Andy Jenkins: My auto insurance policy is due for renewal in January 2010. Are there any changes and new tips to compare car insurance quotes online in the New Year? Will there be any changes in the auto insurance business?

Response : An excellent question. The good news is that the New Year is going to give you a gift in the form of auto insurance discounts and low auto insurance rates if you compare auto insurance quotes.

Yes, insurance field is very dynamic and any changes in the life-style, environment or technology would bring in changes in the insurance. Auto insurance is also dynamic and you need to be aware of the changes to compare auto insurance quotes. This is the main aim of the blog to bring news of the insurance market and explain the same in simple logical terms to insurers so that they would benefit from this.

Here is the latest news on the 14th December 2009 from the Insurance Information Institute by the Vice President Loretta Worters. As declared by them the insurance industry is encouraging the ” going green” better technology and changes for the environment. More than 600 innovative, eco-friendly products and services are now offered by 244 insurers, reinsurers, brokers and insurance organizations in 29 states; of which 37 percent of those activities come from U.S. companies.

These changes are also brought about in the car insurance ratings and auto insurance quotes. The next year when you sit to compare auto insurance quote or compare car insurance quotes keep in mind the two points:
1) Pay as You Drive (PAYD) insurance programs. More than 24 insurers now offer PAYD programs in which a device or sensor is attached to your car and it would keep track of the miles you drive, your speed and your driving. One of them very much advertised and implemented latest in Ohio is by the Progressive insurance company. There are many similar programs like this which use different devices like the GPS system, which are web-based or collect readings from the odometer or use different technologies. The information is then used to reward policyholders who drive fewer miles than the average driver by providing them with discounts. You will have to compare auto insurance quotes after agreeing to use any of the devices depending upon the usage of your car, the technology you are comfortable with and also your own driving habits.
2) Hybrid discounts. If you are thinking of changing your car than it would be best if you would go for a hybrid car since you will save on your auto insurance premium. Some auto insurance companies offer premium discounts up to 10 percent for those who drive hybrid vehicles. I will let you know which are the safe cars in my next blog post.
You will be able to compare auto insurance quotes and also obtain a low auto insurance rate online.

Taylor Swift : If you’re in an accident and the other driver is uninsured motorist  or underinsured motorist , will you be covered? Do you think I should buy this coverage for auto insurance and will the auto insurance rate increase?

Response : If you have bought the uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist coverage you will be covered for this. Let me explain to you what an uninsured motorist or underinsured motorist coverage under car insurance means.

Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can pay for injuries to you and your passengers, and in some locations damage to your property, when there is an accident and the other driver is both legally responsible for the accident and considered “uninsured” or “underinsured.”

An uninsured driver is someone who did not have any insurance, had insurance that did not meet state-mandated minimum liability requirements, or whose insurance company denied their claim or was not financially able to pay it. A hit-and-run driver also counts as uninsured as it relates to bodily injury (UMBI).

An underinsured driver is someone who had insurance that met minimum legal requirements, but did not have payment limits high enough to pay for the damage caused by the accident. In these situations, UM or UIM can pay you for your damages. It is important to note that uninsured and underinsured motorist coverages are separate, although in many states they can or must be purchased together.

At this time, I think it is most advisable to go for an auto insurance policy which covers you for uninsured motorist and also underinsured motorist.  The reason for this is because of the present economical scenerio most drivers are cutting on their auto insurance limits to get low auto insurance premium and reduce their expense. Some of them are in fact not buying insurance at all. . As per the Insurance Information Institute one driver out of every seven in the US is believed to have no automobile insurance. This would mean that 14% of the drivers are uninsured and only 86% drivers are insured. As per the Insurance Information Institute one driver out of every seven in the US is believed to have no automobile insurance. This would mean that 14% of the drivers are uninsured and only 86% drivers are insured. Thus those who have insurance will have to bear the brunt and pay higher premiums or make sure that they are properly insured and have all the apprioprate car insurance coverage and limits.

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

Kevin : Would I be covered if another member of a car pool is driving the car? What auto insurance coverage should I opt for? How can I get low auto insurance rates for higher coverages?

Response :Whether the car owner’s protection is affected if an accident occurs while another member of a car pool is driving the car is occasionally a matter of concern. The answer is that coverage provided by the policy continues in full, provided the relief driver is operating the vehicle at the named insured’s request or with his/her permission, as is invariably the case.
The Insurance Information Institute has affirmed that participation in a car pool does not void automobile liability insurance provided the pool is not operated for a profit. There is no problem with the popular arrangement when the members of the pool use their respective cars approximately the same number of times. If one (or more) of the members does not share the driving but pays a regular sum, the insurance protection of the owner of a car involved in an accident remains intact–when the amount paid is a reasonable share of the gas and oil expense and depreciation on the car.
The intent of the insurance company is the same when its policy, in pertinent part, excludes coverage for losses involving vehicles “used to carry persons or property for a fee” (instead of their use “as a public or livery conveyance”), followed by an exception for “shared expense car pools.” The language of the exception must be taken literally. Payments by passengers must be limited to a fair share of the actual cost of vehicle use and not include profit for the car owner.

Substantial liability and medical payments limits clearly are needed by persons participating as drivers in car pools and by those who are the only drivers with whom the passengers share the expense. Vans and sport utility vehicles accommodate numerous passengers and, with their growing representation in pools, demonstrate the need for adequate insurance. Such use of passenger cars, large or small, is another reason for recommending personal umbrella liability insurance to many insureds.

Compare auto insurance online and you will find cheap auto insurance quote from the best companies