Find Cheap Auto Insurance: Guide to Car Insurance Quotes and What Affects Rates

The cheapest up-front rate for car insurance isn't always the best option for many drivers as they could end up paying more money in the long run. Even if you follow the minimum insurance guideline in your state, you could still have to pay a lot of money out of pocket if you are found "at fault" in an accident. When you are trying to find cheap auto insurance, keep in mind that there are more considerations than just the rate itself.

There are also personal factors that play a role in how much your car insurance rate will be. For instance, if you are a younger driver under 25, or older than 65, you will likely end up having to pay a bit more money since you are considered more "at-risk". Gender sometimes plays a role as well, as females are generally believed to be more cautious drivers, and will, therefore, be eligible for lower rates.

However, even if you are between 25-65 and do consider yourself to be a cautious driver, there are some other factors that could potentially cause your rates to go up. For instance, if you have bad credit, insurance companies might think that your financial situation is bad and that you are a risky person to insure. As a consequence, it will be more difficult to find cheap auto insurance. Another factor is the vehicle itself. The make, model, age, and current condition affect the insurance quotes you receive.

How to Find Cheap Auto Insurance Which Considers Your Living Area

There are also factors such as where you live and work. Living in a rural area will likely be less costly for drivers than living in an urban area since fewer people on the road means there is less of a risk of getting into an accident. Professions that include a lot of "on the job driving", such as a caterer, delivery service, journalist, etc. will sometimes be quoted at a higher rate than someone who stays in the same office or stores all day and just has a short commute to/from home.

If you're not happy with the kinds of quotes you are receiving, you might want to check and see if you qualify for any discounts. Some car insurance companies and quote sites really do offer a huge range of discounts and coupons.

When comparing quotes, once again, it's important not to just select the one with the lowest monthly rates. Think about your type of car and how much money you'll need to pay in repairs or replacement should it badly damaged. Will you be able to afford the huge deductibles? It might be better just to pay a bit more on monthly payments.

A good place to find cheap auto insurance is insurance. Discounts of all kinds are available ("Paid in Full", "Fast 5", "Claim-Free", etc. There is even a quiz you can take at the Esurance site for a personalized quote.

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Alabama Auto Insurance

If you are planning to buy a car in Alabama and register your car for Alabama car insurance, then you must first be aware that unlike other states, you have to prove that you are taking the responsibility to financially cover yourself in the event your car is involved in an accident. This is one legal requirement in Alabama, which you must keep in mind while applying for Alabama auto insurance, otherwise, you would not be allowed to drive your car on public roads in the state of Alabama.

One of the easier ways to meet with this requirement of Alabama car insurance policies is to purchase insurance from carriers licensed to sell insurance in the state of Alabama. There are other options available too - you can obtain a Motor Vehicle Liability Bond for a minimum amount of $50000 or a Certificate of Cash Bond for a minimum amount of $50000.

By purchasing a basic Alabama car insurance policy for liability coverage, you are ensuring that you meet the minimum financial responsibility requirement of the state of Alabama. There are a lot of ways by which you can prove your financial coverage responsibility to entitle yourself for Alabama Car Insurance. You can show a copy of your insurance card or premium receipt or a certificate of liability policy from your provider. A copy of your liability insurance policy or a copy of the invoice of vehicle purchase would also suffice. In the event you are renting a vehicle in the state of Alabama, you can also show a copy of the rental agreement. Finally, a copy of the Motor Vehicle Liability Bond or a Certificate Cash Bond is also a valid proof of your financial responsibility coverage for obtaining Alabama auto insurance cover.

If you do not meet this important financial responsibility coverage provision for Alabama auto insurance, you are running the risk of your registration being suspended. Reinstatement of registration is a very complicated process and involves hefty monetary penalties which may not necessarily guarantee reinstatement of your registration. Car owners in the state of Alabama cannot circumvent these legal requirements for obtaining Alabama car insurance but what they do is to look for cheap and budget car Alabama car insurance quotes which most insurance companies willingly provide. Most of these insurance companies have the facility of providing instant cheap Alabama car insurance quotes by filling up simple online forms so that you can decide which quote suits you the best

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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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CAR INSURANCE IN NEW YORK

Car Insurance in New York

New York Car Insurance

In New York, you are required to have several types of car insurance. Luckily, you can get a discount on your car insurance premium just for taking a driver safety class.

Read more to learn all about New York car insurance requirements, options, and programs.

Car Insurance Requirements

New York mandates that all registered vehicles in the state carry the following:

• Liability car insurance.
• No-fault auto insurance.
• Uninsured motorist insurance.

Liability Insurance

Your liability car insurance policy must have the following minimums:

• $25,000 for injuries to one person.
• $50,000 for injuries to multiple people.
• $50,000 for death to one person.
• $100,000 for death to multiple people.
• $10,000 for property damage.

Liability car insurance only pays for accident-related damages and injuries you caused to someone else. Liability does not cover your own personal costs.

No-Fault Insurance

New York also requires that you have no-fault coverage, which helps you with costs after an accident regardless of who was at fault.

New York basic no-fault coverage includes a limit of $50,000 per person to cover the following:

• Your accident-related medical expenses.
• 80% of lost income due to injuries from a car accident, with a limit of $2,000 per month for up to 3 years.
• Up to $25 a day for expenses such as household help (for up to 1 year from the date of the accident).
• A $2,000 death benefit on top of the $50,000 limit.

No-fault insurance will cover your medical costs after an accident before your health insurance. If your medical costs exceed your no-fault coverage limit, your health insurance will then kick in.

