For many motorists, pets are an essential part of the family, and they’re also frequent passengers in the car. But, unfortunately, most cars are not designed with animal safety in mind. In an accident, dogs and cats can suffer injuries just like people, and veterinarian bills can be very expensive. When looking for an insurance policy, people with four-legged companions might want to consider choosing an insurer that can offer a little extra pet-friendly protection.

?Insurers Offering Coverage for Pets

Vehicle coverage that includes pet injuries has become a feature of policies offered by several insurers.

Progressive, the insurer that’s known for helping people get insurance online, has led the way in providing protection for cats and dogs that are injured in automobile accidents. When policyholders purchase collision coverage, it comes with up to $1,000 of protection that Progressive will pay toward vet bills in the event that an animal companion is injured in an accident, according to the company. This also includes injuries to a dog or cat that is owned by a relative who is living in the same household as the policyholder. The coverage is not yet available in North Carolina or New Hampshire, however.

Farmers Insurance Group in 2008 began offering coverage for pets injured in auto accidents, but only in select states. The protection is limited to traditional family pets and does not include animals that are commonly kept for food or profit. Where available, it provides up to $600 worth of coverage and is included for no extra charge in policies that include both comprehensive and collision, according to a press release from the insurer.

The Chubb Group launched pet injury coverage in select states in February 2011, adding up to $2,000 in coverage for pets injured in crashes to its “Masterpiece Auto Preference” policy.

Even though the prevalence of pet injury coverage is growing, not every insurer offers it. The country’s second-largest insurer, Allstate, says on its website that pets are not covered under its auto policies. (Other large insurers like State Farm and GEICO did not have pet injury coverage info available on their sites.)

Dogs and Cats Mean Distracted Drivers

The reason why animal owners are encouraged to get insurance that includes pet injury coverage is that four-legged family members can be serious distractions while driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that in 2008 over 5,800 people lost their lives and another 515,000 people were injured as the result of automobile accidents involving distracted drivers. Driving with an unrestrained dog in the car could have dangerous and financially devastating consequences.

To reduce the chances of having to actually use any newly acquired pet injury insurance, drivers should take the necessary steps to reduce driver distraction while behind the wheel. An unrestrained cat or dog can easily wander around a car with potentially dangerous consequences. If a dog wedges itself under the driver’s legs, it could prevent braking and easily cause an accident.

To avoid this, owners are strongly encouraged to restrain their animals while driving by investing in specially designed harnesses that allow dogs to be quickly attached to the vehicle’s seat belts. Additionally, investing in wire cages or plastic crates can also be effective ways to prevent animals from wandering around the car. Because pets are a part of the family, it’s important to keep them safe while on the open road.

Source: http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/

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Moving from a small urban area to a large city in California can present a world of opportunities, but with those opportunities come the potential of higher auto insurance rates. In most heavily populated areas, the streets are congested with more motorists, automobile accidents are more common, and the level of car-related crime is considerably higher than in suburban locations. All of these details and statistics are used by insurers to rate vehicle owners, and the common characteristics of big cities frequently translate into higher coverage costs.

In the Golden State, there are unique auto insurance nondiscrimination laws that prohibit insurers from raising rates in small geographic locations while setting more reasonable rates in the surrounding area. However, location can still have a considerable impact on how much a resident pays for vehicle coverage. Companies are permitted to consider past loss experience and expenses in their rating process, which includes geographic areas that are at least 20 square miles. In areas that see greater economic loss as a result of greater population density or accident frequency, providers are permitted to charge more for car insurance.

?Red Bluff vs. Los Angeles: A Case Study

For example of how moving to a big city could affect rates, look at information pooled from the CA automobile premium survey. Regulator-provided premium data show that for a single male motorist with 9 to 15 years of driving experience, an annual mileage between 7,600 and 10,000, and no violations or accidents, the average price for standard coverage for a Honda Accord is roughly $1,400 for someone living in Red Bluff, which is located in rural Tehama County in Northern California. If the same driver were to live in the Wilshire/La Brea area of urban Los Angeles in Southern California, however, the average premium increases to over $2,400—a 71 percent jump.

