It isn't cheap to insure your life while being fat

People usually have the tendency to change in weight during different stages of their lives and even from one year season to another. Gaining some fat during winter is definitely what most of us are accustomed to and from the insurance perspective this won't affect the rates you'll have to pay for insuring own life. Healthy fluctuations in body weight are normal and you can rest assured that your rates won't climb at all. However, if you gone the weight gain route things will get quite different because it's a whole other story.

What's the problem with excessive weight in terms of insurance?

Any healthcare and insurance specialist will tell you that the implication of overweight and obesity are much more serious than it may seem at first. Excessive weight is a very negative health factor that raises the risk of developing such health conditions as diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, arthritis, impotence, depression and even certain types of cancer. All these conditions have a very negative impact on a person's life expectancy and that's the major factor that affects everything related to both health and life insurance.

Let's first look into the definitions of obese and overweight. While some people may think that these are some loose terms used to describe a person who's fat there are actually strict numerical boundaries used by specialists for defining the actual grade of excessive weight within a patient. Specialists use the so-called body mass index (BMI) chart for classifying people according to their body weight. The BMI uses a relation between the person's height and weight, being considered as the standard measure for identifying to what extent a person is over or underweight. There are countless BMI calculators to be found online, so you can easily find out what your BMI is. A BMI of 25 to 29.9 means that the person is officially overweight. A number greater than this range means that the person is clinically obese. Although, some may argue that it's not an accurate measure of how much excessive weight is there in the body, and they are partially right. In specific cases (like heavyweight athletes or bodybuilders) the relation of height and weight can indicate that the person is obese while they have a very low fat percentage in their bodyweight. However, in general this relation very accurately describes the excess weight conditions, that's why it is widely used today.

What can you do to get good life insurance?

If you're looking for cheap life insurance then the obvious solution will be losing weight to a healthy level. A person with significant amounts of excessive weight will always have higher insurance rates than persons with normal weight, both from life and health insurance perspective. However, the main driving force for losing weight should be the interest about own health and safety rather than life insurance quotes. Keep in mind that by losing weight you minimize the risk of developing numerous health problems in the future. That's why there's a good reason for keeping your weight within a healthy range all the time.

Self Defense Tactics vs. Fraud

Insurance fraud is not just something that insurance companies need to worry about. You need to protect yourself against fraud. Scams by malicious individuals or groups, or simply negligence, can both cost you thousands of dollars and put you in danger.

When Shopping for Coverage

First and foremost, be cautious about the sources of insurance offers, especially those that are unsolicited. Selling insurance door-to-door or over the phone should be an automatic red flag. Avoid purchasing auto insurance in these ways.

Regardless of which auto insurance company you choose, make sure they are licensed in your state (this is a regulatory measure to keep insurance companies operating according to the law and their own financial standards). Furthermore, when you are looking into a policy, make sure you take the time to understand it. Don't feel bad asking a lot of questions of your insurer―it's their job to keep you informed, and it's your responsibility as the policyholder to be informed. Make sure all "free" additions are in fact free, and understand any caveats that might not be covered under your policy.

When On the Road

Fraud rings have a number of techniques for causing accidents which, legally, appear to be your fault and will force you to pay for another person's intentional damages and medical expenses.

Being an alert driver is always a good (and necessary) part of driving, and doing so should keep you out of most accidents regardless of whether they are intended for fraudulent claims. However, knowing these techniques can help you see potential problems ahead of time so you can avoid them.

When at an intersection with multiple left-turn lanes, it is possible that a con artist can try to side swipe you. If you are not mindful of staying in your lane when making a turn, you may drift into another lane, allowing a willing driver to swipe you. If you are in the wrong lane then you are considered responsible, regardless of what you personally saw to be willfully reckless driving. The easiest way to avoid this is to simply be mindful of lanes and other vehicles when you turn.

The Swoop-And-Squat is a technique whereby two cars working together will attempt to cause you to rear-end one of them. The "squat" car gets in front of you, and the "swoop" car quickly cuts off the squat car, "forcing" it to stop abruptly. This makes it very easy for you to accidentally rear-end it, but once the swooping car drives off, it appears to authorities as any rear end.

Of course, a swoop car is not necessary in order for a driver to stop quickly, so always be aware of your distance from the car in front of you; make sure that if the car ahead of you stops, it will take you at least 3 seconds to reach it. This way, you'll have enough room to stop whether the driver intends to commit auto insurance fraud or not!

The common element in all situations: awareness. Think critically, stay informed, avoid trusting face value, and you will be less likely to be fooled or manipulated.

4-Star Myths about Insurance

#1: Color Determines Costs

This is simply and completely untrue. Nobody cares about the color of your car. You won't even be asked about it when you get quotes!

As for the old tale that police will pull you over more if you have a red car, well, that depends on the police officer I suppose.

So what does determine your premiums?

• Driving Record
• Age
• Gender
• Collision History
• Vehicle Type
• Make, Model, and Mileage

The other factors vary from insurer to insurer, and there may be thousands.

#2: Getting the State Minimum Coverage Saves You Money

The less coverage you buy, the lower your premiums cost; that much is true. However, as a consumer, you should understand that insurance is meant to SAVE you money. It saves you thousands of dollars if you are in a collision, it makes sure you can pay your medical bills (and those of others), and it makes sure you don't have to forfeit your future earnings in a law suit. Insurance can save you tens of thousands of dollars in a collision, but only if you get the right amount.

The right amount of coverage for you has nothing to do with the state minimum. Choose your level of coverage based on the assets you can't afford to lose: your home, your car, your savings, your portfolio, and so forth.

Some people need only the state minimum: the people who have great health insurance, nothing to lose, and who do not plan on fixing their car if it is involved in a collision.

#3: New Cars Cost More to Insure since They Are Stolen More

Neither of these are really true. When it comes to insuring cars, there is a constant balance being struck between factors. Two of the factors are theft rates and driver/passenger safety.

Used cars are at a disadvantage in terms of insurance costs on both of these fronts.
Theft rates are higher on older vehicles because thieves have had time to develop methods to break the security devices and take the car. Newer cars are simply harder to steal because thieves don't have the tools.

Newer cars are also more up-to-date with modern safety regulations, meaning they are generally better at protecting the driver and passengers in the vehicle. Used cars are usually not quite as good at protecting their contents.

