Financial Future

One of the things that the consumers may not really contemplate, but do expect, is that their auto insurance will cover the cost of a replacement car when their automobile is being replaced. Many auto insurance policies actually do not provide for this automatically. If you are at all dependent upon your car, it is vital that you make sure that this type of coverage is included. Rental cars are not cheap!

How do you tell if you have this kind of auto insurance coverage for automobile or RV? First, you need to look at your car insurance policy. The language you are looking for refers to something called “loss of use.” What is loss of use coverage? As the name suggests, loss of use coverage refers to the expenses for transportation while your automobile is in being repaired or replaced. In more practical terms, this simply means that you have coverage for a rental car. Indeed, many people including those in the auto insurance business refer to this clause of the car rental coverage clause.

Buying loss of use auto insurance with the car policy is definitely something you want to do. The idea of buying more car insurance coverages and auto insurance quotes probably is one of the least favorite things for most people. That being said, going for days without your car is far worse. Most of us drive to work and home. Most of us need our cars just to get around to find basic things like food. You really don’t realize how dependent you are on a car until you don’t have it. If you don’t believe me, try a simple little test. Lend your car to a friend one morning and tell them not to bring it back till the end of the day. I guarantee that you’ll be going batty by noon!

Loss of use automobile insurance is simply worth its weight in gold. It may not seem like it now, but it will when you suddenly need to get around and your car is in the shop. Paying for a turist car for tour or turizm with your own money for more than a few days is an extremely expensive proposition. Paying 10 to 20 bucks a year extra on your car insurance to get loss of use coverage is definitely a better deal. Do it!

Do you know the laws in your state? Nearly all states require that drivers carry a minimum amount of auto liability insurance. That includes Utah. State minimum auto insurance liability coverage is generally quite low which, for most, means it is very affordable.

There is really no excuse not to have it, and why wouldn’t you? When you consider the degree of seriousness of many of the nation’s auto accidents, the costs of treating injured people from these events can be staggering. Even a short stay in a hospital without surgeries and advanced procedures can run into the tens of thousands of dollars. With the minimum amounts of liability coverage as low as ten thousand dollars, these amounts are hardly adequate.

Besides your home state requiring you to carry it, you need Utah auto insurance to make sure that if you cause an accident, you can afford to pay for the damage you caused. In addition to the basic liability coverage, you also may want to include Comprehensive (Comp) and Collision – coverage that ensures you can replace or repair your vehicle in the event it is damaged. Although states don’t require Comp & Collision, the bank that loaned you the money to buy that shiny new car probably will. With a new car and a whopping loan to go along with it, you won’t want to be out a vehicle when it is wrecked and still be responsible for making a payment on a worthless pile of scrap metal in the junk yard.

So the three main reasons to get Utah auto insurance are:

1. It’s the law in most states. Hefty fines, loss of your license and even jail time can result if you’re caught without auto insurance.

2. You will set yourself on a clear path to bankruptcy without coverage if your unintentional actions behind the wheel cause injury or death to another human being. Causing property damage with your vehicle could also land you in the poor house if you don’t carry Utah auto insurance.

3. You need to protect your hardware investment and the loan you acquired to make that investment. In other words, you’ll still be responsible for getting from point A to point B when you don’t have your car. And likewise, the bank will expect that you’ll continue to make the payments as well.

Utah auto insurance is a must-have. We should all consider ourselves lucky that most states require auto insurance coverage and that there are insurance companies around to absorb the risk.

Finance.Quandas.com. “Why do I need auto insurance?” QandAs: Finance. 5 Oct. 2009 [http://finance.qandas.com/insurance/why-do-i-need-auto-insurance.html].

