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

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

Kelly Osbourne: I would like to know the minimum auto liability limits for drivers in Alaska and other states. What is financial responsibility and which states have that?

Response: Alaska and Maine mandate the highest minimum auto liability limits for drivers within each state. Both require drivers maintain at least 50/100/25 limits. Florida and Louisiana (but only through 2009) allow the lowest minimum auto liability limits at 10/20/10; however Louisiana is raising its minimum limits to 15/30/25 effective January 1, 2010. (One major difference between Florida and Louisiana is “No Fault” status; Florida is a personal injury protection (PIP) state where Louisiana is a compulsory liability state.)

The remaining states fall in between these two extremes with the two most common minimum limit requirements being 25/50/10 and 25/50/25 – both applicable in 12 states each. The most unusual minimum limit requirement may be that of Ohio at 12.5/25/7.5. Further, two states require their insureds carry only $5,000 in property damage protection. Auto liability limits are anything but rational or consistent throughout the country.

Forty-nine states and the District of Columbia maintain compulsory liability insurance requirements. New Hampshire will be the sole remaining voluntary financial responsibility state once Wisconsin’s compulsory liability law takes effect June 1, 2010. Although not a compulsory liability state, New Hampshire is a compulsory uninsured motorist coverage state.

You need to ensure that you have the correct auto insurance coverage. Review auto insurance policy  once you get it and compare auto insurance coverages especially the liablity coverage to see if it meets the required State limits.