What is Auto Insurance – Important Facts Everyone Should Know



Auto insurance is a product that is purchased that can pay for damages to your vehicle or others’ vehicles in the event of an auto accident or non-accident related damage. Each state has its own laws regarding the amount of auto insurance that each person should have to be able to drive legally. There are many different factors that influence auto insurance rates, as well. It isn’t based on different companies, it is up to the insurance industry to determine what is auto insurance and how much each person will pay for auto coverage.

“What is auto insurance?” seems like a very basic question. However, there are many different facets and elements to consider about auto insurance that it can get complicated very fast, if you’re not prepared for what you’re getting into. You need to know how rates are calculated, what types of coverage are available, how much coverage you need or can get, and which companies offer the best auto insurance for your needs.

Rates are calculated based on a few factors, including your driving record, age, gender, vehicle type, and credit rating. If you have a good driving record, or a safe vehicle, you will pay lower insurance premiums. Wait. What’s a premium, you ask? The premium is the price you pay for insurance, and is usually determined in 6 month or annual amounts, depending on the company and the length you want for your policy. If you are a higher risk to the insurance company, you’ll pay higher premiums.

There are many different types of coverage available for your auto insurance needs. Most states require bodily injury liability and property damage liability coverage. Some states require other coverage, such as personal injury protection, medical payments coverage, and uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage. Most of these are self explanatory by name, but can get confusing if you’re not really educated on the topic of what is auto insurance.

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Life Insurance – Term Life Compared To Whole Life



Life insurance is one of the best investments you can make to financially protect your family should something happen to you, but with many different plans available, choosing the one that’s right for you can be a little tricky. In this article we will spend some time discussing the two main types of life insurance, term and whole, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of each to help you make the most informed decision.

Term Life Insurance is a type of insurance policy which covers the insured for a specific and relatively short period of time. The premiums for this insurance are significantly less than other insurance policies, with all of the money paid in by the insured going to pay for the insurance itself (and not savings, for example).

While the policies are much more affordable than other types of insurance, there is a downside to these types of policies. These include:

At the end of the term (5 years, 10 years) the policy will have to be renewed, and renewal is not always guaranteed. If you become ill, for example, the insurance company may refuse to renew your policy. Also, as you age, the premiums for a term life insurance policy will almost always increase. Unlike other types, the policies do not accrue equity for the insured, and the policies have no cash value.

Whole life insurance is a permanent policy in which both the premiums and death benefit are fixed for the duration of the policy. As long as the premiums are met each year by the insured, the beneficiary will be eligible to collect the death benefit.

It is also referred to as a cash value insurance, because part of the premiums paid each month are placed into interest bearing savings which are managed by the insurance company. These funds can be borrowed against or used as collateral to secure another type of loan.

Note that the funds in the insurance should not be considered as an investment because any loans or withdrawals will reduce your death benefit. If you withdraw an amount exceeding the premiums you have paid the policy, you will have to pay taxes. Also, every year you own the insurance, more of your premium goes to pay for the cost of insuring you instead of the cash value.

The premiums for whole life insurance are significantly higher than term life insurance premiums, not only because the death benefit is fixed, but also because there is a management fee built into the premium price structure.

A medical exam is often required by the insurance company before issuing an insurance policy. The examination covers your blood pressure, weight, height and medical history. Smokers usually end up paying more for the insurance.

Most experts agree that, if you can afford the higher premiums, whole life insurance is a much more attractive option, largely because of the added security and cash value these policies offer. For younger people just starting out, however, term life insurance is an affordable vehicle for ensuring your family is protected.

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Car Insurance



To many people, it seems as if car insurance is nothing but a waste of time. After all, how frequently do you actually use auto insurance? But I assure you that car insurance is something that you definitely do not want to go too long without. Due to the massive increase in population due to the availability of jobs in certain areas of the country, there are more people than ever who are fighting to carve out a space of their own in a new area or city. Naturally, whenever you have more people living in one area, you are going to be facing crowded roadways as well as more construction work on those already crowded roadways. The purpose of the construction is usually to expand the road to accommodate all of the people!

Auto insurance is very similar to having health insurance. We complain about the cost of having to pay it each month and yet, when we need it, it is there for us. And have you ever noticed how the pattern seems to go that as soon as you do not have auto insurance, that is the exact time frame in which you suddenly become involved in a car accident? Ironic, isn’t it? To help put things into perspective, when my relative (who normally had fantastic health and had never been to the doctor) suddenly came down with some sort of unexplainable illness that forced her to rush to the emergency room, once she was better, it wasn’t long at all before she received her first medical bill, and do you know how much it was for? The bill was for over $50,000. That didn’t even include the cost of the surgery and the specialists that followed after. When all was said and done, if she didn’t have health insurance coverage, she would have been looking at how to figure out how to pay off $100,000+.

The same kind of logic applies when speaking about car insurance coverage. Like health insurance companies, there are several different car insurance companies out there, which will allow you to shop around a bit for the best prices/deals on auto insurance. I strongly advise you to do so. In some cases, you can actually save yourself a bundle of money by choosing an auto insurance carrier that your significant other uses. In the mean time, keep your driving record clean because this is the first thing that most car insurance places will look at. Safe driving is something that you have the opportunity to practice every day, so why don’t you? You could wind up saving yourself a lot of money because of it.

If you are living with someone or are dating someone, you may also want to ask about any incentives that a particular car insurance company has as some car insurance companies will let you in on a cheaper auto insurance deal when you bundle your auto insurance with that of your significant other. Check it out sometime; it pays off in the long run!

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