Amish Shah: Will you please tell me how cheap car insurance rates are there in different states of USA for teens or young drivers or college students ?

Finding Cheap Car Insurance
Resonse : Amish finding cheap car insurance has become very easier now with the advent of internet and online car insurance offers. If is no longer like finding a needle in a haystack. You can bid goodbye to frustratuons that can lead to fits of uncontrollable swearing and temper tantrums. However, unlike the endless quest for that needle, finding the least expensive car insurance has a point. The more coverage you can get at the lowest price means more money in your wallet and a lot less stress about paying your other bills.

Who are the competitors for cheap car insurance? Which companies offer the cheapest insurance? That really depends on what you’re looking for. The amount of coverage you want will determine the price, along with your age, driving record and where you live.

Take for example, Geico. Everyone knows the little green gecko ads. They are extremely effective. But how much would they charge a 21-year-old male living in the suburbs outside of Boston, MA? Let’s say that 21-year-old is looking only for liability coverage, forgoing comprehensive, collision and medical coverage for a 1995 Chevy Cavalier. Let’s assume he has a clean driving record with no accidents or speeding tickets reported. If he selects all the minimum liability amounts for bodily injury, property damage and personal injury, his premium will be $83.30 a month, or $999.60 per year. That same 21-year-old living in Carmel-By-The-Sea in California would pay $56.32 a month or $675.84 a year for insurance, under the same conditions, searching for the same amount of coverage.
It would be smart for you to compare the auto insurance rates online where you As any smart shopper would find out that this list is constantly changing. It would pay to check out Geico’s competition. A quick visit to Amica Mutual’s web site, using the same criteria with the same 21-year-old male, shows he would be paying an annual rate of $799 in suburban Massachusetts and $695.54 in sunny California. So the 21-year-old in Massachusetts would be smart to choose Amica Mutual for his car insurance, while the 21-year-old in California would more than likely choose Geico.

Why the discrepancy? Different states demand different minimums for liability coverage. Massachusetts sets minimum bodily injury liability coverage at $20,000 with a maximum payout of $40,000 per accident, along with a $5,000 limit for property damage. There is also a mandatory minimum for any uninsured drivers who might get behind the wheel of your car, also set at $20,000 with a max payout of $40,000. In California, the minimums are lower, with bodily injury set at $15,000 with a max payout of $30,000 and a minimum $5,000 property damage liability coverage. California does not require drivers to carry coverage for any uninsured or casual drivers who might get behind the wheel.

Each insurance company would base their auto insurance rates on their own experience and this detail is broken down to the area and even the specific vehicle-wise claims experience of the insurance company, hence any young driver or teen should compare the auto insurance rates online to get cheap car insurance.

One good indicator of where to start looking for cost-effective car insurance is consumer surveys. Survey giant J.D. Power & Associates rank customer satisfaction with insurance companies annually. In their latest ranking, Amica Mutual topped the list, with State Farm and Shelter taking the second and third spots. Some other big names, like Geico and Progressive ranked further down the list, coming in at nine and 14, respectively.

One thing cannot be stressed enough: where you live plays a large role in determining how much you pay. Keep in mind, our 21-year-old in Massachusetts was living within 25 miles of a major urban centre, with a higher population density than picturesque Carmel-By-The-Sea. In fact, Massachusetts is one of the more expensive states where one can obtain insurance. In a nationwide survey done in 2005 (the latest figures available), five Northeastern states (New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Delaware) ranked in the top 10 most expensive states for car insurance. Connecticut comes in at number 11. Drivers in New Jersey drivers pay an average of $1336.20 in premiums a year. Only Maine, with its sparse population, ranked in the top ten for lowest car insurance rates. The Midwest makes up the rest of the list with Iowa being ranked the cheapest place to obtain car insurance. Drivers in Iowa drive easy knowing they’re paying an average of $664.20 in premiums every year.

When you do start looking for insurance, be sure to prepare. Remember that no one company offers across-the-board cheap rates, and be sure to compare quotes. Take advantage of any discounts you might be eligible for, including multiple car options and group rates. The best thing to do is find a rate that you can afford that covers everything you want. Don’t let a cheap quote that cuts corners entice you, because in the end, you get what you pay for.

