Here is what you do to avoid insurance problems. First, install anti-theft devices in your car, keep it locked at all times and park in a secure garage. When at work, park in a well-lit area, away from the exit.

Keep a copy of the car registration and insurance at home in case of theft. Carry the insurance card with details of the car model, engine number and policy details in your pocket.

Intimate the police and the insurance company immediately in case of theft or accident. This improves the chances of car recovery or proper claims settlement.

Share true details with the insurer when taking a policy. Ensure adding the names of all people who drive a car in its policy. Study the policy to understand what it covers and does not.

Do opt for rental coverage that costs nothing but provides for a car rental in case your car is in the workshop or stolen. Always pay the auto insurance premium in time to avoid adverse remarks in your insurance record.

Never permit the policy to lapse, as it can be a detriment in policy renewal from the same or other insurers. Gaps in insurance coverage for even a single day imply that you are hence qualifying for higher insurance premiums.

Keep all bills for repairs and submit them when making a claim. Be aware that the insurance company covers just about seventy to eighty percent of the cost of repairs due to depreciation in the value of the car.

Update all information in the insurance policy, like change of address or an addition in the family. This affects the insurance coverage and the amount of premium you pay.

Check the credentials of the insurer before taking an auto insurance policy form them. The company must have a good credit rating and process claims quickly. It must have good customer service to help you during the claims settlement process. Consult an independent agent or friends for a referral before you select a company.

Taking these simple precautions will help you in the end and make the claims process painless.

With numerous options in the market, it is important to select the right auto insurance for your car, based on a number of factors.

First, choose an insurance plan that you can afford. You can choose a plan with a higher deductible to pay for a low insurance premium. Nevertheless, be prepared to shell out the high deductible in case of an accident.

Second, consider the types of coverage you want in your policy. The plan must cover personal liability that pays for damages caused by you. You will also want collision coverage and comprehensive coverage against theft and vandalism.

To protect yourself against an uninsured driver, take uninsured coverage. Nowadays gap insurance is popular. It pays for the difference between the perceived and actual value of a new car.

You can choose from different optional covers to minimize the risk, at different additional costs in addition to the monthly premium. You may opt for extra cover. Under this, you must add the name of people living at the same address.

In case you cause an accident while driving somebody else’s car, their policy will cover the damages if you take extra cover. This cover is however available only to those who do not own a vehicle.

In case you use a personal car for business purposes, you will need to take a separate insurance policy for the same. Based on these considerations choose the optimum auto insurance.

Request for quotes from at least three different companies and then opt for one that gives optimum coverage at nominal cost.

You may get some concessions if you drive safely, own a less expensive car, are a senior citizen, or belong to particular professions deemed safe by insurance companies.

You take auto insurance as a protection against damages. Therefore, understand the nature of the policy and the claims settlement procedure beforehand. So if you meet with an accident, file a claim only if the damages are extensive.

Filing claims for small damages may mar your insurance record. Inform your insurance company immediately after the accident. Record all details of the accident, witness accounts, and details of the other driver, his insurer and address, involved in the accident. File a police complaint and get a copy of this report.

The other party’s insurance company may contact you for your version of events. In that case, stick to the facts and note the name of person you spoke to. Next, the company will send an insurance adjuster to examine the extent of damages to the car. Based on his assessment the insurer will approve repairs at a pre-approved workshop and reimburse seventy to eighty percent of the cost of repairs.

Ask your insurer to pay for general damages and hospital treatment costs if there is body injury. Always supplement the claim with copies of all the paperwork and medical bills to get proper settlement.

The settlement procedure may take a few days, so be in touch with the company, and follow up on your case until you receive the reimbursement.

Once you own a car, you need auto insurance to protect yourself and your vehicle from damages, in case of any future accidents. Before selecting an auto insurance company, decide what coverage you want. Legally you must buy the stipulated basic minimum coverage. Beyond this, decide if you need comprehensive and collision coverage.

You need personal liability insurance to protect your assets in case you cause an accident. Uninsured coverage is necessary to protect yourself from an uninsured driver. For every kind of coverage, decide upon the upper limit based on the legal requirements and your budget.

Next, survey the Internet, or refer to friends, and family for a list of reliable auto insurance companies. Once you know your insurance needs, contact an insurance agent or the company directly. Do not buckle under pressure to take unnecessary coverage or repair and replacement with local auto parts.

The insurance company must be credible, financially stable and have a good customer service. Check the state insurance department website for the company’s claims ratio and for any complaints against it.

Compare quotes from at least three companies based on your requirements. Talk to representatives of the companies and negotiate for some discount on the insurance premium.

It is important to know what the policy covers and does not cover – the upper limit on claims and the limit on the number of claims that can be made in a year. Do not go for just a basic coverage since it provides protection against nothing. It is worthwhile to pay a little extra and get proper coverage.

