Reader’s Question:

Hi, I reside here in Los Angeles, California and I heard about this low cost auto insurance program. What is this program and who are going to be qualified to join?

Gene

Los Angeles, CA

Authorities in the state of California introduced a new plan which is called the Low Cost Auto Insurance program for those who people have small profits so to make sure that each person could manage to pay for auto insurance. This plan would aid in decreasing the percentage of uninsured motorists on the road, while dropping the economic problem that a lot of auto insurance providers and insured motorists have been experiencing because of the large population of uninsured motorists on the road. Through the implementation of this program, California helps in making car insurance reasonably priced and available to all motorists, regardless of their income.

For you to be eligible for this program since you live in Los Angeles, California, you must be a driver in good standing, live in one of the accepted counties (which, by the way, Los Angeles county is included), have a family gross annual income of 250% or less than the federal poverty level and have a vehicle that is not worth than $20,000. To be able to be considered as “driver in good standing,” the conditions are:

–at least the age of 19 and have been driving for three successive years at least
–has no convictions on their driving history
–has no history of at-fault accident which involved bodily injury or death in the last three years
–has no more than one at-fault property-damage-only claim
–not a college student entitled as a dependent for federal or state income tax purposes
–could not have in effect auto liability insurance policy for another vehicle
–should prove that he/she has been always been licensed for 18 months in the US or Canada.

Tags: auto insurance, low cost auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

I have an outstanding auto insurance claim with my insurer here in Los Angeles, California. What can I do if I don’t agree with the settlements that they are presenting me?

Leandro

Los Angeles, CA

Aside from taking the matter to court, you have other choices if you do not agree with your auto insurance company in Los Angeles, California. You can either have mediation or an arbitration to resolve the issue. Arbitration will be more costly than mediation and the decision on arbitration is required while the judgment in mediation is just for counselling. But before deciding to go through a mediation or arbitration, you may very well talk to your insurance agent first and tell him/her that you’re not happy. If he/she can’t help you, your insurer might have a consumer complaint department that could come in handy.

The next thing that you could do is to provide evidence to your auto insurance provider regarding the reason why you are not contented. Just be certain that you have info and records to support your dispute. Then you may also go over your car insurance policy because it may have options there that your insurer may have evaluation service to help resolve any disputes. If you have already gone by the rules of your insurer to resolve disputes and you are still not happy, you can get in touch with the California’s insurance department because they may be able to help.

Tags: advice, auto insurance, auto insurance claims

Reader’s Question:

I have an auto insurance provider here in Los Angeles, California, and I was wondering if In the event I got myself hurt inside my vehicle, but not necessarily while the vehicle was on the road or being driven, would my auto insurance still cover me?

Smith

Los Angeles, CA

This is a very interesting question, whether or not your auto insurance provider there in Los Angeles, California would cover you for treatment of injuries while you were inside your vehicle, and your vehicle was just parked in the driveway or otherwise not being driven on the road, all depends on exactly how you got injured. If you look under your auto insurance agreement you will see that injuries arising from operation of your vehicle, use and maintenance would normally be covered under your insurance coverage. This particular coverage would normally be stipulated under the auto medical, Personal Injury Protection or No Fault Insurance coverage of your policy.

If the injury was self-inflicted, was not related to, or did not occur while operating or performing maintenance on the insured vehicle as determined by further investigations done by the auto insurance company, you probably won’t get covered by your auto insurance but you may be able to get coverage from a medical insurance policy, if you have one.

It may also be interesting to note that the same policies discussed above might not be the same should someone injures him or herself while inside your vehicle. If you manage to get someone injured while inside your vehicle and it was due to the operation or maintenance of your insured vehicle, the auto insurance provider may be able to give compensation or pay for treatment under the liability insurance coverage of your auto insurance agreement.

Tags: advice, auto insurance, auto insurance claims, car insurance, car insurance company

Reader’s Question:

Is it true that going to Driver’s Ed. Will give me discounts on my car insurance? If so, what kind of classes should I look for here in Los Angeles, California?

