Coping with a lost car insurance card, things to consider, and how to get a new insurance ID card. Get the skinny from a non-agent now.

When you lose your insurance ID card…

Ever dealt with a lost car insurance card?

It’s the one you get in the mail every 6 months or so with your policy. Most of us have misplaced our insurance ID card – also known as ‘proof of insurance.’ It’s not uncommon. Reality is, most of us don’t think about our ID card until a police officer stops us and we’re thumbing through the glove box.

Getting A Replacement for a Lost Insurance Card

It’s not the end of the world if you lose your insurance ID card. You get it directly from your insurance company and there’s usually no hassle. It’s easy to get a new ID cards.

First off, call your insurance company. You can get their phone number online or on your policy. Some companies provide this service on the internet. However, you will need your policy information to login to their online system.

Second, once you get a customer service representative on the phone, just ask them for it. Since it is a service request, you don’t even need a licensed agent to send you your ID card. These days, cards can be emailed, faxed, or snail-mailed to customers.

One caveat to this process – some companies may charge you for replacement ID cards. It’s usually just a nominal fee. In my opinion, this is an unnecessary charge. Such nickel-and-dime operations cause the insurance company to lose more goodwill than what they gain from a $5 service charge. If you’re with one of those companies, it’s probably time to shop around. You don’t want a company that sticks it to you every chance they get.

My Experience with ID Cards

When I was an insurance agent, I took many phone calls where my customers probably threw away their policy (and ID cards) before looking in the envelope. It happens. In fact, that was the main reason people customers called our office – a lost insurance card. Whatever happened to it, it got lost in the shuffle and the customer needed a replacement.

I recently called my current insurance company, GEICO, for a new set of ID cards. The representative was very polite and said she could send them out, no problem. That’s exactly the service I expect. Don’t make me feel bad because I misplaced something – just put it in the mail and be done with it. The next time I lose my ID card, that’s the treatment I’ll expect.

How a Hit and Run Incident Affects Your Auto Insurance – You Might Be Surprised

A ‘Hit and Run’ Can Affect Rates.

Unfortunately, ‘Hit and Run’ accidents are a fact of life on the road. Hit and Run incidents are car accidents where one or more parties fails to stop, provide information, and render aid when necessary. In other words, if you have an accident with another vehicle and drive off – even if the other car was parked – you were involved in a Hit and Run accident.

There are many Hit and Run incidents every year on US highways. According the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2003-2006, one in eight accidents were Hit and Run. It’s estimated there are over 700,000 Hit and Run incidents every year in the United States. If you haven’t been involved in one yet, chances are you will be in one in your lifetime.

There are two parties in a Hit and Run accident: the person “hitting and running” and the other driver and/or car. Hit and Run accident affects both party’s auto insurance rates differently.

Rates For the Person “Hitting & Running”

If you caused an accident and drove away, you are responsible for a hit and run – even if the other vehicle was unoccupied. If the accident is ever traced back to you, then your insurance could charge you with an at-fault incident. This will probably be a surcharged incident which would result in higher premiums.

Hit and Run incidents are more serious than regular at-fault accidents. It could stay on your driving record for 5-7 years, depending on your state. If your insurance company discovers it’s a Hit and Run, they may also cancel your coverage. This would mean even higher premiums at your next carrier.

Every driver should know a driver’s responsibility in any accident – stop your car at a nearby, safe place, check on the other driver, and give them your information. If you drive off, you could be in more trouble than just rising insurance rates. If the victim is injured or dies as a result of the accident, police will investigate. If you’re guilty of a Hit and Run traffic death, the courts could find you guilty of felony manslaughter. You should contact an attorney in that situation.

Bottom line: if you’re involved in an accident, do the right thing. Stop, provide your information to the other driver, and render aid when necessary – regardless of who’s at fault.

Rates for the Victim of a Hit and Run

If you are the victim of a Hit and Run incident, your rates should be unaffected. Hit and Run accidents are common and insurance companies usually do not fault the other driver for the incident.

However, whether the incident will be covered is a different question. There are two coverages that would cover a Hit and Run: Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM) and Collision. Insurance companies offer Uninsured Motorist coverage for times like these. Hit and Run incidents are covered minus your deductible in most cases. If you do not carry UM, then your Collision coverage should pick up the tab – minus your deductible. That’s one of the reasons you should carry UM or Collision at all times.

The particular coverage that would be used to cover your damages from a hit and run accident all depends on the state that you live in and also your insurance company you have coverage with.  For example, in the state of Washington a hit and run accident is covered under the UM coverage and you are required to file a police report. If the driver that hit you is identified the damage is still covered under the UM coverage, but you are subject to a lower deductible than you would be if the other driver was never identified. In the state of Idaho some carriers do not even sell UM coverage and all hit and run accidents are covered under the collision coverage.

Regardless, if you’re involved in a Hit and Run, contact your insurance company. They will provide the best advice for handling your claim. Depending on the severity of the situation, they could also provide legal counsel.

If you have experience with a Hit and Run accident, feel free to leave a comment.

What happens to your insurance rates when you have a wreck

Will you pay more for your insurance if you have an accident?

So you’ve had an accident – and you want to know if you’re going to pay more for your car insurance. Your auto insurance premiums could go up. But then again, you could pay the same. It depends on a number of factors. I’ve collected some helpful principles on whether auto premiums will increase after you have an accident.

Your Insurance Company

Your insurer plays the biggest role in determining whether your rates will increase. After all, your insurance company takes on your risk every month. If their actuaries say it’s now more expensive to insure you, you’re stuck with it. Not every actuary is the same. Where one company will tack on a 10% premium surcharge in a given accident, another company won’t do anything. That’s why I’ve included other factors that influence their decision.