#4: If Your Car Is Wrecked or Stolen, Your Car Insurer Will Pay for a New Car

There are two major points here:

1. Your insurer will only pay up to your maximum car insurance coverage level.
If you have $20 thousand of coverage and you just totaled a $50 thousand vehicle, you are not going to get enough for a new car. You are going to get exactly $20 thousand, and not a cent more.

2. You will only get the value of the car at the moment before you crashed, not the sticker price of a new car.
Cars lose one-third of their value when you drive them from the dealership. You will at best get paid the bluebook value of a car at that age and mileage by your car insurance.

Fraud levels rising

Let's be honest. There's always been a problem with fraud. Most people are easy to trick into parting with their money. But, when you look around, it's often not so easy to get close enough to wealthy individuals. But you have big companies in every city and most of them are also easy to trick. For those with inefficient accounting departments, you just send them invoices that look convincing and, by routine, most will pay. With insurance companies, all you have to do is submit claims supported by documentation that looks reasonable and the money comes back. The fact that all this costs us money is not a factor. Criminals want their life of comfort and we can go hang. Why are we given the bill? Well, when companies look at their overheads, they adjust their prices to cover them and stay in profit. So the more they pay out to fraudsters, the more we pay for those goods and services.

So what do the criminals need to get the best results out of the insurance industry? The answer comes in the staged accident. You set up two drivers with modest vehicles and put passengers inside. Then at a time when there are likely to be a good number of independent witnesses around, you stage an accident. With reliable people to confirm the accident has occurred, we then get into the professional level of crime. The insurance industry in combination with the FBI and other professional investigators have been identifying clinics that issue fake medical reports. Some are just fronts and only process fake claims. The criminals who plan for the longer term set up genuine clinics that put through one or two fake claims a month. These are harder to identify because the doctors could be the victims of deceptions. Some injuries are difficult to verify and, if their patients are convincing enough, they will sign off on neck and back injuries. Everyone with a convincing medical report then claims damages for their injuries and, because it save on court costs, many insurers settle rather than fight.

The problem is worst in Florida where medical expense claims are set to rise to $1.5 billion in the current year ending 2011. This represents about $100 on every driver's auto insurance quotes right now. If the level of fraud continues to rise at this rate, every driver could be facing a surcharge of $170 by the end of the year. Just stop and think about this. If the insurance companies were prepared to recruit fraud investigators, your premium rates could be reduced by at least $50 by the end of 2011. But, of course, this would require the insurers to invest in new staff and their training. In the short term, this would hit their bottom line. Less profit would upset the stockholders. So it's cheaper for the insurers to keep making a profit by passing on the cost of the fraud to us through higher premiums. So this is a real political issue across the US. Everyone's auto insurance rates are being affected by the rising level of fraud. If the insurance industry will not protect consumers, the state should make resources available to investigate fraud.

Check your credit history

If everything was left to common sense, the whole business of writing insurance would be easy. All you would need is an assessment of the individual's driving ability. Good drivers have fewer accidents so pay less. Bad drivers are responsible for claims. That's bad for business so they pay more. Except they had to take this simple idea and make it all complicated. Now, every last fact in every accident that's reported, is collected by the insurers and analyzed. If you sat in front of a computer in an insurer's main office, you could do a search and find out how many Chevrolet Tahoes have been involved in an accident on a straight dry road when all the driver had to do was brake to avoid the collision. In fact, it's remarkable what you can find out when you add in time of day, weather, and any other variables you care to pick. Literally, there are statistics on everything. So, if you asked the computer whether it was Professor Plumb in the library with the candlestick, there would be an answer. Equally, if you put a driver of any age, race, religion and gender into any make and model of vehicle in a particular part of the country, with an estimate of the annual mileage, you will see the probability of an accident. The computer models are that precise.

So perhaps it might come as a surprise that one of the factors now considered by the insurance companies is your credit score. This ranks them alongside banks and loan companies, landlords and anyone interested in whether you are likely to pay them. It also matches the interest of potential employers who look at job applicants to see whether they manage their money well. The theory seems to be that people with bad credit scores are more likely to be unreliable employees - perhaps when they are short of money, they are supposed to be more likely to steal? Anyway, insurers also think that a poor credit score means you are more likely to make a claim. This is wrapped up with the ZIP-code weighting. Poor people live in the type of neighborhood where vehicles are vandalized or stolen. They stage accidents to make fake claims. All the usual stereotyping that works so unfairly.

But once you know insurers are going to check your score, you need to take action. A recent survey found there were mistakes in the credit records of 80% of adult Americans. Most of the mistakes were not serious, but enough reduced the credit scores. Remember there are three major companies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, so you need to check all three. This is absolutely free. The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to one free copy of your history every year, and the right to have any mistakes corrected. Once you are sure everything is correct, you can get the auto insurance quote knowing they will be based on the right information. If you have found major errors in you credit history, contact your current insurer without waiting for a auto insurance quote. Most companies correct the premiums immediately.

Drivers getting older

If you're getting older, there's one simple truth. You have years of driving experience and the odds are you're a lot safer driver than the youngsters. In fact, statistically speaking, drivers in the age range of 55 to 64 are among the safest on the road. Almost all drive within the speed limit and have defensive habits. Eyesight is still good and reflexes fast enough to get out of trouble if an emergency looms. Over 65, the accident statistics show more accidents. Over 75, the accident rate rises faster although it's still less than the rate for those under 24. For those of you who eat statistics for breakfast, older drivers cause about 15% of the fatalities on our roads. Almost all the traffic accidents involving seniors occur during daylight hours or on the weekends. Seniors are off-peak, leisure drivers.

So no doom and gloom. The fact we're getting older is no reason to think of quitting driving. Indeed, the way our cities are built and the pathetic public transport systems, cars are the only way we can get around the place. But we can start taking a few basic steps to prepare ourselves. The first step is to ensure our vehicle is fit for the purpose. We might start thinking about swivel seats to help get into and out of the vehicle more easily. Hand controls can overcome physical problems.

Fitting a simple cushion can improve posture and help us see the road more clearly, but before you fit any of the new adaptive devices, you should talk with a rehabilitation expert to find out which are the best value for - look for members of the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED) and the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The other factor is to keep your insurer in the picture. If you do adapt your vehicle make sure to send details of the cost so that, if the worst happens and your vehicle is stolen or it's totaled, the fair value includes the cost of replacing the adaptation devices. Remember there are rebate schemes offering up to $1,000 for adaptive devices. If you have a prescription, most states waive the sales taxes and the cost of the equipment is tax deductible.

