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

While these minimums might cover most accidents, you should carry more insurance in certain instances.  If you live in an area that is highly trafficked and has very expensive vehicles driving around, your minimums may not cover the least amount of damage that may be caused in an accident.  Also, if you are financing a new vehicle purchased in California, the bank or dealer who has financed the vehicle will require that you carry enough insurance to cover the vehicle in the event that it is totaled.  Even if you own an older car that you may not think is very valuable, you may want to have more coverage to protect your passengers and others that you are sharing the road with.

For more information about California auto insurance minimum coverages, please contact a representative at www.aisinsurance.com or call 888-772-4247.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

If you are insuring multiple drivers on your policy, you will need their personal information.  You will need the driver’s names, sex, age and marital status.  Other information that may be required includes annual miles driven and driving record.  All this information will help the agent to get you started with a quote.

You will also need to provide information about all of the vehicles that you wish to have included on the policy. You will need to provide the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), found on the registration or the front driver side window, car make, cost, style and any other modifications to it. 

You will then be asked for the amount of coverage you would like to have on the vehicles.  The amount of coverage you elect to take will determine how much you pay for the policy.  Example: the most complete coverage would include coverage for your vehicle, Uninsured Motorist coverage for damage you suffer from an accident where the other party is uninsured, Liability coverage to cover damage you may do to others, and Medical coverage which pays incidental medical expsenses for anyone involved in an accident.  A moderate policy may only cover Liability and Uninsured Motorist, but no coverage for your own car (typically, if it’s older and paid off).  A policy such as this would be more affordable.  Have an idea of what you want to cover and how much you can afford to pay for insurance and relay this information to the agent or in the quote form.

Lastly, take good notes, shop around or compare coverages online.  Taking notes about what you are quoted will help you to compare different company’s rates.  You want to make sure you are seeing apples-to-apples.  When receiving a quote from a company, see if they will compare their quote to another company’s and have them explain any differences.

Buying California car insurance doesn’t have to be a difficult task.  If you need a quote or have any questions, please contact a qualified representative at www.aisinsurance.com.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

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Here are some tips you can follow to help cut the cost of your car insurance.

Keep your driving records and personal information up to date.  If you have had any tickets or auto related citations in recent years that have dropped off of your record, it is important to verify that your insurance company knows about these.  If you don’t keep your driving record up to date, you could be wasting money by paying extra for infractions that are no longer on your record.  By keeping your personal information up to date, you can save money as well.  When you hit certain age marks, get married, or even purchase a home, you can often save money each month.

Be sure you are taking advantage of any discounts you are eligible for.  These discounts can be for many different things including organizations you belong to, safe car features, or even the type of job you have.  Contact your insurance company to see if you can receive discounts for having a low risk occupation, driving a vehicle that is deemed “low profile”, or driving a car with advanced safety features.  You can also save by combining your coverage, assuming more risk on your vehicle, or if you are a senior citizen.

If you are unsure if you qualify for these discounts, have your information ready and contact Auto Insurance Specialists for more information.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Shop Around – One of the biggest differences you will see in body shops is the hourly rate they charge to perform the labor on your vehicle.  This can range from $30-60 an hour.  The rates can vary by the location you are in and the shop itself.  You might benefit by checking your next closest town for different rates.

Once you choose a shop and receive a quote, make sure you understand the quote you are presented.  Some shops use a computer system to generate the quote while others will do this by hand.  Whichever kind you receive, be sure the body shop technician goes over the quote in detail and that you understand it before you make a commitment.  A good shop will review this with you, but if they don’t, you should ask.  If you are not satisfied or their answers seem vague, move on to the next body shop.  Also, it never hurts to get multiple quotes from competing shops.  Some will match or beat the quote of their competitor to make sure you choose their shop.

After your car is repaired and it is time to pick it up, inspect the parts once you get to the shop.  Look to see that the old parts were in fact damaged.  If you can’t tell, ask the technician to show you what is defective and why it needed to be replaced.  If the quote calls for new parts, ask to see the old ones and make sure new parts were put onto your vehicle.  Some shops will use refurbished parts and call them new to save money for themselves. 

Most parts being put onto the car will need to be painted.  When you pick up your vehicle, inspect the parts and paint to make sure they were painted correctly.  If possible, try to inspect the paint in different lighting conditions.  When it is bright and sunny outside, the paint may look perfect, but moving the vehicle into an area with less light, and the same paint job could look different.  If this is the case, you may want to consider asking them to repaint this for you.

The last thing you should always remember is to ask a lot of questions.  Repairs can cost thousands of dollars, so you want to make sure you don’t have to come back to have the work redone at an added cost.  Many shops will warranty or guarantee their work.  Make sure you get the details in writing, so if you do have issues with the work performed you can use that as your back up.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

• Call the company directly.  For example, at the State of California’s Department of Insurance website, the contact information for a number of auto insurance companies is provided on their “Toll Free Numbers” page.  Additionally, your Yellow Pages can also provide you with contact information for local agencies and/or brokerages.

• Check the company’s website.  Just as in the example above, the Internet can offer many ways to access information.  Check the website of the auto insurance company you are interested in for local agency and/or broker contacts.

• Check with an agency or brokerage association.  There are a large number of  associations across the United States.  Either the Internet or your Yellow Pages can help you find an agency or broker association who can help you locate a local auto insurance broker or agency.

Finding an auto insurance company doesn’t end with speaking to one over the telephone.  It is very important to check their license status before you make a final decision.  You can use either the representative’s name or insurance license number to find out their licensing history – this is especially easy with the California Department of Insurance.  Their website features a way in which you can perform a license status inquiry.  You can get an agency or broker’s insurance license number from the broker or agency’s business card and do a search by that number.