State law requires drivers to carry automobile insurance. Not doing so is a violation of the law and subjects the driver to fines. If you have allowed your auto insurance coverage to lapse, you can expect to pay more for your replacement insurance. It may be difficult to find a Utah auto insurance company willing to provide coverage, but it’s not impossible. Here are a few things to consider when looking for auto insurance after a lapse in coverage. Understand what a lapse in automobile coverage is. A lapse in coverage occurs when you do not have automobile insurance on a registered vehicle. Regardless of whether the vehicle has been garaged at your home and not driven or used every day, if it is registered for use on public roads and you don’t carry the state-mandated liability insurance, it is considered a lapse. If you surrendered your license plates to the Department of Motor Vehicles and subsequently canceled your coverage, that is not considered a lapse. Search for a new insurance company. Many Utah auto insurance companies will not want to insure you because of the lapse in coverage. They consider you a high-risk driver. You might have to approach assigned risk insurance companies to secure coverage. Every state has a pool of insurance companies that must provide auto insurance for difficult to insure drivers. Visit the Department of Insurance in your state for a listing of assigned risk insurance companies. Tell the truth on your auto application. The Department of Motor Vehicles is notified every time there is a lapse of insurance coverage. When completing the application for new insurance, tell the truth about the coverage lapse. Don’t make a bad situation worse. Lying on your application is grounds for the Utah auto insurance company to void (not cancel) your coverage. Voided coverage means that the policy is erased as if it were never in effect. That can prove to be damaging if the void happens a few months into the policy term. Expect to pay high premiums. In addition to fines imposed by the state for violating Utah auto insurance laws, look to pay high premiums on your next auto insurance policy. Insurance companies penalize drivers who have allowed their policies to lapse. Maintain a good driving record and keep automobile coverage in effect. If you maintain your coverage and keep a clean driving record, you become a better risk and stand a better chance of finding Utah auto insurance in the standard auto insurance market. If you can afford it, pay the entire year’s auto premium up front to avoid the chance of missing payments and avoid a cancellation for nonpayment of premium. eHow. “How to Get Auto Insurance After a Lapse in Coverage.” Cellina LaForey. 30 Dec. 2009 [http://www.ehow.com/how_5747807_auto-insurance-after-lapse-coverage.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art].

To break the declarations page down further, we’ll discuss each aspect presented on the page, and this is done in no particular order, meaning your declarations page may or may not have the same information in the same order listed here. First we’ll mention the auto insurance company’s information on the page. The declarations page will have the name of the insurance company, as well as their contact information including a phone number and address. If you need to contact the company, the information is readily available here and also on the insurance card that you should have somewhere in your car in case it is immediately needed.

Next, you should find your policy number. Your policy number is a way the auto insurance company can identify you without using your name. This lessens confusion as there is typically more than one client sharing the same first and last names. A policy number can include numbers and letters together, or just numbers. You will need to know your policy number any time you want to contact the insurance company. You can also find your policy number on the insurance card.

Information regarding the coverage you have purchased is also included in the declarations page. The coverage you purchased will include the minimal requirements provided by your state, as well as any additional coverage options you felt the need to purchase. Bodily injury liability, property damage liability, personal injury protection, and uninsured motorist bodily injury may be some of the coverage options you purchased that will be listed on the declarations page. Read more about automobile premiums and policies in Auto Car Insurance Premiums section of author’s site.

The cost of each coverage you purchase for your auto insurance policy will also be listed on this page. The price of your policy is determined by individual factors, including the cost of coverage you added to your policy. If you carry additional coverage options past the state’s requirements, you can look at these “extra” options and decide if they fit into your budget, or if you can add more coverage for added protection.

Your deductible amounts may also be listed in the declarations page. A deductible amount is the amount of money you are willing to pay, out-of-pocket, when you make a claim to the auto insurance company. Any time you file a claim and expect the insurer to cover an accident-related cost, the insurer requires you to pay upfront a deductible. This amount can range from $250, to $1,000 or higher. The lower deductible you choose for your policy, the more expensive your policy premium will be.

Look for the policy periods on the declarations page to find out when your coverage begins and when it ends. You should also be aware that you have the option with the insurer to automatically renew your policy when it expires. This helps to avoid any time period of not carrying auto insurance, known as a policy lapse. It is illegal to drive a vehicle without proper auto insurance so it is vital that the policy always be in effect.

You will also notice your information, or the policyholder’s information, listed on the declarations page. Your name, address, and phone number will be listed on the page. It will also have information regarding the vehicle(s) you have insured with the company, such as the year, make and model of each vehicle. Always keep this information up-to-date with the auto insurance company so they can contact you easily with any questions they have or information they need.

You may think the declarations page is just one more nagging piece of paperwork, but in actuality it is the most important piece of paper that you have for your auto insurance. You will need to review your declarations page every time your policy renews to make sure no coverage was accidentally dropped or so you know your information is correct. Don’t disregard your declarations page as it comes in the mail or think of it as worthless because you think you already know what coverage is on your auto insurance policy.