Car Insurance Archives

Insurance Companies Canceling Policies Might Not Be a Bad Thing

I saw a segment on the news recently that highlighted a family whose insurance company had canceled their renters’ insurance policy. The family in question filed two claims against their policy over the holidays after burglars broke into their home before Christmas and again just before New Year’s. As a result, their insurer dropped them. Of course, the timing was horrible, and the local media covered the story exhaustively. But I’m glad the insurance company canceled their policy, and you should be happy, too. Here’s why: What are the odds of a family having two robberies in such a short span of time? It’s very unlikely. In fact, such unusual circumstances are strong warnings of potential fraud. And while I don’t … Read more

What to Do When Your Car Insurance Becomes Unaffordable

by Hank Coleman

Tips to Use When You Can't Afford Car Insurance

Accidents happen, but some accidents are more expensive than others. When it comes to multi-thousand dollar vehicles and the physical safety of other people, accidents can be downright unaffordable, even with decent auto insurance. Can you afford car insurance? Can you not afford to have it? If you were recently at fault for a car accident – even if you have years of clean driving records to prove it was a one-time incident – you will likely experience an increase in your premiums if the person you collided with decides to file a claim. As the DMV points out, there are many different factors that influence auto insurance rates, including your car’s year/make/model, your age, and your credit history. Gender … Read more

Top 7 Car Insurance Myths You Need to Know

by Hank Coleman

There are a lot of car insurance myths that continue to be spread around by consumers. One of the biggest reasons for car insurance myths is that you do not exactly know how your car insurance is calculated by your insurance company. These calculations are a closely guarded secret by most car insurance companies, but there are a few clues as to what makes our car insurance rates rise. It is important when you compare car insurance rates to understand as much as you can about how your car insurance rates are calculated and to debunk the popular car insurance myths in order to ensure that you are saving money on car insurance as much as possible. Top 7 Car … Read more

Should You Work for a Rideshare Company Like Uber or Lyft?

by Hank Coleman

What You Need To Know of Becoming a Lyft or Uber Rideshare Driver

There are hundreds of thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers in the U.S. (amongst other drivers working for smaller rideshare companies), and the demand for their services continues to grow each year. Have you ever thought of becoming a Lyft or Uber rideshare driver?

Whether you’ve used Uber or Lyft for a ride before and now you want to try it from the driver’s side or you’ve been looking for a relatively easy way to make a side income, there are several things you should consider before signing up to work for a rideshare company.

Becoming a Lyft or Uber Rideshare Driver

Are You Eligible to Drive for Uber or Lyft?

Not everyone with a car can sign up to drive for Uber or Lyft. Rideshare drivers harming their passengers is a relatively rare occurrence but nevertheless something that happens enough times to warrant a few restrictions on who can sign up to be a driver.

Uber’s driver requirements are similar to Lyft’s driver requirements in that you must be 21 years old to drive (Lyft requires its drivers to have had active licenses for at least one year) and you must pass a basic background check (Lyft also checks your DMV record for driving-related incidents).

Vehicle requirements for Uber are pretty simple: your registration must be kept up-to-date and your vehicle must be 2000 or newer (2005 or newer for select cities). You should also keep your vehicle clean and well-maintained for your passengers.

Vehicle requirements for Lyft include: the car must be 2004 or newer (2006/2007 or newer in some major cities), it must have four functional doors, all seat belts must be functional, the tires must have enough tread, the A/C and heat must work, and more.

Deliver Food as an Uber Driver

Working as an Uber driver is a great way to earn a little extra money. But, if picking up strangers isn’t your favorite idea, then you may want to consider picking up their food instead.

UberEATS is a great program that’s gaining steam around the country. You make money by bringing food directly to people from the restaurants around town that they love. Depending on the laws where you live, you may be able to deliver with your car, bike, or scooter.

Here’s how you can sign up and make money as an UberEATS delivery driver.

The Auto Insurance Dilemma

Working for a rideshare company with only personal auto insurance is generally a huge no-no. If your insurance company finds out before you disclose your new gig as a Lyft or Uber driver, they could cancel your insurance policy.

Luckily for Uber drivers, you have access to the company’s commercial insurance policy while you have passengers in your car. When you’re offline, Uber doesn’t cover you at all. But once you turn on your Uber app to start finding passengers, total liability coverage of $100,000 per incident ($50,000 for injury and $25,000 for property damage as well) kicks in.

\Once you accept a passenger’s request for a ride and drive to pick them up, insurance coverage of up to $1 million for liability, $1 million for uninsured/underinsured motorists, and collision and comprehensive auto insurance (with a $1,000 deductible) cover you as a registered Uber driver. This insurance covers you for the duration of the ride until you drop off your passengers (at which point the $100,000 total liability coverage replaces the $1 million coverage until your next passenger).

Save Money Car Insurance Shopping for Teen Drivers

by Jeremy

If you have a new teen driver, you are probably a little bit worried for a myriad of reasons. You are concerned for your child’s safety first and foremost, but be honest.

You are also worried about your car and your premium. Unfortunately, adding an inexperienced motorist will raise your bill, but there are plenty of steps you can take to lower that monthly payment. Get ready to contact your local Marietta car insurance agent and ask a few questions about the firm’s discounts and policies.

How To Save When Car Insurance Shopping for Teen Drivers

1. Good Report Cards

Most companies offer discounts for good grades. Normally, students will receive financial breaks as long as they keep their GPA up and show an official transcript to the agent. This rule applies to high school and college students alike.

As long as the driver is a full time student, he or she should have no problem getting an academic discount. You don’t have to worry about taking a hit when your child starts taking advanced courses either. All you need is a B average.

2. Report if Your Teen Leaves for School

Especially, if your teen will be living without a car, let your local Marietta car insurance agent know when your child relocates to college or boarding school. The company will likely give a rate to reflect the fact that the young driver will be behind the wheel much less frequently.

Taking The Mystery Out Of A Car Insurance Claim In 5 Steps

by Hank Coleman

People tend to take their car insurance for granted until it comes time to file a car insurance claim. At this point, drivers need the mystery behind the claims process to be unveiled quickly.

People often feel nervous and uncomfortable making claims because they do not know exactly what the whole thing entails. Some parts of the process can vary depending on the state, the nature of your accident, and the company.

Taking The Mystery Out Of A Car Insurance Claim

However, by familiarizing yourself with the typical experience of the average insured motorist, you can ensure that the process goes smoothly and that you will get the most out of the policy for which you have been paying. Whether you have to file a car insurance claim while holding onto your SR-22 insurance or your standard premium policy, the following 5 steps will demystify the claim process for you.

Get All the Relevant Information

It is extremely likely that you will be filing a car insurance claim because you have been involved in an accident with another vehicle. In order to have the data necessary to file a claim, you must be sure that you collect the license plate number of all cars involved in addition to the other driver’s insurance information. It is also wise to get phone numbers from the other drivers in case additional information is needed.

Make the Situation Cut and Dry

It is important to gather contact information for any witnesses and collect the information necessary to have access to any police reports that may be made concerning the accident. It is likely that the insurance company will ask for such information in order to verify which driver was actually at fault before they will make any payouts on any subsequent claims that are being filed. The party at fault can have a major bearing on the dollar amount that your insurance adjuster is willing to sign off in regard to your car insurance claim.