Uninsured Motorists Coverage

In New York, you are also required to have uninsured motorists coverage to cover costs relating to injuries resulting from a car accident. The minimum uninsured coverage you must have for bodily injury is:

• $25,000 for injuries to one person.
• $50,000 for injuries to multiple people.

Uninsured drivers coverage will not cover property damage.

You also have the option of purchasing SUM (Supplementary Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists) coverage, based on the limits of your own policy, up to:

• $250,000 per person, per accident.
• $500,000 per accident.

Proof of Insurance

Your car insurance company will give you insurance ID cards that can be used as your proof of insurance. When registering your car, you will need to give one of your insurance cards to the DMV. Your other card should be kept in your car.

Your car insurance company is required to electronically notify the DMV of your car insurance coverage. When you register your car, the DMV will verify your car insurance with the electronic notice and your insurance card. The DMV will not verify your proof of insurance with just your insurance card.

If a police officer pulls you over and asks for your proof of insurance, you must show your insurance card.

Your insurance carrier should provide you with new insurance cards whenever you renew your car insurance policy.

Optional Car Insurance

You have the option of purchasing higher amounts of coverage for the required policy types: liability, no-fault, and uninsured motorist. Plus, you can purchase any of the following optional types of coverage:

• Collision – This will cover damages to your car after an accident with another car.
• Comprehensive – This will cover damages to your car that might happen after an incident not involving a car accident, such as vandalism.
• Medical and funeral services.
• Towing and labor.

NOTE: Collision and comprehensive coverages are not required by New York; however, if you have a car loan or are leasing your car, your finance company will require you to have collision and comprehensive car insurance.

Violation Fines and Penalties

If you do not have car insurance, you must surrender your car’s license plates to the DMV immediately, or else your car’s registration and your driver’s license will be suspended indefinitely.

If you have a lapse in car insurance—for example, time between canceling your current car insurance and buying another plan—you must also surrender your car’s plates to avoid suspension of your vehicle’s registration.

Your driver’s license will also be suspended if your lapse of insurance coverage is longer than 91 days and you did not surrender your plates. To reinstate your suspended driver’s license, you will have to pay a fee of $100.

Avoiding Suspensions

The easiest way to avoid having your car registration or driver’s license suspended when you don’t have car insurance is to surrender your vehicle plates to the DMV.However, during a lapse of car insurance coverage lasting less than 90 days, you have the option of paying a fine in place of surrendering your plates.

The cost of the fine depends on the length of the lapse in coverage. You can calculate your fine with the following:

• $8 per day for the first 30 days.
• $10 per day for 31 – 60 days.
• $12 per day for 61 – 90 days.

New York Automobile Insurance Plan

If you are having trouble finding car insurance for any reason (such as a poor driving record), you can apply for car insurance through the New York Automobile Insurance Plan (NYAIP).

Through NYAIP, you will be assigned a car insurance carrier that will provide you the minimum liability, no-fault, and uninsured coverages, with the option of purchasing higher coverage amounts.

Prices for car insurance through NYAIP are considerably higher than standard rates, so applying to NYAIP is often considered a last resort.

An insurance carrier assigned to you through NYAIP must offer you coverage for a minimum of 3 years. However, if you find an insurance company willing to sell you a car insurance policy at standard rates, you are free to cancel your NYAIP insurance.

Car Insurance Fraud in NY

New York is one of the highest-ranked states for car insurance fraud. Because of this, New York law enforcement focuses heavily on cracking down on car insurance fraud.

Common types of insurance fraud include:

• Staging of car accidents.
• Falsified doctors’ reports of accident-related injuries.
• Falsified mechanics’ reports of accident-related damages to a vehicle.

Reporting Car Insurance Fraud

Car insurance fraud costs insurance companies money, which results in higher premiums for everyone.

You can help keep New York car insurance prices down by being vigilant and reporting any suspected car insurance fraud.

You can report tips by:

• Calling (800) 342-3736.
• Completing and mailing a Suspected Fraud Report to:
  
  • New York State Department of Financial Services
    Insurance Frauds Bureau
    One State Street
    New York, NY 10004.
• Faxing a Suspected Fraud Report to (212) 709-3555.

Most Stolen Cars in New York

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

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

1. Honda Civic.
2. Honda Accord.
3. Dodge Caravan.
4. Toyota Camry.
5. Nissan Maxima. 
6. Nissan Altima.
7. Ford Econoline E350.
8. Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee.
9. Toyota Corolla. 
10. Ford Econoline E250.

New York Car Insurance Discounts

Everyone is looking for discounts on their car insurance. New York requires insurance companies to offer you car insurance discounts IF your car has:

• Automatic seat belts or air bags.
• A factory-installed anti-lock braking system (ABS).
• Factory-installed daytime running lamps (DRL).

The Point and Insurance Reduction Program

In New York, you can receive a 10% discount in the base rate of your auto liability and collision insurance premiums if you take an accident prevention course through the Point and Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP).

These DMV-approved courses are meant to provide a review of safe driving and traffic laws. The courses are privately run, at least 320 minutes long, and can be taken online or in a classroom (click here for access to online providers).

By taking a course, you can not only qualify for a discount on your insurance premiums but may also be able to reduce up to 4 points on your driving record (if you have any).

The NY DMV offers a full list of classroom and online providers.

You will receive a certificate of completion within 45 days of completing the PIRP course.

You will need to show your certificate of completion to your car insurance carrierwithin 90 days of completing the course to receive your discount.

If you qualify, your insurance company must discount your insurance for 3 years.

NOTE: The discount can only be applied to one driver per vehicle.

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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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