Raymond

Los Angeles, CA

Yes, Accredited defensive driving schools and institutions can definitely qualify you for some discounts towards your auto insurance rates there in Los Angeles, California. Now the amount and duration of the discount you get will vary between states but the aim is generally the same. The safer the driver you become, the less the chance of you filing for an insurance claim and the less expensive for the insurance company to provide you further auto insurance coverage, thus the savings are passed on to you.

Defensive Driving Courses or Lessons can usually be taken with your State Department Of Motor vehicles but then again there are a lot of local accredited schools in your area that you can choose as well. These courses are offered to the general public, without any virtual limitations on the students age. Once you get your certification, call up your insurance provider so they can process applying the discount immediately.

You should still get in touch with your insurance provider before you undergo such classes though. Each Insurance provider will have their own rules or policy on how and when you will be receiving the additional discounts on your car insurance premiums. You should get at least three years worth of discount with most auto insurance companies. Some can add the discount immediately while others might insist adding it at the end of your insurance term so get the details first to know what you will be expecting after taking the said classes.

Tags: auto insurance online, auto insurance premium, car insurance company, car insurance discounts

Reader’s Question:

I’m new here in Los Angeles, California and just got my first car. What should I look into for my first car insurance?

Julian

Los Angeles, CA

Congratulations for buying your first car. You must be very excited to take it around already. It will be to your advantage to have the necessary information about car insurance so you can get the best car insurance for your need. Before you go out and buy any car insurance you must first be knowledgeable about the minimum liability insurance coverage required by the financial responsibility laws in your state.

Liability insurance, by the way, is a type of coverage that pays anyone you may have injured in a car accident for any medical, hospitalization, economic loss as well as any legal fees or any other monetary obligations you may be required to pay in damages. In Los Angeles, California the minimum liability coverages would be 15/30/5. Up to $15,000 to be paid to each injured person per accident up to a maximum of $30,000 for all injured person per accident and then $5,000 for property damages per accident. It is recommended that you get a policy that would provide higher coverages since you can be sued for amounts far exceeding the state minimums.

Next, you would want to get Personal Injury Protection that pays for your medical expenses and treatment of your injuries, regardless who is at-fault in an accident. Collision insurance will pay for damages that your vehicle may have incurred. Comprehensive insurance is actually optional since it only covers loss due to non-car crash related damages.

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance premium, auto insurance quotes, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

I got my auto insurance here in Los Angeles, California for the heck of having one because my relatives said I should get one. But I learned that I can shop for insurance quotes for me to choose among insurance premiums with the same coverage. How will my auto insurance history matter when I shop for insurance quotes?

Melisa

Los Angeles, CA

Even if you do not have any reasonable grounds for having your current auto insurance policy there in Los Angeles, California, it is good that you keep a copy of that when you shop for auto insurance quotes. You can compare your existing insurance premiums with other quotes you get with the same coverage. With your current policy, at least you have an actual basis for comparison. But remember comparing the costs of insurance quotes with a significant difference in the amount of deductible, say $1000 and $500, means that these quotes also have very different premium payments.

The length of your subscription to an auto insurance policy provided to you by a single company also matters. Some insurance companies give discount opportunities to clients with five-year subscription to them. Some give discounts for as early as three years of subscription. You need to be familiar with this because if you are currently under an insurer for years, you can also compare the discounted rate you can get and the auto insurance quotes you shopped.

However, your auto insurance history does not matter that much at most during the time you shop for insurance quotes. But the importance of your current insurance policy and its history arise when you decided to actually subscribe for another policy.

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance quotes, car insurance policy

Reader’s Question:

I am up for a renewal on my car insurance here in Los Angeles, California and I have a different insurer for my home insurance. I’m not quite sure if there is something like a combined discount for having my home and car insured in one company. Also, do insurance companies have renewal discount for long-time customers?

Bob

Los Angeles, CA

You could be able to get a lot of savings if the insurance provider on all of your vehicles is the same insurance provider that covers your house. You may ask your current insurance company if they offer some kind of combined discount or what is commonly termed as multiple line discounts. This could lessen the premiums on your auto insurance and have your home insurance rates more affordable as well.

