The Insurance Panda blog explains auto insurance in plain English. We cover car insurance costs, discounts, coverage rules, state laws, and industry changes—so you can understand your policy, avoid common mistakes, and pay less without sacrificing coverage.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 […]
January 11, 2019
The state of California is huge—geographically and demographically. With nearly 40 million residents and dense metros like Los Angeles and the Bay Area, it’s no surprise that insuring a car here isn’t cheap. If you own a vehicle in California, you’ve probably noticed that your premiums are higher than what friends or family pay in […]
January 5, 2019
You’re not the type to chase the newest model. Instead, you’re proud to drive an older, paid-off vehicle that still runs well and doesn’t come with a monthly car payment. The one bill you still have, of course, is your auto insurance. Many financial sites suggest dropping collision coverage on older, paid-off vehicles to save […]
December 26, 2018
If you’ve ever been in a car accident, you know how stressful it can be. Beyond dealing with damage and injuries, you also worry about what will happen to your insurance rates. Some insurance companies offer accident forgiveness, which promises to protect you from a premium increase after an at-fault crash. But what exactly is […]
December 5, 2018
This is your practical guide to saving money on your car expenses. From choosing the right vehicle and maintaining it wisely to cutting repair, fuel, and insurance costs, these strategies can easily save you hundreds—sometimes thousands—of dollars per year. Buckle up—there’s a lot here, but it’s broken into sections so you can scan and apply […]
November 28, 2018
You’ve been involved in an accident, but you didn’t have the right insurance — or maybe no insurance at all. Now you’re wondering: can you buy coverage after the crash and use it to pay for the damage? Can you buy car insurance after an accident? Can you backdate coverage or file a claim for […]
November 20, 2018
Hit and runs are frustrating and stressful. If you’re lucky, however, you might catch the other driver’s license plate before they disappear. So you’ve been in a hit and run accident—but you have a license plate number. What should you do next? Below, we explain the steps you should take after a hit and run […]
November 14, 2018
So you’ve been in a few accidents, and now you’re wondering: how many accidents does it take before car insurance companies start to get nervous? Can an insurer actually drop you for having too many claims or at-fault crashes? Below, we explain how insurers think about multiple accidents, the difference between cancellation and non-renewal, and […]
November 6, 2018
Insurance companies group drivers into risk categories. Some drivers are labeled “high risk,” which usually means paying higher premiums than drivers with clean records and fewer risk factors. The good news? High-risk status doesn’t have to be permanent. Over time, most drivers can qualify for standard car insurance again. If you’re trying to move from […]
October 19, 2018
If you’re a new driver, car insurance can feel like something you buy and hope you never use. But understanding how drivers actually use their policies is one of the easiest ways to choose the right coverage (and avoid surprises after an accident). The most common question is simple: What are the most common car […]
October 13, 2018
If you want to legally drive your new car, you need valid auto insurance. Many buyers wonder whether there’s a grace period for getting insurance on a new car—or if coverage must be purchased immediately. Below, we explain how new car insurance grace periods work, when they apply, and what to expect, whether you already […]
October 4, 2018
Getting car insurance as a new driver can feel overwhelming. You’re entering the insurance world with little to no driving history, and rates may seem confusing or unfair at first. The good news? Thanks to online quote comparison tools—including our own—it’s easier than ever to find affordable coverage, even if you’re brand new to driving. […]
October 2, 2018
Car insurance companies can deny coverage to certain drivers. Auto insurers are not legally required to offer a policy to everyone, and most companies reserve the right to cancel a policy within the first 30 to 60 days if they discover disqualifying information. If you are considered too risky—or violate policy terms—an insurer can deny, […]
September 29, 2018
Auto insurance limits can be confusing. Some people choose the lowest limits because they “never get into accidents,” while others buy far more coverage than they realistically need and end up overspending for years. So what auto insurance limits should you actually carry? Below, we break down what’s legally required, what experts recommend, and how […]
September 20, 2018
If you’re reading this, chances are you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident that damaged a vehicle or caused injuries. One of the first things most people do afterward is contact their auto insurer to file a claim and hope the company will pay enough to cover the loss. But […]