Although auto insurance important, the price of auto insurance should not be determinative. It is especially important to check the extent of guarantees offered. Here’s how to outsmart the most common pitfalls.
It is not easy to navigate through the labyrinth of car insurance. Not a contract is like another and it is for everyone to choose one that best fits the needs and which, nevertheless, the best value for money.
Different forms according to needs and Tariff …
Automobile insurance, so coverage of the liability, so the damage we can cause when you are driving, has been mandatory since 1958. But insurers have enriched this basic formula of many other guarantees.
The first question is what exactly we want to cover. According to the insurance company or mutual that you go, it was, schematically, the choice between three levels of guarantees. Either in ascending order:
- The only coverage of the liability (RC). In this case, the insurance covers all harm and injury caused to others. However, the vehicle is not insured, nor are the injuries which the insured may be a victim when he’s wrong;
- Ensuring “damage collisions,” which offers, in addition to the RC, a series of guarantees for any damage to the vehicle, the insured is responsible or not the accident, provided that the third party is identified. If the insured is not responsible for the damage caused to his vehicle will be covered by the warranty RC Driver’s side;
- Finally, the phrase “all risks” for those who wish to be insured for all damage caused to their vehicle in case of accident or they would not responsibility.
The choice of one of these options depends on the value of the vehicle. There are no rules. If the vehicle has more than five years, an “all risks” is not necessarily required, particularly for small cars. But it can still be justified on the car more upmarket.
Franchises: important but not decisive
The deductible is an amount that remains the responsibility of the insured in case of damage. There may be more franchises in a contract of automobile insurance, for example, one for optical breakdown, the other for the theft of personal items, a third in case of damage to the bodywork.
Prices and the amount of the exemption should not alone determine the choice of the insured. It is essential, even if it is tedious to analyze the extent of guarantees offered.
Few contracts that do not franchise. They are either expressed as a percentage of damage, either standard. More information about Quotes check here on car insurance quotes.
Several factors account
Remember that the amount of the premium for motor insurance is based on several factors. These may be slightly different from one insurer to another.
In general, the following criteria are retained: the power of the car tax, the purchase price, its power and speed, place of residence parking the vehicle, the prior license and insurance (the famous bonus / malus) drivers of the vehicle, the number of drivers, possibly, the mileage each year and the profession as well as the main driver sex (women are considered less dangerous than men …), private use or professional vehicle or mixed use. Note that in the case of private use of an individual, the “Bonus-Malus’ moves at the end of each annual term insurance. Starting from the basic ratio is 1, the coefficient declined 5% in the event of the year without insurance claims. It increases by 25% responsible for each incident (12.5% in cases of partial liability) occurred during the year. The bonus is capped. The insurance premium may be reduced, at most, 50% and in the worst cases, increased by 250%.
Glass breakage: attention to exclusions
Vigilance is needed to guarantee the breaking of glass. A superficial reading of the contract suggests that all the windows of the vehicle are covered. But there are many exclusions vary from one insurer to another. Typically, the mirrors and the rear lamps are not covered. The owner of a car with a sunroof should be aware that the guarantee is not necessarily granted.
Do not confuse accessories and options
It should also check if the insurer covers the materials and, if so, to what amount. But we must not confuse options and accessories.
- The options of a vehicle are selected from the catalog and they are an integral part of the car and enjoy, as such, security damage.
- Accessories are, however, the additional factors that the insured installs itself. They are not always subject to an automatic guarantee. They are either excluded or covered provided they have opted for an additional warranty. Finally, they can be guaranteed with a certain ceiling.
Support: from home or from 50 km?
Some insurers boast of having a guarantee of assistance irréprochable. It plays in any place of the problem, even if outside the home. Other insurers may offer troubleshooting until a certain distance from home or place of usual car garage. The limits are often set at 25 or 50km.
Redemption value: a big discount
In case of theft or total destruction of the vehicle, the insured may also be surprised.
He must check from the time the refund amount, which is theoretically based on the value set by the expert. The discounts can be significant, especially if the car is new. Out of the garage, it loses 10% of its value, and nearly 20% during the first six months. Some insurers provide improved conditions for reimbursement for new vehicles (reimbursement based on the new value if at the time of the accident the vehicle had less than six months). Others offer an indemnity plus, for example, 10% for vehicles less than three, four or five years.
The security “driver” indispensable
The security driver has the advantage of providing security to the driver regardless of the circumstances of the accident. This warranty allows it to receive a lump sum or a pension for disability or per diem, or a lump sum in case of injury. Some insurers automatically include this coverage in their contracts that the insured has opted for the simple “liability insurance” or for “all risks”. Others have suggested that option, with an additional premium.
The geographical limitation guarantees
The car warranty is not universal. The vehicle is of course guaranteed in USA and other USA zone countries, but for some more distant countries, there may be limitations no warranties or guarantees. Prior to traveling with his vehicle, he should check his insurance certificate, known, yet, “Green Card” countries guaranteed. Failing to be covered in a country on holiday with his vehicle, it is possible to verify at the border or by contacting the embassy of the country visited.
So get your cheapest car insurance now and feel safe.
