Car Insurance

Rental car agencies have a menu of insurance policies they would like to sell you. While each policy could be of some benefit under the right circumstances, you should review each plan (its provisions, limitations, and exclusions) before making a purchase. It is a good idea to request the detailed information from an agent at the rental office, as most companies only provide a summary on their Web sites.

Keep in mind; you may not need to buy this additional car insurance because you have auto insurance from your own car insurance company. Generally speaking, when you rent a car, the liability coverage limits you have in your own auto insurance policy remain in effect with the same limits. In addition, the comprehensive and collision coverages you have in your own auto insurance policy remain in effect with the same deductibles. You do have comprehensive and collision coverage don’t you? See our article, “How Much Car Insurance Should You Buy?” for a listing of coverage types and definitions.

You may also have some kind of additional auto insurance coverage through your credit card but it is important that you check your credit card information for specific details. Some cards only offer coverage if you rent your car from a particular agency. Some limit the days for which coverage is available. Some will only provide coverage for certain types and/or classes of cars. With some cards, the coverage is not automatic and you must enroll in a program to get coverage. Some cards that advertise automatic rental insurance really only reimburse you for the deductible that you would have to pay under your regular insurance policy. Still others may provide only collision and comprehensive coverage, leaving you exposed for personal injury or property damage to others. Rental car agencies typically offer liability coverage in two parts - a supplemental liability policy protects against claims from others and a Loss Damage Waiver (LDW) covers the rental car. LDW is not technically insurance; rather, it is a company’s agreement not to hold the consumer liable for loss from all or part of any damage to merchandise.

Before you rent a vehicle, realize the charges you could be responsible for and how these charges are covered or not covered by both your own auto insurance policy and the car insurance the rental company is offering.

If you suffer a loss that is not covered under your auto policy, check your other insurance policies. For example, if personal property has been stolen from your rental car, it may be covered under your homeowners or renters policy. Similarly, certain medical policies may cover costs of injuries not covered by your car insurance policy.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes. It should not be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any insurance product, or to provide financial or legal advice. This information is provided for information purposes only.

If you’re renting a car this summer, you’ll probably be asked to purchase an insurance package from the rental car company. Even if you’re fairly confident that you don’t need the insurance, an agent can sound awfully convincing. Don’t be put on the spot. A little bit of research could save you from making the mistake of buying coverage you don’t need or foregoing coverage that you should have.

The best way to protect yourself
In general, the best way to protect yourself when using a rental car is to purchase a regular automobile insurance policy that explicitly extends collision and comprehensive coverage to rental cars in any state or country. If you don’t own a car and you rent on a regular basis, you might want to purchase a “nonowner” policy that will give you the same type of coverage. Unless you have an individual policy that explicitly extends coverage to rental cars, you should be cautious if you wish to avoid exposure to liability when renting a car.

Doesn’t my credit card issuer automatically insure me when I rent a car?
Many major credit card companies claim to provide you with insurance coverage when you use their card to rent an automobile. However, you should read the fine print or get written verification from the company, because the coverage provided by your credit card is not always full coverage.

Some cards only offer coverage if you rent your car from a particular agency. Some limit the days for which coverage is available. Some will only provide coverage for certain types and/or classes of cars. With some cards, the coverage is not automatic and you must enroll in a program to get coverage. Some cards that advertise automatic rental insurance really only reimburse you for the deductible that you would have to pay under your regular insurance policy. Still others may provide only collision and comprehensive coverage, leaving you exposed for personal injury or property damage to others.

This is not to say that all credit cards fail to provide the coverage you need when you rent a car. It merely illustrates that you shouldn’t blindly rely on your credit card issuer to protect you. Carefully examine the terms of your credit card agreement, then act accordingly

What about coverage offered by the rental agency?
The insurance packages that you purchase from a rental car agency (typically called “loss damage waivers”) may or may not provide the protection you need. In your rush to get out of the airport, you may not realize that the loss damage waiver you purchased insures the rental car against theft, but not the contents. That could be a big surprise when your laptop computer and expensive camera are stolen from the rental car along with your luggage, and the rental agency rejects your claim (check your homeowners insurance policy in this case–you may be covered). Similarly, you may discover that the loss damage waiver you purchased for liability only provides limited coverage. Further, many loss damage waivers exclude certain items and/or situations from coverage.

Again, this is not to say that rental car agencies are unable to provide you with the protection you need. It is merely to illustrate that you should read the fine print, or get verification from an agent if you have any doubts.

What if I have a regular policy, but it isn’t full coverage?
It is possible that you have insurance on your personal car, but you don’t carry collision and comprehensive, or sufficient liability coverage. It may not be necessary to call your agent and add all that additional coverage just so that you will be protected when you rent a car in Mexico during your upcoming vacation. You can probably close the gaps in your coverage using loss damage waivers and coverage offered by your credit card insurer. However, as discussed above, you need to be cautious. You want to be sure you are getting the coverage you need.

