Buyers Guide Auto Insurance

When you need car-related information quickly, a picture can be worth way more than a thousand words. That’s why we’ve put together six easily digestible infographics you can refer back to time and again, wherever you’re at in your automotive journey. PRO TIP: Save yourself time and stress down the road by downloading these infographics to your computer or phone.

You may find the idea of your teenager sitting behind the wheel of your car slightly terror-inducing, but you’ll actually increase the chances of an accident if you don’t allow them to practice. Driver’s education programs are an excellent place to start, but they may only amount to 7-10 hours of actual drive time. The experience needed to become reasonably proficient is closer to 50 hours and that can vary from state to state. Still that’s around two hours per week spread out over six months!1 You’ll be responsible for ensuring your young driver not only learns the basics of driving, but also gains enough experience to drive with confidence.

One of the joys of the holiday season is the opportunity to see family and friends that live far away. Unfortunately, this often involves more than a simple journey of “over the river and through the wood.” Crowded highways are the new normal, resulting in greater exposure to potential accidents. Many drivers will be travelling in unfamiliar areas, which could lead to distractions from checking the GPS. Winter weather can be unpredictable, making the roads themselves dangerous, and there is always the unfortunate possibility that revelers will hit the road before they’ve completely sobered up. The best defense against unforeseen misfortune is preparedness. If you take the time to prepare your vehicle and make sure your coverage is up to date, you’ll be able to hit the road with confidence!

According to the EPA, “greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation account for about 27 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, making it the largest contributor of U.S. GHG emissions.” And with almost 95% of American households owning at least one vehicle, it remains vital that American drivers—particularly those with traditional, gas-powered cars—try to adopt eco-friendly driving and car-care habits. The good news? It’s a lot easier than you might think.

There’s nothing like feeling the wind on your face, whether you’re cruising down the highway on your motorcycle or riding the waves on your boat or jet ski. The last thing anyone wants is to have a perfect day on the road or water ruined by an accident, but the situation will be made even worse if you find yourself without the proper insurance coverage to help you in the aftermath. Due to their unique natures, boats and motorcycles require special insurance coverage in addition to your existing homeowner and auto policies. Read on to learn what to look for in a policy, tips for shopping around, and more.

Strict travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders at the beginning of the pandemic led to decreased sales of Recreational Vehicles, but the mobile lifestyle has since experienced a resurgence as more jobs become remote-friendly, social distancing becomes a feature of everyday life, and people are looking to make up for lost travel time. The perks of RV living, whether it is full- or part-time, are appealing to many—it offers individuals and families easy access to travel, flexibility, and a more affordable lifestyle. But how do you protect your home-on-wheels, as well as the people and property inside? The answer is RV insurance. This coverage is a unique combination of the coverages you find in auto and homeowner insurance policies that will help with peace of mind on and off the road.

Whether you are paying a mortgage or rent, it is important to insure your home against potential disasters. But it is also vital that you understand the difference between homeowner’s and renter’s insurance—though similar, the two are tailored to fit the unique needs of your living situation. Below, you will find an overview of each type of policy before we dive more deeply into renter’s insurance and the ways it can help protect you (and your possessions) regardless of the coverage provided by your landlord.

Buying a home is a lengthy, complex process that tests the patience of even the most organized individuals. When it comes to protecting the place you call home, it is imperative that finding appropriate insurance coverage is part of the home buying process. If you are financing your home most banks and mortgage lenders require home insurance to approve your loan, but regardless of how you go about purchasing, home insurance is a practical step you can take that can help you mitigate financial hardship down the road. Like car insurance, not all policies are created equally, making it important to shop around to find the right combination of coverage and price. To help, we have put together a practical overview of all the information you will need to decide on a policy that fits your lifestyle and budget—read on and shop with confidence!

When purchasing car insurance, we all hope we’ll never have to use it. And while there are several steps you can take to avoid accidents, the reality is that more than six million car accidents occur every year in the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Sooner or later, most of us will experience an accident, be it a fender-bender or a more severe collision. So, what do you do in the aftermath? Committing this information to memory can help keep an incredibly stressful situation from becoming overwhelming, so let’s go through the steps you should take.

