Stephen (North Dakota): I would like to compare auto insurance quote online but am worried if it would affect my credit score? This is because I have heard that insurance companies check your credit worthiness before giving insurance. Would I not be insured if I claim bankruptcy?

Response: Stephen, I would advice you to compare auto insurance quote online since if you compare your auto insurance quote online than your credit score for auto insurance rating would certainly not be affected. This is because the insurance companies would just process the data online and give you a quote without verifying your credit score. Than once you apply for insurance they would check your credit score. Secondly this is a soft hit to your credit and hence will not affect your credit score.

The connection between a driver’s safety record and credit rating is not readily apparent to most. Many consumers feel that insurance companies are intrusive when they request such information on an automobile insurance application. Many legislators, insurance commissioners, and consumer rights advocates agree, and have questioned the practice in recent years. Still, insurance companies explain that credit information is needed to make a complete risk analysis when evaluating an insurance application.

If you have filled bankruptcy than your auto insurance premium would be very high. At times some personal lines insurer might decline your risk.  Recently in the revisios of auto insurance in Ontario it is proposed that the credit rating should not affect the insurance rate and this parameter should not be a ground for denying car insurance coverage.

 It seems that there is a connection between credit risk and safety risk. Some insurance company statistics show that drivers with derogatory credit, historically file more accident claims than drivers without derogatory credit. Insurers reason that a consumer who is careful with one aspect of their life (e.g., financial affairs) is also likely to be careful with other aspects of their life (e.g., driving habits). Credit information is also needed to determine whether an applicant is likely to pay premiums in a timely fashion.

As per the insurance companies they like to review the credit scrore since this is a right measure for the nature of responsiblity of a person. If he has a good score it would mean that he is likely to be responsible on the road also. This would decrease the probability of loss to a great extent.

Eben Pagan (New York): My auto insurance policy is going to be renewed by the end of this month and I live in New York. Can you please tell me about No fault car insurance in New York?

Response: Eben, I know you will find this odd, but the best way to get the best auto insurance rates is to compare auto insurance quote online and am sure you get the best deals. Online auto insurance is competitive and they offer you the latest discounts and best rates since they know that there are already a couple of  insurers offering their rates on the same page.

Let me shate another news with you which you might have read regarding No fault car insurance in New York.

New York’s auto insurers saw their typical no-fault payment for the medical care of accident victims rise by 56 percent to $8,748 per claim in the second quarter of 2009. This represents a dramatic increase from late 2004, when the average no-fault payment stood at $5,615 per claim, according to an Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) analysis.

The insurance industry, the New York State Insurance Department’s (NYSID) Frauds Bureau, the National Insurance Crime Bureau and law enforcement agencies continue to investigate suspicious claims vigorously, according to Dr. Robert Hartwig, the I.I.I. president and an economist. Yet loopholes in the no-fault system make it particularly vulnerable to fraud and abuse by a “no-fault industry” of corrupt medical professionals, attorneys, and street-level criminals who work on their behalf.

“In less than five years, New York’s auto insurers have seen an extraordinary 56 percent increase in the average cost of no-fault claims, to a great extent the result of abuse and, sometimes, outright fraud in the system,”

“The costs of fraud and abuse of the state’s no-fault system ultimately are borne by New York’s honest policyholders. New York’s no-fault claim costs are now the second highest in the country and are 111 percent higher than the U.S. average of $4,152.”

The reason for letting you know all these details is to explain why the auto insurance rates are likely to rise. This is because the insurance companies base their auto insurance rates on their expenses and no fault claims expenses are a part of the expenses which all the insurance companies have to share and pay for.

The insurance companies offer a higher discount online since they save their operating cost. When you compare car insurance quote online make sure that you are also comparing your coverages and the discounts offered. I am sure you will find a good quote here.

Thanks.

Kamlesh

Rick Howard: Can you expalin to me what are combined limits and split limits under an auto insurance policy? How do I review auto insurance limits for this?

Response: Please see the map attached for the auto insurance liablity limits for each state.
“Liability” is a legal term that refers to responsibility which one owes to another person’s injury or loss. While questions about who is liable for what are typically decided in court through the tort law as it is called. The liability settlements can be anywhere from thousands to millions of dollars. Having an insurance policy to protect you from such things is more than a good idea. In most states it’s the law.
Liability insurance is coverage from your car insurance company that pays the damages when you are in an car accident. Claims will cause an increase in your premiums, but that still far outweighs the alternative, which is a court settlement.