The difference between Red Bluff and the Wilshire/La Brea is significant. Information provided by state and federal records ranks Red Bluff 332nd highest population in the state with just over 14,000 people as of January 2012. According to the latest census data, it has about 1,800 people per square mile. The Wilshire/La Brea area, however, is in the county with the highest population in CA (nearly 4 million people) and rests near Wilshire Blvd, part of the famous Miracle Mile and one of the busiest streets in Southern California. Los Angeles’s population density was about 4.5 times as high as Redbluff’s, at nearly 8,100 people per square mile.

Location Matters, but Driving Record Still Matters Most

Although companies in California are allowed to make rate adjustments based on geographic location, all coverage providers must have their rating plans filed and approved by the CA Department of Insurance before they can be used. Additionally, voters in 1988 adopted proposition 103, which requires all insurers to consider three mandatory primary factors before considering any secondary factors when calculating premiums. These three factors include the applicant’s driving record, annual mileage, and years of driving experience.

Where a motorist lives is actually at the bottom of the list of qualities that can affect how much someone pays for vehicle coverage, but a person’s driving record is very important. Getting the cheapest insurance in California means maintaining a clean driving record, so before moving to a heavily populated area, residents should take into consideration the increased accident potential. If a policyholder is forced to file a claim, it can negatively affect their premium for up to three years.

Source: http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/california/

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Driving a more fuel-efficient vehicle can have a number of important benefits. Hybrid and electric-cars help their owners save fossil fuel, reduce their carbon footprint, and commute with the knowledge that they’re helping to preserve the Earth for future generations. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that driving an environmentally friendly auto can lead to significantly lower driving costs, even though they may initially appear more expensive to insure.

It’s no secret that gas prices have been steadily climbing since the invention of the automobile and show no signs of slowing down. Many of the people who purchase alternative-fuel-source vehicles do so to avoid watching their life savings disappear at the gas pump. But when they initially see insurance quotes for these vehicles, they may worry that an equal amount may be siphoned off by coverage costs.

For example, a premium analysis of 20 quotes from 10 different California insurers shows that, when comparing the cost of insuring a gas-only Toyota Camry with a hybrid version of the same model, on average motorists who own hybrids pay just over 10 percent more for vehicle coverage. This price increase is generally accredited to higher repair costs, but before writing off fuel-efficient automobiles as a cost-effective means of transportation, drivers should take discounts into consideration.

Coverage providers across the nation are beginning to offer special savings and rate reductions for insuring hybrids and other alternative-fuel vehicles. In California, for example, as of March 2012, there are at least three companies that offer insurance discounts as incentives for driving greener cars. These price reductions range from 5 to 10 percent, which could effectively nullify the increased coverage costs of having a hybrid or electric vehicle.

Driving Less: Another Way to Go Green and Save

Consumers can be environmentally friendly motorists through more ways than just owning a hybrid or electric car. Spending less time behind the wheel can help reduce a person’s carbon footprint while significantly lowering their driving costs, both at the pump and on their insurance bill.

A large portion of how much a motorist pays for protection is based on annual mileage. To an insurance company, more time spent behind the wheel translates into more opportunity to be involved in an accident, which in turn leads to higher prices.

Like any good environmentally friendly commuter, vehicle owners may want to look for ways to avoid driving. Biking to work, joining a car pool, or giving public transportation a try can all cut down on annual mileage and can lead to cheaper premiums. Motorists are encouraged ask their policy provider car insurance questions about how much they would need to cut their annual mileage to receive a rate reduction.

If a vehicle owner drives infrequently enough, they may want to consider signing up for a pay-as-you-drive insurance program that charges motorists based off of the distance that they commute. The California Environmental Defense Fund estimates that if 30 percent of CA residents took advantage of these programs, roughly 5.5 billion gallons of gas could be saved between 2009 and 2020, in addition to $40 billion in car-related expenses. Taking these steps to become an environmentally friendly motorist could lead not only to guilt-free commuting, but also to considerable savings.

