are purchasing from an agent you don’t know.  Often times the representative on the other end of the phone will leave off a coverage like glass that you assumed was included in the pricing.  Prior to signing anything, make sure you understand exactly what you are buying.

5. Ignoring potential auto insurance discounts

Many auto insurance companies offer discounts such as domestic partnership discount, safe driving habits or past military experience.  These discounts add up quickly if you know what to ask for.  When asking for a quote, make sure to ask what discounts are available to be sure you aren’t missing any.  A good agent will ask qualifying questions to be sure they are obtaining the best rate.

Rest Easy with an Auto Insurance Agent on Your Side

Most of us are not a fan of switching home or auto insurance companies. However, having an agent that can shop on your behalf can really make the process a lot more pleasant.

Please feel free to reach out to me and my team with any questions you might have regarding your coverages.  Even if we can’t help save you money with a new policy, we’ll be happy to show you inexpensive ways to improve your coverage and verify you are indeed purchasing the correct insurance.

The post How to Get the Insurance Deductible for Windshield Replacement Waived appeared first on Anthony Volk Glass.

What does minimum car insurance cover?

Again, insurance coverage is different in each state, so it’s important to check the insurance commissioner for requirements. The purpose of car insurance, especially required car insurance, is to ensure that medical costs and property damage can be paid in the case of an accident.

The minimum insurance required in each state usually includes at least one of the following four types of coverage. It’s common to require only the first two. Each state may require coverage only up to a certain amount, but after reaching that limit you’ll still be responsible to cover the rest of the costs.

Bodily Injury Liability Coverage

Usually, this coverage is designed to protect the person or people in the other car in the case of an accident. That way if you injure someone while you’re driving, you’re not left with a hefty medical bill.

You can also add protection for yourself and your passengers, but in a different part of your policy.

Property Damage Liability Coverage

This coverage is meant to cover the cost of property damage caused in an accident. This might include a building or signpost, another car, or something else. It is not intended to protect your own vehicle or cover the cost of your own vehicle repairs.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Unlike bodily injury liability protection, which only covers others involved in the accident, PIP covers the cost of injury or death for you, your passengers, or any pedestrians involved in the accident.

Uninsured or Underinsured Motorist Coverage

When you’re in an accident with another person whose insurance is meant to cover your costs, but they either don’t have insurance or the funds to cover it, or their insurance limits don’t cover your costs, this portion of your policy can step up and cover the difference so you aren’t stuck with the bill.


The post Minimum Car Insurance Requirements first appeared on Auto Body Repair Shop Knoxville TN | Dalton Collision.

Act of God

When something out of human control or influence happens (that damages a vehicle) it’s called an Act of God. Things like forest fires, tornadoes and other storms, earthquakes, floods, or a volcanic eruption fall into this category. Acts of God are generally covered under comprehensive coverage, not collision or liability.

Additional Insured or Additional Interest

A person other than the main insured person who is also covered on an insurance policy is an additional insured. For example, if your car is leased, your leasing company is likely an additional insured on your policy.

Carrier

The insurance company, or insurance carrier, is the entity that issues an insurance policy. It’s called a carrier because it carries certain risks in lieu of the main insured person.

Claim

Any request or demand for the carrier to pay according to the insurance policy is called a claim. The person who makes the claim is the claimant.

Coverage

The benefits and protections that are named in an insurance policy constitute the coverage. Each portion of the policy is subject to the terms and conditions of that specific policy, so your coverage may not be the same as your neighbor’s even if you use the same carrier.

No Fault Insurance

Some states require insurance companies to pay losses of their policyholders that are covered in the claims without regard to fault in an accident. This doesn’t mean they have to pay for everything, it just means that the policy kicks in when a covered accident happens and not when fault is determined.

Comparative Negligence

This legal principle is applicable in certain states and means that even when a driver is partly at fault for an accident, they’re still able to make a partial claim. The negligence of each party is compared to that of the other party and the claim depends on the percentage of responsibility.

Contributory Negligence

This legal principle is applicable in certain states and means that a driver who is at fault, even a little bit, is not able to make a claim on their insurance policy.

Deductible

Insurance policies include a deductible, or a set fee that the covered party is responsible to pay toward damages before the insurance can be paid out.

