Sunday, July 31, 2011

5 Florida Auto Insurance Regulations to Know

Insurance regulations vary from one state to the next, and it's important that you have the right knowledge and information on hand so that you can make sound decisions about what kind of insurance coverage you need, and what you don't. Car insurance for Florida has its own regulations, as declared by the Florida Department Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. Take a look below at 5 specific rules and regulations about auto insurance in Florida that every driver and consumer needs to be aware of.

1. Minimum PIP Coverage: The state of Florida requires minimum Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, coverage of $10,000. PIP is a no-fault policy, which means that whether or not you caused an accident, you are covered up to the policy limit for injuries you or members of your household sustain. PIP usually also covers individuals in your car without their own PIP protection.

2. Minimum PDL Liability: Auto insurance in Florida also requires a Property Damage Liability (PDL) coverage minimum of $10,000. This is the coverage you need to pay for damage caused to another person's vehicle or other property as the result of an accident that you are declared to have caused or are otherwise liable for.

3. Florida-only Insurance: The regulations for car insurance for Florida dictate that your insurance policy must be delivered by a company licensed by the Florida Department of Financial Services, and must be obtained by an agent or company otherwise licensed to provide that insurance. This means that you cannot maintain a policy that was previously issued to you in another state.

4. Penalties: Without proper insurance your driving license can be suspended until you obtain the proper coverage. Reinstatement fees then would apply, and can cost up to $150 to begin with, and can eventually total up to $500 or more for additional violations.

5. Business & Part-Time Residency: Even part-time residents, or individuals in the state for business for more than 90 days in a 1-year period, need full-time, year-round auto insurance in Florida. The 90 days do not have to be consecutive, and the vehicle does not have to be used. Either way, you need coverage on the registered vehicle.

Hopefully by now you have a better understanding of some of the basic rules and regulations regarding car insurance for Florida. Each state has its own unique rules, and also enforces them differently, so be sure that you're compliant in order to avoid any hassle and legal trouble.

Best Instructional Guide to European Car Breakdown Cover

If one is planning to take a long distance drive from let's say Spain to France and end up in Italy, one's biggest consideration aside from the necessary emergency tools is to get a good European car breakdown cover. Road traffic in some European cities is unpredictable. It is so much different twenty years ago. Breakdowns and accidents can happen at any time.

One's foremost consideration in choosing the best breakdown cover is one's individual need. The cost for a UK breakdown insurance is fairly reasonable; however, if you choose aimlessly, the price could inflate.

Some insurers also offer extensions to their policy. They have holiday car insurance which is best when one is traveling with passengers in delicate situation such as elders, very young children, expectant mothers or those that are undergoing special treatment.

European car insurance comes in two major types. One is a temporary cover which is designed to cater to European travelers who are there just for a short visit. For longer trips of up to 90 days, the comprehensive cover would be suitable. The latter may also be good for those who are planning for a short trip but will be going around different EU countries.

When shopping for vehicle breakdown coverage, compare the cost they charge for a comprehensive insurance. It differs per insurer and some would tack more for this type of cover. Car recovery in remote locations is expensive and this may be the reason why they have add-on fees. Also, right-hand drive vehicles stranded in a city dominated by left-handed automobiles may not have parts available for the replacement and may need repatriation. Repatriation is also a costly arrangement.

Other ways to save money on car breakdown cover is to shop well and hard. There are several review sites that will allow one to make the best comparison. Next, the car size also affects the cost of the cover. If there's no need to drive a van, estate or range rover, then opt for smaller cars. Avoiding unnecessary requirement is the best principle to follow.

It is surprising to know however that amidst the competitive costs on European breakdown, only a few appreciates the benefits it deliver. Europe receives 12 percent of all worldwide motorists yet only one-third of them have vehicle insurance. They continue to drive believing that are entirely insured driving across Europe. But the fact is they are not. With costs getting more and more affordable for road assistance, recovery, car parts replacement, and drive/passenger insurance, getting a European car breakdown cover is a win-win deal.

