Liability Car Insurance Coverage for California
Reader’s Question:
I have California liability auto insurance. What sort of coverage does liability insurance has?
Isaac
San Francisco CA
If you have the California liability auto insurance you have coverages that cover others that you may cause damage or harm to in case of an accident that is your fault. Liability insurance though coverage does not provide you any coverage if your vehicle is damaged. Optional coverage of comprehensive and collision covers your car less the deductible you choose, in case of an accident regardless of whos at fault.
California liability auto insurance covers damage your vehicle does to others, damage for which you are legally responsible. If you do not have liability insurance you will need to pay the damages out of your own pocket.
Liability coverage is the foundation of a car insurance policy that is being required in most states. States differ when it comes to required minimum amount liability insurance. Typically states require
- Liability coverage of Bodily Injury (BI) and
- Property Damage (PD).
California liability auto insurance pays for any bodily injury and property damage expenses as well as your legal bills, medical bills and lost wages of the person you injured.
Easiest Way to Shop for Car Insurance in California
Reader’s Question:
Seems like my search for car insurance here in California is such a tiring experience. What is the easiest way for me to shop for my coverage?
Carlo
Fresno, CA
The easiest way to look for your car insurance coverage in California is by going online. This process can definitely save you money, which, of course, what everyone wants. If you go online, you can save a lot of your time if you get multiple California car insurance quotes from a comparison quotes Website. You can simply submit your information at one Website and they will forward your information to various car insurance providers.
Once those car insurance providers get your details, they would provide you California car insurance quotes. This would let you look at the quotes side by side and select a quote that you think is the best for your situation. When you have chosen a car insurance provider, they would get further information from you. During this time, they would provide you a fixed quote for your car insurance. If you strongly think that you already have the best quote for you, you have to grab it at once because it might not be available anymore after a certain period and you need to apply for car insurance once more if the time runs out.
By the use of the Internet, you will realize that it’s the easiest way to search for the most affordable car insurance that you are eligible for. By acquiring an online car insurance quote, you would be able to save time, money and do away with the hassle of spending hours on the phone just to get the best deal.
Types of California Vehicle Insurance
Reader’s Question:
I have a new car and within days I will be shopping for an insurance policy for it. What are the various types of California vehicle insurance that I can choose from?
Sam
Los Angeles, CA
You have a lot of car insurance choices to pick from. Your choice of California vehicle insurance depends on the needs of your vehicle or your budget. If you have enough money to spend, you might want to get a comprehensive vehicle insurance. This is the most expensive but the most complete type of vehicle insurance in California. Simply put, it protects your vehicle against all types of damages- from collisions, theft, or property damage. You will have no worries about the expenses your car will incur when it gets involved in an accident if you avail of comprehensive vehicle insurance.
Another type of California vehicle insurance you can avail is bodily injury liability. This will pay for damages and medical expenses of a person who gets injured as a result of an accident which was your fault. You can also get a property damage insurance which pays for the expenses of a property that was damaged due to an accident you are at fault.
Auto Insurance: Is my Friend Covered if He Drives my Car?
Reader’s Question:
I share a flat with a friend here in California. He usually borrows my car if his is being repaired. What if he gets involved in a wreck? Will my auto insurance cover it even if he’s not listed in my policy?
Julie
San Francisco, CA
In most accident cases and in most states, (that’s including California) when the person behind the wheel is not the owner of the motor vehicle, it’s the car owner’s insurance provider who usually pays for the losses. These include the cost of hospitalization and medical expenses to treat injuries sustained by the parties involved in the accident, and also include the cost of repair or replacement of the other motorist’s car. To cover repair or replacement costs on your own vehicle, you would need to have collision or comprehensive coverage in your policy. If it so happens that you do not have sufficient liability insurance coverage to cover for the medical and repair costs, your friend’s separate car insurance policy may cover any amount remaining. If on the other hand you do not have any auto insurance coverage, your friend’s insurer may cover all the cost. So, there’s really no need to have your friend listed under your policy. But just to be on the safe side, make sure that your friend does have auto insurance and that you both have collision or comprehensive coverage in your auto insurance policies. In an accident, it’s not just the other guy’s car that gets damaged.
What Car Insurance Coverage Options Are Available In California?
Reader’s Question:
What other car insurance coverage can I purchase that is available in the state of California that will be a benefit to me?
Mark
Thank you for asking Mark.
Other coverage that you can purchase aside for the state minimum liability coverage are:
Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist
This provides an insurance if the other driver that is at fault does not have the required minimum liability coverage or insufficient policy to cover injuries in the event of an accident. This also covers any damages on your car.
Other optional coverage that is being offered by most insurance companies are:
Medical Payments
This covers any medical bills and any similar expenses
Physical Damage
Collision coverage covers damages to your vehicle caused by collision to another vehicle or with any object regardless who is at fault. Comprehensive coverage covers any damage to your vehicle other than collision like fire, theft, vandalism, acts of nature, etc.
Endorsement/Riders
This covers special equipments, towing service fees, and rental reimbursement.
These coverage are optional. You can add this to your insurance premium to get you fully protected and saves money in the future.
