Car Insurance -- Things You Ought To Know

When you buy car insurance, you enter into a contract with the insurance company. If your car meets with an accident, you will be eligible for compensation for the losses under the contract. Your part of the contract is to pay the premium.

Car insurance covers property, liability and medical coverage. Damages or theft to your car are paid by property coverage. If you car causes bodily injury or property damage, the liability coverage pays for your legal responsibility.

The cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses are taken care of by the medical coverage.

Most car insurance policies are valid for six month to a year. You must renew the policy once it expires.

All states require you to have some form of car insurance if you own or operate a car.

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Different states have different penalties for driving a car without insurance. Some states impound your car. There are heavy fines in some states. You could be in serious trouble if you car is involved in an accident without insurance. You may have to comply with the financial responsibility laws including having to pay for any injuries or damages out of your own pocket.

The insurance company will consider your credit history, the age and type of your car before offering you a rate.

As the owner of a car, you are responsible for providing insurance for the car, no matter who is operating the car. It is illegal for cars to be operated without insurance.

Finally, a few savings tips...

1. Although this may sound funny, you can bring down your rates by getting married. I know you won't get married just for this but when you do, it will save you a bit in auto insurance. It's commonsense that every person becomes more stable and less reckless once they get married. This stability affects such a person for good when he/she is behind wheels. They generally file fewer claims and when they do, they usually cost less.

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2. If you want to keep your rates down, do NOT "pimp your ride." Doing such reduces your car's safety and, therefore, warrants higher rates as far as the insurer is concerned. So if you're really serious about keeping your rate down, leave your car the way it was manufactured.

3. Before you get carried away with the few hundreds you will save on a house, check if it will not cost you much more in auto insurance. Also note that a neighbor not too far away might fall under a lower crime zone than you -- This affects rates.

So check with your agent before you commit to a new home. This doesn't come readily to mind when you're shopping for a new home. Does it?

But think about it: If your new zip code adds up to $300 to your annual auto insurance rate, how much would that amount to at the end of your 30-year mortgage?

4. If you must quickly get something inside, turn your car off, lock up and pocket your keys. Don't leave your car unlocked and running. This simple act makes it very easy for thieves. Remember, they look for easy targets. An unlocked car with the engine running? What could be easier?

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5. An alternative for you is to use your parents' auto insurance policy. Your parents certainly belong to a better risk age bracket.

There are two conditions that you must fulfill for this to be possible: The vehicle must be registered in your parents' name and you must live with them. If you want to be the owner of your vehicle, then be the big boy or girl and also own the costly premiums. Sorry, you can't have both with this alternative. However, you can still make huge savings by following the link at the end of this piece.

6. You can realize savings of hundreds of dollars on your auto insurance policy by requesting for insurance quotes from insurance quotes sites. The best strategy is to visit at least five sites and making sure that you provide the same (correct) information about yourself.

I advise that you visit a minimum of five quotes sites as that will ensure you do not miss out offers not given by the other sites. This provides you a broader basis for doing better comparisons thereby increasing your chances of realizing more savings.
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