Alabama Auto Insurance

Alabama car insurance is something you have to be defend as well- your right to low rates. While the state of Alabama applies a Tort system- meaning that if you are in an accident, you must be proven to be at fault before you or your insurance company pays anything, there may be detail variations regarding the tort system. To better understand Alabama car insurance, check with your state insurance regulator for regulations. For the best rates, you can always visit http://autoinsurancelosa.blogspot.com.

When it comes to Alabama car insurance, the state law for Alabama requires a minimum coverage of $20,000 for Bodily Injury Liability per injured person. It also requires up to a maximum of $40,000 per accident. The minimum state requirement for Property Damage Liability coverage is $10,000. This type of coverage is generally referred to as 20/40/10 coverage.

What happens if you don’t get car insurance in Alabama? Law enforcement officers will ask you for proof of insurance at the time of traffic stops or accidents. Insurance companies notify the department of motor vehicles of all policy cancellations, non-renewals, and new policies.

If this is the case with you, the law enforcement officer will know it and it could cause you huge fines or worse. Failure to maintain proper insurance could lead to the suspension of your vehicle registration and/or driver license. This can be expensive to the vehicle owner. Be sure that you follow the Alabama car insurance laws!

Although Alabama car insurance does not require a minimum Personal Injury Protection (PIP), there are advantages to having this type of coverage. For example, if you ever have an accident, PIP will pay for your and your passengers’ medical expenses.

Another type of optional coverage you can consider getting is Uninsured/ Underinsured Motorist Coverage. This coverage will help pay for any injury resulting from an accident caused by an uninsured driver. You can choose to purchase this added protection, although state law for Alabama car insurance does not require it.

Alabama car insurance is really not that complicated. While many residents in The Heart of Dixie will get their insurance in the traditional way, make sure you compare Alabama car insurance rates from multiple car insurance companies to get the best rate. You can call each car insurance company directly or you can shop for auto insurance online.

Shopping for auto insurance online can be faster and more convenient.- you should consider saving money and going to http://autoinsurancelosa.blogspot.com

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Car Insurance in Wisconsin

Car Insurance in Wisconsin

Wisconsin law requires that you have the means to cover costs associated with car accidents that you may cause. Drivers most commonly meet this requirement by carrying car insurance.

Wisconsin Car Insurance Requirements

In order to fulfill Wisconsin’s car insurance laws, you must have the following coverage types:

• Liability.
• Uninsured motorist.
• Underinsured motorist.

Liability Insurance

Your liability car insurance will help you pay for bodily injuries or property damage resulting from an accident that you caused.

Wisconsin law requires the following minimum liability coverages per accident:

• $25,000 for injury or death, per person.
• $50,000 total for injury or death to multiple people in a single accident.
• $10,000 for property damage.

Uninsured & Underinsured Motorist

Your uninsured motorist coverage will help cover costs of injuries to you and your passengers in the event of a car accident caused by a driver who does not have car insurance (uninsured), OR a driver whose car insurance is insufficient (underinsured).

In Wisconsin, your car insurance policy must meet the following minimum coverage requirements per accident for uninsured and underinsured coverage:

• $100,000 for injuries per person.
• $300,000 for total injuries per accident.

Optional Coverages

To further protect you financially after an accident, you can add several different types of car insurance coverage to your policy.

When shopping for car insurance consider the following common optional coverage types:

• Collision – This helps you pay for damages to your car after most traffic accidents.
• Comprehensive – This helps pay for damages to your car related to events thatdo not involve a traffic accident. Examples include fires, thefts, and collisions with animals.
• Medical payments – This will help cover your medical costs if you are injured in a car accident.
• Towing and labor.
• Rental reimbursement.

NOTE: Collision and comprehensive coverages are commonly required as part of a car loan or lease agreement.

Proof of Insurance

Although car insurance is mandatory in Wisconsin, you do not need to provide proof of insurance when you apply for your Wisconsin driver’s license or register your car.

You must, however, be able to show proof of insurance IF:

• You are involved in a car accident.
• You are pulled over by a law enforcement officer for a traffic stop.

The most common form of proof of insurance is your insurance ID card, issued to you by your car insurance carrier.

SR-22

There are some instances in which you must file proof of financial responsibility with the DMV.

An SR-22 certificate (often referred to as “SR22 insurance”) certifies that you will hold the required minimum liability coverage for a specific amount of time.

Common situations in which SR-22 certificates are required include:

• Revocation or suspension of your driver’s license.
• Revocation of your vehicle registration privileges.
• Conviction of a DUI offense.
• Obtaining an occupational or commercial driver’s license.