Exclusions

An exclusion is something that is not covered under an insurance policy. It may be a certain event, person, property, situation, or something else. For example, it’s unlikely that damage caused by drag racing is covered under an auto insurance policy, even if an accident occurs.

Loss

This is the amount the insurance company pays out on any given claim.

Steering

If an insurer tries to get a vehicle owner to use a certain repair shop, it’s called steering. Steering is illegal in most states and vehicle owners have the right to choose their own repair shop.

The post Confused By Auto Insurance Terms? first appeared on Auto Body Repair Shop Knoxville TN | Dalton Collision.

Act of God

When something out of human control or influence happens (that damages a vehicle) it’s called an Act of God. Things like forest fires, tornadoes and other storms, earthquakes, floods, or a volcanic eruption fall into this category. Acts of God are generally covered under comprehensive coverage, not collision or liability.

Additional Insured or Additional Interest

A person other than the main insured person who is also covered on an insurance policy is an additional insured. For example, if your car is leased, your leasing company is likely an additional insured on your policy.

Carrier

The insurance company, or insurance carrier, is the entity that issues an insurance policy. It’s called a carrier because it carries certain risks in lieu of the main insured person.

Claim

Any request or demand for the carrier to pay according to the insurance policy is called a claim. The person who makes the claim is the claimant.

Coverage

The benefits and protections that are named in an insurance policy constitute the coverage. Each portion of the policy is subject to the terms and conditions of that specific policy, so your coverage may not be the same as your neighbor’s even if you use the same carrier.

No Fault Insurance

Some states require insurance companies to pay losses of their policyholders that are covered in the claims without regard to fault in an accident. This doesn’t mean they have to pay for everything, it just means that the policy kicks in when a covered accident happens and not when fault is determined.

Comparative Negligence

This legal principle is applicable in certain states and means that even when a driver is partly at fault for an accident, they’re still able to make a partial claim. The negligence of each party is compared to that of the other party and the claim depends on the percentage of responsibility.

Contributory Negligence

This legal principle is applicable in certain states and means that a driver who is at fault, even a little bit, is not able to make a claim on their insurance policy.

Deductible

Insurance policies include a deductible, or a set fee that the covered party is responsible to pay toward damages before the insurance can be paid out.

Exclusions

An exclusion is something that is not covered under an insurance policy. It may be a certain event, person, property, situation, or something else. For example, it’s unlikely that damage caused by drag racing is covered under an auto insurance policy, even if an accident occurs.

Loss

This is the amount the insurance company pays out on any given claim.

Steering

If an insurer tries to get a vehicle owner to use a certain repair shop, it’s called steering. Steering is illegal in most states and vehicle owners have the right to choose their own repair shop.

Liability Coverage

Generally, liability coverage is the minimum required insurance. It covers accidental damage to property or personal injury caused to an accident to the other party involved in a crash but not for you, your vehicle, or your passengers.

Injury and property damage can include medical expenses, lost wages, property in addition to a damaged vehicle, or court costs, depending on your policy.

Collision Coverage

When your vehicle is damaged in a collision with another vehicle or an object, this covers the cost to repair it, up to your policy limit.

Comprehensive Coverage

If your vehicle is damaged from something other than a collision with another vehicle or an object, this covers the cost to repair it, up to your policy limit. Comprehensive coverage includes things like vandalism, theft, floods, or storm damage.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

Sometimes, PIP is required by law. It covers your medical costs if you’re injured in an accident.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

If you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver and they can’t afford to pay for things like your medical costs or repair bills out of pocket, this covers it. It’s meant to cover what the other driver’s liability insurance would have covered if they had it.

Underinsured Motorist Coverage

Similar to uninsured motorist coverage, underinsured motorist coverage covers what the other driver’s liability insurance is unable to cover. If the other driver is underinsured, it means that the money they owe you is beyond their policy limit, and this policy kicks in there to make up the difference.

Other Kinds of Insurance Coverage

There are many kinds of auto insurance coverage available, and you can often choose to combine them in personalized ways. Your insurance provider can help you to understand them better!

If you are in an accident, remember that your insurance policy may or may not cover the cost of the damage, and the other driver’s insurance may or may not, depending on the policies and on the accident. However, your insurance company can never tell you where to have your vehicle repaired – that’s always up to you.