Kim Roach :I am looking for low auto insurance rates online but I do not know how to compare my auto insurance policy, can you please help me?

Response : I agree with you Kim, you need to know what is it that you are going to compare when you compare auto insurance rates online. Please see my earlier post on review auto insurance coverage. In order to compare car insurance quotes or to review car insurance coverages. you first need to know what your own auto insurance policy is providing. For this it is necessary to read your own auto insurance policy.

Your car insurance policy is a legal contract, so at first glance it can seem confusing. But, if you know what to look for and where to find it, your policy becomes a lot easier to understand. Each auto and homeowners insurance policy has three standard parts:
Declarations Page. This is where you’ll find your name, a statement of the policy period during which you are covered and the amount of premium you pay. The “dec” page also includes a description of the insurance coverage provided and gives the maximum dollar limit the insurer will pay for a claim under each coverage.
You need to see the coverages mentioned here and the lmits of each of them . For eg Liability coverage will be mentioned showing you a bifurcation for Bodily injury and Property damage coverage.
Insuring Agreement. This is the main part of the policy. It describes what the insurance company will do in exchange for the premium you’re paying. The insuring agreement will also say who is covered: The persons named as insureds on the declarations page, residents of the same household and persons using the car with the permission of the insured. Everything is spelled out specifically in an attempt to avoid misunderstanding. Read the definitions section and the list of exclusions that apply to each coverage. Its vital that you know what you are covered for and what you are not covered for when you need to use your coverage!

Conditions of the policy. This last section describes your responsibilities when you have a claim, for example how much time you have to report it and what documentation you must give to the insurance company. It also explains the terms for canceling your policy—both for you and the insurer. You can cancel your policy at any time, however your insurance provider may only cancel under certain conditions and with advance notice to you.
Exclusions of the auto insurance policy : Some auto insurance policy will have specific exclusions that will tell you what is excluded from scope of the policy. If the exclusions are not mentioned than the scope of the coverage needs to be re-read again so that you understand what is excatly covered. Once you know and have reviewed what you have you will find it easy to understand how to compare auto insurance quotes online.
Thanks.
Have a great day.
Kamlesh

Adam Lamberget : How do I reduce my auto insurance quote and get an estimate auto insurance which is very low?

Response : Yes, Adam we all want to save $$ especially in the holiday season. There are many ways to lower and reduce auto insurance.The first thing is the intent, second is to compare car insurance quotes, third review car insurance coverage, discounts, savings and terms and conditions of your policy so that you know what each of insurance company is offering.
a)This is basically on the auto insurance policy. Now is the time you need to work out the savings for yourself for which the steps are :
1) Opt for a higher deductible, the higher the deductible the higher the savings,
2) Cut down the collision coverage, however this should be done for old vehicles more than 10 years old.
3) It is best to have the optimum limits of coverage, which would be atleast the coverage your state limits are and what would be the maximum requirement as per your own driving history. It is best to have a higher limit for liability coverage and a lower limit for uninsured motorist, medical coverage if you are already insured seperately under your health coverage.The key is not to be overinsured since you would be paying higher premiums unnecessarily. Let me give you a tip, no agent or no insurer can excatly estimate or would be bold enough to tell you the excat limit you should take. This decision would be ultimately yours, since you are the one who knows your own financical situation the best.

b) Your own driving history : Therer are other ways to reduce your auto insurance premium.
1) Never forget the traffic rules and obey them at all times. Sounds simple enough, but traffic violations are a huge cause of inflated premiums. Excessive speeding violations, ignoring stop signs and traffic lights will cause your auto insurance costs to hike. Remember, the point behind these laws is to reduce and prevent the amount of car accidents.
2) Avoid drunk driving at all cost, this is the most costly penalty amongst all auto insurance rates. Compare auto insurance rates of normal insurance with drunk driving and you will realize that the rates for drunk driving are as high as 200-400 times!!
3) Avoid distracted driving or driving when you are tired.
4) Safety rules of wearing the seat belts and driving would certainly make sure that you are not penalized and your record is not spoilt.
c) There are many factors of your vehicle, automobile or car which will play a role in your insurance. The keys to get low auto insurance quote for the car are:
1) A car like a four-wheel drive, anti-lock brakes, automatic seatbelts, airbags, an anti-theft and alarm system will help in getting low auto insurance costs because it cuts the risk of accidents and theft,and the insurance company would consider this as positive factors in the risk.
2) Avoid any racing stripes. Auto insurance can get pricey for drivers who want to dress up their vehicles. In fact, “pimping out your ride” isn’t the best idea when trying to find ways to reduce your auto insurance and is really a fast way to waste money on auto insurance. So ditch the spoiler, the modified or customized sound system and the flash exhaust. Modified cars cost more to insure. Keeping it simple will save you money on the customizing and on your auto insurance!
Besides following the above tips and the best nugget is to shop online, use our quick rates form and comparing insurance quotes. It’s easy, free, and a fast way to compare several of the industry’s top carriers’ lowest auto insurance rates. This is because this is a very competitive market and online you will get the best options and the lowest auto insurance rates at one go.
Good luck.
Kamlesh

Mark Ling : Thanks Kamlesh, that was a good explanation on rental car insurance. However, I have another question – what happens if there is a property damage?

