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The Perks to Your Car Insurance Policy You Should Never Say No To!

There’s nothing like the word “perk” to make us perk up our ears. We’re taught from a very young age to look for the perks in everything, and to always take advantage of the chance to add a little extra value to whatever we’re spending our money on. Why, then, do so many people say no to the perks that go hand in hand with their car insurance policy?

Believe it or not, there are actually tons of perks that go hand in hand with the average car insurance policy that most drivers never take advantage of for one reason or another. Let’s take a look at those perks, and why ignoring them is one of the worst choices you could ever make!

RENTAL INSURANCE

If you were out of state and you happened to get in an accident, what would you do? Would you patiently ride with the tow truck to the garage, wait for them to check in your car then take a cab back to your hotel, only to spend the rest of your vacation either paying a fortune in cab fares or pacing the floor of your hotel room because you don’t have anywhere else to go? That’s no way to spend your time. Unfortunately, renting a car for the rest of that vacation doesn’t come cheap.

This is where your car insurance company comes into play. Many car insurance companies offer rental insurance along with their standard insurance policy at very little extra cost. With that rental insurance you can afford to rent a car for the rest of the time that your car is out of commission instead of being left scrambling while you wait for the mechanics and the insurance appraiser to catch up.

EMERGENCY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE

It started with AAA, but it didn’t stop there! Emergency roadside assistance is something that every driver needs at some point or another, and since purchasing that assistance from companies like AAA has become so popular many car insurance companies have started lumping it in with their regular insurance packages. With emergency roadside assistance you’ve got someone to call when you’re locked out of your car, you’ve run out of gas or you’ve got a tire that needs changing, and you’re usually covered for (x) miles of tow assistance without any additional costs.

ADDITIONAL MEDICAL INSURANCE

One of the biggest bills that you’re going to have looming over your head after an accident is medical care. If you have health insurance through your job or your partner it’s not that big a deal, but if you don’t it can turn into a major problem. (Especially when you consider the fact that most emergency rooms charge you $500 or more just to step in and say hello!) With additional medical insurance through your car insurance company you’re insured against the bills resulting from your accident, and you can put the money in your savings account to use doing more important things.

Like picking up another set of wheels.

With all of these perks just sitting at their fingertips, why would anybody say no? Some people are afraid of the additional costs. Some people just don’t think it’s necessary. Some drivers have all of these services through other providers. Whatever the case, before you say no out of hand take a second to see what your car insurance provider has to offer. You might be surprised at just how easily you can make those perks work for you.

Cliff Berman is CEO of QuoteScout.com. For more information on getting the most out of your car insurance visit them on the web at http://www.QuoteScout.com.

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Muscle Car Insurance – Four Requirements When Choosing An Insurance Policy

   Specialty muscle car insurance is one thing that you need to look into if you drive a classic muscle car.  A normal insurance policy with the same company that provides you with the insurance for your commuter car may be costing you way more than it should, and you may be quite disappointed with your reimbursement amount if you ever have to file a claim.  An insurance company that specializes in classic cars can usually offer you a policy with more appropriate coverage, at a much more reasonable cost, than your normal insurance company.
   The first thing to check on when researching a specialty insurance policy is the A.M Best rating of an insurance company’s underwriter.  You want to make sure the underwriter is financially solid and stable, so only use an insurance company whose underwriter has a rating of “A-” or better.  Find out who the underwriter for your policy will be, and check their rating on A.M. Best’s website.
   The second point to check on is if the muscle car insurance provider is offering you an Agreed Value policy.  Your commuter car is most likely covered with an Actual Cash Value policy, Stated Value or Stated Amount policy.  These types of policies assume that your car depreciates over time, and they don’t take into account the collector value of your muscle car.  Agreed Value policies require you to come to an agreement with your insurance company on what your car is worth at the time the policy is initiated.  In the event of a total loss, your insurance company will reimburse you the Agreed Value, instead of what they think it is worth.  Verify that the muscle car insurance company in question is offering an Agreed Value policy.
   The third point to look at when choosing a muscle car insurance  policy is if it will cover the cost of repairs at the repair shop of YOUR choice.  You probably don’t want to take your pride and joy to a body shop that churns out lots of “merely acceptable” repairs on late model cars.  Many insurance policies will not cover the extra cost of taking your muscle car to a repair shop that specializes in restoring muscle cars.  Make sure you get a policy that will cover the extra cost of high quality work.
   The fourth point to require of your muscle car insurance policy is that it cover the extra cost of original equipment repair parts.  With the popularity of muscle cars these days, there are some rather low-quality replacement parts being made, which would detract from the value of your car and/or require extra labor to bring them into shape.  Make sure your insurance policy will cover the additional cost of using original equipment replacement parts.
   When getting a quote for a muscle car insurance policy, make sure that it is underwritten by a financially stable company and that it is an Agreed Value type of policy.  Verify that the policy will cover the cost of repairs at the shop of your own choosing and the extra cost of original equipment replacement parts.  Once you have those four criteria met, you are on your way to making a good decision on a muscle car insurance policy.