Liability insurance for cars comes in two basic types, based on how the insurance coverage limit is determined. The limit is the maximum your insurance company is required to pay on your behalf if you are in an accident. The different types are split limit and combined single limit policies.

A combined single limit combines property damage liability coverage and bodily injury coverage under one single combined limit. For example, an insured driver with a combine single liability limit strikes another vehicle and injures the driver and the passenger. Payments for the damages to the other driver’s car, as well as payments for injury claims for the driver and passenger, would be paid out under this same coverage.

A split limit liability coverage policy splits the coverages into property damage coverage and bodily injury coverage. In the example given above, payments for the other driver’s vehicle would be paid out under property damage coverage, and payments for the injuries would be paid out under bodily injury coverage.

Bodily injury liability coverage is also usually split as well into a maximum payment per person and a maximum payment per accident.
The split limits and the combined limits are smart ways for insurance companies to minimize their losses.

Now, here is a tip which you must always keep in mind that you must review both your split and combined limits individually and combined in order to decide whether they are optimum since for example if only one person is fataly wounded and that person is the key person if the limit per person (split limit) is only $500,000/- but your accident limit is 1 million you will get only $500,000 from the insurance company.
Review car insurance policy before you buy your insurance and even afterwards with any change.

Have a wonderful day.

Steven: Is it adivisable to compare auto insurance quotes online? How should it be done?

Response: Yes, car insurance comparison is very easy and necessary. Joe was involved in a car accident which was fatal for his friend in his car. He didn’t take proper limits therefore his assets were wiped out. Joe was now trained to look for the correct auto insurance coverage and looked for low car insurance rates online. He could not believe that he was making a savings and his auto insurance rates were very low. Here is a check list for you:

The add on benefits and coverage’s offered by insurance companies differ, which makes car insurance comparison necessary.

Do not pay high auto insurance premiums. Learning to compare car insurance is very easy, especially if one needs to do it online and this can save your hard earned money. Everlasing benefits of savings of $350- $550 in car insurance premium. Find this out for yourself.

David: I live in Kentucky and would like to know the basic things for car insurance for Kentucky.

Response: This is a very broad question and so will touch olnly on the basics. Let me know your specific question in relation to car insurance it you have one. Here is a tip I want you to keep in mind : Compare auto insurance quote and know the rules and regulations of your state alongwith reviewing your car insurance coverage at all times.

What is Kentucky car insurance?

Kentucky car insurance protects you from financial loss in the event of a car accident.

Essentially, your Kentucky car insurance policy acts as a contract between you and your insurer which states that in exchange for paying your premium, the insurer will pay for any losses or damages resulting from a car accident. Also remember that your car insurance rates depend upon the vehicle and the chances of car theft. For more information on theft of car and car insurance.

Can I drive without Kentucky car insurance?

No!

The State of Kentucky requires all motorists to carry liability coverage in the amounts of 25/50/10. In other words, you must be insured for the following amounts:

The penalties for driving without Kentucky car insurance are rather severe. If you are caught driving without Kentucky car insurance, you could face fines between $500 and $1000 as well as 90 days in jail.

The repercussions of driving without Kentucky car insurance may haunt you long after your legal obligations are met—you will be considered a high risk driver and therefore have difficulty finding affordable Kentucky car insurance.

What if I can’t obtain Kentucky car insurance in the normal market?

If you have been refused Kentucky car insurance in the last 60 days – and can provide proof of that refusal—you may be eligible for the Kentucky Automobile Insurance Plan, or KAIP.

According to the Kentucky Department of Insurance, KAIP can be purchased through regular Kentucky car insurance agents, or through a broker. Due to the expense of KAIP coverage, you will want to continue shopping for Kentucky car insurance in the normal market. You may cancel your KAIP coverage if you find more affordable Kentucky car insurance—any remaining funds will be prorated and returned to you.

Under what circumstances can my Kentucky car insurance cancel my policy?

The Kentucky Department of Insurance reports that your policy may only be cancelled if:

Can my Kentucky car insurance company choose not to renew my policy?

Yes.

Your company may choose not to renew your policy on account of claim frequency or traffic violations.

However, your company or agent cannot deny you renewal because of your age, your credit history or a disability not affecting mechanically assisted driving.

If you feel your policy was cancelled or non-renewed in error, you are encouraged to contact the Commissioner or Insurance within seven days of cancellation or non-renewal.

What if I still have questions?

For more information on KAIP and Kentucky car insurance, contact the Kentucky Department of Insurance at (800) 595-6053.

Your questions and querries are alwyas welcomed.