Like private motor insurance, motor trade policies come in a variety of levels of cover like third party, third party fire and theft and comprehensive insurance. Unlike car insurance though, motor trade policies cover the driver – not the driver and the vehicle.

Basically, car insurance protects a specific driver in a specific vehicle. Motor trade protects a driver for any vehicle he or she drives for the purposes of motor trade (not for just driving to the shops) that is also his property.

As you can imagine, this is extremely useful for people in the motor trade. It provides insurance when taking a demonstration drive, or for testing customer vehicles for part-exchange or second-hand purchase. It also provides cover for driving vehicles from storage depots to showrooms, or in the case of larger organisations, between separate showrooms.

If motor trade insurance operated exactly the same way as other forms of motor insurance, it would be a nightmarish procedure to just complete the day to day business of the motor trade. Not only because of the potential costs of driving uninsured – but because even if you’re in the motor trade, it’s illegal to drive a car on the UK’s public roads without insurance.

Of course, given that these vehicles represent a motor traders life and blood (as well as a significant initial financial investment. Third Party is the minimum legal requirement but it won’t offer peace of mind to anyone in the motor trade. more so than private vehicle owners, a motor trader needs to be able to at least recoup losses on theft or fire (a car park full of stationary vehicles presents more targets than a single vehicle in a driveway or garage).

For those in the second-hand trade, the more likely comprehensive insurance will come in useful. Not only because potential customers will likely insist on a test drive but also because if the trader is purchasing a car from a private individual, they will definitely take it for a drive before deciding. Any kind of accident that happens during that time could be massively damaging to the business.

Motor trade insurance also extends to other areas of liability than comprehensive private policies. Firstly, although its not compulsory for motor traders as a business with public premises it can be incredibly costly if the operator fails to provide a safe environment; just like supermarkets and high-street shops, motor traders have a duty of care obligation in the common law.

Additionally, the motor trader is likely to need employers liability insurance; it’s legally required if you want to employ anyone from a part-time car washer to a full-time salesman or mechanic.

Here are the ways to save for your can insurance California:

Research

Check several sites that offer can insurance California. This is probably the best way to get the cheapest car insurance rate since each company follows its own rate. Make sure you know what type of coverage you are looking for so as not to dive on the first and cheapest car insurance you have laid your eyes on. Remember that cheapest might not be the best so make sure you weigh the claims and the price you have to pay.

Safe driving

It always pays to be a good driver. And what a better way to reap from this is to get a lower California car insurance rates. California can insurance companies reward safe drivers with special car insurance rates. To become eligible on this, you have to get a clean record both on traffic violation and insurance claim. If in case you only have one or two traffic violation, you can take the defensive driving course. This is to remove and clean your traffic record.

The only drawback is you have to wait for several years to enjoy the lower California car insurance rate. That means you have to stay away from traffic violations for a very long time! But if safety is already in your system, this would be easy for you to do. After all, it is you who will reap if you drive safely even without receiving any California car insurance discount.

Update on time

Many auto insurance companies in California and even in other states in the United States base their insurance rates on your history. Failure to update your policy even for one day could cost you additional dollars. Make sure you update on time so that you can avoid higher California car insurance rate.

Monitor your odometer

Don’t get it wrong. You don’t have to limit your driving. Well, if getting car insurance discounts means more to you, you can drive occasionally. But what we are trying to say here is that several car insurance companies in California base their rates on the annual mileage reading. If you love to drive for miles, you should not be surprised if you get high car insurance rate than those who drive less.

Capitalize on discounted auto insurance

Discounts on car insurance would be able you to save money. And there are several ways to get it. Here are the different ways to get discounted auto insurance:

1. Discounts on good driver. Yeah it is already mentioned but you have to know that everybody, regardless of the age could receive a good driver discount provided he/she maintains a clean driving record.

2. Discounts of multi-car owner or multi-driver. If you have two drivers with the same car insurance policy, you can get this discount. Much more if both of these drivers have clean records.

3. Discount on having safety and anti-theft devices. If you care enough for your vehicle, your can get a reward. Most car insurance companies in California give discounts on drivers who have installed safety and anti-theft devices.

Many of my clients who have been seriously hurt in a car accident were struck by someone who had no insurance or only the minimum liability insurance coverage, which is $25,000 in New York and much less in many other states. Unfortunately, many of my clients were sold insurance policies with liability limits of $100,000 or $300,000, but were not sold matching uninsured and underinsured coverage.

Just this week, yet another new client had this problem. My client was a pedestrian crossing the street when she was struck by a car which fled the scene. The driver was caught shortly after leaving the accident, but the owner of the car only has the New York State minimum liability insurance of $25,000 and my client has serious injuries consisting of many broken bones including a fractured arm, leg and skull.

My client owns a car with liability insurance limits of $300,000, but she purchased the insurance from GEICO whose salesperson didn’t sell her underinsured coverage. GEICO does not use independent insurance brokers, but sells insurance directly to consumers through in-house sales agents.

For a small fee, my client could have purchased underinsured coverage of $300,000 which would have allowed her to recover $300,000 for her injuries instead of $25,000. Ironically, she did not need the $300,000 liability coverage to protect her assets. However, since you cannot buy underinsured coverage higher than your liability coverage, I would have advised her to purchase $300,000 liability coverage for the sole purpose of being able to purchase $300,000 underinsured coverage.

I have had many clients in this situation who lost their jobs because of serious injuries and incurred substantial debt. If they had matching underinsured coverage, the additional money available to pay their claim would would be a big help to pay their bills and get their life back together.

Underinsured motorist coverage will pay you money from your own automobile insurance policy if you have been hurt in a car accident by someone who was negligent for causing your injury and who had less liability insurance coverage than you did. Uninsured motorist coverage will pay you when the other car did not have any insurance coverage or the identity of the other car is unknown.

Underinsured and uninsured coverage is inexpensive and usually available in limits that match your liability insurance coverage. It is not available in amounts greater than your liability insurance coverage.

Underinsured and uninsured coverage is so important that a couple of states now require coverage limits matching your liability insurance limits, unless you decline the coverage in writing. Several years ago, I suggested to several New York State senators that they enact a similar law in New York.

I have also seen many clients who were not sold the maximum medical payments insurance, which costs me only $2.01 per month on my car insurance policy. This is particularly important for people who do not have a good health insurance policy. It is also beneficial for passengers who do not have health insurance.

Why should you buy car insurance through an independent insurance broker? The courts have defined the reason. There have been several “malpractice” lawsuits against insurance companies for failure to offer underinsured and uninsured motorists coverage limits matching the liability limits. However, when the insurance company sells directly to consumers, these cases have gone in favor of the insurance companies. The courts found that when a consumer buys insurance directly from an insurance company, rather than an insurance broker, the consumer is only buying insurance and is not paying for advice.

When you buy auto insurance from an independent insurance broker who represents several different insurance companies, you get the advantage of an insurance professional who can evaluate your needs and advise you accordingly. Additionally, only an independent insurance broker can provide you with a choice of insurance companies and premiums, so you get the best coverage at the lowest price.

Whether you buy your car insurance directly from an insurance company or through an independent insurance broker, always make sure that you purchase matching uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage and the maximum medical payment benefits.