 

Think about muscle strength and how easily you can move your head. Can you adjust the foot pedals or change the height of the seats so you can see over the steering wheel more easily? There are solutions for every problem so make sure you get the best advice and, just as important, training in the use of any new devices. This is not a time to be proud. Accept the help. And just to reinforce the need to keep your auto insurance company in the loop. You will hold down your premium rates if you show a clear intention to stay safe on the roads. Indeed, many modifications and training courses may qualify you for a discount. Auto insurance companies want you to be safe (and make no claims) so talk to them to get the best possible deals.

What to Do in Auto Collisions

Follow these rules to get yourself through collisions as safely - in terms of health and finances - as possible.

Rule #1: Be Prepared

Being prepared is about having all the important and necessary items to deal with medical emergencies, law enforcement, and insurance issues. You also need to be mentally ready, and knowing what to do goes a long way. Print off this list and keep in with you in your vehicle for reference.

The items you must have in your vehicle at all times are:

• Mobile phone
• Information regarding special medical needs
• Notepad and pen
• First aid kit
• Seat-belt cutter
• Disposable camera
• Driver's license
• Vehicle registration
• Proof of insurance and coverage information

If any of these confuse you, read on as they are explained below.

Rule #2: Safety First

The first thing to do after a collision is check to see that everybody involved in the collision is safe. Start with yourself, then others in your vehicle, and then other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians who may have been injured, shocked, stressed, or otherwise mentally affected.
If you think someone may have suffered a head or neck injury, do not try to move the person. Simply stabilize their head so that it remains still and resting.

If someone is badly wounded and bleeding, apply pressure to the wound with a clean cloth, gauze, or a clean shirt if need be.
Always call an ambulance or another emergency vehicle for serious injuries.

Rule #3: Call the Police

To protect yourself, you need the police to come. First off, a police report is necessary for insurance claims. Secondly, they will help control the scene of the accident and make sure the involved parties remain calm and the situation stays under control. They are experienced at dealing with these things and a cool head is needed when you're not in the best state of mind.

Rule #4: Document Everything

Once you are sure everything is safe and secure, collect the contact information of everyone involved as well as witnesses. Talk to other drivers and exchange your driver's license information, registration number, and insurance details. Protect yourself from fraud by noting differences between names on each form of information.
Document the damage done to vehicles, yours and others'. Take photos with your disposable camera. Also, photograph the scene of the accident, taking in the position on the road, the vehicle debris, and all property damage.
Only once you have documented things should you move the vehicles from the road-and then only if it is obstructive and dangerous to leave them.

You will be totally prepared to file a successful claim, handle any legal issues, and talk to police.

Rule #5: Keep Your Mouth Shut

Stay calm and polite, but don't reveal anything you don't have to. You do not need to sign anything except the documents provided by police and other municipal workers. Never admit fault to anyone, including police. Report the simple facts accurately and let professionals do their jobs. There is plenty of time for talking later.

Rule #6: Car Insurance Quotes

If rates go up, use car insurance quotes. Car insurance quotes can find you an affordable police right away!

Accident Forgiveness Obsolete - Car Insurance Quotes

I'm sure you've seen the commercials touting accident forgiveness as some kind of auto insurance messiah. The notion that you could cause one collision and not have to pay any more in premiums thereafter sounds like a fairy tale.
Well, according to several consumer advocates, it is.

Saying it chalks up to an advertizing gimmick, and a very good one at that, one advocate interviewed for this article said, "Sure, these clauses exist, but if you can get one for a reasonable price then you probably don't need it."

What is Accident Forgiveness?

After an at-fault collision, most drivers see their insurance rates spike by as much as 40%!!! For many people, that can mean well over $1,000 more in payments a year.

Accident forgiveness is a clause you can tack onto your insurance policy that says your rates will not go up any after your first at-fault collision.

In exchange for this add-on, the insured party has to pay higher premiums from day one.

Who is Eligible for Accident Forgiveness?

First off, accident forgiveness is not available from most insurance companies.

The insurer will need to assess your driving record in order to determine what you should be charged for accident forgiveness, so young and new drivers are not eligible.

People with bad driving records (lots of tickets and a few collisions) will also be excluded from eligibility. If you do qualify for it, it might cost so much in premiums that it is not worth it.
People with stellar driving records do qualify.

Who Can and Cannot Benefit from Accident Forgiveness?

No matter who you are and how good your driving history may be, your premiums will increase with an accident forgiveness clause on your policy.

Teenagers and parents with teenagers on their policy will also not benefit from this because teen rates do not usually go up after their first accident, unless there are criminal circumstances involved (which would not be helped by an accident forgiveness clause). Teens are assumed to be high risk already, and one at-fault collision just confirms this. Simply put, you can save more money without the add-on.

People with bad driving records probably won't be offered the option of accident forgiveness. Even three collisions in the past five/ten years might be enough to disqualify you. Why? It would be bad business for them to offer this clause to people who will probably use it!

People with clean records might benefit from it if they happen to get in an accident within 6 months of signing the policy. However, if you haven't been in a collision ever or in the last ten years, then your rates would probably not go up much anyhow. In fact, the increase in your premiums for adding the clause would likely be higher than the increase in your insurance were you to cause a collision.

How do you save money then?

If you get in a collision and your insurance goes up a lot, try getting car insurance quotes. Finding a better rate is easier with instant, free, and effective car insurance quotes. Compare policy details with online car insurance quotes.

Minimum auto insurance liability increases debated

In all but three US states, there are financial responsibility laws to mandate the carrying of insurance. In the at-fault states, these laws set the minimum amount of coverage drivers should have should they cause damage to others by the way they drive. In the no-fault states, this is a requirement to carry a minimum amount to pay for their own vehicle repairs and, in some states, their own medical treatment as well. The justification for these laws is very clear. Whenever you set your wheels on a public road, there's a chance you will be involved in an accident. No matter which legal system applies, you should always be responsible and be able to pay your way should there be expenses. Most of these laws were introduced forty or fifty years ago. They were not controversial. People have always been prepared to accept the mandate on the basis that no one forces them to drive. But if you do buy a vehicle, it stands to reason you should also buy insurance.