Read the policy for hidden clauses that make you forfeit the right to sue and avoid such companies. Understand how to file claims and to get reimbursement for damages.

Now that you have the knowledge of procedures, you can choose the best auto insurance policy with good coverage at a nominal cost.

Many people remain loyal to their original insurer for years together and continue paying the same auto insurance without considering a change of insurer. However, now with a greater choice of insurance companies you can get the same policy at a lower premium.

Moreover, you may have a different job with an employer who has group insurance for his employees. This can get you auto insurance at a discounted premium .Changing your residence and shifting to a new locality can lower your premium significantly and is a good time to switch insurance companies.

All you have to do is to get insurance quotes from different companies and then decide on an offer that suits you best. Here is how you go about changing your car insurance company. Keep in mind that the new insurer must be financially stable, have good customer service, and have a good claims settlement process.

Decide on the terms and conditions of the new policy and apply online. Most companies insist on proof of the previous insurance policy. Therefore, never cancel your old policy before the new one comes into force. You should not be without insurance for even a single day.

The insurance company can time the effective date of the new policy from the day the old one stands canceled. Next, intimate the previous insurer in writing about canceling the old policy with proof of taking a new policy.

You have to fill in a policy cancellation form and return it to the company. Formally cancel your old policy; else, the insurer will cancel the policy for lack of payment of premiums. This can adversely affect your credit rating, so clearly state the date of cancellation.

To avoid paying a cancellation penalty, cancel the old policy when it is due for renewal. The insurer send the renewal notice a month before the due date, so you have enough time to take a new auto insurance policy, before the old one expires.

This is the ideal time for cancellation since you do not have to recover the unused portion of the premium. With a new policy in place, the change of insurer should take very little time. If you change agents, intimate the new agent about the previous agent and the old policy number to get a similar policy and coverage at better rates. Thus changing your car insurance company is simple.

There are several myths regarding auto insurance. It is better to bust these myths so that you are not caught in a bind when buying auto insurance.

1. The color of the car has nothing to do with the auto insurance premium amount. The insurance premium depends on the model of the car, the size of the engine, the driver’s safety record, and the age of the car.

2. If you lend the car to somebody who causes an accident, you bear the cost of damages and not him, since the car is in your name.

3. Taking comprehensive coverage does not cover car rental in case the car is undergoing repairs. You need to take collision coverage too to protect the car against hail, or acts of vandalism.

4. Taking a no-fault cover does not absolve you of paying damages if you cause an accident.

5. Taking out an auto insurance insurance policy does not cover a new vehicle. You need to inform the insurer within four days of buying a car to provide coverage for it under the same or a new policy.

6. The insurance premium amount is not fixed. It depends on your driving record, area of residence, the types of cover you want under the policy and the number of miles you drive in a year among other things.

7. Age does determine the insurance rate, as does your marital status. Senior citizens get a discount on their insurance premium, as do married men or women, as they are considered safer drivers.

8. You need separate insurance if using the car for business use. Personal insurance does not provide coverage if you use the car for business purposes.

9. You need auto insurance legally, even if have never caused an accident. Heavy fines or jail time can result if you are caught driving without car insurance.

10. Minor non – moving traffic violations like an expired inspection/safety inspection sticker or parking violations do not hike up the insurance premium unless you are a repeat offender.

Moreover, auto insurance does not protect the contents in the car against theft. These will come under homeowner’s insurance. Hence, breaking these myths will keep you better informed and forearmed against misconceptions before taking auto insurance.

Auto insurance is mandatory for every vehicle, but the premium can be exorbitant. Here are a few tips to help you save money on auto insurance.

Review your existing auto insurance policy. If you have an old car, you can do without collision coverage. Ask your existing insurer for a loyalty discount. If you have a good, accident-free record, negotiate with the insurer to give you a no claims discount.

Survey the Internet for quotes on auto insurance. You may find another insurer giving the same coverage at a lower premium. If you are a senior citizen or have the membership of an automobile association, you may get a substantial discount on the auto insurance premium. Certain professions cause fewer accidents and get better rates on auto insurance. Always inform the insurance company about your profession.

Take a defensive driving course and inform the insurer about the same. Similarly installing antitheft devices and safety devices in your car can lower the insurance premium considerably. Inform the insurer about the number of miles you drive in a year and the area where you stay. Companies charge lower premiums for less driving and neighborhoods with less crime.

A good credit history implies a stable individual who poses less risk to the insurer and can get auto insurance at affordable rates. If you have more than one car, insure both from the same insurer to get a good rate. Preferably, get homeowner’s insurance and auto insurance from the same company to benefit from a lower premium.

