Post Date August 31, 2012 – There are many auto insurance websites on the World Wide Web.  Choosing one where you shop and ultimately buy your car insurance policy from can be eye opening experience in 2012.  Although it’s very easy for me to endorse my company’s auto insurance websites; there’s one important issue you need to remember their licensed to sell you an auto insurance policy.  You may say; “what’s the big deal Mike”

“don’t all auto insurance websites have a license to sell auto insurance”?

ABSOLUTELY NOT……………….

It’s important you know the majority of auto insurance websites on Google, Yahoo, Bing and the other popular search engines are unlicensed and it’s absolutely illegal for them to sell you a car insurance policy. To help you navigate through all the auto insurance websites and choosing where to buy your auto insurance policy.  I will also discuss in this post particular points which you must bear in mind in choosing an auto insurance website to cover your car or truck.

Does your Auto Insurance Website Have A License

It is important to buy an auto insurance policy from an auto insurance website which is licensed to operate in your state. In order for an auto insurance website to be licensed, they must maintain a Property & Casualty Insurance License.  The license is the same in all 50 states.  What’s the purpose of an auto insurance website being licensed, consumer protection.  Consumer protection is vitally important in the insurance industry.  Since the auto insurance industry is regulated by your state government; it is only through your state’s Department of Insurance  you can obtain help in the event a problem arises with your auto insurance policy. Knowing whether a particular auto insurance company is license in your state is not easy. The easiest way is by simply contacting  the toll-free number of your States Department of Insurance or Insurance Department Website.  We are in the process of developing a new reference page which will list all 50 Departments of Insurance.

Price Factor

Aside from ensuring auto insurance websites are licensed in your state, you must also be critical to their price quotations as insurance prices greatly varies from one site to another. If you are shopping for an affordable auto insurance premium, or a policy to help you with a specific driving record – please shop around. Requesting an auto insurance quote can easily be done by visiting many different websites or those auto insurance websites which represent many different auto insurance companies.

Reputation

Knowing that the insurer you chose is licensed in your state and that they offer the lowest insurance rates may not be enough. You also need to make sure that particular auto insurance company is financially solid so as to be assured that they can aid you when time comes. Knowing whether an auto insurance company’s website has good reputation can be done by knowing their insurance rating. This is easily investigated by researching the auto insurance company in rating publishers like A.M. Best.  These different independent rating agencies look at how long an auto insurance has been in existence and how much money they have on hand to pay claims.

-Mike

Michael E. Dortch
President &  Managing Agent
InsureDirect.com
Corporate Home Office
618 South Broad Street
Lansdale, Pennsylvania  19446
(800) 807-0762  ext. 602

Post Date August 30, 2012 –  Anyone whom wants to register a car or light truck in the State of Michigan is required to purchase Michigan Auto Insurance.  I know my Blog Posts are not the most interesting.  Although I have outlined the auto insurance requirement in many of our US States; I really can’t promise today’s Blog about Michigan Auto Insurance will be anymore interesting.  With that said; here is some basic information you must know before buying an auto insurance policy in the state of Michigan.

As I stated previously; Michigan auto insurance is mandatory for all motorized vehicles registered in the state.  If you are caught by law enforcement driving without having a Michigan auto insurance policy or you allow someone drive your uninsured car – you can be subject to lawsuits, fines, jail time or possibly all of those three. Of course your assets are in jeopardy as well.  Anyone who thinks they don’t own anything and driving without Michigan Auto Insurance has no consequences; think again.  Your weekly payroll check and your future earnings are at risk.  If you hurt someone or damage their property driving without Michigan auto insurance, your future earnings can be attached my a Michigan Court.  Although I have not seen it happen in Michigan, I have seen it happen time and time again in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio.

Michigan Auto Insurance Coverage Types

What the mandatory amount of Michigan Auto Insurance  you need to buy in Michigan?

There are three basic auto insurance coverages a Michigan State vehicle owner must maintain.

1. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Personal Injury Protection will provide cover for all necessary medical expenses you need if you sustained injuries in an auto accident.

2. Property Protection (PPI) Property Protection insurance will have your auto insurer pay up to the amount of $1 million for damages your vehicle may cause to other people’s properties in Michigan. These properties is not only limited to other people’s vehicles but as well as buildings, fences and other infrastructures.