Perhaps it may surprise you to learn that very few of these states have reviewed the required amount of coverage. What used to be substantial sums of money half a century ago are not adequate today. Indeed, if we take inflation into account, most of these original amounts would have to be multiplied by seven to recover their original value. Yet, when states today begin the process of debating whether to increase the minimums, most start on the basis that the rates charged by insurance companies are already unaffordable to the average driver. Listening to the lawmakers, you consistently hear the argument that any increase will hurt the poor and force even more drivers to risk driving without insurance. What makes these debates interesting is that the increases are often opposed by the insurance industry. For example, in evidence recently given to the Nevada legislature, the lobbyists said that about 40% of the local drivers had less insurance than the proposed new minimums. They estimated that the proposed increases would force rate rises of between 20 and 50% depending on the age and driving record of each driver. It's always revealing when insurance companies pass on the opportunity to make big increases mandated by the state.

The problem may be put simply. Nationally, not less than 20% of all vehicles on our roads are driven without a valid insurance policy. There are also alarming numbers with only the minimum liability cover and they are significantly underinsured. If the mandatory laws were properly enforced, the premium rates for all would fall. The cost of all the vehicle repairs and medical expenses would remain the same, but would be divided among more people. That's always the way with mandatory laws. The more people who pay, the less everyone pays. So all these lawmakers who talk about auto insurance penalizing the poor are spouting rubbish. What penalizes the poor is the failure to prosecute all the middle class scofflaws who could afford to pay for their auto insurance policies but decide not to. The poor often do not vote. The middle class usually do. That's why we see this double standard being applied by lawmakers.

Things usually excluded from your insurance policy

Sure, it's a very unpleasant surprise to find out that your particular insurance situation is not covered when filing a claim. Exclusions from coverage vary from policy to policy and across providers. Still, there are typical exclusions you will run across in most policies, and knowing them will save you from having a lot of headache when you really need the coverage. Here are some things to look out for:

1. Insuring a teen driver

One of the most common causes for policy holder to get confused is whether or not to include a teen driver if he or she already has a driver's license. Usually, it depends on the insurance providers as some insurers don't require teens younger than 18 to be specifically mentioned in the policy even if they are driving the vehicle. However, the best option is to contact your insurance provider or agent and ask them how to proceed. In most cases, if your teen driver gets into an accident while driving your car and he's not listed in the policy, you will get covered but your policy may ultimately be voided because you didn't mention having a teen driver in your family.

2. Giving your car to a friend

In most cases, when your friend borrows your car for a ride he or she will be covered. And if they end up in an accident your car will be covered, too. However, it depends on how often this happens. If your friend uses your car on occasion, it's OK with the insurance company. But if they are using it on a regular basis and aren't living in your household, then they should be included into your insurance policy for your car to be covered in times when they are driving it.

3. Injuries to pets during accidents

In case your pet is injured or killer during the accident caused by you, the expenses won't be covered by your policy. Even in case you have collision coverage, which pays for damages to your vehicle when you're at fault, most policies have exclusion when it comes to personal property in the car, and pets are considered as personal property by the law. Still, if your pet gets hurt or killed in an accident when the other party is at fault, you may file a third-party liability claim for reimbursing the medical bills or the market value of your pet.

4. Accidents made by drivers who are not listed in the policy

Some policyholders choose to exclude a particular family member from the insurance policy because they may cause high car insurance quotes. For example teens usually have higher car insurance quotes and raise the policy's premiums when included. Family members with DUI convictions also influence the premiums negatively. However, if such a family member or any other person who is intentionally excluded from the policy and has access to your car ends up in an accident, your insurer won't pay a penny in coverage. It's your total responsibility.

Your auto insurance and credit rating

A lot of car owners don't even suspect the fact that such seemingly unrelated things as auto insurance rates and credit rating have a very strong bound. Moreover, a customer's credit rating may be the factor that will either lower or increase his or her insurance premiums. But why that is so and what does credit rating has to do with auto insurance?

You probably know that any auto insurance company uses a set of factors when determining the rates a customer will pay for their services. The list of factors is pretty much the same across different provider and includes typical car variables (make, model, engine volume, etc,) as well as specific demographic factors such as the person's age, sex, marital status, driving record and others. The latter factors are used to determine how likely the person is to file an insurance claim. Using statistical analysis auto insurance providers can tell that a certain group of drivers (say, those younger than 25) is more likely to have an accident and file a claim than another group (married drivers with higher education). And the rates are set in order to cover these risks.

As it turns out, a person's credit rating can be an indicative factor when assessing insurance risks. It was statistically proven that customers with lower credit scores and worse credit records tend to file insurance claims more often than those with better scores. With this in mind, a lot of auto insurance providers are using the customer's credit rating when calculating their rates, and in most cases it is done without the person knowing it. Some would say that it's an infringement of personal data, however the US legislation allows insurance and lending institutions to use such date for internal purpose. And they are exercising this right whenever they need to.

This raises another question: what actually affects one's credit rating? There is a set of factors that will significantly influence your credit score, such as:

• Public records
• Payment history
• Duration of credit history
• Inquiries for credit
• Open credit lines
• Types of credit lines used
• Unused credit

Using these factors you will be able to determine how good or bad your credit score is and try to improve it by consulting with a credit expert.

Still, there's good news for those who feel that their credit score isn't that advantageous. Not all auto insurance companies are using credit rating when calculating quotes. So finding one will be a good option of your credit score cannot be improved. You can consult with your insurance agent or find a respective list in the Internet.

If you feel that you can improve your credit rating, then you first have to get your credit report and analyze it preferably with a finance expert. See what can be improved, make the necessary changes in your credit lines and allow about 30 days to pass for your credit rating to change. Only after this you can get auto insurance quotes with just any company and chances are that your premiums will be much lower than before reviewing your credit report.

Home insurance and those winter perils

Somewhere lurking away in one of those Christmas carol CDs is a happy chorus along the lines of , "Winter is a coming in, so loudly sing tra la. . ." or hey-nonny-nos to that effect. It's all supposed to reassure you that all this white stuff falling out of the sky is great Christmas decoration and there's nothing to worry about as those icicles form on the power lines. Ah, if only t'were so. The weight of snow on your roof can find any weakness. Come the thaw and melt water can seep through into lofts, bring down ceilings. That's assuming the ice hasn't burst your pipe before the thaw. All this good cheer should reinforce the basic message that a little prevention will keep you warm and the house secure.