Were You At Fault?

A big factor determining whether your auto premiums go up after an accident is if you were at fault. If you caused the accident and the damages were over a certain threshold (often $500 after deductible) a surcharge is likely. How much of a surcharge depends on the severity of the damage and your insurer. When I was an agent, surcharges came in 10% increments. Those surcharges lasted 3 years in most cases.

Another consideration: “At-Fault” is sometimes determined by percentage of fault. If you are 25% at fault in an accident, a surcharge is less likely compared to a person who was 75% at fault. Your state mandates whether at-fault percentages are a factor for surcharges.

It is possible for your insurance company to raise your rates even if you were not at fault. If that happens, the insurer weighs a number of factors, ex. number of claims, frequency of claims, severity of claims, longevity of customer. In other words, just because you weren’t at fault doesn’t mean your rates will stay the same.

Discounts & “Accident Forgiveness”

If you’re a good driver, you may be enjoying a good driver discount. However, an at-fault accident will probably eliminate your discount. Even if you don’t get a surcharge, you’ll pay extra premium if you lose your discount.

Some companies also offer “Accident Forgiveness.” This feature allows policyholders a “free” accident where the company will not surcharge you for an at-fault accident. Keep in mind – you pay for that option. Although it’s not the same price, it’s like prepaying on a premium surcharge. There may be additional limitations to that option, so read your policy.

What Can I Do If I Get Surcharged?

If you feel you’re getting an unjust premium surcharge, you can appeal to your state’s department of insurance. That action may reflect negatively if your policy comes up for renewal and you don’t want to be cancelled. Only take that step if you are confident in your innocence.

Also, you can always shop for a new policy. You could still save money even with an at-fault accident. Always disclose any incident if you talk to other insurers. It takes awhile for the an accident to show in their reports. They could cancel you if you fail to mention the incident when they discover it.

Three Steps to Improve Your Credit And Pay Less for Auto Insurance

How your credit will affect your car insurance rates.

All of us want to pay less for car insurance.  Sometimes it feels like we are pouring hundreds of dollars down the drain, especially when we go for years without making a claim.  So it makes sense to do everything you can to cut car insurance costs.

But there may be one thing you haven’t considered.

Many consumers cut costs by raising deductibles on comprehensive and collision coverage. Some may even eliminate collision coverage for an older car altogether.

Improve Your Credit For Cheaper Rates

Yet a less obvious way to get cheaper car insurance is to improve your credit score. Yes, that annoying number you see when you check your credit haunts you enough. But the reality is that it usually impacts your car insurance costs, too!

Your credit report reflects who you are.

In addition to showing your credit and payment habits, it has transformed into much more.  Your credit report now shows additional items, like where you work, how much you earn, how long you have worked in your present job, tax liens or judgments against you, and other things – information not seemingly related to your bill payment history.

Insurance Companies Use Credit To Determine Rates

As a result, many car insurance companies have jumped on this information.

Car insurance companies now have statistical evidence proving that people with lower credit scores make more claims. Insurers have convinced themselves that this statistic-while not true for every single driver-applies to a lot of people. In industry lingo, it’s called actuarial data.

But what does this mean to you?  Simple: If you have a low credit score, a car insurance company will infer a higher likelihood of making claims and, thus, charge you a higher premium.

Three Steps To Improve Your Credit

The best thing you can do is improve your credit score.  You should already be monitoring your credit and behave in such a way to maximize that number. But this insurance revelation should provide even more motivation for having a good credit score.

Here’s three steps to take to improve your credit and lower your auto insurance:

1) Get a copy of your credit report every year. Examine it carefully to make sure all the information is true and accurate.

2) Don’t assume that, even if you haven’t missed any credit card payments, your credit report will be fine. Many credit reports contain errors – some even report incidents for other people entirely. That’s why it’s important to check yours periodically.

3) Act in a way to keep your credit clean.

By taking these steps to improve your credit score, you’ll improve your chances of getting better financing on your house or car. In time, you should also pay less for your car insurance.

Do You Own One of the Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles in the Country?

Did this thief find one of the most stolen cars?

Is your car one of the most stolen cars in America?

Every year, over 1.3 million cars are reported stolen. According the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NCIB), many of the same cars rise to the top in their annual list. Surprisingly, the most stolen cars are usually the most common on the road. Every 24 seconds another car is stolen – will yours be next?

Thieves Prefer Common, Japanese Cars

You may be shocked to discover Porches and BMWs don’t top the list. No Lexus is in the top ten. Evidently, thieves aren’t looking for cars with the most prestige. Most likely they want the more available cars. Simply put, there are more Honda Civics on the road than Lotus Elises.

Moreover, thieves don’t prefer American-made vehicles. In fact, the three most stolen vehicles in the United States aren’t made by US companies. Reviewing the Top 10 most stolen cars, this particular crime of opportunity lends itself more to Japanese-made automobiles than those made in Detroit.

Coverage for Stolen Cars

In case you’re wondering, comprehensive insurance usually covers a stolen car. If it ever happens to you, contact your insurance company. Your adjuster should be able to take care of the loss, minus your deductible in a timely fashion. If not, you can always leave a review for how they treated you: Customer Reviews

Check out the list. If your car is listed below, you might want take extra precautions to keep it safe. Otherwise, you could be looking for a new ride sooner than you’d like.

*The NCIB publishes the most stolen cars list. According to their website, the NICB “is the nation’s leading non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to preventing, detecting and defeating insurance fraud and vehicle theft through information analysis, investigations, training and public awareness.”