The laws covering car insurance vary from state to state. However, there are many general laws that are followed by most. The most important is the requirement to have insurance. It is against the law to drive or own a motor vehicle that is not insured.

Insurance protects you from liabilities that may arise from a car accident. If you don’t have insurance, then you are liable for any damage that you may cause; and that can be very costly. In addition to the damages you may have to pay for, you will most likely get yourself into some legal trouble as well. In most cases, you will receive a ticket for driving without proof of insurance.

If you plan on financing a vehicle or leasing one, you won’t be able to do so without insurance. Since the bank holds an interest in the vehicle, they will not loan you the money if they are not protected from liabilities. The lenders will also most likely have minimum requirements of insurance coverage. Sometimes this may be more than your states minimum requirements.

Many carriers offer a “persistency” or renewal discount, which rewards you for maintaining continual insurance coverage.  If you allow your policy to lapse, you can lose eligibility for this discount and will pay a higher rate.

So if you’re caught without the minimum required insurance; be prepared to pay fines, possibly do some community service, pay higher rates and even pay for damages caused. It is never a good idea to not carry insurance, no mater what the reason. If you can’t afford car insurance there are other ways to get around. Try to take the bus, the train, walk or get a ride from a friend or co-worker.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein.  No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

It’s very important to prepare your teen driver for getting their driver’s license. A study conducted by the National Highway Safety Administration showed that 16-24 year olds account for 25% of overall traffic deaths. This is a scary statistic. However, as a parent there are many things you can do to teach your teen driver how to be safe and responsible on the road.Many teens feel empowered when they receive their license and do not realize the responsibility that comes along with it. Often teen drivers look at driving as a social event. This type of attitude can lead to bad driving habits and ultimately lead to traffic accidents.

Here are some tips to help educate your teen driver and make their driving experience safer for everyone.

-Limit Distractions. Nowadays there are too many distractions for drivers. These include making a call, sending text messages, listening and changing songs on your iPod, talking to friends, eating, applying makeup and much more. Create a driving environment for your teen that excludes anything that can be a potential distraction.-Is your teen driver mature? Just because they reach the state minimum age required to obtain a drivers license, doesn’t mean they should automatically get one. If your teenager is not mature enough to handle the responsibilities of driving; then it is best to wait until they are.-Lead by example. Most teen drivers inherit their driving skills from their parents. —–They’ve spent the first 16 or 17 years of their life being a passenger in your car. It is very likely they will pick up your driving habits, good or bad.

-Stay involved. Just because your teen driver has passed the test and received their drivers license does not mean they are expert drivers. They still have a lot of learning to do. Stay actively involved in teaching and monitoring their driving skills.

-Make them earn it. Involving your teen driver in the finances of owning and driving a car is a great way to teach them the responsibility of driving. If they did not get a car, or pay for it if they did, have them contribute to car insurance payments and gas money.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein.  No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

This has been a hot topic amongst lawmakers for a bunch of years now. In some states, laws have been passed prohibiting drivers from talking on their handsets while driving their vehicle. Some states have complete restriction of cell phone use while driving and some are more lax.

In 2001, New York was the first state to prohibit cell phone use while driving. A few years after more states followed the lead and enacted the same strict laws. Those states include Connecticut, New Jersey, the area of Washington D.C. and beginning July 1, 2008 California. Aside from these states which have full bans, many states have partial bans and a handful of states are currently debating legislation.

Driving while using your cell phone can be very dangerous. Unfortunately, most states have not adopted a cell phone driving policy. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, motorists who drive while using their cell phones are four times more likely to be involved in an accident.

If you have to drive and use your cell phone, here are some tips to make it safer for you and everyone else on the road:

-Get familiar with the functions of your phone so you are not distracted trying to find buttons
-Only use it when absolutely necessary
-If you must use it, use a hands-free kit
-Let the person on the other end of the phone know that you are driving
-If possible, pull over to the side of the road to talk
-Don’t engage in emotional conversations while driving
-If you have to use your cell phone; don’t engage in any other distraction
-If you have a passenger, ask them to make or take the call for you
-When not in use, keep your phone in a safe and secure spot in your vehicle in case of an accident or sudden stop, so it does not become a flying object

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein.  No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

The average price in the U.S. today for a gallon of regular gas is $4.10. All drivers have been feeling the economic impact resulting from these record gas prices. As a result, people are thinking of new ways to reduce their driving and save on fuel costs.

Many people are carpooling, walking, switching to public transportation, scooters or bikes to combat the high prices. As a result of these changes, you may actually be able to reduce your auto insurance rates. The less you drive your car, the less likely you are to be involved in an accident. If you reduce the amount of miles you drive per week, you may fall into a lower rate bracket. It all depends on your insurance company’s rating system.

The fact is that if people are driving less, no matter what the reason, less accidents will happen. If you look back at the energy crisis in 1979-1980, studies show that amount of auto claims was drastically reduced. This was a result of drivers being resourceful and minimizing the time they spent behind the wheel. Even after the crisis was over, there was still a long period of decline in claims. It will be interesting to see if that trend holds true in today’s world. Although people are cutting back, will they continue on this trend as prices possibly get lower or alternative fuel methods become more mainstream?

So if you are feeling the crunch at the pump and are looking for other ways to save; check with your agent to see if you qualify for a reduction on your auto insurance premium by driving less.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein.  No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.

Airbags are designed to save lives. When a vehicle is involved in an accident, sensors automatically measure the impact. If the crash is severe enough, these sensors will send a signal that inflate the bags and cushion the occupants. This all happens in a fraction of a second.

Although airbags are designer to prevent and limit injuries; there have been instances where an airbag has injured occupants. Most injuries caused by airbags are minor scrapes and bruises. In an effort to reduce injuries arising from airbag deployment; the Federal government started allowing manufacturers to reduce the energy of force in which frontal airbags are employed, without sacrificing the effectiveness.

There are certain measures a motorist can take to avoid an airbag related injury. For drivers, it’s recommended to sit with your chest at least 10 inches away from the center of the steering wheel. However, as technology advances, manufacturers are developing new airbags that sense where the driver is sitting and deploy accordingly. If the driver is sitting closer than 10 inches, the airbag would deploy with less force. If you have an older vehicle without this feature, you can purchase pedal extenders which would allow you to sit a bit further away from the steering wheel.

It is also important when traveling with children and infants to take extra precautions to reduce their risk of being injured by an airbag. Never sit your infant, especially with a child seat, in the front. This would put the infants head too close to the airbag, possibly resulting in an unnecessary injury. Rear seats are always best for children and infants. If for some reason you are traveling with many children and one must sit in the front; make sure the oldest child is the one sitting there. Have the child sitting in the front sit with the seat as far back as possible.

Airbags are safety measures that have saved so many lives over the years. To be extra safe, make sure to follow these recommendations next time you get in your vehicle.

This content is offered for educational purposes only and does not represent contractual agreements. The definitions, terms and coverages in a given policy may be different than those suggested here and such policy will be governed by the language contained therein.  No warranty or appropriateness for a specific purpose is expressed or implied.