For those who rough it out in the countryside, you should have stockpiled wood and coal to keep the heating system going, or have filled up the tank with oil or propane for the furnace. Keeping the fires burning during the worst of the cold prevents the build up of ice in any of the pipes. A maintenance check of the furnace makes sure it will fire up when you need it and burn efficiently. And you did remember to check the ducts and change the filters? And you are sure the outside tank won't leak? All those fire hazards to think about when you open the furnace and sparks fly out. Heating systems are wonderful so long as they work as designed. Let a little air into them and you get problems. That's where those annoying little keys come in. A few minutes work to bleed out the air gives you hot radiators in every room.

As to the roof, there's no substitute for a quick survey of the roof trusses, checking the tarpaper for holes and that the shingles have not shifted out of place. If you can access the roof during the winter, being able to knock the snow off before it builds up too much keeps the danger at risk. Can you remove the snow without bringing down the guttering and downspouts? If so, and you live in the city, remember to warn anyone approaching on the sidewalk that a small avalanche is on its way. Then there are all those windows and doors. You don't want to burn dollars only to find all the heat passing out through the ceilings, walls and windows while raging drafts keep your ankles cool.

Perhaps we should put this another way. You could go through a checklist like this and avoid making a claim on your home insurance during the winter or when the spring comes and you find all the doors swollen and jammed shut. Or you could make yourself really popular with your claims adjuster and find the next home insurance quote comes in with a bring increase in premium. Yes, the insurer really does prefer you to care for your property and punishes you if you wake surprised to find it winter inside as well as out.

Insurance coverage when buying a new vehicle

You're going to the dealer to get a new vehicle, and it's definitely a good day to remember. However, not all drivers remind of their auto insurance obligations before switching vehicles, and this can be quite complicated if you don't take the measures early. This is especially important if you're buying your first vehicle and never had auto insurance before.

Those car owners who already have insurance policies for their vehicles usually have a period of 14 to 30 days depending on the state, during which the coverage is spread on your new vehicle after purchase. Some providers can even offer a longer period to inform them about your new car, so it's always better to check the rules at your particular provider.

However, insurance experts recommend analyzing your insurance coverage before actually going to the dealership for the new vehicle, in order to make sure your policy has the necessary coverage amount for the new car. Otherwise, you may end up gambling during the transition period and if something happens on the road, it will be quite an unpleasant surprise to learn that your old policy is insufficient for covering the new ride. In most states the coverage remains the same when you're changing the vehicle, and this can be quite uncomfortable if you didn't have collision or comprehensive coverage with your old auto and now need it for the new vehicle. So paying your insurance agent a visit becomes really important in such a situation.

In case if you don't have an auto insurance policy when buying a new vehicle, in some dealerships you won't be able to drive the car off the lot. This certainly applies if you're using an auto loan. Moreover, when the dealer finances your purchase you my be obliged by the contract to purchase a specific amount of coverage from a particular insurer, which might be not the most competitively price offer you would get when comparing auto insurance quotes.

So it's particularly important to consult with your insurance agent or broker before making the purchase in order to assure that your new car is covered properly. Don't expect the insurance provider to do all the work for you even if you've decided to stay with the same policy after the purchase. You will still have to inform your provider about the purchase and tell all the specifications of the new car for the record. If you're buying your new car on the weekend, most insurance providers have 24/7 contact numbers that you can call to inform about the purchase, so don't lay it off, otherwise you can get in trouble if your provider finds out about the purchase only when you've filed a claim.

For those who are buying the new car using own money, getting car insurance quotes before the purchase is a must. Insurance companies have different claim history across car makes and models, and if your previous policy was very competitive for your old car, this doesn't mean that your rates will be as good for the new vehicle. If you manage to find really attractive car insurance quotes for the car you are looking forward to buy, it's reasonable to switch providers because there's no sense in overpaying for redundant coverage, right?

Auto insurance quotes comparison tips

There are some simple tips many car owners forget about following. Still, these tips can make it much easier for you when it comes to comparing auto insurance quotes. So the nest time you'll be looking for a new policy make sure you keep the following tips in mind.

When should I get auto insurance quotes?

The best time to get auto insurance quotes is 30-45 days before your policy renewal period. This will allow you to compare the quotes without having to make fast decisions and will give you an adequate and timely picture of the insurance industry in your area at the moment. In general, it is recommended to review your policy every two years and check if there are more competitive deals available. When you change your vehicle, place of residence or marital status, the insurance policy should also be reviewed and adjusted to your new needs.

How auto insurance quotes should be compared?

When looking for a new policy always make sure to compare the same amounts of coverage and deductibles across all quotes. There's no sense in comparing quotes for different coverage amounts since the difference won't reflect the actual divergence in the premiums you will pay. In order to see how changes in deductibles and coverage amounts will affect your rates you can change them and get quotes for any combination. However, keep in mind that different companies use different methods of calculating their rates and if one company gives you certain results when playing around with coverage amounts, this doesn't mean that the other provider will give you the same results. Another thing to pay attention to is that you get exact auto insurance quotes, not estimates. When comparing estimates in most cases the actual rates will be higher than the amount you get in the first place. Insurance quotes, on the other hand, tend to be constant even after buying the policy and rarely change too much.

Where can I get quotes?

The best source for auto insurance quotes is of course going online. There are many sites providing free auto insurance quotes, and you can even compare quotes from your local providers. Of course, you can also contact your insurance agent or address the provider directly. However, this is a bit time consuming and ineffective. It's much easier to compare quotes after a few clicks of the mouse, right? Besides you're not limited to just a couple of companies and are free to get any quotes from any provider working in your area.

What should I do when I have already chosen the right quote?

If you've found the perfect quote for your car and want to get the respective policy you can typically apply directly from the site you got quotes at. You will be linked directly to the submission page at the corporate site of the insurer you're interested in buying from. Still, always make sure to read the contents of the policy before applying. You should know what your policy will and will not cover before signing it. So apply only in case you are fully aware of the actual policy contents.

What are the benefits of tort reform?

In Europe there are a lot of safety options for cars that feature both standard and additional equipment. But it's not the same in the US. What are the reasons for that? Some insurance specialists think that it's the lack of tort reform that puts auto insurance in the US into such a situation.

But what is a tort reform in the first place and what it has to do with auto insurance? Tort reform is a general term that refers to a change in the US civil justice framework that is required to provide a limitation of tort litigation and damage. If the reform will be applied then the negative effects litigation has on the economy will be significantly reduced.