Source: http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/learn/

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As automobile technology makes leaps and bounds forward, the number of car accidents and fatalities steadily declines. And with fewer claims being filed, the need for and price of auto insurance begins to decline as well. Over time, insurers may begin to experience a considerable decrease in revenue, which impacts the industry as a whole. This is the scenario proposed by Donald Light, a senior analyst for Celent, a division of Oliver Wyman, a global consulting firm.

Light and thorough Celent research suggests that the steady decline of private and commercial auto insurance premiums (and consequently, industrywide revenue) begins with the introduction and implementation of four distinct technologies: telematics, collision avoidance, automated traffic enforcement, and robot cars. Three of these technologies have already made their way into the market and have begun improving driver safety nationwide.

Telematics is the creation and use of data regarding driver behavior that is stored in onboard devices and made available to coverage providers and other entities. This can include GPS devices, but the primary purpose of this technology has been to retrieve useful information after an accident to determine fault, and to track a motorist’s driving habits for pay-as-you-drive insurance policies. Automated traffic law enforcement, like red light cameras and speeding violation cameras, also helps to encourage safer driving. In conjunction with collision avoidance systems, cars in general are becoming significantly safer.

The final piece of technology in this scenario has only recently been introduced to the world. In 2012, autonomous automobiles—most famously, the Google Driverless Car—have begun making their way into the realm of possibility. Already Nevada is the first state to approve a license for a driverless motor vehicle. Celent suggests that if these technological trends continue at their current rate, accidents may be a thing of the past. With perfectly clean driving records, motorists in the future could easily get cheap car insurance online with minimal effort.

The Possible Decline of Car Insurance Premiums

As these four technologies become commonplace on our nation’s roads, Celent estimates that there will be a sharp decline in accidents and, consequently, insurance premiums for certain kinds of coverages. Liability and physical damage premiums are estimated to drop between 20 and 30 percent from 2013 to 2017, respectively, and between 60 and 80 percent from 2018 to 2022. For many companies, these premiums represent a major source of revenue.

For the auto insurance industry, declining revenue may mean less external investments, industrywide job loss, and the potential decline of political influence (which itself can lead to adverse legislation or regulation). Before motorists begin to panic, however, it’s important to take several things into consideration.

The scenario put forth by Donald Light and Celent is largely hypothetical. While many of these consequences are possible, the actual implementation and enforcement of the four primary technologies is dependent on many different variables.

To have a dramatic impact, state and federal government would have to pursue these technologies aggressively and find a way to financially enforce their implementation. If there is one thing that motorists across the nation can be sure of, it’s that politicians love to argue about money. Additionally, these changes (if they occur) are likely to take time, giving the insurance industry more than enough opportunity to make the necessary adjustments to avoid fiscal disaster.

Source: http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/cheap/

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Almost every state requires motorists to be insured before driving, but each state has a unique range of prices for vehicle coverage. Insurance costs are dependent on many different things, like population density, crime rate, uninsured motorist percentage, required coverages, and many other facts that are unique for every location. As a result, there are some areas in the U.S. that are more affordable than others.

The average cost of vehicle coverage is likely to change every year, but several states have consistently remained among the cheapest. Data produced by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and made available by the Insurance Information Institute show that in 2009 the typical expenditure in North Dakota was $510, which was the lowest in the country. Trailing closely behind were South Dakota and Iowa with average expenditures of $521 and $532, respectively. In comparison with a national average of $785, insurers in these states offer considerably cheaper rates.

The areas that boast some of the highest expenditures include Washington, D.C., with an average of $1,128, New Jersey at $1,101, and Louisiana at $1,099.

When comparing these two groups, there is a distinct difference in driver density. For example, North Dakota is home to over 245,000 licensed drivers occupying over 86,000 miles of public roads. In D.C., however, there are over 189,000 licensed drivers using only 1,400 miles of public roads. That means there are only 2.84 drivers per mile of public road in North Dakota, but 13.5 drivers per mile in D.C. Consequently, the accident potential in D.C. is significantly higher than in the Peace Garden State.

