Most of the time, comprehensive auto insurance covers pretty much every peril not covered by limited liability policies. That means that your property is covered whether or not you were at fault. Comprehensive policies also cover the property you keep inside your car or truck, so if someone breaks in, your belongings will be protected.

Is damage caused by road debris covered under my policy?

Damage caused by debris on the road–or even potholes or other defects with the road itself–can be more of a sticky issue. Often before your insurance company will reimburse you for damages, they’ll have to determine who is at fault. That could be the government, for failing to adequately maintain the road, or it could be another driver who failed to secure his load.

As soon as the damage occurs, contact your insurance agent and describe what happened. They’ll be able to tell you how to move on–and give you an idea of whether or not your policy covers damages from road debris.

Protecting yourself against road debris damage

When you’re buying insurance–or upping your coverage–you’ll want to pay specific attention to the types of physical damage coverage the policy offers. Most standard physical damage coverage includes damages caused by a collision with another vehicle (no matter who was at fault), a single-car accident (such as you losing control of the vehicle), and damages caused by driving over a pothole.

Comprehensive physical damage coverage usually pays for damages from non-vehicle-related causes, like hitting a deer, a falling tree limb hitting your car, road debris damage, or even random vandalism.

If you’re not sure what type of insurance you should invest in–or if you want to find out how much it would cost to invest in comprehensive coverage–take the time to compare quotes online, then talk to an independent agent about your options; they’ll be able to ask questions relating to your specific information to help you make the right choice.

Accidents happen every day in Newark, NJ. If you are involved in an accident that results in damage to your vehicle, you will probably want to file a claim. After the insurance company sends out an adjuster to appraise the damage to your vehicle, several things can happen.

You may receive a check for the cost of repairs. That check will be reduced by any deductible you may have on your collision coverage. Depending upon the amount of the settlement check, you may have to pay a portion of the repair cost out of your own pocket.

A second scenario might occur when a totaled car is declared by the insurance company. In such a case, it is determined that the cost of repairing the car will be worth more than the market value of the repaired car. While you may haggle a bit about the amount of the check, once you accept the settlement, the vehicle is no longer yours to keep. In most cases, the car is scrapped and you have to find another car if you want transportation.

A totaled car does not relieve you of any loan payments you have made or still owe on a financed vehicle. Your insurer has no responsibility to pay off your car loan. If you get $2,500 for your totaled car and owe $2,000 in payments, you must personally pay the loan company the $2,000. Once a car is declared to be totaled, you have to pay off the balance of the loan, even though you no longer have a car.

Cars depreciate in value and you may owe more on it than it is worth. An insurance company will never pay you more than the market value of your car to have it repaired after an accident. Remember, your name, and not the insurance company’s name, is on the contract with the finance company. They have no liability to the finance company, but you may.

A bad driving record means that it can be challenging to get the best rates available for your car insurance. Even though it can be possible to lower some rates with the help of a spouse who has a better driving record, you will still need to keep your name on a policy if you plan to drive the car.

Driving Without Coverage

Buying a new policy for your car under the name of your spouse may lower insurance rates due to the better driving record, but it also means that you cannot drive the car unless you also add yourself to the policy. The impact on the rates if you are listed as a secondary driver may not be enough to make it worth the effort of changing your current plan.

Driving without coverage for yourself may make your policy invalid since you live in the same house as the primary driver on the policy.

Listing as a Secondary Driver

Even though it is necessary to list your name on the policy as a secondary driver if you plan to drive the car, putting your spouse as the primary driver can help lower your rates, particularly if you do not drive regularly and the other individual has an excellent driving record.

As a driver who is listed on the policy, you will still have coverage if you are in an accident, but the amount that you pay may be reasonable.

A good driving record is essential if you want to have the best rates on your auto policy. Contact us to talk to an agent to learn more about reducing the cost of coverage and the options that are available.

When you get behind the wheel of your car and venture out onto the streets of Newark, NJ, you must always be in control of your vehicle. If you are driving in bad weather, you should slow down so you can maintain control of your vehicle. You should also make sure that your brakes are good and you can see out of your windows.

When you learned to drive, your instructor probably went over the importance of being a safe driver. You may not be able to control what other drivers do, but if you have control of your vehicle, you can avoid many dangerous situations. If someone cuts you off and you are alert and in control, you can avoid an accident.

Your car insurance rates may go up if you get into an accident and are cited for failure to avoid collision. When the police officer gives you a ticket, it is an indication that you may have been responsible for causing the accident. Of course, you have the absolute right to go to court and fight the ticket. At the same time, when you file a claim with your insurance company, they will investigate and come to a conclusion about who is liable for the accident.

A number of factors go into the decision by your car insurance company to raise your rates. If you have been a long-time customer and the accident was a minor one, they may not hit you with a higher premium. Being issued a failure to avoid collision citation is never a good thing. It can add points to your driver’s license and also indicate that you are not a safe driver. When you present a greater insurance risk, your car insurance rates may go up.

If you get the opportunity to borrow a friend’s car, chances are you don’t give a lot of thought to insurance. You have insurance, your friend has insurance–the car is covered, right? Well, it would be wise to familiarize yourself with some of the details of how automobile insurance works before you risk getting into a car accident with your friend’s car.

As a general rule, automobile insurance stays with the car, not the driver, so when you borrow your friend’s car, you’re driving on his insurance. This sounds great until a car accident occurs, then you have to start to worry about things like whether or not your own injuries are covered, how much the deductible is, and how long you may wait for a claim to be settled. In any case, your own insurance will be considered "secondary insurance" and may be used to cover any of the shortcomings of the insurance on your friend’s car.

There are some circumstances wherein your friend’s insurance won’t cover you at all. For instance, if you took your friend’s car without permission, it will be your car insurance that is on the line for damages from a car accident, not your friend’s. Similarly, if your friend considered you to be a questionable driver and specifically listed you as an exclusion on his policy (in states where this is allowed), you may not be covered by that policy and your own auto insurance would become primary.

If you borrow a friend’s car, their insurance is likely to be your primary coverage, but it’s best to have your own coverage just in case. If you have questions about your insurance or are in the market for new coverage, call us today. As your independent agent, we can give you the facts about car insurance and help you to find the right coverage and the best price.

Driving a classic car does not necessarily mean that your vehicle will qualify for a classic car insurance policy in Newark, New Jersey. In many cases, insurers will have strict standards that you must meet before they will cover your vehicle. The best way to get covered for a classic car is by identifying the rules that your insurer sets before you obtain coverage.

Limitations on Driving

When it comes to auto coverage for a classic vehicle, insurers may set a driving limitation to reduce the risk of an accident. Insurers may provide a set guideline for how many miles you are allowed to drive in a year.

In most cases, insurers will not offer coverage as a classic vehicle if you drive the automobile on a daily basis.

Storage Requirements

In some cases, insurers may ask that you store the vehicle in a private garage where it cannot be damaged by another individual. Some insurers may not require a private space, but may still ask that you store it in an enclosed space away from the elements.

The storage requirements may vary between insurers, so read through the details of a policy before you determine if you vehicle might qualify for coverage.

Exhibition Coverage

Insurers may offer coverage for exhibitions, but the details of your policy may vary if you take your vehicle to car shows. Depending on your plans, the insurer may require additional protection.

Finding the right insurance for your classic vehicle can depend on a variety of factors. Before you obtain a quote, make sure that your vehicle qualifies for coverage based on the insurer’s standards. Contact us to talk to an independent agent for more details about coverage requirements.