In order to make the significance of this reform a bit clearer, here's an example. There are a lot of advanced technologies available for installing into your vehicle. Things like side curtain airbags, special glass, obstacle detection systems, rear camera system, advanced seat belts and numerous other features are very common in the European market and often come as a standard setting for new vehicle. But even if this equipment is made in the US, it is still exported since it's not that simple to introduce these features into American cars. But why is that so, you might ask? Well, it may come as a surprise for you put if studying the question in details it turns out that our own court system and litigious society are the main reasons for these technologies to have a hard time penetrating the domestic market.

The thing is that installing these add-ons into a typical car automatically gives a possibility for litigation, so it's much simple for the auto dealers and auto insurance providers to neglect these features than try to seek regulations in the legislation. That is why the tort reform is required to modify the legal system itself, and this will allow for new technologies to be introduced to the market faster and much easier than now. Who will want to provide coverage for such an auto when the customer can sue the company for not providing a regulatory base and failing to cover such equipment to the right extent? Of course, no-one.

The U.S. Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 may be a good step towards an overall tort reform since it transferred class-action lawsuits from the jurisdiction of state courts, which eliminates a large part of state litigation. There are two major points that tort reform advocates see in this Act:

1. Lowers the risk of an out-of-state defendant to face excessive verdicts, and reduces the amount of settlements that can be otherwise exceeded by local venues.

2. Introduces new procedures for reviewing coupon settlements, reducing attorney's fees that can be often labeled as "excessive".

This Act thus significantly lowers the litigation amounts and can ultimately lead to a decrease in auto insurance rates. Nevertheless, there's a need in a real tort reform for the auto insurance industry to work more effectively and allow new technologies to be introduced without the risk of court trials from unhappy customers.

Insuring college students

Perhaps it's one of these basic truths that every assumes, but it bears repeating. The future of a country is only assured if the young get the best possible start in life. This is not just in material terms. Obviously, everyone has the right to expect a safe place to live, clothes to keep them warm, and enough to eat. But it extends to the quality of the education they receive and the health care services available should anything go wrong. As it stands, the majority of the families have been coping on the material front but the government has not been doing so well in providing adequate education. On all the international measures, we have been slipping down the rankings. Health has been even worse with millions of children and young adults uninsured.

Traditionally, one of the safety nets has been the colleges and universities. Up to 2,000 have offered a health plan, usually with only basic coverage, but at reasonably affordable rates. This has offered a brief respite but has done nothing to resolve the problem of what the young must do when they leave. Finding employment with health benefits has always been something of a challenge.

Now that the Affordable Healthcare Act of 2010 is working its way into law, things are starting to change. The first advantage is that colleges and universities will no longer be allowed to exclude people with pre-existing conditions from the plan. There have also been some who tried to impose limitations on the medications that would be covered. All plans must now offer the full range of medications and treatments. This will take the pressure of students with diabetes who have been denied coverage as a pre-existing condition, with insulin being included in the list of excluded drugs. However, the most interesting change is the new rule that anyone offering a health plan must now use 80 cents in the dollar on treatment and care. Limiting administration charges to a maximum of 20% will prevent colleges from profiteering.

Up to now, many of the features of the so-called Obamacare have received a bad press. The corporations that control the newspapers, radio and television channels have been intent on selling you the idea that there's no good in this new law. Well, here's some news to start setting the record straight. These new provisions protect some three million young Americans as they go through college and university. They may have struggled before college and they may not find coverage after college, but while they are being educated, these student health insurance plans can keep them safe.

No matter what your political opinions, this should be a win-win situation. Young adults in the education system will now get the same protections as all other adults who can afford cover. The lifetime benefit cap will be removed in 2014. Secondly, our great country will benefit from having fit, healthy and well-educated young people to carry us through this next century. So even though this is only a short term health insurance solution, it's nevertheless a very valuable one.

Auto insurance quotes and pay as you drive policies

Many people are fascinated by technology. They queue during the night to be the first to buy the latest gizmo from the leading manufacturers. For them, the power of the machine is always impressive. The effects of the devices are always positive for them as individuals and on society at large. Yet, there are times when they think twice. Take the idea of GPS. If you fit a small transmitter in your vehicle, it's possible to track where a thief drives it. Assuming, of course, that the chop shop has not found and destroyed the transmitter. But it could equally be used by parents to track where their teens are taking the family car. Law enforcement might take an interest in the pattern of movement around crime scenes. As the wave of possibility expands, the individual asks what happened to a right of privacy. Spreading our net a little wider, a significant number of engine functions are now controlled by chips. This is wonderful if you want a quick diagnosis of problems, but this technology could also record how you drive. Linked to the GPS system, it could tell whether you broke the speed limit. Sudden swerves or sharp braking might indicate poor driving. Now do you want technology in your vehicle?

Well, this technology is already here and it's attracted the attention of the insurance industry. Until now, it's been forced to trust you on claims of low mileage. Now, in return for encouraging discounts, you could sign up for pay-as-you-drive (PAYD) insurance. The offer of PAYD is spreading across all states. In some, it's on a trial basis. In others like California, it's going mainstream. It's very simple. You can pay a premium directly related to the number of miles you drive, when you drive, where you drive and how you drive. This makes the choice very clear.

What value do you place on privacy? No one is going to force you to sign up for a PAYD policy but, at a time when everyone is looking to save money on insurance, how long can you afford to go without these sometimes substantial savings? For a senior who only does a few miles a month at off-peak times, the discount can be up to 40% on the standard rates. If this sounds like a homemaker who only drives to kids to and from school and shops at the mall, the same savings will apply. You will have to get car insurance quotes from the companies offering PAYD policies to see whether the savings will be real enough. Obviously, there comes a point when the savings on mileage taper off. No more cheap auto insurance at that point. So now the choice is yours. If you're into environmental issues, this is also very green. At a time we may be reaching peak oil, anything slowing down our consumption is a good thing. Climate change may also be delayed if we pump less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from our tail pipes. So, you save money and protect the environment. That makes it a good deal, right?

Small business insurance and unemployment

The constant battle in a difficult economy is balancing costs against the income earned. Since the US entered and then formally left recession, business has been squeezed from both sides. With unemployment consistently measured as above 9%, trading conditions have been bad. For the last two years, customers decided thrift was good. They began to pay down their debts and so had less money to spend. The so-called credit crunch also directly impacted business. With banks and insurance companies under pressure and some failing, it was harder to get access to credit on an affordable basis. If overdrafts and short-term funding dry up, this forces businesses to run within the limits of their liquidity. In practical terms, this has meant scaling back on inventory and reducing staff levels to the bare minimum.