Goodluck!
MariCAR
Which Vehicle Makes Are More Expensive To Insure?
Your car insurance premium should be on your mind before, during, and after you have bought your vehicle from the car lot. Before hand, you need to check quotes, during you need to make sure you choose the right car, and after you need to get your coverage from the best car insurance company.
When you are buying a car, you will need to get comprehensive and collision car insurance coverage, and the latter of those two coverage options is more expensive the more likely your car is to be vandalized or stolen. Every insurance company bases its premiums on its own claims records, and you will only be able to get an idea of what each company will charge you by getting instant online car insurance quotes. However, if you look at this list of most stolen cars on a nationwide basis, then you’ll also have an idea of what kind of car you should avoid. Some of them are unexpected.
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Toyota Camry
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Honda Accord
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Honda Civic
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Chevrolet Full Size C/K Pickup
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Ford F-150
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Jeep Cherokee
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Oldsmobile Cutlass
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Dodge Caravan
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Ford Taurus
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Toyota Corolla
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Chrysler Neon
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Nissan Sentra
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Chevrolet Caprice
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Ford Explorer
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Chevrolet Cavalier
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Chevrolet Blazer
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Plymouth Voyager
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Pontiac Grand Am
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Ford Escort
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Acura Integra
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Dodge Ram
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Nissan Maxima
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Ford Mustang
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Buick LeSabre
Surprisingly, my ugly old Oldsmobile is on that list, which goes to show that car thieves will steal anything. However, even if you aren’t going shopping and already own one of these oft stolen cars, you can still get a good car insurance quote by adding some extra protection to your car. The National Insurance Crime Bureau says that the best way to go in terms of protecting your car and getting a good comprehensive car insurance quote is to put your anti theft measures on in layers, instead of just equipping one anti theft device.
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First layer: Don’t be dumb.
Some people think that it’s okay to leave the car on and the key in the ignition if they’re just running into the store for a minute and will be able to see the car the entire time, but this is not much protection. I read a story recently about a woman that did this, and someone stole the car, which had her one year old in it, and only brought it back because he didn’t want to be charged for kidnapping. First of all, no, don’t use your kids as anti theft devices. But also don’t leave your keys in the car. By the time you notice someone is in your car and run out into the parking lot, the car will be gone.
You also should make sure that, if possible, you park in well lit areas where there are a lot of people. It’s better to go to the store to do your shopping when it’s busy rather than in the middle of the night.
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Layer two: The deterrent.
Now, even if you are practicing common sense, there is still a chance that your car will get stolen. While deterrents usually won’t get you a good insurance rate, they are still a necessary component in your layered protection.
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Alarms and sirens.
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Wheel or brake lock or collar
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Tire lock
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Decal
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Layer three: Disenablers.
If they have no fear of the deterrents and manage to get into the vehicle itself, this type of anti theft device will make sure they are unable to hotwire your vehicle, or at least have a very difficult time of it. This type of device will get you a car insurance discount with most companies.
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Kill switch
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Disablers
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Smart keys
If you want to get the best car insurance discount with this type of anti theft device, then you need to get an active one. An active anti theft device is always active, whereas a passive one has to be activated by you every time that you leave the car.
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Layer four: Finding it.
If the thief is especially persistent and experienced, and somehow manages to bypass all of the other protections on your vehicle, then you will need a way to get your car back. Most stolen cars are not recovered, and police have to act very fast to get to the car before it is taken to the chop shop or across the border.
A tracking device can help you make sure that your car is recovered. It sends a signal to police so that they can find the find the car.
What Affects your Car Insurance Premium
Most people in the U.S. are pretty busy with their lives, between family, friends, work, and sometimes school, that they don’t have the time to shop around for a new car insurance policy every six months. For these people, it is not any less necessary for them to get the best insurance premium, so if they must, they can restrict their shopping around to when they have a life changing event instead of doing it by the calendar.
- If you move.
In most of the country, zip codes can have a big effect on your auto insurance premium, but with car insurance the effect is not as huge thanks to a California auto insurance law passed to make the location a small factor in the auto insurance premium. The reason it is a factor at all is mostly due to the amount of cars stolen in the area, and the law was passed because the policy had a negative affect mostly on low income and minority drivers.
However, even though your zip code does not say as much for your insurance score as before, it does affect it. When you move to a new zip code, you need to shop around for a better car insurance premium. In any case, you should at least see a change in the premium from your current company.
- If you buy a car.
Before you buy a car, you should check the insurance quotes to make sure it is the best choice in make and model. However, if you’re already certain of what car you want to get, you should still shop around to see what the quotes are from other companies in the area.
Car insurance companies base their rates for collision and comprehensive car insurance coverage on the number of claims they have gotten for those coverages in company, so one company might have seen more claims for your car than another. It’s best to go with the company that has had the best history with your new vehicle, and you can find out which one this is by getting several insurance quotes.
- If you get hitched.
They say that when you get married, two people become one, so naturally they will have a different insurance rate together than they would apart. Men profit the most out of this, seeing their rates decrease a good deal when they tie the knot, but so long as neither partner is very high risk, both will benefit from the union.
