Posts Tagged ‘car insurance quote’

Rural Mail Carriers: Auto Insurance Coverage Required

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

Rural mail carriers who use their own vehicles in the course of their professional duties have special insurance needs. Before starting work, the mail carrier should contact his or her insurance company to advise it about the situation and to make necessary changes to the type and level of coverage which is in place.

If a driver has been hired to deliver mail to rural addresses on behalf of the United States Postal Service, the insurance company will add an endorsement to his or her existing coverage. This will provide the necessary coverage to protect the driver if he or she is involved in an accident while working.

In a situation where the person delivering the mail is doing so for a private mail delivery company, then the driver is classified as being a courier. A person who is working  under this type of arrangement will need to get commercial auto insurance coverage. If the driver is working as an independent contractor, the cost of this type of coverage may be a tax-deductible business expense.

A change in auto insurance needs like starting to work as a rural mail carrier is a good opportunity to review the existing car insurance coverage and to consider making other changes to the policy. A driver can take the opportunity to get quotes from several car insurance providers to find the best rates on the type and level of coverage that he or she needs.

 

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Posted in General Auto Insurance |

Suggested Auto Insurance Coverage for New Car Buyers

Sunday, September 4th, 2011

New car buyers need to make sure that their new ride is insured properly before they drive it off the dealer’s lot. In most states, drivers must have a minimum level of insurance coverage in place and this is a good starting point for consumers.

Third party liability coverage (bodily injury and property damage protection) protects the policyholder from having to be personally responsible for paying for damages resulting from an at-fault accident. It pays for medical bills, lost wages and in some cases, pain and suffering claims made by the occupants of the other vehicle.

Uninsured motorist coverage is a type of protection which should be considered by new car buyers. It pays for injuries and damages caused by a driver who either doesn’t have coverage in place or who cannot be identified. Underinsured motorist coverage is also available from insurance companies and this type of protection is used to increase the available coverage when the at-fault driver has insurance but does not have enough protection to pay for the damages caused in the accident. His or her coverage is used first and the underinsured motorist coverage comes in at that point to make up the difference (up to its policy limit).

Physical damage coverage is also important for new car buyers. If the owner financed the vehicle, the lender will likely require that full coverage (collision and comprehensive) be kept in place until the loan has been paid off in full.

 

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Posted in General Auto Insurance |

What are Typical Auto Insurance Limits?

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

When consumers think of typical auto insurance limits, they may be focused on the minimum level of coverage required under state law. This level of coverage may be an economical choice, but that doesn’t mean it will adequately protect a driver if he or she is involved in a serious accident. The insurance company will pay out on liability claims, but only up to the limit the policyholder has chosen. If the level of damages caused in the accident is higher than the available coverage, the driver who is determined to be responsible for the accident must pay the difference personally. In the case of an accident which causes permanent injuries, this figure can be significant.

Rather than run the risk of having to sell off hard-earned assets to pay for damages caused in an accident, a much better choice is to consider buying a policy with limits similar to the following:

  • Bodily injury coverage of $100,000 to pay for injuries and damages suffered by a single person in an accident
  • $300,000 to pay for injuries and damages sustained by all people injured in the same accident
  • Property damage coverage of $100,000 to pay for repairs to the other driver’s vehicle and public property damaged or destroyed in an accident

Liability auto insurance coverage will also pay for the cost of defending a lawsuit brought by the occupants of the other vehicle in an at-fault accident.

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Posted in General Auto Insurance |

Washington Minimum Auto Insurance Coverage Amounts

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

Car insurance customers in Washington must buy third party liability coverage to comply with the state’s financial responsibility legislation. This type of insurance pays for claims for personal injuries and property damage made by the occupants of the other vehicle when an at-fault accident occurs.

The minimum level of bodily injury coverage required by law is $25,000 to pay for medical bills and related expenses of a single accident victim. This part of the policy also pays for funeral expenses if the accident results in one or more fatalities. A minimum of $50,000 must be put in place to pay for all injuries stemming from the same event.

Property damage liability coverage is also required by law. It pays for the cost of repairs to the other driver’s vehicle, as well as any public property damaged in the accident. In this situation, public property refers to buildings, fences, sign posts, light stands and mailboxes.

A driver can buy a policy with a higher policy limit, and it’s a good idea to buy as much car insurance as one can afford. In the case of a serious accident, a policy which only offers the minimum level of coverage may not be enough to pay for damages caused in an accident. Once the policy limit has been reached, the at-fault driver is responsible for paying for any additional damages personally. Buying a policy with a higher limit will protect the driver’s assets.

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Posted in USA, Washington |

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