As per the latest news of 27th January 2009, Toyota has recalled 8 models in the USA and Canada. Do you think the auto insurers are going to give you cheap auto insurance rates for cars which have a defect in their accreetion pad?

Bryan : I am a college student and I do have a college student auto insurance. I am looking for the best car insurance rates and do go online for teen auto insurance quotes. However, I donot know the basics of auto insurance so I need help.

Response : Bryan, an excellect question and I am going to walk you through finding the best car insurance rates and cheap auto insurance quotes for college student car insurance. The key to this is first to know the basics of the auto insurance. So lets start with the car insurance coverages. I am going to explain the coverages in a very easy way so that you can easily remember and it will be easy for you to decide on the limits that you want to opt for these car insurance coverages :
There are basically the car or auto insurance coverage can be broken down into 4 scenarios. The liablity coverage is an auto insurance coverage which is mandatory in almost all states of USA. Some states have compulsory uninsured car insurance coverage.
1. Liability coverage : Liability insurance issubdivided into Bodily injury liablity and Property insurance liability.
a.Bodily injury liability (BI) coverage covers you if you cause an accident in which someone else is hurt or killed. State laws differ as to how much you are required to carry. Many financial experts recommend carrying at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurance – commonly expressed as “100/300.” Consider what assets you have to protect and what you can afford before you decide to purchae this.
b.Property damage liability (PD) coverage covers you when you damage someone else’s property. Usually it’s someone else’s car, but it could apply to buildings, utility poles, garage doors, and other physical property. State laws determine the minimum you must purchase.
This is the coverage when you cause injury to someone else or damage to the property of someone else.
2. Uninsured/Underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage covers medical and other expenses when you are hit by a driver without adequate auto insurance. Whether this coverage is mandatory or optional depends on your state laws. You can purchase additional coverage to pay for damage to your car if hit by an uninsured motorist, but many people instead just purchase collision and comprehensive.
Now coming to coverages which are not compulsory and are for your own benefit are :
3.Own damage car insurance coverage:
This are for your own car. There are two coverages which you can take for any damage to your car :
a. Collision coverage covers damage to your car if you run into another car, a brick wall, a fire hydrant, or other object. This coverage is not required by law, though your bank may require it if you have an auto loan. You may choose a deductible on this coverage—what you must first pay out-of-pocket for a claim before the insurance kicks in.
b. Comprehensive coverage covers you in case your car is stolen or damaged in ways that don’t involve a collision. Covered risks include hail, fire, theft, flood, earthquake, explosion, falling objects, and encounters with wildlife, such as deer. Comprehensive is optional coverage, though your bank may require it if you have an auto loan. You may choose a deductible on this coverage.
Coverage for your own injury and the passengers of your car :
4.Medical payments coverage (Med Pay, or MPC) acts as primary coverage for medical expenses you and your passengers incur if injured in a motor vehicle accident, regardless of fault. States have different laws regarding this coverage.

Once you understand this, the rest of the auto insurance would be very easy to understand. What is it that you are buying is the most important thing to consider for getting the best car insurance rates, especially for college student auto insurance since this is a crucial stage in your life, where money is not to be squandred.
More again.
Thanks.
Kamlesh.

Car insurance new : December 9th 2009 Chattanooga police report a recent increase of car thefts because owners are warming up their vehicles during colder weather and leaving them unattended.”

It is a time when the especially the teeenagers need to be careful of their cars, since they would be losing the car and if they have auto insurance coverage once they take a claim their auto insurance premium will escalate. As per the police authorities this is not only a problem in Tennesse but a problem in all other states of USA where the weather is cold. It has also got to be remembered that with the holiday season, people are busy in their own parties, or awa for holidays and this would be the best time for the theives. Here are some tips how you can save your car from theft and keep up the cheap auto insurance rates.
1) Do not leave your vehicle unlocked and unattended. This is an easy target for thieves. Please also do not leave the car unattended even for a minute to pick up the gifts which you have asked to be wrapped.
2) Remember to lock all your doors and windows.
3) Park the car in a well-light place.
4) If you install any of the safety devices like an alarm system, steering wheel locks, steering column collars, theft deterrent decals and tire locks, than the insurance company will offer you auto insurance discounts on the auto insurance premium. The discounts are as high as 10% -15% – and so if you save $150/-. This will give you cheap auto insurance premium.

Happy holidays and take care.