March 14, 2020
You may have heard that vehicle safety ratings impact car insurance rates. That’s true: the safer your vehicle is judged to be, the more comfortable insurers tend to feel about covering it—and that can affect what you pay. Cars with strong safety ratings are less likely to produce severe injuries in a crash. Because insurers […]
March 12, 2020
An FR-44 isn’t a special “type of car insurance.” It’s a certificate of financial responsibility that your insurance company files with the state to prove you’re carrying higher-than-normal liability limits after a serious driving offense (most commonly a DUI). If the state requires an FR-44 and you don’t keep it active, your insurer can notify […]
March 11, 2020
It’s important to have a clean driving record—but what does that actually mean? How do car insurance companies, employers, and other organizations define a “clean” record, and how much do old tickets and accidents matter? If you got a speeding ticket four years ago, or a DUI 10 years ago, do you have a clean […]
March 9, 2020
Agreed value and stated value auto insurance are often mentioned in the same breath—especially for classic, collector, exotic, or modified cars. But they can pay out very differently after a total loss. In most standard auto policies, your car is insured on an actual cash value (ACV) basis—meaning depreciation is baked in. Specialty policies use […]
March 7, 2020
Auto insurance can be a major monthly expense. The good news? With the right discounts and smart habits, you can often cut your bill by hundreds – sometimes even over a thousand – dollars per year. Below are 20 practical ways to save on auto insurance, from quick phone calls to longer-term strategies that reward […]
March 5, 2020
It’s smart to assess the financial stability of your insurance company before you buy a policy. Many drivers check AM Best ratings (also written as A.M. Best) when choosing an insurance provider—especially if they want confidence the insurer can pay claims after a major storm season or a spike in repair costs. Below, we’ll break […]
March 2, 2020
A replacement cost policy is insurance that pays what it costs to replace what you lost—without subtracting depreciation. In auto insurance, this idea usually shows up as new car replacement (or a similar endorsement) that can help you replace a recently purchased vehicle after a total loss. Below, we’ll break down what “replacement cost” means, […]
February 26, 2020
There are plenty of reasons to cancel car insurance—maybe you’re moving to a new state, you’re switching to a cheaper company, you sold your car, or you no longer drive. But before you cancel, it’s smart to understand what it could cost. While many drivers cancel without paying a “cancellation fee,” some insurers do charge […]
February 20, 2020
Auto insurance companies use dozens of data points to decide what you pay. Some are major—like your driving record and where you live—while others, like certain discounts or memberships, play a smaller supporting role. Understanding these factors helps you focus on what you can actually control. While you can’t change your age or past accidents, […]
February 12, 2020
Uninsured motorist property damage (UMPD) is optional car insurance coverage that can pay to repair or replace your vehicle (and sometimes other property you own) if an uninsured driver damages it. Depending on your state, UMPD may also help in certain hit and run situations—although some states only pay if the at-fault driver is identified. […]
February 12, 2020
Uninsured motorist bodily injury (UMBI) is optional (or required, depending on your state) auto insurance that helps pay for injury-related costs when the at-fault driver has no liability insurance—or when the driver can’t be identified in certain situations, like many hit-and-run accidents. UMBI matters because uninsured driving is still common. Recent industry estimates put the […]
February 11, 2020
When shopping for auto insurance, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is whether to carry liability-only coverage or pay more for full coverage. What’s the difference between liability and full coverage car insurance? Which one actually makes sense for your car, your budget, and your risk tolerance? Below, we break down how each option […]
February 10, 2020
There are plenty of situations where you might want to insure a car that isn’t technically yours. Maybe you regularly drive a family member’s car, share a vehicle with a roommate, or borrow a friend’s car for work. So, can you insure a car that’s not in your name? The short answer: sometimes. In most […]
February 7, 2020
In car insurance, misrepresentation means giving an insurer inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading information—whether on your application, at renewal, or during a claim. Some misrepresentations are honest mistakes, while others are intentional “soft fraud.” Either way, if the detail is important enough to affect your price or eligibility, it can cause serious problems later. What Is […]
February 7, 2020
A Letter of Experience (sometimes called a claims experience letter, insurance experience letter, or loss history letter) is a document from your prior insurer that summarizes your coverage history and claims activity for a specific type of policy (auto, home, renters, etc.). Most U.S. insurers can verify your history through reporting databases, so you won’t […]
February 4, 2020
If your vehicle is stolen or your insurer declares it a total loss insurance claim, your payout is usually based on your car’s actual cash value (ACV)—what it was worth right before the incident. Below is a practical, step-by-step way to estimate your car’s ACV, understand how insurers calculate it, and push back if the […]
February 3, 2020
Property and casualty (P&C) insurance is a broad category of coverage that protects the things you own (property) and helps pay when you’re legally responsible for someone else’s injuries or damage (casualty). If you carry car insurance, homeowners insurance, renters insurance, or condo insurance, you already have some form of P&C insurance. The key is […]
February 1, 2020
You count on car insurance to help after a crash, hailstorm, or major damage. But what about everyday hiccups like a dead battery—will auto insurance pay to jumpstart your car, or are you on your own? In most cases, a standard car insurance policy will not pay to jumpstart your vehicle. A dead battery is […]
January 30, 2020
The moments after a car accident can be disorienting. Once everyone is safe and emergency help is on the way (if needed), one of the smartest things you can do is identify any witnesses and preserve what they saw. A strong witness statement can help clarify what happened if fault is disputed, injuries show up […]
January 28, 2020
The aftermath of a car accident can get expensive fast. On top of medical treatment and repairs to your car, you may also face legal bills – especially if someone sues you, you’re thinking about suing the other driver, or you’re in a dispute with an insurance company. So will auto insurance pay your legal […]
January 18, 2020
A total loss happens when your insurance company decides your vehicle isn’t reasonable to repair after a covered loss (like a crash, theft, or storm damage). In most cases, that’s because the repair cost is too high compared to what the car was worth right before the loss. If your car is totaled, the claim […]
January 17, 2020
Uninsured motorist coverage is designed to protect you if you’re hit by a driver who doesn’t have insurance—or doesn’t have enough of it. With millions of uninsured and underinsured drivers on U.S. roads, this coverage can be the difference between a fully paid claim and a huge out-of-pocket bill. In some states, uninsured motorist (UM) […]
January 16, 2020
Many drivers are surprised (and sometimes annoyed) to learn that their ZIP code has a big impact on what they pay for auto insurance. It’s true: your ZIP code can significantly affect your car insurance premiums. Insurers don’t just look at you – they also look at the claim patterns, crime rates, and risk levels […]
January 13, 2020
You scraped your own bumper, tapped another car you own, or backed into your garage door. Fortunately, you have insurance. But will your auto policy actually pay if you hit your own car or your own property, or are you stuck paying out of pocket? Basic liability car insurance will not cover damage to your […]
January 10, 2020
After a car accident, your insurance company (and the other driver’s insurer) will investigate what happened to decide who is at fault. That decision can impact how much money gets paid for vehicle repairs and injuries—and it can also affect what you pay for coverage at renewal. Determining fault isn’t always simple. Crashes happen fast, […]