Driver, Coverage Options Matter When Looking for a Cheap Policy

While the area where a person lives will have an effect on rates, policy prices are also based on individual drivers. A person who lives in a state with some of the lowest coverage costs may not necessarily be able to locate inexpensive auto insurance more easily than someone living in D.C. if they have a bad driving history, have a long daily commute, are young, or have established a poor credit history; all those factors play important parts in policy pricing.

In addition to the driver’s personal details, the details of state insurance laws also contribute to pricing differences. Comparing expenditures between states is not what’s known as an “apples-to-apples” comparison, since the minimum amount of coverage required by law varies from state to state. In Alaska, for example, drivers are required to carry a total of $125,000 in liability coverage. The total liability coverage required of drivers in Ohio, on the other hand, is $32,500. That can make a big difference in coverage costs, which should drive home the necessity for consumers to consider their coverage levels and compare costs only for the same amounts of protection.

Some states, though, are exceptions that manage to maintain low average costs while having high minimums. Both Iowa and Maine are near the top the list of inexpensive states to find auto insurance, but each of these locations requires motorists to maintain different levels of protection. In Iowa, drivers only need to maintain a total of $55,000 in liability coverage to legally drive. In Maine, however, these limits are the same as Alaska’s, $125,000. Although Iowa boasts a slightly lower average expenditure, the average motorist in Maine may be significantly more prepared for an accident for only a few extra premium dollars.

Source: http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/affordable/

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Auto insurance companies base premiums on a policyholder’s accident risk, and not every motorist can maintain a perfect driving record. But people who have been in multiple accidents or have been convicted of several moving violations still need auto coverage to legally drive in almost every state. Unfortunately, having a higher accident potential also translates into steeper rates. As a result, getting affordable coverage as a nonstandard driver requires a fair amount of research, and possibly the assistance of state programs.

Being Labeled a High Risk Driver

When coverage providers sell an insurance policy to someone, they assume the possibility of having to pay out a claim if that person is involved in an accident. A high risk driver is someone that an insurer believes has a greater chance of being involved in an accident, or filing a claim. This is determined by carefully examining a wide range of details, including an applicant’s age, gender, location, driving record, vehicle information, and many other facts.

Getting the lowest priced car insurance for high risk drivers involves an extensive amount of shopping because most coverage providers interpret accident risk differently. Although most companies target drivers in the standard and preferred markets, there are some producers who find it profitable to insure people in the nonstandard market. Motorists can often find these companies by taking the time to shop around online, where dozens of sample rates can be viewed at once from a single website.

Helping Nonstandard Motorists Buy Insurance

People who are unable to find vehicle coverage because of their driving records can often rely on state-run placement programs to help them meet insurance requirements. These programs typically work by taking higher risk drivers and assigning them to a participating company. In many states, licensed insurers are all required to share the responsibility of insuring nonstandard drivers through these programs.

Enrolling in these programs, such as the Michigan Automobile Insurance Placement Facility, is a better and more affordable option than driving without any coverage at all. And getting vehicle coverage through a placement program is not a life sentence. Most offenses only stay on a person’s driving record for three years. Avoiding accidents and moving violations can, in time, lead to lower coverage costs.

Source: http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/low-cost/

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People often look for ways to lower their auto insurance costs, which are a necessary expense for many. Despite what some drivers may think, buying the minimum amount of protection that is required or driving without any coverage at all are not the best ways to cut costs. Being uninsured or underinsured could lead to heavy financial loss after an accident. Instead, vehicle owners should try some of these helpful and effective ways to save money.

1. Compare Quotes Online: Not all auto insurance companies offer the same rates. Just like with almost any other product, there are some producers that claim to have the cheapest prices, some that offer the best service, and others that claim to do both. The only way to truly to get the cheapest insurance available is to shop around and compare estimates from as many sources as possible. When people use the Internet to do their shopping they can easily maximize their time. Useful online sites can produce dozens of sample rates at once.