There are several other points you still need to look at, though. Take a look at American Classic Car Insurance for more in-depth information on the four requirements. Then go to Classic Car Insurance Quotes to learn about the rest of the factors you need to consider when choosing a muscle car insurance policy.

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Save 20% or More by Insuring Your Classic Car With a Specialized Car Insurance Policy

A recent study published by the Chicago Tribune revealed that a huge percentage of classic car owners are paying far too much for their insurance coverage. Why? Because they’re working with the wrong car insurance companies!

When you think about insuring your classic car, what’s the first thing you think of? For a huge percentage of first time classic car owners the answer to that is, your friendly neighborhood car insurance companies. Isn’t it? Many classic car owners are insuring their collectibles with the same insurance providers they’re using to protect their family sedan. What makes that a bad idea? There are some major differences between yesterday’s classics and antiques and today’s grocery getters, and those differences could be costing you thousands.

What would you say spends more time on the road, your carefully restored classic beauty or your ten year old, four door family sedan? Your family car, of course! The more time your car spends on the road (whether you’re driving to and from work, to and from family or to and from a hot night on the town) the more likely you are to be involved in an accident. The more likely you are to be involved in an accident the more likely you are have to file auto insurance claims.

And the more likely you are to have to file auto insurance claims the more likely you are to cost your car insurance company money.

What does that mean for you as a classic car owner? It means that auto insurance policies designed for regular commuter vehicles are designed for cars that are at a much higher risk than the gorgeous Mustang convertible sitting out in your garage! The average commuter car travels 15,000-30,000 miles per year. The average collectible travels only 2,000. Owners tend to be considerably more careful with their collector’s cars, both at home and out on the highways. That makes them an insurer’s dream.

If you’re insuring your collectible car under the same policy you have on your regular family car, you’re probably paying way too much. You’re insuring against risks that are unlikely to ever manifest, and because of that you’re spending money you could be spending elsewhere-like on your next rehab. That’s why it makes more sense to go looking for a company that specializes in collectible cars when you’re looking for someone to insure your classic care.

These companies usually have very strict guidelines about how you must take care of your car and how much time you’re allowed to spend out on the road, but most of these are common sense guidelines that you’re probably following anyway. More importantly, these policies are specifically designed for collectibles and therefore are able to give you high quality coverage at much lower auto insurance rates.

As much as 20% or more, says the Tribune.

You want your baby protected, but you want to protect your financial resources while you’re at it. If you’re still insuring your classic car with a regular car insurance policy it’s time to talk to your insurance agent to see if they can offer you a better deal. Both you and your car deserve it.

Mike McDonough is a National Account Representative with QuoteScout.com. For more information on buying car insurance for your classic car, visit them on the web at http://www.QuoteScout.com.

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