Drew Bress : I heard that bad credit can mean higher auto insurance premium is it true?

Bad credit means no low auto insurance rates :

Response : Bad Credit Can Mean Higher Insurance Premium and you should know this before you compare home owner or automobile insurances.

Consumers who have suffered financial setbacks because of the economy are seeing an increase in the homeowner and auto insurance premiums.

Remember that you cannot escape mistakes often found in credit reports also can lead to rate hikes. Even Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney said that he recently faced a 10 percent increase in his Safeco auto insurance rate because of an error on the insurer’s part.

He said his rate was corrected when he questioned the charge, based on his credit history.

Secondly, you should also avoid not establishing a credit history and paying everything in cash “The bottom line was, when we got down to it, they rate a credit risk because the agent had checked thatinstead of paying in instalments the full payment is done. As per Mike, his credit history is very good because I have a thin credit file, very little credit.”

The debate is attracting more attention as a bad economy affects consumer credit and has consumers scrutinizing their expenses.

Insurers defend their use of credit reports to develop insurance scores, which dates to the mid-1990s.

They cite a 2007 Federal Trade Commission study that found credit-based insurance scores do predict risk for automobile policies. Studies sponsored by insurance companies, and the state of Texas, have reached similar conclusions.

Insurance companies point out that customers with good credit are rewarded with lower premiums. They view rates partly based on credit as an equitable way to set premiums.
“If you’re conservative with your finances, you manage your finances and credit well, typically, you’re also going to be an individual who is less likely to be involved in an accident,” said Robert Hartwig, who heads the industry’s nonprofit Insurance Information Institute.

“You’re going to be someone who is more likely to obey speed limits. You’re going to be someone who is less likely to drive impaired. You’re going to be less likely to be someone who fails to perform maintenance on your car.

“It’s an objective measure of financial responsibility. What it’s showing is that people who are financially responsible tend to be responsible in other dimensions of their life. This is not anything that should be a revelation,” Hartwig said.

Employers run credit checks on applicants as one way to determine whether they are responsible, Hartwig said.

“The reality is that your credit standing is something that impacts your life in many ways beyond getting a credit card or a loan,” he said.

The bottom line is if you want to have low auto insurance rates and want to save $$ on auto insurance than you must compare auto insurance quotes or review car insurance.

Charles Shien : I’m a new resident in the U.S, can I transfer my driving record from England?

Review car insurance coverage to get low auto insurance rates

Response : There are always issues which you need to settle when you move from one country to another. One of the concern is getting your driving license and whether the driving license from another country is going to be transferred or you need to get a new one. Basically in US a person from another country starts with a new record.

For many people who have moved to the United States from another country, one of the main concerns is whether or not their foreign driving record will transfer over. As new citizens quickly find out, your foreign driving record doesn’t transfer over at all in most situations. Those who have moved from another country basically have to start their driving record in the US with a clean slate. Unfortunately, when it comes to purchasing a car insurance policy, that likely means that you won’t be eligible for the lowest rates, at least initially.

Compare auto insurance for auto insurance raminifications

Some insurance companies may try to attain information about your foreign driving record to help determine your rates, most will wait until you have a verifiable record within the US. Since your driving record is one of the primary factors involved with determining insurance premiums, you’ll likely be stuck with high auto insurance rates. You might be rated as a high risk driver. Some insurers treat foreign drivers like teen drivers, since they’re essentially still learning the rules of the road in a new country. Keep in mind, you’ll likely need to obtain a valid state driver’s license before or soon after you purchase an auto insurance policy as well.

After a couple years of driving, you’ll have the opportunity to establish yourself as a safe driver and possibly become eligible for low auto insurance rate. It would be best to compare auto insurance quotes online and find out the insurer who is providing the low auto insurance rates. Pick up the phone talk to the customer service for the insurer and once again clarify your situation, before you actually buy auto insurance.

Talk to your specific insurance provider for more information about transferring your driving record over from another country, as some companies may be able to work out a deal for your premiums. Of course, there are other factors that can have an effect on your insurance rates, regardless of whether or not you have a driving record.
You can find out lots of information related to US uto insurance on this blog. Do not hesitiate to ask questions if you have any doubts.
All the best.
Kamlesh.

Rich Schferren: I live in Massachusetts and was surcharged for an auto insurance accident ? I drive a Toyota. How do I get a low auto insurance rate if I compare auto insurance quotes?

Save $ Compare auto insurance
Response : You will definetly save $$ once you learn the why, how and when to compare auto insurance quotes. However,here is some great news for you. In case you were driving one of the Toyota which has been recalled than you can appeal against the surcharge. This is because the fault lies in the vehicle and you were not at fault.

The Massachusetts Division of Insurance will expand the appeal process for some drivers of Toyota vehicles who received an at-fault determination from their insurance company after an accident, and thus received a surcharge. The consumer alert issued by the insurance department said the decision was made in light of the recent recall of certain Toyota models due to unintended acceleration. At-fault appeals will be allowed if an owner of a Toyota received a recall notice and was involved in an accident, or if an owner has already appealed his or her at-fault determination and lost. A request for a re-hearing or initial appeal must be filed within 60 days from the notice of the recall or the date of the consumer alert, issued Jan. 29.

You will have to prove the vehicle involved in the accident is one of the models recalled by Toyota and that the accident was related to acceleration problems in the recall notice, the insurance department said. A $50 fee is required if an appeal has not been previously filed.

This is because Toyota said Jan. 21 it was recalling about 2.3 million vehicles to correct sticking accelerator pedals on specific models. Several days later, Toyota suspended the sales of eight models. The Massachusetts DOI said the recall also covers several Lexus models and the Pontiac Vibe.