2. Ask About Discounts: In the competitive world of vehicle coverage, insurance companies are always looking for ways to outshine their competitors. One common method is to promote unique discounts. It’s common to find reduced rates for being a good driver, good student, insuring multiple vehicles, keeping low annual mileage, packaging home and auto policies, and for insuring a car that is equipped with an antitheft device. Make sure to ask an insurer if they have any discounts that their competitors won’t offer.

3. Avoid Unnecessary Coverage: It’s good to be adequately insured, but buying too much protection can lead to unnecessary expenses. For example, many people are required to carry comprehensive and collision coverage when they buy a new car. Over time, however, this protection becomes less necessary as the car drops in value. For example, a motorist with a $1,000 deductible on a vehicle worth only $2,000 might not benefit very much from this coverage because the amount received from their insurer if the car is totaled might not be worth the increased premium.

4. Choose the Right Payment Plan: Many people choose to use a payment plan when they purchase auto insurance. Insurers will usually allow policyholders to make payments monthly, quarterly, every six months, or to just pay for their policy in full. Although making monthly installments means smaller bills, companies will often include billing and processing fees. Data from Massachusetts regulators show installment fees there can range from $1 to $8, depending on the insurer and whether the payment is processed electronically. While that may not seem like much, over time a vehicle owner could end up paying a lot more money for their plan this way. To cut costs, drivers are urged to consider making fewer installments.

5. Keep a Good Driving Record: One of the most important ways to avoid expensive vehicle coverage is to maintain a clean driving record. Being involved in an accident, filing a claim, or being convicted of a moving violation can quickly lead to surcharges and higher premiums.

Source: http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/cheap/

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The price of automobile insurance in Michigan differs significantly between insurers because different companies have different underwriting and rating guidelines. All vehicle owners in the Great Lakes State need to be adequately insured to legally drive, but most residents have the advantage of being able to shop around for the cheapest prices available. Under MI law, all insurers within the state must accept applicants at regular rates unless they fail to meet specific requirements, but unique pricing methods still make some companies cheaper than others.

Shopping around and comparing quotes can help drivers find inexpensive protection. While insurers in MI are no longer allowed to rate motorists based on their gender or marital status, there are still many different details that can impact policy prices. For example, a person’s driving record, location, and credit rating are among the details that can affect coverage costs. Because each of these details is likely to be unique for individual residents, each motorist needs to complete his or her own research.

Residents looking for the cheapest car insurance in Michigan must compare quotes, and one of the more efficient ways to evaluate sample rates from several different companies involves using online resources. Tools on the Internet can provide vehicle owners with a list of sample rates, giving them the opportunity to identify an adequately priced producer.

Methods for Getting Cheaper MI Auto Insurance

The no-fault system that was adopted in 1973 requires Michigan motorists to carry personal injury protection (PIP), property protection, and residual liability insurance to legally drive. Although higher levels of coverage are available, and are frequently encouraged, people who choose to carry only the minimum amount of required protection may still be able to lower their rates. To help save money, drivers can often choose to adopt a PIP deductible or raise their current deductible. This is the amount of money that the policyholder agrees to contribute when a claim is filed before coverage actually kicks in.

Michigan also has required discounts that many residents can take advantage of. Motorists who are 65 and older are entitled to a premium reduction if they drive less than 3,000 miles per year. Additionally, any drivers 60 and over must be offered the option to waive their work loss insurance, which is typically covered by their PIP, if they do not earn any income from work. However, this protection cannot be entirely removed from a policy because it still applies to others who may be in the policyholder’s vehicle.

Additionally, the MI Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation encourages residents to research additional discounts that can help cut coverage costs. Often, drivers can get reduced rates for insuring a car that is equipped with antilock brakes, an anti-theft device, or other special safety features. Shopping around and exploring the many different ways that residents can find cheaper protection can lead to significant savings for motorists in the Great Lakes State.