By doing your comparison research before hand, finding out information on an auto insurance agency or broker using the Internet, and in speaking with a representative over the telephone, you can help to ensure that you find the right auto insurance specialist for you.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Overall there are seven events that can affect your auto insurance:

• Relocating
• Getting Married
• Getting Divorced/Being Widowed
• Buying a Home
• Buying a New Car
• Having Children
• Retiring

How do those seven life changes affect your auto insurance?  Here are some of the ways:

• Relocating: If you are moving out of state, you may find that your new state has different laws about required auto insurance coverage.  Your current auto insurer might not even be licensed there.  This is a time when you should check with your current insurer and to determine who could provide you with the right coverage for your new area.

• Getting Married: Many insurance companies offer discounts for multiple cars – by getting the cars of you and your spouse under one policy you can save money through joint policies and multi-car discounts.

• Getting Divorced or Becoming Widowed: As difficult and upsetting as a divorce or becoming widowed can be, this life altering event is also a time when you should reevaluate your auto insurance coverage.  The joint policies and multi-car discounts you received while married won’t be applicable once you are single, so you will need to check with your insurer to find out what type of coverage and what kind of discount could be provided to you.

• Buying a Home: The purchase of a home can mean that you might qualify for multi-policy discounts.  Additionally, factors such as a new neighborhood or being able to garage your car can affect your auto insurance rates.

• Buying a New Car: When buying a new car, consider how much it costs to insure different models. Some companies classify the same car differently, so rates may vary. Rates also are affected by the car’s safety rating, crashworthiness and how attractive that model is to thieves.

• Having Children: The safety of your children is always paramount.  In keeping your children safe, you might upgrade to a better car, or to get the best child restraint system.  Taking these steps to protect your children can mean you may qualify for better auto insurance rates.  Also, as your children get older and start to drive, putting them on your policy or insuring their car can be another major expense.

• Retiring: Retirement can mean either more driving or less driving depending on your lifestyle.  You might travel the country or stay close to home – you might even decide that you no longer need a car.  When planning for your retirement, you should consider how much coverage you will need to protect your assets and to save money.

Regardless of what kind of change may be occurring in your life, it’s always a good idea to do some comparison shopping, especially when it comes to auto insurance.  By keeping in mind your auto insurance costs during some of life’s major events you may be able to save yourself considerable money over time.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Poizner hopes this move will have a positive impact on the environment. The plan envisions that people will start driving less with the immediate goal of saving money, but at the same time putting less co2 in the air from automobile emissions. As a result, the air will become cleaner and less polluted from vehicles. A study conducted by the Environmental Defense Fund estimated that if 30% of Californians participate in this new voluntary coverage, the state of California could avoid 55 million tons of CO2 between 2009 and 2020. That is the equivalent of taking 10 million cars off of the road!

In addition to the positive effects on the environment, the new plan will have a positive impact on Californian’s wallets. One hope is that insurance premiums will go down. Since the new plan calls for miles driven to account for more of the premium base, the hope is that people will start driving less. And as a result of the decreased driving, estimates show that Californians can save approximately $40 billion in vehicle related expenses, including gas, maintenance and repairs.

To participate in the program, drivers will have to verify their actual odometer reading. Drivers will be able to do this through automotive repair/service records or a technical device used to track mileage. While the pay as you drive program is still in the planning stage, contact your auto insurance company for ways to save money right now.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

You the driver:

Many things about you that you can not control will affect your insurance premium. These things include your years of driving experience, gender, and marital status. For example, male drivers with limited experience will pay higher rates due their increased likelihood of becoming involved in an accident.

Driving Record:

Auto insurance premiums are based upon the costs to cover future claims and your statistical risk; which is based on past accidents, traffic violations and years of driving experience. If you have a history of accidents and traffic violations, you are much more likely to pay higher auto insurance premiums. Also, new drivers will likely pay higher premiums as they have not yet established a good driving record.

Where you live:

Where you live plays an important role in determining your auto insurance premiums. Most insurance companies will base this upon your zip code. They have formulas which calculate the risk of accidents within a given area based on traffic volume, which is usually higher in urban areas, and vehicle theft and vandalism statistics.  The California Department of Insurance has recently mandated new regulations that will decrease the significance of where you live, but it is still a factor.

Your Vehicle:

The type of vehicle you own also can help or hurt your insurance premiums. One thing to take into consideration when purchasing a new car is the price of repairs. If parts are generally more expensive, then it is likely your rates will be higher. Having a vehicle with certain safety features; such as anti-theft devices, good crash test ratings and low theft reports, can help to reduce your insurance premiums.

Where you drive:

When applying for a policy you are required to state your annual mileage.  The more you drive, the higher your insurance premium. Since you are on the road longer, your chance of being involved in an accident is greater. 

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

If you guessed that males pay higher rates, you’re right. According to many studies and facts collected on accidents from state and local agencies, men are more likely to be involved in a car accident. In addition, IIHS stated that in 2006, more than twice as many male drivers were fatally injured in auto accidents.

Although male drivers are placed at higher risk, it is usually only between the ages of 18 and 25. Once a male driver reaches 25, rates usually go down; as long as he has a good driving record. Over time, if there are no tickets or accidents, the rates should decrease to about the same level as a comparable female driver.

Remember, no matter if you’re a man or woman, 18 or 45, there are always things you can do to reduce your auto insurance rates. Discounts are offered for certain professions like teaching. Discounts are also awarded to people with good driving records, additional safety features on your vehicle, and many more. Also, if you are still in school, you may be eligible to receive discounted rates for receiving good grades. Check with your carrier to see if you can receive any discounts.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein. No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.