Saturday, January 2, 2010

Auto Insurance -Save On Auto Insurance

By Fred Gagnon

The law requires car owners to have auto insurance as owning and driving a car is associated with so many risks and liabilities.

What is an auto insurance?

Auto insurance is an agreement between an insured person or group and an insurance company. Its main purpose is to provide you and your car protection against losses and liabilities incurred as a result of accident. Also known as vehicle insurance, car insurance and motor insurance, it is an insurance purchased for vehicles like trucks and cars.

How does an auto insurance work?

The insurance person or group pays premiums to the insurance company. Premium is an amount of money charged for insurance coverage. In return, the insurance company as defined in the policy promises to pay compensation in the event of an accident or theft.

The insurance company issues the insured person or group a proof of insurance, which will be presented if the insured person or group gets involved in an accident or is stopped by law enforcement officials while driving. The proof of insurance serves as evidence that the vehicle is insured for a particular period of time.

Although some auto insurances are required by law, others are optional for car owners. Some have higher premiums like sports car and expensive cars.

The insurance coverage has a very specific insurance policy. Usually, auto insurance gives medical coverage, liability coverage and property coverage. Medical coverage provides payment for medical treatment and rehabilitation as well as lost wages and funeral expenses. Liability coverage pays for the legal responsibility of the car owner to others for property damage or bodily injury. Property coverage pays for damage to or theft of the insured car.

In the US, each and every one of the 50 states have a differing auto insurance law, costs and coverage requirements. Knowing your area's auto insurance laws, requirements and regulations gives you ample benefits. It gives you protection in times of vehicular accidents and saves you money on premiums of your car insurance policy.

Here are some tips:

1. To get the best deal possible, shop for insurance before buying a vehicle. To increase your chances of finding lower rates, compare insurance quotes first. Do this at least twice a year as rates are always changing and they vary from company to company.

2. Take advantage of discounts or premium reductions, or special insurance rates such as Low Mileage Discount, Good Student Discount, Multi-Car Discount, Safe Vehicle Discount and Good Driver Discount. Others include Age (being at least 25 years old), Good Credit Score and Use of Car Pooling and Public Transportation. You can also avail of discounts by purchasing other policies from the same company as well as by avoiding installment fees.

3. Know the different coverages. Avoid duplicate and unnecessary coverage. When adding physical coverage to a vehicle, consider higher deductibles.

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