The top five writers of private passenger auto insurance in Massachusetts last year, according to BestLink, which provides online access to A.M. Best’s Global Insurance & Banking Database, were: Commerce Group, with a 31% market share; Safety Group, with 11.1%; Arbella Insurance Group, with 9.3%; Liberty Mutual Insurance Co., with 8.5%; and MetLife Auto & Home Group, with 6.5%.

Thus my advice to you or any of your friends who drives a Toyota and was surcharged if in an accident last year in a model that has been recalled, compare auto insurance quotes afterwards., first file your appeal and reduce your surcharge on the auto insurance.

Happy motoring

Lady Gaga : I just want low auto insurance rates, why should I compare auto insurance coverage?

Low auto insurance rates is equally important as comparing car insurance coverage
Response : Compare auto insurance online seems to be a very simple task to anyone since the concentration is mainly on the rating. You are constantly checking for the low auto insurance rates. However, here is an important tip, please check your coverage. You need to ensure that you have the right coverage not only so that you have issues with your financial stability on account of having a lower coverage. This is required, since if you do not include the right information for the coverage, which might be an oversight by you it would still go against you. The insurance company can deny your claim and cancel your policy on ground of misrepresentation.

Here are a list of questions which you need to ask and which have been suggested directly by the Insurance Institute Information services which will help you in determining whether you need to have any changes in your coverage.

Please stay with me since I am going to take up each of these points one at a time. We are in for a good ride and I assure you at the end of the ride – you will be much better equipped with making decisions regarding your auto insurance coverage’s. Yes, cabby rides give you cash for answering your questions. I answer your questions and pay you in terms of low auto insurance premiums quote!!

Tip one : Has your marital status changed? Have you been divorced or are you married? :
Yes, this is an important factor for auto insurance coverage. If you are married than you might be including your wife as an additional driver on your auto insurance policy. This might give you an increase in the premium. It can also be possible that you have two cars in the family now and so you would be able to place the insurance with the same company and get an additional discount for this.
If you are a teenager and are married, your auto insurance premium would reduce, since the insurance companies would consider that you would be more responsible and therefore would not be an aggressive driver.

Taking into consideration, if you are divorced, than you might loose the additional discounts for multiple cars but you might also end up paying lower since your coverage is reduced since you are the only driver and do not have any additional drivers to the policy.

Stay tuned, compare auto insurance policy, review car insurance and get the low auto insurance rates. More again.

Thanks.
Kamlesh.

Amish Shah : How does modification of the vehicle affect the auto insurance quote? Do I need to compare auto insurance quotes if I make any modification to my vehicle?

Compare auto insurance quotes, for modified vehicles.
Response : A very good question, yes Amish I would certainly advice you to compare auto insurance quotes if you modify your vehicle. I will explain this why it is important to compare auto insurance quotes later. First let us talk about how modifictions would affect auto insurance.

The vehicle is the main thing you are insuring. Just as no two modified vehicle are alike, no two visits to the insurance man to protect those cars will turn out the same way. Insurance companies are in the business of assessing the risk and rating it as per their assesment. When modifications are made to a vehicle, the nature of the risk changes. It would either become a higher risk or the modifications are done to make the vehicle more safe. It would be in your best interest if you have all the details of the allterations made to your vehicle listed. This would help in informing the underwriter on a case-by-case basis for each. Facts are your friend in insuring a modified vehicle, followed closely by attitude.

First, do not, under any circumstances lie about a modification. Full disclosure is an absolute must. If you do not disclose a modification the company is within its rights to terminate your coverage in the event of an incident. This would be considered a misrepresentation by the insurance company and the auto insurance policy will be void. The company can claim that any change, even something as simple as changing out the front seats, alters the driver’s perception of the road thus creating an unsafe situation. The only way to counter that is to disclose the change with full documentation of exactly how the modifications affect safety and driving performance.

At the same time, while you should not lie, you should also couch your disclosure in terms the company wants to hear. A change that increases rpms and horsepower to enhance speed, while sexy to your ears translates to fast, reckless driving in the insurance world with a greatly increased chance of an accident and claim. Talk in terms of engine efficiency. Downplay the speed demon aspect of the change or emphasize that it is for on-track use only. Make it clear that the vehicle is always securely stored and not driven daily. This alteration is changing the nature of the risk to higher and you will have to compare auto insurance quotes and review car insurance.

The risk can become lower also if you add and highlight the presence of theft deterrent systems like GPS tracking and monitoring. Be prepared to negotiate every change individually and realize that some changes may counterbalance others. An improved braking system, for instance, may take some of the premium sting out of an engine modification that enhances speed. But also, be realistic. Some things the insurance company will not like no matter what you do. It’s hard to make a case for the safe use of a roll cage and a nitrous oxide injection system. If, however, that equipment can be removed for off track use, you may be able to negotiate a better rate.
After each modification, apprise the insurance agency of the change and review the terms of the policy. Be sure you understand the following insurance terms:
Actual Cash Value: A policy that will pay benefits at a depreciated “book” value. Modifications will not be covered.
Stated Value: A policy that accepts a value for the vehicle at the time the coverage is written but that does not bind the company to using that value in determining a claim payment.
Agreed Value: The only policy that gives the owner a complete return on modifications. Coverage considers the cost of totally rebuilding the car with identical specifications.
The most important thing to remember in a modification scenario is to never let the policy languish. In essence “modify” the coverage every time you modify the car. Disclose everything. Document everything. Be prepared, if necessary, to educate the insurance company. Review car insurance coverage and compare auto insurance quotes at all times to get low auto insurance rates. Be prepared to shop online and give yourself enough time for this.