Driving has become such a normal part of our everyday lives that it’s easy to forget the risks we take when getting into a vehicle.  While some take safety to heart at an early age, it can be an eye opener for others when they become parents and begin a journey with their precious cargo. Luckily, the rules for keeping your children safe while driving are the same for safe driving in general, but car safety also extends beyond on-the-road practices. Knowing how to keep your family safe in, out, and around your vehicle will help instill good safety habits in children, ease stress and worry in parents, and reduce the number of accidents your family is involved in overall.

What does the future of driving mean for the future of insurance? As automotive technology continues to evolve, the needs of drivers, automotive makers, and insurance companies will also shift. With researchers predicting the autonomous vehicle market will be worth 400 billion U.S. dollars globally by 2025, and in advanced economies, highways will be nearly driver-free by 2050 1, it’s important to begin digging into the implications of this transformation for your own insurance needs and the future of driving as a whole.

We all love the idea of travelling with our best friends—whether they have two legs or four! But before you hit the road you need to make sure you understand how to keep your pets safe in the car, as well as how they fit into your insurance coverage.

Shopping for insurance has changed dramatically in recent years. Smaller companies have entered the marketplace (there are now over 6,000 insurance companies and 36,000 independent agencies serving consumers across the US!), new technologies have made pricing more accurate, and comparison shopping has become a regular part of the insurance buying process. Some consumers prefer to work with an insurance agent and others are content to complete the entire process on their own online.

You’ve heard the promise in every insurance commercial: bundle your policies and save!

Do you tend to stay on cruise control when it comes to renewing your auto insurance? You could be leaving money on the table if you aren’t taking the time to shop around for the best rates and coverage tailored to your needs.

Thinking about buying a new sports or performance car? The cost of insurance is probably one of your top concerns. However, performance car insurance may not necessarily make your premium skyrocket. In short, be careful how you shop, choose the right agency partner, and understand what insurance carriers consider potential risk.

Looking at bringing home a new truck? It might be time to review your insurance policy to make sure you have the right coverage. Truck insurance for your pickup is largely the same as car insurance for your car. So, switching to a pickup doesn’t necessarily mean you have to switch to a different policy, but there are differences. Here are some tips to help you shop for truck insurance that fits your needs.

When it is time to shop for car insurance, the most common way to do it is through an agent. But not all insurance agents are the same. Some work directly for one insurance company, while others are independent insurance agencies that can help you find the best value for your specific insurance needs. Here’s how you can get the most out of your auto insurance by using an independent insurance agency.

Data. It’s changing the world, from smartphones to airlines to connected appliances, every industry needs information to survive. Customers demand personalized experiences and businesses demand analytics to make the right decisions, from “anytime, anywhere” home delivery services to industrial manufacturing. Without a doubt though, very few applications can match the advantages you gain when you use your own data from a connected vehicle to help you save money on your car insurance.  

Nobody ever wants their vehicle to be damaged in a crash, but we all know it’s possible. That’s why we carry insurance, to help make sure that our vehicle is brought back to its original condition without a large one-time cost to us. But, after being worked on, can you be sure that your vehicle comes out of the shop with repair parts that meet factory specifications? You can, with the right insurance coverage.

If you’ve entered the rideshare side hustle game, or are considering it, you’re not alone.  More than one million Americans are already driving for at least one of the two big rideshare companies, Uber, and Lyft. You’ll need to think about your ride as well as gas prices and more vehicle maintenance, but are you properly insured for rideshare driving? You should be, and products like  Toyota Auto Insurance can help you make sure you are.

The fact that the current coronavirus outbreak is among the worst in recent times is beyond debate.

Most people know that their age, gender, and driving record have an effect on car insurance prices.

Car insurance policies come in many different shapes and sizes, largely to give shoppers access to a car insurance product that’s perfect for them, their family, their vehicle, and their lifestyle.

Every driver has unique needs, which is why there are so many auto insurance policies to choose from.