Other sources of coverage
If you have suffered a loss that isn’t covered under your auto policy, don’t forget to check your other insurance policies. For example, if personal property has been stolen from your rental car, it may be covered under your homeowners or renters policy. Similarly, certain medical policies may cover costs of injuries not covered under your regular automobile plan.

As always, check with your insurance company to find out exactly what’s covered under your own auto insurance policy.

Is it two for the price of one? Not always when it comes to rental car insurance.

Finally going away on that long-awaited vacation? If you’ll be renting a car and sharing driving duties with someone else, there are a few things you should know about rental car insurance before you go. Your own auto insurance

What and Who is Covered?

Auto insurance coverage varies from one insurer to another. Some policies may not cover rented vehicles at all. Many others will cover damage you cause to any car that you’re driving, including a rental car. Your insurance may also protect you from liability claims up to the policy limits.

Even if your policy provides coverage, you need to know exactly who’s covered. Are you and the other listed drivers on your policy the only ones covered while driving the rental car, or are other drivers covered, too? The only way to find out is to ask your insurance company or agent. If your fellow travelers are not covered, you might ask about coverage offered by the rental car company.

Note: Read your policy’s fine print to see if any restrictions apply to the rental car coverage. For example, some policies may cover a rental car only when your own car is stolen or being repaired.

Credit card coverage

If you have a major credit card, the credit card company may provide some insurance coverage for your rental car itself (but typically no liability coverage). This coverage may be included in your account at no additional cost, or you may have to buy it separately. Check with your credit card company to find out what coverage you have and who’s covered. In all likelihood, you (the cardholder) will be the only one covered while driving the rented vehicle.

Coverage from the rental car company

Rental car companies offer various types of loss waivers and insurance protection, usually for an additional cost. If you buy insurance from the rental car company, it may become your primary coverage. Be aware that you (as the renter of the vehicle) are generally the only one authorized by the company to drive the vehicle. This means that the company’s insurance might not apply when other people are driving the vehicle. But there are a few exceptions:

* In a few states, your legal spouse is considered an “authorized operator” of the vehicle and may drive it with your permission.
* If you rent under a corporate account, your employer, employees, or fellow employees on a business rental may be considered “authorized operators” who can drive the vehicle with your permission.
* You can add “additional authorized operators” who, if approved in writing, may drive the vehicle. Additional operators generally must be at least age 25 and have a valid license and a major credit card. An additional charge (e.g., $5 a day) may apply for each driver that you add.

These individuals are generally covered by any insurance you buy from the rental car company, but be sure to verify this with the company at the time you rent a vehicle.

Picking out the right motorcycle insurance policy is like picking out the right bike. You wish for it to fit your likes and needs. Motorcycle insurance more often than not includes liability, collision, comprehensive and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. Most states necessitate liability insurance.

Many constituents help ascertain the cost of your insurance premium. For illustration how old you are and how veteran of a driver you are. The make, sculpt and age of your bike. If you live in an area which goes through winter there is a policy called the “lay up” policy. And this policy will take into account and cut or do away with premiums for the winter months. Where you store your bike may have an effect on your premium also. Is it kept in a safe and sound garage or on the street?

Discounts will lend a hand remain your premium down. Many motorcycle insurance policies will look at the maturity of the driver and the drivers driving record. Have there been any fortuities? Does the driver belong to a motorcycle association? A motorcycle safety itinerary is not only accommodating in the discount category but for road safety also. An dead set against theft device is a good idea not considering of a discount or not. Most insurance companies will give you a reduction if you insure your car and motorcycle or more than one motorcycle.

If this is you is foremost time shopping for motorcycle insurance and your not convinced where to go, get in touch with your insurance agent who has your car insurance. If they do not transmit motorcycle insurance, talk to your friends, relatives, and co-workers. You can also converse to your local cycle shop; they may refer clientele to an agent. Don’t forget the local newspaper and motorcycle magazines. You can until the end of time find ads for insurance in the classifieds.

The Basics

Motorcycle insurance coverage is fundamentally the same as for automobile coverage - but there are some minor deviations.

• Liability. Most states have need of motorcyclists to carry a bare minimum amount of liability in case of third party injuries, however insurance experts advocate purchasing as much as 3 times the minimum in these times of expensive litigation. The liability package also extends Guest Passenger Liability, coverage that offers injury security to anyone who might acclivity on the back of your bike.

• Collision. This coverage recoups for impairment to your motorcycle in case of an accident - negative the deductible. Coverage expands only to the factory parts of your bike. If you get fancy and add anything additional—like nifty chrome accessories - supplemental coverage will be compulsory for compensation.

• Comprehensive. This recoups you, less the deductible, for considerations other than accident, like hooliganism, burn down or thievery.

