Get the Latest Car Insurance Policies from Santam

The automobile was one of the best inventions created by man; however one thing that we as automobile lovers don’t like is the automotive insurance that is required to own one. Depending upon the country you live in you are most likely required to have insurance on your vehicle. The good thing about today’s technology is you are able to get motor insurance quotes online and never have to leave your house looking for them like you used to.

Get a Quote Online

The internet brings many good things and one of those is the ability to find automobile insurance from the comfort of our own home. There are many popular companies out there today with websites and allow you to go online and put in your VIN number and a bit of personal information and they can craft you up a quote within minutes.

What’s even better about this whole process is, is you can not only get a quote but you can purchase the policy directly online and print out temporary insurance cards immediately. You don’t have to wait for them to come in the mail before you can start driving.

Multiple Types of Insurance Policies

Companies provide multiple types of policies and coverage’s and many may give you a discount if you purchase multiple policies through them. Most of the companies offer policies over the following types of property:

• Vehicle
• Boat
• RV
• Home
• Motorcycle

Discounts on Services

As mentioned above many companies may be willing to give you discounts on your rates if you purchase multiple policies on different types of property. However, companies may also have their very own discount programs available if you ask them.

For example some insurance companies provide you a better rate on your children’s coverage if they are making above a 3.0 GPA (Grade Point Average) in school. Other major companies also give you a bonus payment if you don’t have an accident in a certain period of time. One of the most popular discount services out there is a “Plug-N-Play” discount where you plug in a device and you get discounts based on your driving style, and that is pretty neat.

The good thing about capitalism is there are tons of choices for the consumer to pick from. So go online and check out all the companies out there that are competing for your business, and just remember when companies compete like that do, you are the one that gets the best results and best prices.

Auto insurance Fraud on the Rise- Watch Out!

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Last month’s twister in Oklahoma left more than deadly destruction and debris in its trail. While picking up the pieces, a number of people had to deal with a disaster of a different kind: insurance fraud, especially in cases related to automobiles. Authorities have reported that out of the 20,000-odd claims registered in the week following the tornado, a big chunk of those were concerning vehicles. To stop victims of the tornado from falling prey to auto insurance scams, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) has been working alongside the Oklahoma Insurance Department in identifying the people responsible in such cases.

Auto insurance scam numbers at a dizzying high

Recent surveys suggest that such incidences are neither restricted to occur in the aftermath of natural disasters nor in Oklahoma. In fact, D.C. recorded the highest rate of auto insurance fraud. At 83 questionable claims per 100,000 people, the country’s capital was leading when it came to the sheer volume of questionable claims considering its size and population. Maryland, California, Rhode Island and California rounded up the list of the top five states with a high rate of questionable claims.

Across the country, incidences of auto insurance fraud are on the rise and if numbers are anything to go by, there is no stopping fraudsters from making a quick buck. In a report published by the NICB, the percentage of questionable claims that were filed in 2012 jumped 13 percent from the previous year, with the number of questionable personal automobile claims increasing to 78,024 claims in 2012 from 69,219 claims filed the year before. In all, there were 209,724 questionable claims filed with the bureau when it came to all types of automobile insurance, many of them due to the growth in the number of staged accidents in the country.

These are startling numbers, given that you can never know what hit you, literally. The NICB analysis also pointed out that at one-fifth of all questionable claims, those related to bodily injury were right on top. This is a cover through which other people’s injuries can be paid for if they were caused by the one insured. Closely following was the cover in case of collision, making up 16 percent of personal automobile claims, in which the one holding the insurance policy is paid, for the damages to his own car, incase no one else is involved.

Keeping insurance scams at bay

Cases of fraud can strike without much warning, no matter how experienced you may be as a driver. While the numbers keep rising by the day, you as the one insured, can keep track of how and where these scams strike.

A few pointers to protect yourself against fraudulent claims:

• The auto insurance company or agent through which you access coverage should have a valid license.
• Do not leave the site of the accident without first noting down details of the other driver. Information like phone numbers, license numbers, license plate numbers and insurance information should be noted down.  
• Legal documentation of the accident is vital.
• Be alert about all referrals at the time of the accident, be it auto repair shops or health and legal experts.
• Avoid signing forms that you haven’t filled that may be related to health care or treatment for injuries caused by the accident.
• Review your auto insurance policies and make sure you understand them well.
• Always insist on bills for auto repairs and medical costs connected to the accident.

Older people are especially to be on guard against auto insurance frauds as they are more gullible because of their trusting nature. Seniors may want to take the help of AARP not only to get great discounts on car insurance but also to help them find coverage from an auto insurance carrier who can smell a rat when they see one!

Author Bio: Elvis Donnelly is a father of two who works from home and lives with his wife. He is voracious reader and always looks out for happening topics related to personal finance. He specializes on subjects related to insurance and uses his spare time to write on topics related to auto insurance, car insurance quotes etc.

Understanding the Different Types of Auto Insurance Coverages

When purchasing an auto insurance policy, it's tempting to simply ask for "full coverage" and let the agent put your policy together. Doing this can leave you vulnerable, however, and it may also lead to higher insurance premiums. By understanding what each coverage does and why you need it, you can put together a policy that will fit your needs without emptying your wallet. 

Here are the most common types of insurance coverage: 

1.) Liability: Every state requires all drivers to have liability insurance. There are two types of liability coverage: bodily injury and property damage. They each have separate limits and cover different things. Bodily injury liability pays for any injuries you may cause in an accident, and property damage liability pays for the damages that occur as a result of an accident you cause. In any case, liability insurance only pays for another person's injury or damages; it will never cover your own injuries or damage. Your liability limits determine how much your policy will pay toward an accident. High limits will cost more on your policy, but low limits make you vulnerable to lawsuits if damages or injuries exceed your policy's scope. 

2.) Collision: Whenever your vehicle is damaged as a result of an accident, your collision coverage pays for its repair. You pay a predetermined deductible amount, often $500 or $250, and the insurance company pays for the rest. Higher deductibles result in lower premiums but require you to pay more out of pocket for your damages. 

3.) Comprehensive: Coupled with collision and liability, comprehensive rounds out a standard full coverage insurance policy. Comprehensive coverage pays for damages that occur to your vehicle outside of an accident. For example, theft and vandalism are covered by comprehensive coverage. This coverage tends to be cheaper than collision, and its price will depend on the deductible you choose. 

4.) Uninsured Motorist: This coverage is not available in every state, but it is a requirement in some areas. Uninsured motorist coverage replaces the missing liability insurance of another party when a person without insurance causes an accident. 

5.) Additional coverages: The coverages above are standard in most auto insurance policies. You can also choose to purchase medical payments coverage to pay for your own medical expenses. Rental reimbursement coverage will cover the cost of a rental car while your vehicle is in the shop, and towing or roadside assistance can help reimburse these expenses. Be sure to check with your insurance agent or compare rates on sites such as autoinsurancequotes.com to see what additional coverages are offered and whether you might need them. 

Not every vehicle will require every available coverage. For example, an older-model used vehicle may not require collision coverage as repairing it would not be financially sensible. By understanding what each coverage does, you can make an informed decision about your auto insurance.