Another key to reduce premiums is to take a higher deductible, depending on your financial condition. Select a lower end car that is less likely to be stolen than a sports car and hence qualifies for a smaller premium. Keeping these tips in mind can significantly lower the auto insurance you pay for your vehicle.

Follow these ten tips to get the best auto insurance with optimum coverage at a nominal cost.

1. First assess your needs and decide what auto coverage you need, what does your existing policy cover and how much can you afford. This will help avoid unnecessary coverage that will save a lot of money.

2. Next, decide on the coverage as required by your state laws. Besides the minimum coverage, you need personal liability coverage to cover all your assets in case you cause an accident, injure people, and damage property. Decide upon the amount of personal liability coverage to protect your assets.

Take uninsured coverage to protect yourself against an accident by an uninsured driver. Set the amount of comprehensive coverage depending on your driving record and the annual distance you drive. You may forgo collision coverage if your car is very old.

3. Check your driving and safety record and claims history. If you are a safe driver, you can bargain with the insurer for discounts.

4. Write down the amount of coverage you require and get online quotes for this amount from at least three companies. Examine the policies and quotes in detail and select the one that suits you best.

5. Compare quotes from the companies based on the premium charged, the company’s reputation, its customer service, and the claims ratio.

6. Sometimes, it helps to get quotes over the phone as the customer service executive can get you exactly what you need faster over the phone, than online.

7. Bargain for discounts based on your safe driving or a low claims history with previous insurers.

8. Before finalizing an auto insurance company, check its financial stability and the state insurance department website for any legal complaints against it.

9. Analyze the policy for hidden clauses like arbitration or the use of local body parts in repairs. Stay away from such insurers, as they will do a shoddy job of repairs and claims settlement.

10. Once you have finalized the insurer and the policy, place the policy in your car, and remember to cancel the old policy.

If you proceed in this manner, you are sure to get great auto insurance at an optimum price.

Reader Question: Austin,

Thanks for taking the time to review my question. I hope you can enlighten me on the problem.

A friend has a 2003 Dodge Dakota. He called me this afternoon and told me that his AC only comes on in the when the fan is in the highest setting. Immediately, I thought it might be the switch. However, after researching it, I am learning that pressure in the system may also dictate if it will work.

Would the fan come on, regardless on pressure in the system? I would assume (and I use that word very cautiously), that the fan should at least work in the lower settings, but not blow cold air.

Am I right in this assumption?

Thanks again for all your help.

Ed

Howdy Ed,

If I hear you correctly, the AC blower fan only works in the High-speed setting. If this is correct, he probably has a bad AC blower resistor. You can buy one from the dealership and ask them for a blow up of the location under the dash so you can replace it yourself.

Sorry, I do not have a diagram of it to send you, but a good parts man at the dealer will do it for you if you buy the part from them. I think the dealer is the only place you can buy it anyway.

Blessings,
Austin Davis

Reader Question: Dear Mr. Davis,

I am having some trouble with my 1994 Ford Taurus. A few weeks ago, I ran over a branch that broke and bounced up into my undercarriage. I parked the car and turned it off only to find that smoke was coming from behind my left rear tire that smelled. The smell was nothing I could recognize or describe.

Later that day I started my car and it was fine- no smoke. About 2 or 3 weeks passed problem free. Then yesterday, while idling at a red light I noticed the smoke again coming from behind the rear left tire.

When I got home, I tried to look and see if I could tell where the smoke was coming from but I could not. I looked at it while in park and while in drive. The smoke does not seem to be coming from the muffler or exhaust pipe, and it does not smell like exhaust or gas and it is only coming from my rear left tire and no other tire.

Do you have any idea what this could be or what I should do?

Thanks you so much for your help,

Christina

Hi Christina,

Is the exhaust system (muffler and tailpipe) on the left side behind the smoking tire? If it is, you might have something stuck and melting on the muffler and tailpipe. I have seen plastic bags that were on the highway get stuck onto the hot muffler and exhaust system that produces smoke and a strange burning odor.

If you can get your head under the vehicle when the smoke is present can pinpoint where the smoke is coming from? If the smoke is coming from the exhaust pipes or muffler, either it will burn off with time, or you can get a mechanic to grind off the plastic with a grinder.

If you do not see the smoke coming from the exhaust pipes or muffler, I would then check to see if there is a problem with the brakes on that side. If the brake shoe or brake pad is rubbing on something or was damaged by the branch it could overheat, the brake pad thus causes smoke and a burning odor.

The easiest way for you to check for this problem next time the smoke is present feel all four metal wheels with your hand.

CAUTION: Each wheel will be hot to the touch after driving on the freeway for a while, this is normal. What you want to identify is the left rear wheel is MUCH hotter than the others are. If it is, you need to have a mechanic check your brakes for you.

Blessings,
Austin Davis