A lot of auto insurance providers also have renewal discount so it is very essential to make sure that you get that kind of discount also. This is a price reduction that is given to individuals who have been a constant customer of the same insurer for quite a while. Your current insurance provider in Los Angeles, California is fond of you if you have been with them for a number of years and you never had a single accident. Reflect on this: You pay your insurer a great deal of cash and they don’t have to do anything but just send you bills. Although they are prepared to do something in case you get involved in an accident, you never get into an accident. For that reason, they are so pleased and would like to have a continued business with you. A renewal discount is probably a great encouragement for you not to go with another company.

Tags: auto insurance discounts, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

Just got a new car for my hubby here in Los Angeles, California and I’m on the prowl for my car insurance. Do you have any suggestions on how to pick the best insurance provider out there?

Luisita

Los Angeles, CA

Dear Luisita. Congratulations on the new car! Now let us help you find a suitable car insurance policy for it. Please note that the best car insurance provider is not necessarily the biggest or cheapest, but how well they can provide you insurance options based on the type of car you have and the type of coverage you will need. So you have to be upfront with what you want to get from the start. Here are a few tips on how to spot car insurance provider that best suits your requirements.

Reputation
You’ll be investing both time and money to make sure your vehicle is financially protected. You have to make sure the company you’ll be choosing has a good track record of doing business. Consult California’s State Insurance Department or the BBB (Better Business Bureau) to get an idea of who you’ll be dealing with, insurance wise.

General or Specialist Insurance
This depends on what kind of car you own. If you have a classic, luxury or high-end performance vehicle then you may save more by getting insurance from a niche market or specialist insurance provider which can provide better rates and coverage options as compared to the general public insurance companies.

Compare and Compare Some More
The internet is a rich resource of information, more so in comparing insurance quotes online. Get at least five to seven quotes online before choosing a car insurance company to call up.

Tags: auto insurance, car insurance company, car insurance discounts, car insurance quotes

Reader’s Question:

I have never been in an accident and hopefully won’t ever be but no one knows what might happen. So in case of my car’s total loss due to an accident, how will my car insurance company here in Los Angeles, California determine the value of my car?

Neo

Los Angeles, CA

Car insurance companies say that they have three instruments to find out the value of a vehicle if it has been declared as “totalled.” These are computerized merchant quotes, value books and a market investigation of the local area. But the local area is not particularly specified and an auto insurance company could not be able to find a replacement vehicle within your locality. If an auto insurance company was able to come across a replacement vehicle out of your residing area, the assessment of your car’s value could be affected.

Since you live in the state of California, the amount of replacing your vehicle would be higher in the main cities than in the rural areas and suburbs. Your auto insurance provider in Los Angeles, California would take into account quotations from those suburban municipalities as practical estimates. Insurance companies say that their objective in totalling an automobile is to let the insured driver to buy, within their market, the same vehicle they lost in the accident. However, even if they state that they could use one, two or three instruments to find out the value of your vehicle, you may not be certain what value you will end up with.

Tags: auto insurance company, car, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

What’s the cheapest car insurance price range that is generally available? We have a car here in Los Angeles, California that we really wont be using much so we don’t want to spend too much on car insurance. Thanks!

Samantha

Los Angeles, CA

Hi Samantha, your question is very interesting. Regarding the lowest price range for car insurance, you may find insurance companies offering coverage for as low as $25 (but this probably has very limited coverage and for rural areas only). What you would want to know though is that the price of car insurance is not fixed. Auto Insurance rates differ based on factors such as where you live, your age, gender, the type of car you own, your credit and driving history and each insurance provider has their own way of determining price ranges based on who’s looking for insurance.

The best way to get the cheapest rate would be to compare quotes Online from four or five different insurance providers using the same information (running the same zip code etc.,). Most Online insurance portals will give you the best rates available since they come direct from the insurers (they wont have to pay commissions to insurance agents).

Please do understand that even if you feel that you don’t have to spend so much on insurance coverage for your vehicle there in Los Angeles, California you may still wish to get reasonable comprehensive insurance coverage to cover against loss due to events such as calamities, natural disasters, theft or vandalism. Your car is still an asset, you paid for it, so you want to protect at least the amount of money you paid for it.

Tags: car insurance