- If you get a new job.
Not only do many insurance companies give you discounts on your car insurance for the degree that you hold, but you can also get one based on what you do. For example, if you are a teacher or an engineer or a military service member, then you can get a discount on your insurance premium.
- If you stop working altogether.
When you retire, you are usually just between being in the cheapest car insurance demographic, and one of the most expensive. Being between fifty five and seventy, you are in a group of the safest drivers and will thus get the lowest rates. However, after seventy, your rates will go up. Many car insurance companies offer discounts to retired people, but you can get the best deal by buying your insurance policy through AARP. Whatever the case, it is best to shop around.
- If you’re just fed up.
You may have a liked a car insurance company for awhile, and then just got sick of paying the high rates and finding few available discounts. While there is a limited number of excuses not to shop around, there’s certainly no limit to reasons to do so.
Cheap Southern California Auto Insurance Online
Reader question:
Is it possible to buy my Southern California auto insurance over the internet?
Ingrid
Thank you for asking, Ingrid.
One of the great introductions from the southern California auto insurance community to new technology has been the wide availability of southern California auto insurance policies on the internet. Most of the bigger southern California auto insurance companies have launched websites, where they allow their prospective customers to not only get quotes, but buy policies as well; and the service doesn’t end once you have your policy either. Many companies also offer account management for policy holders, so that you never have to pick up a phone or step into a southern California auto insurance office again.
Most companies which allow southern California auto insurance policies to be bought online can be divided into three types.
- Everything online.
Some of the more high tech southern California auto insurance companies offer everything online, including the final confirmation signature, which they accept electronically. This can be either from a simple typing of initals, or an actual signing function where you write out your name with your mouse.
- Halfway there.
Others will allow you to choose your car insurance coverage and policy and confirm everything, up until the point when you need to sign. While you are covered once you have completed the process, these southern California auto insurance companies will send you a form to your mailing address which you must sign and then return to them.
- Just a little bit.
The last type, which is more common among smaller southern California auto insurance companies, is where the companies will display the coverage information on their website, where the future policy holder can choose it and enter their information. Then, they will receive further information along with forms and request for payment in the mail, and they will not be covered until the payment is received. It’s actually cheaper to just go to the office with this one.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama
Cheap California Car Insurance – Are Lawsuits To Blame For High Costs?
One of the big obstacles between you and cheap California car insurance are the number of lawsuits being filed against California car insurance companies every year that force these companies to raise their prices. While it is at times necessary to file a lawsuit in order to get the money that you need for your car insurance claim, the number of claims filed is high enough to elicit some concern from car accident lawyers, even though they are the ones who profit the most from it.
According to attorney Nick Johnson, who has offices all over the country, collisions that involve someone getting injured or killed have dropped in the past year, which should mean that the number of lawsuits should drop as well, because more California car insurance companies are sued when someone is injured. However, while the injuries have decreased, they haven’t made a dent in the number of lawsuits being filed against cheap California car insurance companies.
As a matter of fact, he says, the number of lawsuits is actually going up, despite all reason.
One of the reasons for this, according to Johnson, is that over ten percent of drivers currently on the road do not even have a car insurance policy. While the exact numbers cannot be gotten, due to the nature of driving without insurance, the numbers are high enough in theory to convince anyone who was considering not equipping them self with uninsured motorist California car insurance coverage.
Along with that, the amount of car insurance required to meet minimum liability standards has stayed the same for many years, even though the cost of health care and car repair has risen quite significantly. Having underinsured motorist coverage couldn’t hurt, either, apparently.
If My Friend Wrecks My Car Will My Insurance Policy Cover It?
Reader question:
What happens when a friend takes my car out and wrecks it? Will my car insurance claim be denied?
Max in Fresno California
Thank you for your question, Max.
It really depends on the circumstances of his borrowing the car and wrecking it. These days, car insurance policies are very extended. For example, even if their names are not on your California car insurance policy, other family members in your house will be covered if they drive your car. Another group of people that will be covered under your policy is pretty much anyone to whom you give permission to drive it, or has a decent reason to believe that you would have given them permission.
This can be kind of troubling sometimes. For example, when you didn’t give someone permission then at times it is very hard to prove that this is the case, especially if they are a good friend or relative. I would never let my brother drive my car, but if he did somehow and got into a car accident, then my car insurance company would consider it to have been consented to. This means that his at fault crash would affect my auto insurance premium in the future. If they find that I did not give my consent, or wouldn’t have if asked, then while the damages to the vehicle will be covered, the driver will not be and my future premiums will not be affected.
So, yes, if your friend takes your car out for a spin and gets into an accident, then your car insurance policy will cover their injuries as well as the damage to your car. You still need to be the one to file a claim, though, and pay your deductibles. All of the responsibility for that sort of thing depends on you, since they have not signed your policy and everything is required from you.
Now, if your friend wrecks your car, then your own insurance policy will be the first to kick in. However, if they have their own policy, then once your own insurance coverage runs out, it will kick in as well.
Cheers,
Fashun Guadarrama.
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