Car Insurance - What You Need To Know
By Melanie Williams
Did you get taught at school about liability, collision and comprehensive cover? What about deductibles and all the tips on how to save money on motor vehicle insurance? Chances are you didn't, but if you're one of the majority of people that drives a motor vehicle, you've either learnt fast, took whatever insurance your relatives or friends suggested or you're about to learn the hard way one day. Take the guess work out of choosing motor vehicle insurance and read up so you can make an informed choice.

Many motorists pay more on their premium for a small deductible, and yet they take the minimum liability coverage. You could probably afford that $500 excess if you had an accident, but could you afford being sued for $400,000 in damages? Use your motor vehicle insurance budget sensibly to cover yourself and your assets. Think about increasing your deductible and using the savings to increase your liability cover. If you're worth more (you have a good job or you're studying for one) or you have a lot of assets obviously you've got more to cover than someone who doesn't. If you do have a lot of assets an umbrella policy may be worth considering to make sure all your assets are protected.

Check your health insurance policy, if medical bills after an accident will be paid for you can drop personal injury protection off your motor vehicle insurance policy.

Keep your credit rating up, many companies use it to determine how much to charge you and even whether to cover you at all.

If you don't have an extra motor vehicle ensure your insurance company will cover a rental motor vehicle if you have an accident. The cost of renting a motor vehicle for a week while your motor vehicle is being repaired could be a lot of.

Shop around for quotes, a great place to start is a comparison website. Compare quotes from a few different companies and review the policies to see how they stack up. If you do switch policies ensure you notify your previous insurance company immediately and ensure there is no gap in your cover before your new one kicks in.

Car insurance can be costly, fortunately there are a lot of discounts that you can be eligible for. Maintaining a good driving record is the best way to get your premiums down. Other discounts offered include; low-mileage, safety features, multi-policy, senior, taking a safe driving course and paying annually. Take advantage of all the discounts you can to get the cheapest rate.

Teenagers can add significantly to your motor vehicle insurance premium. Think about having your teenager drive the family's cheapest motor vehicle and exclude them from other policies. Don't forget if your teen moves out to remove them from the policy. Just ensure you don't loan them the motor vehicle when they come to visit! If you still want your teenager on the policy, ask if your insurer will give you a discount when they're away at school.

If your motor vehicle is getting on a bit, and it's not worth much, consider removing collision coverage. The cost of your collision coverage might not be worth it when your insurance company will only pay out your vehicles worth.

Make sure you understand what will occur if you have an accident and what choices you have. Will your insurer cover original or only generic parts to fix your motor vehicle after an accident? Can you choose your own mechanic or body shop if you have an accident? Read through your policy and ensure you're satisfied with it.

Make calling your insurance

company your number one priority after an accident. Most insurance companies have a time limit, generally around 48 hours for making a claim.

If you are unlucky enough to need to make a claim, get a copy of the accident report, keep all your receipts and ensure you record all the details of who you speak to. Make sure you include everything in your loss estimate. You could be entitled to claim sales tax and registration fees if your motor vehicle has been totaled.

Put a bit of effort into getting your claim processed to speed up the process. Shop around for some estimates and follow up your insurer regularly to review progress.

Work with your adjuster to get a good outcome. If you don't agree with the amount offered, get the adjusters reasons in writing. If you don't get a satisfactory answer keep your cool and find out what your options are. Speak to the manager of the claims department and ask for your case to be reviewed, consider filing a complaint with the state insurance department.

To find out more about comprehensive car insurance and tips on saving money visit www.iblogcarinsurance.com, your number one source for car insurance information.