This stubbornly high level of unemployment is going to impact business in a slightly different way as we work our way through 2011. As the law currently stands, business pays a federal and state tax for each employee. This covers the first 26 weeks of unemployment benefit and the administration of the system. Unfortunately, the majority of states are running a budget deficit and have long ago exhausted all their funds to pay the benefit. Thirty states borrowed from the federal government. At first, this was interest free but, as from January 2011, the states must pay interest. These states are expected to impose a levy on employers to cover this additional cost. Because of the amount borrowed, experts believe it will take the states at least ten years to pay off the loans. This means your state tax rates could remain high for those ten years.

The good news is that President Obama proposes to force states to postpone business rate hikes for two years. But he also proposes to raise the base level for federal unemployment tax from $7,000 to $15,000. This could be a tax increase at a time when the level of trade remains poor. Curiously, a tax increase to fund unemployment benefit could actually force more small businesses to fire more employees to stay solvent.

Even though the latest figures suggest that consumers may be tiring of a frugal approach to life and are returning to spending, this only improves trade in those cities where wages levels have remained steady. Where employers have moved on to a four-day week or other systems for reducing the wage bill, there is still little money around for anything other than basic necessities. Against this background, you need to look very carefully at the level of small business insurance you have. This should go beyond the routine annual walk-through. Now is the time to decide whether every aspect of the cover is necessary and, if so, whether the amount of the coverage matches the extent of the risk. Saving money on small business insurance premiums, will help prepare for the inevitable pressure from tax increases. Even if President Obama prevents states from increasing their rates, his own proposal increase federal rates. However you look at it, this is a tough time to be running a business.

What's better — individual or group health insurance?

There's a lot of debate around the topic of insurance for health, especially when it has become so expensive to get proper coverage these days. It gets even harder to find the right plan because there are so many options available and you don't know what to start with. But one of the biggest debates concerning health plans is of course the debate between individual and group plan advocates. One camp states that group plans are the best way to get lower rates while insuring your health. The other camp argues that only an individual plan can meet your exact insurance needs adequately. So is there any right or wrong in this endless rivalry?

Let's first see the pros and cons of each plan type and let you decide which is more adequate for your personal insurance needs. As you can guess from the name, the main difference between individual and group health plans is the number of people included into the insurance policy. With group plans you may cover your entire family or the whole office under the same policy, while an individual plan only deals with a single customer.

Due to the higher number of customers included, group plans are usually much cheaper than individual plans. There's no need to issue different contracts and create multiple accounts under a group plan. One single plan covers all the persons included under the same conditions. That makes it much easier for the insurance company to service such a plan that's why they are usually cheap. Besides, in most companies of the US, group health insurance plans are partially or entirely paid for by the employer, which makes this form of health coverage really attractive in terms of costs. On the other hand, with group plans you get a standard selection of things that get covered, which rarely deals with serious or pre-existing conditions. Anything that goes outside the standard set of services will have to be paid for out of own pocket.

Individual plans, on the other hand, provide a much high grade of customization, letting you tailor your policy for your exact needs. This means that you have any particular health problems or needs certain examinations or specialist consultations more often than others, you can make your policy pay for these things as well. On the other hand, such flexibility comes for a price that not everyone can afford. Having a separate contract with each client and providing an individual approach to his or her needs costs more for the insurance company and this is reflected in the premium the customer pays for having an individual plan.

So let's sum up the facts. If you're looking for cheap health insurance and aren't bothered by any health problems or are generally a healthy person that doesn't go to the doctor often, you will benefit from being a part of a group insurance plan. At times it can cost you almost nothing, if your employer is generous enough to pay your entire premium. But if you have pre-existing health conditions and need the help of certain specialists or prescription medications on a regular basis, then it would be better to have an individual health insurance plan. It will cost you more, but will provide all the coverage you need.

Cheap car insurance and underinsured coverage

On most days, the world is straightforward. We get out of bed, eat breakfast, gently roll the vehicle out on to the road and start driving. But every now and again, the routine is disrupted and then the small print in your insurance policy takes on a new significance. Now you will really find out what you bought. As an example, let's travel over to North Carolina where a family owned several vehicles. The husband usually drove a Toyota Sequoia but, on the fateful morning, his wife told him there was a possible problem with the brakes and she was taking it in for service. He therefore set off for work in the Mitsubishi Montero. He was hit from the rear and the vehicle rolled over, landing him in hospital and six months of rehabilitation before he was able to return to work. The driver at fault only carried the minimum liability coverage of $30,000 and had no assets - he was not worth suing. But the policy on the Sequoia issued by the Companion Property and Casualty Insurance Company, carried losses of up to $1 million under an uninsured and medical payments policy. There was a provision giving coverage if the insured was driving a "temporary substitute auto". On the face of it, this seems to cover driving the Montero. His usual vehicle needed repairs. The Montero was a temporary substitute. But, as is always the case, the insurer refused to pay.

For something that looks obvious, this has generated several years of litigation. Starting in January 2005, we have been through three levels of court, ending in the North Carolina Supreme Court which did not reach a decision, but sent it back down to the original court for a full hearing on the facts. So, after almost six years, we are back where we started and no further forward. This is yet another of those horror stories showing that attorneys and the courts they work in can tie a case up in knots for years without ever reaching a final decision. What's interesting about this particular story is the extent to which an innocent buyer of insurance can end up the victim in the system. Here's a man who owns two vehicles and, in good faith, he buys a policy that not only says it covers him when driving the nominated vehicle, but also when he's driving a temporary substitute. Anyone looking at such a policy would imagine he was covered against all reasonable situations in which a claim might arise. Indeed, our policy holder has, from the start, alleged the insurer made the sale and subsequently acted in an unfair and deceptive way.

This leads us to two conclusions. Everyone should take the time to read all the terms of the policies offered, whether as full-price or cheap car insurance and, if there is any doubt in your mind as to the extent of the coverage, always ask specific questions. Secondly, if what you were told before you buy is later denied, get a good attorney who is prepared to fight for your rights. Get cheap car insurance and make the insurer pay!