3. Residual Bodily Injury (RBI)  Property Damage Liability Insurance (PD) Residual Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability will pay for cost of defending you against lawsuits and damages in the event that you will be held liable for an auto accident. The maximum amount that your insurer will pay for will vary on the amount of coverage you have purchased in your policy. The minimum limits of coverage mandated in the state of Michigan for this type of insurance is $20,000 per person injured or killed in an accident, $40,000 for all persons injured or killed in an accident, and $10,000 for property damages incurred by your vehicle in other states outside of Michigan.

Although you are only required to comply with the state’s minimum Michigan Auto Insurance requirements, keep in mind you can add or buy additional coverage for your policy like Uninsured Motorists Insurance, Physical Damage Insurance (Collision and Comprehensive).  As a Michigan insurance consumer, it is your prerogative to buy Michigan auto insurance with higher limits than the set minimum in the state.  By buying higher insurance limits, you provide yourself and your assets with better coverage and superior protection. To learn more about Michigan Auto Insurance or to receive a quote for any state, call (800) 807-0762.

-Mike

Michael E. Dortch
President &  Managing Agent
InsureDirect.com
Corporate Home Office
618 South Broad Street
Lansdale, Pennsylvania  19446
(800) 807-0762  Option 1

Post Date August 29, 2012 – Who needs to buy auto insurance?

Auto insurance is required in every state in the United States of America.  When you buy auto insurance, you shield yourself against a financial crisis in the event that you or your borrowed vehicle  is involved  in an at fault accident which caused bodily injuries to people or it damages the property of others.  You also buy auto insurance to protect the investment you have made on your vehicle.  When you finance or lease a new car through a bank or leasing company, you are required by contract to buy auto insurance Comprehensive and Collision to protect their financial investment in that car or truck.

What auto insurance to buy?

Buy Auto Insurance to protect you and assets

Although Liability Auto Insurance is required in all states;  they all have differing mandates and state minimum amount of coverage. Liability insurance consists of bodily injury liability and property damage liability.  If you want to buy auto insurance at a cheaper cost, you can opt to buy your state’s minimum amount of coverage. But take note, the amount of coverage you buy is only the maximum amount your auto insurance company will pay you when you’re involved in an accident which was caused buy you!.

What other auto insurance coverage you may buy?

As to protect your investments, you may consider buying collision and comprehensive auto insurance. By having collision coverage, your insurer will pay for the damages your vehicle may incur due to collision incidents. This incident may pertain to vehicle collision or collision with any objects. On the other hand, comprehensive coverage will provide protection from damages caused by other events except that of collision.  This is why if you read your auto insurance policy, Comprehensive Coverage is referred to as “Other the Collison Coverage.   Comprehensive Auto Insurance Coverage provides protection against damage caused by inclement weather, natural disasters, and in the event that your vehicle will be vandalized or stolen. Comprehensive Insurance Coverage also coverage automotive fire.

In some states, you might also be required to buy auto insurance other than liability coverage. Some states require drivers to carry no-fault insurance or the personal injury protection. This particular type of auto insurance will provide coverage for injuries sustained in an incident regardless of whose fault it was. If you need  too buy auto insurance coverage  and don’t lmow the type of coverage to buy – give us a call at (800) 807-0762.

-Mike 

Michael E. Dortch
President &  Managing Agent
InsureDirect.com
Corporate Home Office
618 South Broad Street
Lansdale, Pennsylvania  19446
(800) 807-0762  Option 1

Post Pate August 28, 2012 –  A New Jersey teenage driver who was texting while driving his car caused two people to suffer greatly after his negligence caused a serious at fault accident. The teenage driver whom struck and injured a couple on board their motorcycle had a multi-million dollar lawsuit filed against him and his girlfriend. When an at fault driver has caused an accident where his/her car insurance company must pay an claim in excess of the states accident threshold, you must expect an increase in your NJ auto insurance rates.

Linda and David Kubert, a couple from the state of New Jersey, each lost a leg due to the texting incident which resulted an accident.  The accident originally took place  nearly 4 years in 2009.  David lost his left leg while his wife Linda, also had her left leg amputated. According to a story in the The Parsippany’s Daily Record, the couple who are now living in Florida is experiencing severe financial difficulty.  David is no longer able to work and his wife has yet been able to secure any employment.