Save Money Insuring All Your Vehicles

You can actually save money when you get a multiple car insurance quote. Insurers take into consideration the fact that you can not drive two vehicles at the same time, so they charge less for each additional one. Insuring all of your vehicles with the same company will usually cost less than it would to insure them individually.

Insurance rates are calculated by factoring the cost of replacing a vehicle and the likelihood of you being involved in an accident. Statistical data is compiled from a large quantity of accidents in order to determine who is most likely to be involved. The data is categorized and people are divided into groups according to age and gender.

Other factors are also used to determine insurance rates. Whether you live in the country or in a big city can make a difference. If you live close to an intersection where many accidents are known to occur you could end up paying more. Sometimes your credit history or even the number of miles you drive to work each day are factors.

Actuators are employed or hired by insurance companies to assess risk. Their job is to determine which categories each driver falls under in order to decide how much they need to pay. The goal is to charge the most for the worst drivers and the least amount for the best drivers. Sometimes rates may not seam fair but they are determined by using the results from large pools of data.

There are a few things that you can do to lower your premiums. A clean driving record can make a huge difference in your rates. Other things such as having good credit or getting good grades in school can also help. Typically your rates will decrease as you get older since new drivers are usually the most likely to be involved in an accident.

Typically insurers default to the worst case scenario. If there are multiple drivers on one policy they will usually assign rates for the worst categorized driver to the vehicle that is the most expensive to insure. The best driver is charged a rate on the less costly vehicle.

When there are more vehicles then drivers there is typically a break given for insuring them because the insurer realizes that only one can be driven at a time. So you can save money by insuring all of your vehicles under the same policy.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Young Drivers and Car Insurance in Australia

It's certainly thrilling -- getting behind the wheel and being in your own car for the very first time. Purchasing a vehicle can be a big investment and along with excitement, as well as some concern, comes much responsibility. A young driver has to drive safely, protect themselves, protect their passengers, as well as fellow drivers and pedestrians, and look after their biggest asset -- their car. Car insurance for young drivers is a very important part of driving, once you're ready and willing to hit the highway.

Insurance for young drivers is carried by many insurance companies. You have to figure out which category of vehicle insurance you want, as well as what you'll need. The 3 major types of insurance are comprehensive insurance (which is full coverage for yourself & other people), third party property (coverage for any damage to other cars & property), and third party property plus theft & fire (third party as well as coverage for theft, or fire damage to your vehicle).

For the inexperienced young driver, vehicle insurance can turn out to be a big expense. Statistically, drivers with less experience are more than likely to be involved in a larger number of accidents, so the burden on the insurance company is often higher. Don't despair -- if you're a safe driver and a good one, and you don't have any "at fault" claims for a number of years, you start to be less of a risk to the insurance company & those very high premiums will begin to go down as you build a no claim status.

Young drivers should be aware that all drivers in Australia need compulsory third party insurance, which is a type of insurance that protects you in case you cause personal injury to other humans, as a result of the way you drive. In New South Wales, this is called the Green Slip & you may have heard about it (or not). It's mandatory for when you're either getting, or renewing your vehicle registration. It's handled a bit differently according to which state you live in. In Western Australia for example, coverage is controlled only by the state government & it's incorporated right into your vehicle registration.

Car insurance for young drivers is a must have. While CTP is considered the only level of compulsory insurance, third party property insurance is also a very important financial safeguard to have. It could mean saving you from being sued for any damages -- if you're at fault in any collision. If your car is old & not worth much, then covering it comprehensively may not be the most cost effective. If you've gotten a loan to buy a car, & have used the vehicle as security for the loan, then your contract will state that the car must be fully insured.

And, even if car insurance for young drivers is usually expensive because it has to cover a higher than average risk, don't be tempted to accept the first insurance quote which pops up -- because if you shop around, you can save hundreds of dollars.