California law requires drivers to have a way to cover the costs associated with any type of injuries or damages they have caused in a vehicle accident. The easiest way to comply with this law is to have car insurance. Many people may just get the amount of coverage required. It’s possible this won’t provide a sufficient protection for them in many cases. A car accident attorney will recommend a person make an honest assessment of their situation and then try to get the best car insurance policy possible.
Traditional Car Insurance
In this situation, an insurance company will determine its auto insurance rates based on a number of personal factors. This includes such things as a person’s credit score, age, driving history, gender, where they live and more. Based on this information, a car insurance company will determine the level of risk associated with a driver. The greater the risk, the higher the car insurance rates. A car insurance company can sell a person the minimum required insurance. They can also offer various car insurance products.
Telematics Device
In California, insurance companies can offer usage-based insurance programs. Drivers are given a telematics device to place in their car. It will record all of a person’s driving habits. It could determine if a driver will qualify for per-mile insurance. There are also usage-based insurance rates determined by how much or how little a driver uses their vehicle. In both situations, an insurance company will also use personal factors to determine a driver’s insurance rates. The use of a telematics device does have the potential to save some drivers money on their car insurance premiums.
Review Current Insurance Policy
One of the first steps to choosing a car insurance policy is for a driver to review their current policy. It’s important they note the level of insurance as well as the amount they are paying for it. This will provide some goals when it comes to getting preferred coverage as well as the best possible insurance rates.
Check Driving Record
It’s easy for a person to forget a speeding ticket or something that didn’t seem like a big deal at the time. A person’s driving record will be used to determine their car insurance rates. Should someone have tickets or points on their record that will soon be removed, it is important they wait until this is done before getting insurance quotes.
Obtain Quotes
Once a person knows their personal driving needs and information, it’s time to present it to different insurance companies for a quote. Many people will ask friends or family members about insurance companies. A quote can be obtained using an online service or by directly contacting an insurance company representative. The amount of time required to receive a quote will vary between ten and twenty minutes. Many drivers who invest the time necessary to get multiple quotes have often been able to save hundreds of dollars.
Insurance Policies
It’s important to know an insurance company’s different rates for the coverages they provide. Knowing an insurance company’s payment policies is also essential. A driver should be aware of the payment plans offered by a company as well as any grace periods associated with making a late payment and more. All possible car insurance discounts should be explored. Insurance companies may give a discount for a person’s good driving record as well as the security and safety equipment on their vehicle and more. Some people get discounts if they have certain professional affiliations as well as certain occupations.
Check Insurance Company
A car accident attorney may recommend checking with the California Department of Insurance when choosing an insurance company. This is where it’s possible to get information on the reliability of a company as well as complaints brought against them and more. It’s also possible to get an independent rating of an insurance company from Weiss Ratings. Useful reviews from an insurance company’s customers are maintained by J.D. Power and Associates.
Review Information
This is the step when the costs, and coverage types, as well as coverage limits of different insurance companies need to be compared. The driver’s budget for car insurance will also be a consideration. A car accident attorney will recommend drivers confirm everything promised in an insurance quote is in the policy. The Insurance Consumer Advocate Network recommends checking if an insurance policy requires an auto repair business to use new factory parts or if aftermarket parts are acceptable. If an insurance policy requires only factory parts be used for repairs, a driver may want to think about this policy. If an auto repair business uses the wrong parts, the insurance company may be able to legally deny their claim.
Many people don’t take their car insurance serious enough until they have an accident. This is when they learn about their policy and insurance company. In some cases, it’s a good experience. Many people also find it an upsetting one. When someone believes they’re not getting fair compensation after an accident, it may be time to contact a car accident lawyer. They know how to review a person’s insurance policy and help them get what they deserve from their insurance claim and more.