Car Insurance Violations

If you are caught driving without car insurance, you face a fine of up to $500.

If you were unable to provide proof of insurance during a traffic stop, but you were insured at the time, you face a fine of up to $10.

Wisconsin Automobile Insurance Plan

Though Wisconsin mandates that you carry car insurance, auto insurers have the right to refuse coverage to you if they consider you a high-risk driver.

If you have not been able to find car insurance on the open market, you may apply for coverage through the Wisconsin Automobile Insurance Plan (WAIP).

You can apply to WAIP via any licensed car insurance company in the state.

Once accepted into the plan, you will be assigned an insurer. This company may not be the company through which you applied.

NOTE: Car insurance through the WAIP is generally more expensive than standard car insurance and should be considered a last resort.

Consumer Assistance

As a service to the public, the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) provides assistance with insurance-related matters.

If you are unable to settle a dispute with your car insurance carrier, you may file a complaint with the OCI.

The OCI allows you to file complaints through any of the following avenues:

• Online at the OCI website.
• By mailing or faxing a completed Complaint Form (Form OCI 51-005) to:
  • Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
  • P.O. Box 7873
  • Madison, WI 53707
  • Fax: (608) 264-8115

Car Insurance Rates

Several factors help insurance companies determine your car insurance rates in Wisconsin.

As you compare car insurance quotes, keep in mind that the following will be factored into your premium:

• Your car’s:
  • Make.
  • Model.
  • Year.
• Your driving record.
• The primary location where you keep your car.
• Your credit history.
• Your insurance history.

Car Insurance Discounts

A great way to save on car insurance is by taking advantage of discounts.

Common discounts offered by Wisconsin car insurance companies include:

• Good driver discount.
• Good student discount.
• Multi-car discount.
• Homeowner’s discount.

When you shop around for the lowest car insurance rates, remember to ask about any discounts for which you might be eligible. But remember, the easiest way to get a cheap quote is to have a good driving record that shows a safe and violation-free driving history.

Most Stolen Cars in Wisconsin

If your car is a common target for theft, you are likely to face higher car insurance rates.

The following is a list of the most stolen cars in Wisconsin for 2013, according to www.nicb.org:

1. Dodge Caravan.
2. Honda Accord.
3. Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size).
4. Honda Civic.
5. Dodge Intrepid.
6. Chevrolet Impala.
7. Chrysler Town & Country.
8. Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee.
9. Dodge Stratus.
10. Toyota Camry.

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Alabama Auto Insurance

As an industry-leading provider of Alabama auto insurance, we know what you're looking for in a policy: excellent value and service that leaves you smiling. This is what we endeavor to offer to every customer.

State Requirements

• You’ll need basic liability coverage, which consists of bodily injury liability coverage of $25,000 or more per person and $50,000 per incident, and property damage liability coverage of at least $25,000 per person.

Our wide range of coverage options is designed to offer customers the flexibility to choose the right plan for their needs, including the following coverage types:

Basic Liability Coverage
Alabama requires basic liability coverage to legally drive in this state. This basic policy will cover the other party's medical bills and repair costs if you are at fault for an accident. Alabama requires.  You may want to consider additional coverage above the required amount though, since accidents can cost a lot more. 

Comprehensive and Collision Coverage

A basic liability policy only covers the medical bills and repair costs for the other party following an accident, so it's a good idea to add comprehensive and collision coverage. This ensures that your vehicle repairs and rental car costs are covered after an accident, and with comprehensive coverage, you'll even be taken care of in the case of fire, theft, windshield damage or vandalism. If you're concerned about the monthly payments, Acceptance has you covered. You can simply choose a higher deducible to make your payments go down. 

Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Many states require uninsured motorist coverage. Alabama does not require this type of coverage, although it's common to have about $25,000 per person or $50,000 per accident.  This is a good type of coverage to have regardless of whether it's required, since so many people drive without insurance or with only the bare minimum coverage.If you want to make sure you're covered after an accident, regardless of the other driver's insurance status, be sure to add this to your Alabama auto insurance policy.

You. Your Terms. Accepted.

Types of Car Insurance We Offer:

• High Risk Auto Insurance
• SR 22 Auto Insurance
• Non Owner Auto Insurance
• Liability Auto Insurance
• Teenager Auto Insurance
• Bad Credit Auto Insurance
• Senior Auto Insurance
• Non Standard Auto Insurance

State By State:

• Alabama
• Florida
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Virginia

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CALIFORNIA CAR INSURANCE

California Car Insurance

Are you shopping for affordable car insurance quotes? California insurance companies are required to offer you a good driver’s discount if you have a clean driving record. Read more to learn about California car insurance rates, laws, and programs.