NJ Auto Insurance Rates Increase After Texting Accident

The youthful operator whom caused the accident had previously pleaded guilty to  a charge of distracted driving and had admitted that he was using his cellphone to send a text message while driving his car.  He also acknowledged the text messages he received and replied to were from his girlfriend. The auto insurance company which insured the teenager’s car has agreed to settle with Linda and David Kubert for $500,000. This is the maximum liability payment under the teenage drivers car insurance policy. Although the youthful operator will see an increase in his NJ auto insurance rates because of the $500,000 claim,  state law states his NJ auto insurance rates will not increase anymore than if the claim was only $1500.00. The teenager had been been ordered to pay $775 in fines and to speak to high school students about the hazards of using cellphones while driving.

On a side note;  the judge in the case stated the teenagers girl friend should not be charged with any type of crime since she was not physically present. The attorney for the   aggrieved couple is still planning to appeal a judge’s earlier ruling that the drivers girlfriend should not be held liable for the crash. The girlfriend was sending him a text message while he was driving. The crash happened while the driver was replying to that message. Although she was not physically present at the incident site, the Kubert’s attorney argued that she is “electronically present.” Thus, they are asking for her also to be liability for the crash. If the ruling is over turned on appeal, the girl friends auto insurance policy can be accessed for it’s liability limits.  If the girlfriend is found guilty her NJ auto insurance rates could increase as well.

-Mike 

Michael E. Dortch
President &  Managing Agent
InsureDirect.com
Corporate Home Office
618 South Broad Street
Lansdale, Pennsylvania  19446
(800) 807-0762 Option 1

Post Date August 27,  2012 – Anyone whom follows my daily Blog knows I’m committed to a wide range of state specific auto insurance subjects including New Jersey Car Insurance stories.  Although I have Blogged about what is included in a New Jersey car insurance policy, it’s important I point out what a New Jersey Car Insurance Policy does not cover and why.  New Jersey Car Insurance Personal Injury Protection (PIP) or No-Fault Auto Insurance provides coverage to policyholders against personal injuries regardless if the insured driver is involved in an At Fault or or Not At Fault accident . A minimum amount of New Jersey Car Insurance is state mandated (meaning required) by state law.

New Jersey Car Insurance Policy No No’s

Although New Jersey Car Insurance provides you coverage against bodily injury, property damage and damage to your car;  there are some circumstances which you will not be covered. It is important that you understand you could possibly void coverage’s provided under your New Jersey car insurance policy.

Here are some of the circumstances where you could possibly be denied New Jersey Car Insurance coverage……………..

• When you intentionally cause your injury
• When you are driving a vehicle while intoxicated
• When you are driving a vehicle while you are under the influence of prohibited drugs
• When you are injured while you are in the act of committing felony
• When you are injured while you are avoiding apprehension by law enforcement officers
• When you are injured while driving in a race or speed test
• When you are injured while driving a vehicle that is stolen

Keep in mind the coverage’s besides PIP coverage, you stand to lose basic economic coverage’s which includes medical services. These paid for regardless if the medical service received  from a hospital or doctors office. These services include surgical, x-ray, dental, prescription drug, nursing and prosthetic services. This also includes psychiatric, occupational and physical therapy, and rehabilitation services. This coverage will also provide for non-medical remedial treatments as required by one’s religious belief pertaining to his or her healing.  New Jersey car insurance will also cover for the injured person’s loss of earnings when such person cannot perform his work due to the injuries he/she suffered in an auto accident. Loss of earnings can be paid up to $2,000 per month for up to three years since the date of the incident that causes the injuries.This is substantial, it will not be paid if you have done something which is either illegal or against the underwriting guildlines of the New Jersey Car Insurance Policy.

-Mike

Michael E. Dortch
President &  Managing Agent
InsureDirect.com
Corporate Home Office
618 South Broad Street
Lansdale, Pennsylvania  19446
(800) 807-0762  ext. 602

Post Date August 26, 2012 – PA Auto Insurance Rates use many different factors to determine a drivers final premium.   These rating factors are then calculated and applied toward  a group of drivers whom share similar rating characteristics. Pennsylvania Car Insurance Companies then set PA Auto Insurance rates for that group based on the risks and  auto insurance claims made by the group.  Each Pennsylvania car insurance company use the identical factors when pricing  PA auto insurance rates. Although they all use the same factors, all their PA Auto Insurance Rates are different.  The following are the factors that insurers use in calculating your auto insurance premium:

PA AUTO INSURANCE RATES & FACTORS

• Age, gender, marital status – statistics have shown particular groups have more auto accidents.  Single male drivers under the age of 25 are one on these groups.