Source: http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/michigan/

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When people shop around, they look for the lowest prices and the highest quality products. Consumers shopping for automobile insurance will see that they can find different rates depending on the insurer and the amount of coverage that is purchased. The reason for these price differences is premiums are primarily based on the likelihood that the policyholder will file a claim, and producers each have unique methods for determining an individual’s accident risk.

Shopping for vehicle coverage usually requires motorists to either contact several companies directly or speak with a licensed broker. While effective, using these methods to make comparisons can become time-consuming for people who want to evaluate sample rates from as many insurers as possible. By amassing online auto insurance quotes from helpful sources, vehicle owners can see dozens of sample rates from a single website with minimal effort.

To get an accurate quote from any source, vehicle owners need to relay a certain amount of personal information. A person’s accident risk is based on a wide range of info that commonly includes an individual’s age, gender, marital status, location, and credit score. These details relate to statistical info that can be used by insurers to determine their likelihood of filing a claim. For example, studies have shown that married couples file fewer claims than single motorists, and drivers under the age of 25 are involved in more accidents than any other age group.

Necessary Info for Online Auto Insurance Quotes

Apart from personal details, there are several other sets if information that insurers need to examine to set an accurate rate. This typically includes a person’s accident record and vehicle information. People who have filed multiple claims in the past three years, or have been convicted of multiple moving violations, are frequently considered higher risk drivers and are charged more for auto protection. Additionally, there are some cars that are simply more expensive to insure because of increased repair costs, or because of a higher theft probability.

The Massachusetts Division of Insurance encourages drivers to get all of their personal info together and prepared before using the Internet to gather quotes. While shopping, however, it’s important for people to note that some personally sensitive details aren’t required to receive an estimate. Drivers can shop online at no charge, making it unnecessary for any company to require someone’s credit card information to receive a quote. Additionally, people should refrain from relaying their social security or driver’s license numbers while shopping on the World Wide Web.

Before making a purchase, it’s important that drivers exhaust all of their resources, and are certain that their chosen insurer is licensed to sell auto insurance in their state. Often state government websites will provide invaluable information about the coverage providers who are officially licensed, and other important details about safely shopping online for auto protection.

Source: http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/

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Vehicle coverage can be costly, but most people are still required to buy a policy before legally driving. One advantage that motorists have is their ability to shop around for the cheapest rates they can find. People have many different insurance companies to choose from, and often each one will offer a unique rate. Motorists may be able to significantly reduce their coverage costs by taking the time to make comparisons before making a purchase.

Policy prices are typically unique because they are largely based on a driver’s accident risk, and a person’s level of risk is determined by carefully interpreting an extensive amount of information. Insurance companies will look at a potential policyholder’s age, gender, marital status, desired coverage limits, driving record, location, vehicle information, annual mileage, and many other details. Each of these points is closely linked to statistical information that helps insurers determine how likely a motorist is to file a claim.

The reason why people are encouraged to make a car insurance rates comparison before buying auto protection is that prices can sometimes vary by 200 percent between companies for policies that include the same levels of protection. One of the more efficient ways to amass estimates involves using online resources to view dozens of quotes at once.

Helpful Ways to Compare Car Insurance Policies

While making comparisons, motorists should consider more than just the price of a policy. Not every company can offer the same quality of service, and after an accident it’s important to have an insurer that can adequately handle any claims. Vehicle owners should get multiple quotes, and when several affordable options have been identified, they should look at how well each insurer interacts with customers.

One method for identifying a helpful and competent insurer is to use complaint information accumulated by the state. For example, the Illinois Department of Insurance annually publishes data ranking insurers on the number of complaints they received in a year in relation to the number of written premiums. From these reports, people may be able to identify which companies can provide the most satisfactory service. In addition to statistical information, motorists can also rely on the past experiences of trusted friends and relatives for helpful insight into how well certain insurers interact with their customers.

Vehicle owners should remember that the need to make auto insurance comparisons is not limited to people who are buying their first policy. Over time, policy prices and service quality can fluctuate. Luckily, drivers have a number of helpful online resources that are readily available.

Source: http://www.onlineautoinsurance.com/compare/

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