If you’re going on vacation or won’t be driving your car for an extended period of time, there’s an easy way to save money on your car insurance.

Auto insurance is a part of owning a vehicle that cannot be escaped. 

Racing your personal car on a designated racetrack is legal, but you should really understand the risks. What you think is risky and what your insurance company thinks is risky, however, might be a bit different.

Fast and expensive are two words that instantly come to mind when Lamborghini is mentioned. It’s no secret that these Italian exotics are expensive to maintain and insure, but how much does Lamborghini insurance actually cost?

Most crossovers’ headlights are aimed too high, according to tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Thanks to its strength and lightness, aluminum has long been a mainstay of the aerospace industry, though it’s only just starting to make a noteworthy impact in the automotive space. But do elevated repair costs mean this material is more trouble than its worth?

Owning a vehicle has plenty of additional costs including paying for gas, general maintenance and registration fees. For the most part, it’s difficult to save on those, but there is one thing you can save on and that’s car insurance.

A recent study has revealed common misconceptions with auto insurance.

Your insurance company can’t verify the annual mileage you drive, your marital status or who in your household drives your car, so why do they ask those questions when it comes to getting an insurance provider?

Making a claim on your auto insurance could result in some steep rate increases.

Shopping for car insurance is not easy, or fun for that matter! Hunting for the best rates on car insurance is hard enough then there are factors like your age, gender, credit and driving record. And yes, all of these things are determining factors in every auto insurance quote you get.

There’s a lot to know and keep track of in the fast-paced world of automobile insurance. The myriad of terms used to describe everything from apples to oranges causes even more confusion for consumers shopping around. So, to help your process go more smoothly next time, below is a glossary of some common (and some commonly misunderstood) terms related to automobile insurance from various sources on the Net.

The minimum amount of liability coverage you must maintain varies from state to state. But, beware since each state sets its own “legal” minimums that may or may not provide you with enough coverage. Beyond these legal minimums, any additional coverage is purchased at the buyers discretion. The key here is to find a balance betwixt adequate coverage and overpaying for insurance in order to have peace of mind for you and your family.

Your own insurability and getting quotes are only part of the shopping for auto insurance process. Finding a reputable insurer is the other, more important part. After all, you want an insurance company that has a history of good service. You want an insurance company with the ability to settle claims from its policyholders, a company with a strong financial outlook and relatively few complaints and most importantly, you want an insurer that’s legally entitled to do business in your state.

Each state has its own Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and most use a “point” system to track your individual driving record. Whether a parking ticket, moving violation, at-fault accident or DUI charge, each infraction comes at a price as each has a certain value associated with it. The fewer of these points on your license (cannot be less than zero), the better shape your driving record is in.

So, you managed to get your vehicle insured. Congratulations! But, now, for whatever reason, you want to cancel your policy. We don’t need to know why, but don’t worry, we have some useful tips to help make the process as quick and painless as can be.

We covered the basics, now it is time to dig deeper. Let’s start with “gap insurance” because it’s additional coverage that’s pretty much essential if you plan on buying or leasing a new vehicle. Why? In a nutshell, gap insurance protects your automotive investment against depreciation. Gap insurance is not required but it’s no secret that as soon as a new car gets driven off the dealer’s lot its value can instantly depreciate by 20 percent or more. Now, let’s say that same vehicle were to be stolen or involved in a total loss accident a few miles down the road. The insurer would pay out only as much as the vehicle’s current value, leaving the policyholder to pay the “depreciation difference” between what the finance company says it’s owed for the destroyed vehicle, plus any applicable taxes or fees. In this situation, if you didn’t get gap insurance – either from an insurance company or the dealer – then you could be out a lot of money. In fact, if you tried to buy that same vehicle from the same dealership with the insurance payout money you receive, chances are you’d find a significant gap between what you paid the first time versus what you can put down for the replacement. If you were covered by gap insurance here though, you would be fully covered up to what the finance company wants though. As a rule of thumb, small down payments create a larger depreciation difference than large down payments do.