For most car owners, there comes a time in life when you will have that unfortunate fender bender and you have to get the damage repaired.  For most people, picking a body shop and paying for the repairs is not an enjoyable experience.  While these tips will not make the process any more enjoyable, they will however help you to not spend more money than is necessary when it comes to body shop repairs.

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.

 You know that you need to have insurance coverage for your personal vehicle - liability, collision and comprehensive, personal injury protection, and uninsured motorists’ coverage.  Did you know that you may need the same kind of insurance coverage for the vehicle you use in your business?

While there are similarities between the two, a commercial auto insurance policy differs from a personal auto insurance policy in many important ways.  Be sure to ask your auto insurance agency to explain all the technical details and your coverage options.

Additionally, check with your auto insurance agency to ensure you have sufficient auto liability coverage.  In the state of California, for example, commercial auto insurance is important for businesses to have on any vehicle used to transport employees.  Without such coverage, should an accident should occur, you could find that not only your business assets but also your personal assets are at serious risk.

Commercial auto insurance in California can cover the following types of vehicles:

• Trucks
• Vans
• Cars
• SUVs
• Heavy trucks and trailers
• Dump trucks
• Box trucks

To learn more, contact your auto insurance company to find out if you need a commercial auto insurance policy for your vehicle.

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.

 Once you’ve done your research and have found an auto insurance company that you feel is right for you, you’ve likely reached the point where you want to speak to a company representative.  What are some of the best ways of getting in touch with an auto insurance agency?  Here are some tips to help you find an agency in your area.

• 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.

 Should you accept or decline coverage the rental agency usually offers to sell you?  Such insurance is offered in order to help to cover accidents while you are on your trip.  In most cases, you’re safe to decline, it providing you have the same or better protection from your personal automobile insurance company.  Also, you may already have rental-car insurance provided by the credit card that you use.  Both options can give you substantial savings over the rental agency’s coverage.  Before declining the coverage, however, you should be certain that your personal auto insurance or credit-card coverage covers you - otherwise you could be driving your rental uninsured.

Since insurance is state regulated, the cost and coverage will vary from state to state.  The following types of coverage are those that are generally available - you should check with your auto insurance company to be sure which coverage you either have or need:

Loss Damage Waiver (LDW)

While an LDW is not technically an insurance product, it does, however, “waive” renters of financial responsibility if their rental car is damaged or stolen.  In most cases, waivers also provide coverage for “loss of use,” in the event the rental car company charges the renter for the time a damaged car can not be used because it is being fixed.  It may also cover “diminution of value”: the decline in value a repaired vehicle incurs.  Additionally, it may also cover towing and administrative fees, so check with your auto insurance company as these are all things your personal auto insurance policy typically will NOT cover when renting a car.

Liability Insurance

By law, rental companies must provide the state required amount of liability insurance.  This is an instance where, if you have sufficient amounts of liability protection on your own car, you might decline the additional liability protection.  Again, this is something that you should check with your auto insurance company on, in order to know if the amount of liability protection on your car is enough to cover a rental.

Personal Accident Insurance

Personal Accident Insurance offers coverage to you and your passengers for medical and ambulance bills for injuries caused in a car crash.  Your health insurance or your personal injury protection insurance under your auto insurance policy may cover the costs of this.  You should check with your health care insurance provider as well as your auto insurance company to make certain.

Personal Effects Coverage

Personal Effects Coverage provides insurance protection for the theft of items in your car.  If you have a homeowners or renters insurance policy that includes off-premises theft coverage, you are generally covered for theft of your belongings away from home, up to a certain limit and minus the deductible.  This is another area where, depending on your auto insurance or homeowners or renters’ insurance, you may be able to save money at the car rental counter.

When all is said and done, the options for properly insuring a rental car can be a confusing process.  This is why it’s a good idea to make two calls before you rent a car.  One call should be to your auto insurance agency or auto insurance provider, and the other should be to the credit card company you will be using to pay for the rental car.  By finding out beforehand how much coverage you currently have on your own car, as well as finding out the insurance benefits offered by your credit card company, you can save yourself both time and money.

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.

 Major changes to your life can affect many things including your auto insurance rate.  Big events such as marriage, buying a new home, or retiring can mean that it is also time to reevaluate your auto insurance policy.

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.

 On August 28th, California Insurance Commissioner, Steve Poizner laid out the groundwork for greener auto insurance options. The new greener options also may reduce premiums. Insurance Commissioner Poizner unveiled last week his Pay as you drive, green insurance option. The ultimate goal of this plan is to reduce co2 emissions and reduce premiums.

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.

The state of California requires every vehicle to be insured with a minimum of bodily injury and property damage coverage. These minimums are set to protect the citizens of California from an injury or loss of property resulting from an automobile accident.