• Uninsured Motorist. If the blockhead who hit your bike is uninsured, this coverage pays the medical bills and any befuddled wages you obtain while out of action.

• Underinsured Motorist. This coverage recoups you if the knucklehead who hit you doesn’t have enough insurance to cover all your impairments.

Motorcycle insurance premiums are ascertained by factors such as your age, driving record, what form of bike you own and where you garage it. Unless you’re high risk, there are means to keep your costs down so you won’t have to pay unconscionable rates. Insurers look good-hearted on clean driving records, no fortuities and graduates from “ride-training” courses, which can earn you a discount of up to 15pct.

Discounts are also usable if you belong to a motorcycle organization, are a “mature” motorcyclist, or if you insure with the same companionship that underwrites your car. Finally, if you inhabit in northern climes, you can check into a “lay up” policy, which suspends all insurance coverage (except all-encompassing) during those cold winter months.

How to make a claim

Even minor accidents can be inopportune and lamentable. At the scene of an incident it is authoritative to capture as much information as possible as this can help decide responsibleness and speed up the claims process for both you and the third party.

To assist you in the inauspicious event, we have a list of questions you should ask:

• Names, addresses and telephone numbers of all individuals who were in or who saw the incident;

• Make, model and registration number of all fomites affected. adjudicate also to note the magnitude of damage and whether the vehicles are still driveable;

• Note the date, time and emplacement of the incident;

• Details of what bumped including any attestants or third parties interpretation of but don’t become affected in converstaions about who was to charge and never admit indebtedness;

• Note if any person affected was physically bruised or is complaining of pain and soreness;

• A diagram of the accident conniption showing the road represent, position of the fomites, other crucial features and witness locaions can be accommodative. Many mobile phones now incorporated cameras - attempt to take photos of the vehicle positions and impairment providing it is safe to do so.

Helpful Hints

Motorcycle theft
There are a growing number of oppurtunistic motorcycle stealings where the vehicle is pussyfooted using the keys.

Circumspection should be taken at all times to bump off keys whilst the vehicle is left neglected as thefts arising from motorcycles whilst the keys are left in the inflammation are not covered under this insurance.
The main occasions where such thefts come about are:

• On the forecourt while compensable for petrol;
• One the driveway - while deicing the motorcycle or getting items from your property.

With the betterment of motorcycle security, keys are progressively being stolen from properties. At all times guarantee your motorcycle keys are hidden from sight of visitors to your property.

What if my motorcycle has been stolen?

Motorcycle theft is a felonious offence. You must describe the theft to the police. Any particulars you receive from the police should be sent on to us as soon as possible. A claim demanding theft may require a more elaborated investigation. It will also include a visit from a claims investigator. If your vehicle is recuperated at any time, even after the claim has been settled, please advise us in real time, together with its current location.

The internet is all about information, and, more critically, the ability to compare facts, data and information from several different sources quickly and efficiently.

Arguably, as a direct result of this simple fact, nobody has felt the effects of a potential customer’s ability to find, check and compare such data than companies trying to sell services (as opposed to products) online.

Unlike a physical product, a service is not tangible, you cannot pick it up, feel it, or touch it. Thus, a service provider needs to supply the maximum amount of information, because the more information the potential customer has, the more confident he is likely to be when making the buying decision.

What better way to do this than via the worldwide web?

A perfect example of this is the automobile or car insurance marketplace. In the past, if you wanted to get the most competitive quotation for your car insurance, you had to “shop around” by trudging from one insurance broker or company’s office to another, or by getting on the telephone to do the same thing.

The problem with this was that it was often difficult, if not impossible to know whether you were truly comparing like with like. There were (and, to a large extent, still are) so many potential variations from one company’s policy to another that it was almost impossible to know whether the two policies that you were comparing really did offer identical levels of protection and benefits.

This was not always a bad thing. For example, all car insurance companies tend to “load” the premium (i.e. charge extra) for “young drivers” to be included on a policy, which can be bad news for parents using the family car to teach their son or daughter to drive. However, Company “A” may define a young driver as someone below the age of 18, whereas Company “B” will use a threshold of 21 years of age.

If your child was 19, the chances are that Company “A” will be the best bet in these circumstances.

In other words in the old days, it was absolutely necessary to “read the small print”, to avoid ending up with a automobile insurance policy that really did not meet your requirements, although it appeared at first as if it did.

Coming right back up to the present day, whilst the small print is still extremely important, the internet has effectively ensured that it is no longer so small! It is now possible to make meaningful and accurate comparisons of exactly what two companies are offering with their car insurance policy at the touch of a button.

You are still “shopping around” but you are doing it at our own speed, from the comfort of your own home.

In this way, the internet has made finding the best car insurance a far less stressful business than it was in the past, and has also guaranteed that the policy you buy is absolutely the most suitable for your own circumstances.