Managed health insurance plans

People ask a lot of questions regarding different plan types. Some want the cheapest option out there, others seek the best flexibility possible. Fortunately for most customers, there are different health plan types that have their pros and cons in order to meet the needs of different customer groups. These days almost all insurance companies provide managed care plans of different types in contrast to the indemnity insurance plans that were the standard in the past. Managed care plans are much cheaper and provide more options to the customer than indemnity plans, that's why the latter aren't as popular and widely spread. But there are different types of managed care plans and depending on which type you choose there can be a totally different set of benefits you can get with your insurance coverage. So in order to make it easier for you to choose the right type of managed care plans here is a brief description of each type:

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

This is the most popular type of managed care plans and is usually the cheapest one, Under a HMO plan you have to choose a primary care physician (PCP) who will handle all your medical services and refer you to any specialists if necessary. You can't get coverage if you go to the specialist directly or receive services in a facility out of the network indicated in the plan. There's usually a set of standard services that you can get under HMO under full coverage including regular checkups, lab exams, X-rays and others. So it's a pretty restrictive form of managed health insurance but it costs much less in premiums than other types of managed care plans.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

With PPO plans you get more flexibility in choosing the specialist you want to get services from. You are not required to select a PCP and can go directly to the doctor you need. But you are still limited to a specific network of medical facilities you can get services from. Still, you can choose to receive services from an out-of-network specialist or facility, only your costs will be covered to a much lesser extent than with an in-network specialist. PPO provides more freedom in choosing where to get help from, but this freedom comes for a price as such plans usually have higher premiums than HMO health insurance.

Point Of Service (POS)

POS plans are often regarded as a mix between PPO and HMO plans. On one hand you have more flexibility in choosing where to get your services. On the other hand you are still required to choose a PCP. Only in case of a POS plan you can choose a physician that is outside the preferred network of service providers. This is particularly useful if you have a good family doctor that you don't want to switch and they aren't making a part of the preferred network.

Knowing the difference between managed care plan types it will be easier for you to select the one that will serve your interests best and provide you with cheap health coverage that most of us really need these days.

Avoid these common insurance mistakes

Learning from the mistakes of others is the best way to learn. Since there's no need to burn your hand on the stove yourself, pay careful attention to these common problems and your shopping experience will go a lot more smoothly. You'll find yourself with cheap, reliable insurance, cruising down the strip with a confident and cool smile on your face with your newfound auto-competence.

What's on the line? Money and livelihood-saving coverage.

Research the provider

Too many people just sign a policy because they get low premiums. Then, come collision time, their insurer refuses their claim and they are left in the cold! Don't get taken for a drive. Check the consumer reviews on the company before you agree to anything. In fact, it is a good idea to know who you are willing to work with before you go shopping.

You state consumer advocate agency can help with this, or you can try checking the consumer satisfaction surveys at JDPower.com.

Deductibles

The mistakes go either way on this one.

1. People pay too little on their deductible and wind up paying too much on their premiums
2. People pay a higher deductible than they can afford in order to get lower payments
To avoid this mistake, set aside the highest amount that you can afford. That way you get the lowest premium you can manage but don't get stuck when you have to pay the money after a collision.

Buying your car

If you've already got your car, perhaps it's too late. But remember for next time, no two cars are insured the same. It's important to check the safety rating, how often it is stolen, and what kind of damage the accidents turn up. These factors will tell you how much the insurance is going to cost. Try using our online quote machine before you buy the car to get an estimate.

Shorthand: the cars that are winning the safety awards and have a lower sticker price than others in their class are usually the cheapest to insure. Hyundai and Subaru seem to be the top cars to insure in 2010, but sometimes the luxury vehicles like Saab are reasonable too.
Don't get a cheaper car only to pay the difference plus some in insurance.

Instant Car Insurance Quotes

There's one big mistake a lot of people make: They forget to use instant car insurance quotes!

However, even if you do remember to use the quotes, use them right. Don't settle for the price on the estimate. You can talk to an agent from the company to ask about discounts and special programs. Try one of the rivals as well because they could give more discounts than the other insurance provider.

Remember, quotes are simply estimates and the prices might be slightly different when you actually work with the provider. Still, they are the best starting place for finding cheap car insurance. Plus, they save you lots of time and aggravation on the phone.

And for goodness sake, review the policies from each company you get a quote from.

Good luck!

What's the point in getting insurance with rental cars?

How many times have you used rental autos and had to make the decision whether or not buying additional insurance for the rented vehicle. On one hand it's an additional cost you simply don't want to drain your wallet. On the other hand, having such a backup when driving a rented car can save from a lot of trouble if something happens while you're behind the steering wheel. So, is there any sense in getting rental car auto insurance or not?

A certain amount of rental car insurance is simply a must when using such a vehicle. You can get the insurance from the rental company, any insurer you can typically get auto insurance quotes from, or even a credit card union.

Most rental car companies typically offer basic auto insurance, which includes third party liability, personal accident and accidental death insurance. It is usually offered as a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), which has become the industry standard. CDW basically means that the renter won't be liable nor pay for any damage while using the rented vehicle. Sometime, an additional liability policy may be included, protecting the renter from any retribution from third parties.

So, CDW sounds like a good deal? Probably, until you see the price tag. With an industry average of $9-$19 per day, CDW is quite a costly option that can easily double your rental rate. Besides, with so many insurance companies extending their coverage to rented autos, getting a CDW doesn't seem like the brightest idea you can come up with if your budget is limited.

Still, CDW may be a necessity, especially for those traveling a lot, prone to accidents or taking trips to other countries where their auto insurance policies do not apply. In such circumstances you can even be required to include a CDW with your rental contract regardless of whether you like it or not.

What may happen if you do not get rental car insurance and end up in an accident? Things will get bad for your wallet, that's for sure. You will be charged for the damage to the car and in many cases the rental company will also charge you for the lost income and diminution of market value of the damaged vehicle. And that will cost you far more than a simple CDW.

You may think that your credit card company's insurance protection may help you with evading such aggressive practices of rental companies, but it's not quite so. Most credit card companies require the utilization fleet logs to be revealed by the rental companies, and that's something that most companies won't agree to. Besides, credit card insurance is generally regarded as a secondary weaver, meaning that they will only pay you only after a claim was filed to the auto insurance company in the first place.

So, as you see, there may be a reason for buying rental car insurance, and it depends on the circumstances. One great way to avoid it is having your personal auto insurance policy covering rental car use. Keep that in mind when looking for auto insurance quotes next time, because you can save yourself from a lot of hassle when dealing with rental cars.