Car Insurance -- Clarifying It

By buying a car insurance policy, you are entering into a contact with the insurance company. Under the contract, the insurance company agrees to pay your losses if your car meets with an accident. In exchange, you agree to pay the premium.

Car insurance provides property, liability and medical coverage. In case of damage to or theft of your car, property coverage will pay for the losses. The liability coverage will pay for your legal responsibility for bodily injury or property damage caused by your car.

The medical coverage will pay for the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses.

Most car insurance policies are valid for six month to a year. When the validity is over, you must renew the policy.

State laws mandate that your have some form of car insurance if you own or operate a car.

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The penalty for driving a car without insurance varies from state to state. Some states impound your car. Some states impose heavy fines. If your car is involved in an accident without insurance, the consequences can be serious. You will have to pay out of your own pocket for any injuries or damages.

Your credit history, the age and type of your car will play an important role in determining the rate you have to pay for car insurance.

As the owner of a car, you are responsible for providing insurance for the car, no matter who is operating the car. It is illegal for cars to be operated without insurance.

Finally, a few savings tips...

1. Getting married will bring down your rate by a huge margin. Insurers have statistical data that show that people are less reckless and much more careful on the road when they get married. Furthermore, as a group, their claims are usually less both in number and average cost per claim.

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2. Your rates will jump through the roof if you modify your car. If you want to impress your friends with those extra special features like bigger types than the manufacturer's specification, then be prepared to pay a lot more. So if you're really serious about keeping your rate down, leave your car the way it was manufactured.

3. Before you get carried away with the few hundreds you will save on a house, check if it will not cost you much more in auto insurance. Do you know also know that homes within the same neighbor might actually fall into different risk zones according to the insurance industry's mapping?

Therefore, take your time to ask your agent what effect your new zip code would have on your rates before you make that down payment. This doesn't come readily to mind when you're shopping for a new home. Does it?

Remember, you might live in this home for up to 20 years or more. If its location makes you pay up to $200 more in premium, that will add up to $4,000 within that time frame.

4. If you must quickly get something inside, turn your car off, lock up and pocket your keys. Don't leave your car unlocked and running. This simple act makes it very easy for thieves. Car thieves are known to go for easy targets. An unlocked car with the engine running? What could be easier?

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5. As an under 25, you can pay cheaper car insurance rates if you use your parents' policy. Your parents certainly belong to a lower risk age group.

To take advantage of this though, you'll have to live with your parents and also have the car registered in their name. This means that they legally own the vehicle. If the benefits of "independence" outweigh your car insurance savings then this is certainly not an option for you.

6. You can lower your auto insurance premium by obtaining and comparing quotes from at least five reputable insurance quotes sites.