Insurance Information

Auto Insurance Primer


What is auto insurance? Auto insurance (or car insurance, motor insurance) is insurance consumers can purchase for cars, trucks, and other vehicles. Its primary use is to provide protection against losses incurred. By buying auto insurance, depending on the type of coverage purchased, the consumer may be protected against:

* The cost of repairing the vehicle following an accident

* The cost of purchasing a new vehicle if it is stolen or damaged beyond economic repair

* Legal liability claims against the driver or owner of the vehicle following the vehicle causing damage or injury to a third party.

Liability insurance covers only the last point, while comprehensive insurance covers all three. Even comprehensive insurance, however, doesn't fully cover the risk associated with buying a new car. Due to the sharp decline in value immediately following purchase, there is generally a period in which the remaining car payments exceed the compensation the insurer will pay for a "totaled" (destroyed, or written-off) vehicle. So-called GAP insurance was established in the early 1980's to provide protection to consumers based upon buying and market trends. The escalating price of cars, extended term auto loans, and the increasing popularity of leasing gave birth to GAP protection. GAP waivers provide protection for consumers when a "gap" exists between the actual value of their vehicle and the amount of money owed to the bank or leasing company. In some countries including New Zealand and Australia market structures mean that people are more likely to buy a nearly new car than a new car so this is less of a problem.

In the United States, liability insurance covers claims against the policy holder and generally, any other operator of the insured's vehicle, provided they do not live at the same address as the policy holder and are not specifically excluded on the policy. In the case of those living at the same address, they must specifically be covered on the policy. Thus it is necessary for example, when a family member comes of driving age they must be added on to the policy. Liability insurance generally does not protect the policy holder if they operate any vehicles other than their own. When you drive a vehicle owned by another party, you are covered under that party's policy. Non-owners policies may be offered that would cover an insured on any vehicle they drive. This coverage is available only to those who do not own their own vehicle.

Generally, liability coverage does extend when you rent a car. However, in most cases only liability applies. Any additional coverage, such as comprehensive policies, i.e. "full coverage" may not apply. Full coverage premiums are based on, among other factors, the value of the insured's vehicle. This coverage may not apply to rental cars because the insurance company does not want to assume responsibility for a claim greater than the value of the insured's vehicle, assuming that a rental car may be worth more than the insured's vehicle. Some states, such as Minnesota, may require that it extend to rental cars. Most rental car companies offer insurance to cover damage to the rental vehicle. In some regions, the costs associated with not having access to the vehicle ("Loss of Use") is also covered.

More auto insurance information at auto insurance.


MORE RESOURCES:

Tampabay.com

Debates Rage in Tallahassee Over Insurance, Abortion, Prisons
WCTV
Several major issues were up for debate in Tallahassee on Tuesday, including property insurance, prisons and abortion. One of the top political targets in Tallahassee is Citizens Insurance, the state-run insurance company of last resort.
Florida homeowners file suit against Citizens InsuranceWink News
Citizens boosted home values to raise insurance premiums, suit saysTampabay.com
Spiking insurance rates prompts suit against CitizensSarasota Herald-Tribune
Palm Beach Post
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Chattanooga Times Free Press

Local Catholic leaders oppose birth control insurance requirement
Chattanooga Times Free Press
Supporters of the ruling point out that 28 states already require insurance plans to cover contraception if they cover other prescription drugs, although many states have broader religious exemptions than the new federal one. Tennessee does not have a ...
Midwest Voices | Catholic objections to birth control insurance benefits ...Kansas City Star
Government gets backlash from imposing birth control in health insurance plansWVLA-TV
Majority of Catholics support health insurance for birth controlOrlando Sentinel (blog)
PR Newswire (press release) -ThinkProgress -my.hsj.org
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MSU is requiring freshmen to have health insurance or join its plan
Detroit Free Press
By David Jesse If Michigan State University freshmen don't prove they have health insurance by the end of the month, the university will automatically enroll them in a plan and tack the cost onto their tuition bills. The state's second-largest public ...

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Customers seek access to MF Global insurance sums
Chicago Tribune
(Reuters) - Customers of MF Global's broker-dealer unit say at least $120 million in insurance policies for the company's executives should instead go toward filling a massive hole in their accounts. At least four customer groups on Tuesday objected to ...
MF Had $190 Million of Insurance for Corzine, ProfessionalsBusinessWeek

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Long-term care insurance: The long and short of it
Chicago Tribune
Little wonder that older Americans are investing in long-term care insurance. Nursing home costs are often cited when arguing in favor of long-term care insurance. "What long-term care insurance really does is give you choice and options," says Jesse ...
Connecticut Long Term Care Insurance Partnership Information Website LaunchedNewsReleaseWire.com (press release)

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Farm Futures

Crop insurance's growing value
News & Observer
News reports out of USDA's Risk Management Agency underscore that point all too clearly: With some 15 percent of all crop insurance claims yet to be processed, crop insurance companies have paid out a record $9.1 billion so far in indemnity payments to ...
Record Indemnities Underscore Value of Crop Insurance as Key ToolFarm Futures
Farm bill: 'Safety net' for farmers could be reshaped in 2012California Farm Bureau

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Officials say flood insurance important
In-Forum
FARGO – Officials say a decision to not renew flood insurance could have costly implications months before new flood-plain maps come out. FARGO – Officials say a decision to not renew flood insurance could have costly implications months before new ...
FEMA: More Facts About the National Flood Insurance Program (pt. 2)7thSpace Interactive (press release)

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Brockton City Council defeats health insurance changes
Wicked Local
The vote in the City Council's Finance Committee Monday night was a foregone conclusion about halfway into the two-hour debate on whether or not to adopt the state's municipal health insurance reform law in Brockton. If adopted, it would have given the ...
Brockton poised to be only third community to reject health insurance lawEnterprise News

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TomTom in insurance tie-up with Motaquote
Reuters
AMSTERDAM Feb 8 (Reuters) - Dutch navigation systems maker TomTom NV said on Wednesday it has teamed up with UK-based insurance firm Motaquote to offer an insurance product for drivers which links premiums to driver behaviour and safety.
TomTom Announces Ground-Breaking Insurance PartnershipMarketWatch (press release)
TomTom Enters Insurance Telematics Market in the UKGPS Business News

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County health insurance plan considered
nwitimes.com
VALPARAISO | The head of a Cincinnati-based health care consulting and benefit administration firm said he can save Porter County $4 million a year on its health insurance costs. The claim from Thomas Quigley of ClaimLinx came during a Porter County ...
Porter County Council examines health coverage for employeesPost-Tribune

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