• Driving record – drivers who have had their share of accidents and traffic violations are being considered a higher risk which will reflect in their PA Auto Insurance Rates.

• Location – the place where you garage your vehicle is taken into consideration by car insurance companies.  Each location; Urban or Rural has a higher or lower possibility of accident due to traffic or loss due to theft or vandalism. In most cases, city drivers pay higher PA Auto Insurance Rates than those driver in the country.

• Year, Make and Model of  your Car is also being considered –  the value and the cost of repair the insurer would need to defray at the time of an accident loss.

• Mileage – the distance that you with driver your over a 12 month period.  Other mileage risk characteristics relate to the type of mileage being driven.  Is the distance  Work related or pleasure. The more mileage you cover, the more your PA Auto Insurance Rates will be.

• Household information – when buying an auto insurance policy, that policy may include insurance coverage for you as well as other members in your household regardless if they drive your car or not.  PA Auto Insurance Rate include the number of household members, their age and their driving record.

• Credit history – PA auto insurance providers also look at your financial status. Your credit rating and how timely you pay your bills is an amazing predictor of future auto accidents.  If one is able to pay their bills on time, they are not prone to worrying about their finances.

-Mike 

Michael E. Dortch
President &  Managing Agent
InsureDirect.com
Corporate Home Office
618 South Broad Street
Lansdale, Pennsylvania  19446
(800) 807-0762  Option 1

Post Date August 25, 2012 – New Jersey Auto Insurance Options and additional car insurance coverage can easily and inexpensively improve a standard auto insurance policy.   New Jersey Auto Insurance Options add the value other than those required by law in the state of  New Jersey.  The State of New Jersey, specifically the NJ Department of Motor Vehicle requires any driver whom has a registered motor vehicle maintain at least the state’s minimum amount of coverage for Bodily Injury,  Liability and Property Damage.  This is commonly known as financial responsibility.  This auto insurance coverage will insure that if their vehicle causes injuries and/or property damages to people or property. The state of New Jersey also requires any vehicle owner maintain a minimum amount of coverage for Personal Injury Protection (PIP). This will compensate  other for their injuries and basic economic losses after an accident regardless of whose fault the incident was.

New Jersey Auto Insurance Options

Aside from the previously mentioned required coverages, New Jersey Auto Insurance Options are just as important.  The following list are New Jersey Auto Insurance Options which are available.

• Collision – This coverage will provide cover for your vehicle’s damages caused by collision with another vehicle or any objects. Your insurer will pay for the damages your vehicle incurred regardless of who is at fault.

• Comprehensive – When having this coverage, your insurer will pay for the damages incurred by your vehicle instigated by any other causes except that of collision such as fire, windstorm, flood, vandalism, flying or falling objects, etc. This coverage will also pay in the event that your vehicle is stolen, and will also provide for your transportation expenses as your vehicle is unserviceable.

• Medical Payments – With this, your insurer will pay for you, your family members and passengers’ medical and funeral expenses whoever is at-fault of the incident.

• Accidental Death and Dismemberment – This coverage will provide financial aid to the insured party as he or she succumbed to serious injuries or death due to an auto accident. Other New Jersey Auto Insurance Options include Towing and Labor, Rental Reimbursement.

-Mike  

Michael E. Dortch
President &  Managing Agent
InsureDirect.com
Corporate Home Office
618 South Broad Street
Lansdale, Pennsylvania  19446
(800) 807-0762  Option 1

Post Date August 24, 2012 –  There’s a common misconception among those intending to start a business.  For some reason most people feel Commercial Auto Insurance is more expensive than a standard auto insurance policy.  The truth is commercial auto insurance is cheaper. Regardless of who you are or where you live, everyone needs to send something from one point to another.   If you are in business in a large urban area and you do business with other enterprises in the same area, using a Courier Service is a very economical way of sending correspondence or packages across town.  Many whom are new to the courier businesses in Ohio’s larger cities

don’t use trucks. Most use SUV’s or Cars.  These vehicles fall under the category of a Private passenger Automobile. Many of these business owners feel commercial auto insurance is more of an expense than regular auto insurance. Sadly, they end up purchasing a Personal Auto Insurance. Although cost is an issue, using a commercial use vehicle without commercial auto insurance is a major problem.  If you find yourself in an accident situation, a private passenger insurance company could refuse to pay your claim.

