April 9, 2019
Car insurance is a necessary expense, and your rate depends on several factors – including how you use your vehicle. One of the first questions insurers ask is whether your car is used primarily for commuting or for pleasure. In general, if everything else is the same, a car rated for pleasure use is often […]
March 30, 2019
Because auto insurance is required by law in most states, it can feel like you have no leverage when an insurer is slow to respond, changes your bill unexpectedly, or doesn’t handle a claim the way you believe it should. And after an accident—when you’re already stressed—you may be trying to decide whether you should […]
March 15, 2019
When you finally pay off your car, it’s natural to look for ways to cut your monthly expenses. One of the first ideas many drivers have is to drop full coverage from their auto insurance. In some situations, that can be a smart financial move. In others, it can leave you without enough protection if […]
March 13, 2019
When it comes to car insurance, discounts matter—especially if your premium is already high because of where you live, your driving history, or the type of car you drive. One of the most common (and most valuable) savings opportunities is the good driver discount. The catch: “good driver discount” can mean different things depending on […]
March 9, 2019
Nurses are the unsung heroes of healthcare. You work long, demanding shifts taking care of others, often with irregular hours and high stress. It’s only fair that you get a few financial perks in return. One of the most underrated benefits you may qualify for as a nurse is special discounts on car insurance. What […]
March 5, 2019
Car accidents are common on today’s busy, distracted roads. More drivers mean a better chance of a wreck, especially with the rise of distracted driving—texting, using apps, eating, or anything that takes your focus off the road. Those accidents matter because they directly affect what you pay for coverage. Insurers look at many factors when […]
March 1, 2019
You count on your car insurance to help when something goes wrong, but does car insurance cover towing? The answer is: sometimes. Whether towing is covered depends on why you need the tow and what type of coverage you have. The circumstances surrounding your tow will determine if it’s covered at all, whether you have […]
February 28, 2019
Canceling car insurance is usually simple—but doing it the right way matters. The goal is to avoid a lapse in coverage (which can raise future rates) and to make sure you don’t accidentally owe premiums because your policy kept renewing or stayed active. You might cancel because you’re switching companies, selling your car, stopping driving, […]
February 27, 2019
Points on your driver’s license can be a red flag for insurers—and they’re one reason your premium may jump after a ticket. If you’re trying to figure out what triggered a price increase, this guide explains why your car insurance company raised your rates. That said, the DMV “points” system and an insurance company’s pricing […]
February 23, 2019
Cars with salvage or rebuilt titles can be great bargains—but insuring them works differently than a typical clean-title vehicle. In most cases, you can’t get standard car insurance on a salvage-title vehicle because it isn’t street-legal. Once it’s repaired, inspected, and re-titled as rebuilt, many insurers will consider covering it (sometimes with limitations). If you’re […]
February 20, 2019
Every state requires you to maintain valid car insurance to drive legally. To avoid gaps in coverage, many drivers rely on automatic renewal. Insurers also like auto-renewal because it helps them keep customers. But does car insurance always renew automatically? The answer depends on your coverage, your insurance company, and what claims or violations you’ve […]
February 16, 2019
Getting a new car is exciting—but you also want to make sure you’re insured the moment you drive it off the lot. Every state requires a minimum amount of liability insurance, some require uninsured motorist coverage, and if you finance the car, your lender will have its own coverage requirements as well. Does My Current […]
February 15, 2019
If you’ve ever been in an auto accident, you know how fast things move. Even minor crashes can feel stressful, and it’s easy to leave the scene missing key details. One of the most common questions drivers ask afterward is: “Can I identify the other driver’s insurance company using only their policy number?” In most […]
February 13, 2019
One of the most common auto insurance questions is whether coverage follows the vehicle or the driver. The honest answer: it depends on the type of coverage and the specific policy language. There are general patterns, but plenty of exceptions. As a rule of thumb, most core coverages (like liability, collision, and comprehensive) primarily follow […]
February 7, 2019
You’ve just had a bad auto loss and filed a claim with your insurance company. Hopefully, nobody was hurt, but let’s say your vehicle was totaled. Your next call will likely be from the claims adjuster—the person who becomes your main point of contact during the process. To many drivers, adjusters feel like they hold […]
February 6, 2019
Insurance policies are packed with legal and industry jargon—even though many states require policy forms to meet plain-language and readability standards. Still, “plain language” doesn’t always feel plain when you’re trying to understand a real claim or a real insurance contract. One of the most confusing (and most important) terms you’ll see is subrogation. If […]
February 5, 2019
Insurance companies sometimes earn a bad reputation for not paying claims the way people expect. It’s easy to forget that the purpose of insurance is to put you back where you were before the loss—not to make you better off—and that insurers are still businesses trying to control costs and make a profit. In a […]
February 4, 2019
A happy trip to the mailbox can quickly turn into a bad day if you find a letter from your auto insurance company saying your policy is going to be canceled. Or worse, you’re out of town when the letter arrives and miss the deadline. Can your policy be reinstated? How do you get insurance […]
January 31, 2019
After some auto accidents, settlement negotiations hit a wall—especially if you believe the carrier is undervaluing your damages. If you’ve reviewed the numbers and feel the settlement offer is still too low, arbitration can be a practical way to resolve the dispute without going to court. Arbitration isn’t right for every claim, and the rules […]
January 30, 2019
Even after quality repairs, a car that’s been in a wreck can be worth less simply because it now has an accident record. Buyers (and dealers) tend to discount vehicles that show prior damage—especially if the collision involved structural components, airbags, or visible cosmetic issues like chipped paint or scratches. That lost resale value is […]
January 26, 2019
You’re finally packing up those cold winters for a sun-drenched state—or leaving the beach for a once-in-a-lifetime career move across the country. Whatever your situation, you’re moving to a new state, and that means new surroundings, new rules, and unfortunately, new auto insurance requirements. Updating your auto insurance is usually at the bottom of most […]
January 25, 2019
After a car accident, the decisions you make in the first minutes and days can affect your health, your recovery, and whether your insurer pays your claim. Start with safety and medical care. Then document everything you can—because strong evidence can help support a successful car insurance claim and reduce the odds of a claim […]
January 19, 2019
Buying a pre-owned vehicle and insuring it isn’t always the same as driving off the lot with a brand-new car. Insurers don’t sell a special “used car insurance” product. Instead, your price is driven by your vehicle’s value, repair costs, safety tech, theft risk, where you live, your driving history, and how much coverage you […]
January 17, 2019
As an active-duty member of the military, you serve your country with pride—and your life is anything but static. You move frequently, deploy overseas, and often have to rearrange your entire living situation with little notice. While no company can fully repay that commitment, some insurers do recognize the unique needs of military families and […]
January 15, 2019
Driver’s license suspensions happen. Once your license is suspended, however, you cannot legally operate a motor vehicle. That creates a tricky situation: you’re not allowed to drive, but you still have a car—and you still need insurance to avoid a lapse in coverage and the higher costs that come with gaps in insurance. Can you […]