Response : This is a very intersting question and a much debated issue even in our insurance world. The comparison of car rental insurance for physical damage is interesting, however I would like to talk about the present version of this coverage. Let is compare auto insurance coverage on rental car.
As per the prevaling car insurance regulations, if you have physical damage coverage or PAP coverage on one auto than when you rent a car it would cover the physical damages but you will have to pay the deductible amount on this which is as per your PAP – auto insurance policy. Presently the coverage for nonowned cars moved back to physical damage (where it still is today), thus requiring PAP insureds to carry such coverage on at least one car and to pay their own deductible in order to have physical damage coverage for a nonowned car. The insurance company is not happy with this since their exposure has doubled. They are liable for the car you own and also the non-owned car you drive. The rental companies no longer carry physical damage on their fleets, the PAP insurer is now responsible for the difference between the insured’s deductible and the amount of damage to the rental car—up to the value of the car.
In 1989, an exclusion regarding damage to rented cars was added to the PAP. That exclusion removes coverage (including coverage for loss of use) if the rental company is not allowed by state law or the rental agreement to collect for a loss. Under previous editions of the PAP, the rental company could collect under the named insured’s PAP even if the insured was not legally responsible for the loss, such as in the case of hail damage to the rented car. This exclusion was added to prevent the rental company from collecting under the named insured’s PAP in such situations.
The golden nugget for you here is that you should compare auto insurance coverage and see that you are covered under your auto insurance policy for the physical damage and this will follow you when you drive a rental car. So review car insurance coverage and as long as you have all the coverages, do not worry.

Happy holidays.

Thanks.
Kamlesh

Mark Joyner : If I’m driving a rental car and have an accident where I hurt someone, am I covered?

Response : A very good question on auto insurance. The holiday season is coming and people will be travelling and so this will help all of them and you also. The personal auto insurance policy will provide coverage once a liaility coverage is there. All you need to do is to compare auto insurance coverage and limits and incase you so desire, increase your auto insurance liability limits if you have just taken minimum limits and the state which you are visiting has very high compulsory limits.

Let us assume that you and your wife went for holiday to Los Angles from New York and you and your wife both have auto insurance policy which has coverage for liability, medical payments, uninsured motorists, collision, and other-than-collision. As per the agreement arrangement of the auto insurance policy ” the named insured and his or her family members have coverage for the “ownership, maintenance, or use of “any auto or trailer.”
“Any” is the operative word here. Of course, there are some exclusions, but those come up in rare cases. We will be dealing with the typical, vacation car-rental situation—where the PAP named insured rents a car for a week or so of vacation fun. At Los Angles you rent a car at the hotel from the auto -rental company there. On the way back to the hotel, you miss the traffic red light and hit another car. You and your wife are unhurt, but the teenaged driver of the other car must be taken to the hospital. If that injured driver sues John over his injuries, John’s PAP will provide him with liability coverage and a defense. Your liability coverage will certainly provide you the coverage and your insurance company will pay for the medical expense, defense of any other liability to the teenager. The important thing to remember is that your PAP with liability coverage, you have full liability coverage when driving any auto.

The rental insurance company usually want to make money and will ask you if you want to pay for the insurance or the liability will be yours. Do not worry about this. Check your auto insurance policy, compare auto insurance coverage and your policy limits. Read the condition on rental car insurance under your car insurance policy. Infact, you can make a telephone call to the auto insurance company and seek their advice on what your auto insurance coverage are.

It would be a pleasure answering any of your questions.

Thanks.
Kamlesh

Eben Pagan : Ohio, has very low auto insurance quote. Will the same premium prevail in 2010?

Response : It is indeed true that Ohio is the 11th lowest auto insurance rates in the nation, improving from its ranking of 13th in 2007. The auto insurance premium for Ohio on an average is $633.31 in auto insurance premiums in 2008, whilst the average US auto insurance premium are $794.98.

The Ohio Department of Insurance reports that auto insurance rates in that state have declined for the third consecutive year, according to the 2006/2007 Auto Insurance Database Report just released by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
“Ohio has a healthy, dynamic and competitive auto insurance marketplace that helps drive the prices of premiums lower to the benefit of consumers,” said Ohio Department of Insurance Director Mary Jo Hudson.
Ohio’s average auto premium is less now than it was seven years ago, according to the Ohio Insurance Institute (OII). In 2002, Ohio’s average auto insurance expenditure was $642. Based on the NAIC findings for 2007 and the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) 2008 rate change report, OII estimates that the average auto insurance expenditure for Ohioans was $633 in 2008.
Department of Insurance analysts expect that rates for automobile insurance, overall, will slightly rise in 2010. Changes in automobile insurance rates can be attributed to repair costs, medical costs, weather-related claims, and the number of cars on Ohio roads.

What is important to note here is that the auto insurance rates are related to the auto claims expenditure and since these expenditures have remained low and this has helped in keeping the low auto insurance quotes. We all can help ourselves by being responsible auto drivers.
Thanks.
Kamlesh