Car Insurance Requirements

California law requires that you have a way to cover costs related to damages or injuries you may have caused in a car accident. Purchasing liability car insurance is the simplest and most common way people choose to meet this requirement.

The minimum amount of liability insurance you must have on your policy is:

• $15,000 for injury/death to one person.
• $30,000 for injury/death to more than one person.
• $5,000 for damage to property.

Other Car Insurance Coverage

While liability coverage is the only type of car insurance coverage you are required to carry in California, there are several other types of coverage available to you, including:

• Comprehensive coverage – This coverage insures you against damages that might occur to your car that do not involve traffic accidents such as theft-related damage.
• Collision coverage – This insures you against damages to your car that occur as a result of a traffic collision such as an accident with another driver.
• Medical and funeral services coverage.
• Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage – According to the latest statistics from the California Department of Insurance (CDI), in 2004, 14.43% of California drivers had no car insurance. Uninsured/underinsured coverage can cover damages caused by one of these drivers.
• Rental car coverage.
• Towing and labor coverage.

Note: Adding comprehensive and/or collision coverage is generally optional. However, if your car is being financed, your lending or leasing company will require you to purchase comprehensive and collision coverage.

Other Forms of Financial Responsibility

Buying car insurance is the most common way to fulfill your financial responsibility requirements, but it isn’t your only option.

Other options to meet the requirement include:

• A $35,000 cash deposit with the CA Department of Motor Vehicles.
• A Certificate of Self-Insurance from the DMV.
• A surety bond of $35,000 from any company licensed to do business in CA.

Proof of Insurance

You must be able to prove you have auto insurance to register your car or renew your registration. Your insurance company will give you an insurance card that can serve as your proof of insurance. Your car insurance card will have:

• Your car’s information.
  • Make.
  • Model.
  • Year.
  • Safety rating.
  • Value.
• Your name and the name of any other drivers under your car’s policy.
• The expiration date of your insurance policy’s term.

You will receive a new card every time you renew your car insurance policy.

Additionally, insurance companies in California are required to electronically report your insurance information to the DMV. The California DMV can use these electronic records to verify that you have car insurance.

Getting Pulled Over in California

If you are pulled over by a police officer, you must show your proof of insurance, along with your driver’s license and car registration.

Violation Fines and Penalties

If you are pulled over in California without proof of car insurance or any other form of financial responsibility, you may face the following fines:

• $100 - $200 for your first offense.
• $200 - $500 for each offense within 3 years after your first.

The court may impound your car and hold it until you are able to show a proof of insurance.

Suspended Registration

Not having car insurance in California can also result in a suspension of your car’s registration if:

• The CA DMV is notified of your insurance cancellation and you have not replaced it within 45 days.
• Your car insurance information is not given to the DMV within 30 days of your car’s initial registration or transfer of ownership.
• You registered your car with false evidence of insurance.

The DMV will send you a letter if your registration has been suspended due to not having car insurance. You can re-register your car with a proof of insurance at the cost of $14. You can apply for reinstatement:

• Online at the the DMV's Vehicle Registration Suspensions Insurance Programpage.
• By mail with your notification letter to:
  DMV
  PO Box 997405
  Sacramento, CA 95899
• By mail without a notification letter to:
  DMV – VRFRP Unit
  PO Box 997408 N305
  Sacramento, CA 95899-7408
• By phone at (800) 777-0133.

California’s Proposition 103

Before 1988, California was among only a small handful of states that had no state-governed regulations on the insurance industry. As a result, California auto insurance rates kept climbing to levels that were not affordable to many people.

To combat what many saw as arbitrary insurance rates, Californians voted into law Prop 103 on November 8, 1988, which called for consumer-driven regulation on insurance companies.

Under Prop 103, insurance companies were required to cut their rates to 20% less than what they were in 1987. Any rate changes from that point would have to be approved by the California Department of Insurance.

Among the provisions of Prop 103 are rules regulating how insurance companies determine your car insurance premiums and the Good Driver Discount policy.

Good Driver Discount Policy

Because of Prop 103, California law requires insurance companies to offer a 20% discount to good drivers. You qualify for this Good Driver Discount policy in California if:

• You have been licensed to drive for the past 3 years.
• During the past 3 years you have not:
  • Had more than 1 point on your driving record due to a violation(s).
  • Taken traffic school because of a traffic violation more than once.
  • Been the at-fault driver in an accident that resulted in injury or death.

Determining Your Insurance Premium: Credit Score

Prop 103 makes it illegal for insurance companies in California to use your credit history as a factor in determining the cost of your car insurance premium. Because of this, other factors may carry more weight.