The minimum bodily injury liability that a Californian driver may take out is $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident.  The minimum for property damage liability is  $5,000. While it is recommended to purchase as much coverage as you can afford, you can drive with just having these minimums. The State wide minimum requirements are more commonly referred to as 15/30/5 coverage.

The state of California operates under a tort system. By definition, tort is an injury to another person or to property which is compensable under law. A tort state is the opposite of a “No-fault” state. In a tort state one party must be designated to be at fault before one can receive compensation for damages, although fault can be shared. If you are travelling outside of California, make sure to check out the laws of the state you are travelling to as the laws differ from state to state.

Contact your local AIS office to discuss the California insurance laws and to find the best rate on your auto insurance policy.

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.

 Most auto policies cover the insured, any additional drivers listed and any occupants in the vehicle. In most cases your coverages are applicable to all occupants in the vehicle at the time of an accident (although liability coverage is not designed to cover injury to you or other listed drivers). But what if you are not driving the car at the time of the loss?

This is a common question and the answer depends on who’s driving. In most cases, the insurance follows the vehicle, not the driver. So if your vehicle is involved in an accident and you are not driving, your coverage will still apply. It is possible that your state’s law or insurance company’s policy may differ, so be sure to check.

In most cases, it is ok for you to loan your car to a visiting friend or family member and your coverage will still apply. The only time you may be denied coverage is if you did not grant the driver permission to use your vehicle. In this case you would have to file a theft claim and proceed in that manner if you wish to recover the damages.

If the driver of your vehicle lives with you, whether it is a family member or a friend, they will have to either be excluded or included on your policy. Specifically, any household members over the legal driving age must be one of the prior. Anyone who becomes a household resident during the policy term must also be added or excluded. If you decide to exclude them, and they’re involved in any accidents while driving your vehicle, the claim will automatically be denied.

Be sure to check your state’s laws and your insurance company’s policy to avoid any potential conflicts.

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.

More than likely you have experienced some sort of car trouble. Maybe it was a dead battery, a flat tire or maybe you locked your keys in the car. We’ve all been there and know that sometimes a little help is all you need. That help comes in the form of Roadside Assistance. Roadside assistance is an optional coverage that is available through your insurance company.

What does it cover?

Towing: If your vehicle needs to be towed in order to be repaired, roadside assistance will take care of that. The distance to be towed may vary for each insurance company, but most will usually tow your vehicle to a repair facility within 15 miles of your location. If you are in a remote area, they will usually tow you to the nearest repair center, no matter how far it is.

Flat-tire: If you are stuck on the side of the road with a flat; don’t worry. Roadside assistance will come and help you change your flat tire at any time of the day.

Dead Battery: If your battery dies, roadside assistance can help. They will either jump start your battery or tow you to the nearest facility where you can purchase a new one. In some cases, the roadside assistance vehicle may have additional batteries for purchase in their vehicle.

Emergency Fuel & Fluids: If your vehicle runs out of gas or overheats, roadside assistance can deliver what you need to get your vehicle moving again. Most roadside assistance services will deliver whatever you need; but you will be required to pay for the fuel or fluids that you require.

Locksmith Service: If you lock your keys inside your car or misplace them, roadside assistance will send out a professional who can make you a new key, or get inside your vehicle to recover your key. In most cases you will only have to pay for the cost of a new key.

Roadside assistance can usually be added to your policy for a very minimal cost. Check with your auto insurance agency or company to see how much it would be to add to your current policy. For a small cost you get a lot of security.

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.

 What is it?

Scheduled personal property (SPP) insurance is an easy way to protect your personal valuable items. Your standard homeowner’s policy provides coverage for these types of items, but there is always a cap, called a sublimit, that reduces coverage for specific items below the overall limit of personal property coverage.

Scheduled personal property can be added to your homeowner’s or rental policy as an endorsement. It will help protect your personal or business items not covered under your regular policy due to the risk potential being too great.

Why get it?

Universal Coverage: Most of these types of policies will cover your items anywhere in the world. If your wife loses her engagement ring while abroad; you can recover the cash value if it is listed in your SSP coverage. All item declarations must be made prior to any claim. Make sure all of your valuables are on your policy; and if you receive or purchase a new item, make sure to add it to your policy immediately.

SPP will cover just about anything, except in rare cases where the item is a one of kind and can not be replaced.

Here is a list of common items that may require SPP coverage:

Jewelry: wedding rings, pendants, bracelets, watches, precious and semi- precious stones.

Furs: real fur garments and garments that are trimmed with real fur.

Cameras: digital, still, movie, video and equipment.

Musical Instruments: professional and non-professional

Silverware: silverware, antique silverware and gold ware

Fine Arts: paintings, etchings, vases and sculptures

Manuscripts: books and letters

Sports Equipment: golf clubs, workout equipment and other pricey items

Collectibles: coins and stamps

Tools: Hand and power tools

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.