These factors may include:

• Your driving record.
• Your age.
• Where you live.
• The make/model of your car.
• The purpose of your car (e.g., commuting or personal use).

California’s Low Cost Auto Insurance Program

The Low Cost Automobile Insurance Program (CLCA) was established in California in 1999 to give income eligible drivers a way to get car insurance at an affordable price in order to combat the high number of low-income drivers without car insurance.

To qualify for the CLCA you must:

• Have a valid California driver's license.
• Own a car with a value of $25,000 or less.
• Be at least 19 years old.
• Meet the income requirements 

You can visit the CLCA website and take their questionnaire to see if you qualify. 

California’s Automobile Claims Mediation Program

If you have a dispute over a claim with your insurance carrier, you may be able to take advantage of California’s Auto Claims Mediation Program, which provides a way to help settle claim disputes with the assistance of a third-party mediator at no cost to you.

You may be eligible for the program if the dispute with your insurance provider involves:

• The extent or amounts of damages.
• Methods of repair.
• Cause of damage.
• Prior damage vs. recent damage.
• Total loss.
  • This is when an insurance company declares your car not repairable and reimburses you the estimated value of the car instead of repairing the car.
• Value of a total loss.

You are not eligible for the mediation program if the dispute involves the following issues:

• Coverage issues.
• Legal interpretations of your policy.
• Statute of limitations and contractual limitations on claim filing periods.
• Agent or broker actions.

For more information about CA’s Auto Claims Mediation process, visit the CA Department of Insurance website.

Automobile Assigned Risk Plan

The California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP) is a program to help get all drivers properly insured. If you cannot find a car insurance company, due to a poor driving record, you can apply for liability insurance through CAARP.

All California car insurance companies must accept a certain amount of CAARP applicants depending on their share of the market. The higher the amount of standard customers they have, the higher amount of CAARP applicants they must take.

Once you have a clean driving record for a consecutive 3 years, you can purchase your car insurance outside of CAARP.

California at a Glance

Electronic Insurance Cards

California’s Vehicle Code states that if you do not have your car insurance card, you may be able to pull up your insurance information on your smartphone. Several car insurance carriers have smartphone apps that allow you to access an electronic insurance card.

Car Theft In California

California is the car theft capital of America. In 2011, according to a report issued by the California Highway patrol, 156,796 vehicles were stolen, at an estimated cost of one billion dollars.

Car Theft and Your Car insurance Rates

When calculating a policyholder’s insurance rate, many car insurance companies consider the risk of car theft in a given area. Since car theft rates in California are high, you pay a higher rate.

California car theft hurts everyone that has car insurance. By educating yourself about the types of cars and trucks that are stolen and learning simple ways to prevent your car from being stolen, you’re taking positive steps toward keeping car insurance rates low for everyone.

Most Stolen Cars in California

Driving a car that is often targeted for theft may increase your car insurance rates.

The following is a list of the most commonly stolen cars in California for 2013 according to  www.nicb.org:

1. Honda Accord.
2. Honda Civic.
3. Chevrolet Pickup (Full Size).
4. Toyota Camry.
5. Acura Integra.
6. Ford Pickup (Full Size).
7. Totoyta Corolla.
8. Nissan Sentra.
9. Nissan Altima.
10. Toyota Pickup.

Reporting Accidents

According to the California DMV, every driver will be involved in a car accident at least once in their life, so you should be aware of how to handle such an incident.

When involved in an accident:

• Try your best to pull out of traffic and onto a safe spot at the side of the road.
• Never flee the scene. You may risk a hit-and-run conviction.
• Check for any injuries to anyone involved.
• Report the accident immediately if anyone is injured or killed.
• Exchange car insurance information with other drivers involved in the accident.

If you are in an accident that causes more than $750 in damages, you must report the accident within 10 days by completing a Traffic Accident Report (Form SR 1).

Cell Phone Use

The CA DMV states that about 10% of drivers use their cell phones while driving.

Even with hands-free devices, studies have shown that cell phone usage is highly distracting.

For safety measures, the state of California has made it illegal to text or use hand-held cell phones while driving. If you are over 18 years old, you may use a hands-free device to make phone calls.

If you must make a call while driving, follow these tips to help you stay safe:

• Try to pull off the road when possible.
• Do not get involved in emotionally heated discussions.

California law states if you are under 18 years old, you are NOT allowed to use a cell phone for any reason while driving, including texting and making calls this includes a hands free device.

Remember, all violations can affect your car insurance premiums. Stay safe and keep your car insurance rates low.

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