Commercial Auto Insurance Is Cheaper

Always consider the  importance of your business vehicle – it’s the corner-stone of your business. It must be well taken care of, and that means insuring it properly.  That means purchasing commercial auto insurance. Starting up and running a courier service can be  an easy endeavor at first.  In the beginning, you can do this by yourself.  As your business grows, you need more help and more vehicles. Vans or trucks can be very advantageous when shipping large boxes and packages. When you reach a point of growth when those type of vehicles are needed, many business owners find out how much money they over spent because they didn’t have commercial auto insurance.  It’s when that truck is purchased and the business owner attempts to add that vehicle and the agent informs the client he/she can’t.  What most business owners don’t realize is, a commercial auto policy is a named driver from.  The drastically reduces a companies risk and lowers the price.  In most cases, you can insure a box truck for the same price as a Ford Explorer.

Commercial Auto insurance provides protection to your vehicles and your business. Personal auto insurance policies can never do this unless you are a salesperson and you add business use to your personal auto policy.

-Mike

Michael E. Dortch
President &  Managing Agent
InsureDirect.com
Corporate Home Office
618 South Broad Street
Lansdale, Pennsylvania  19446
(800) 807-0762  Option 1

Post Date August 23, 2012 – After submitting an initial fraudulent insurance application, continuing the ruse through nearly a decade of renewals to obtain lower auto insurance rates in New Jersey , a  New York City businessman was arrested and arraigned last week. Scott Sanders, an operator of  large fleets of commercial vehicles is being accused of defrauding  New Jersey Auto Insurance companies for at least $10 million in payments since 2003.

Auto Insurance Rates In New Jersey Fraudulently Obtained

A US Attorney for the Southern District of New York said that Sanders, a resident of Saddle River, New Jersey, fraudulently claimed to insurance companies that the commercial vehicles he owned were being operated and garaged in New Jersey. Due to this claim,  his auto insurance rates in New Jersey resulted in cheaper car insurance payments which would have been much higher if the location of the vehicles operated and  were garaged during there down time had been correctly stated. Based on calculation provided by the car insurance companies, Sanders was able to defraud the Car Insurance companies of more than $10 million in auto insurance rates in New Jersey.

Currently, Sanders is being charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, five counts of mail fraud, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Each count of mail fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years while the aggravated identity theft carries a mandatory minimum and consecutive sentence of two years imprisonment. The state of New York requires all commercial vehicles carry commercial auto insurance liability.  Typically,commercial auto insurance rates in New Jersey for such coverage is based on the location of the vehicles’ operation and garage. Vehicles principally operated and garaged within New York City are usually being charged with substantially higher premiums than the auto insurance rates in New Jersey.  Over the last twenty years I have been in the car insurance business, insurance fraud appears to be much higher in state border areas.     Because of the disparity of rates on either side of a state line; auto insurance fraud is a huge temptation between New Jersey and Pennsylvania;  New Jersey and New York City and Pennsylvania and Ohio.  Bottom line, both carriers and agents need to be vigilant.

-Mike 

Michael E. Dortch
President &  Managing Agent
InsureDirect.com
Corporate Home Office
618 South Broad Street
Lansdale, Pennsylvania  19446
(800) 807-0762  ext. 602

Post Date August 22, 2012 –  The lowest Auto insurance rates in Ohio are calculated in the same way car insurance premiums are set in any other state, city or town.  Risk factors that insurance companies use in determining auto insurance costs for a particular consumer first start with the place where he/she lives and year make and model of the vehicle driven.  One place car insurance companies provide the lowest auto insurance rates in Ohio is the City of Dayton.  Within the City of Dayton and other mid-size towns;  insurance carriers can offer the lowest auto insurance rates in Ohio. This is compared to the large cities like Cleveland, Ohio and Columbus, Ohio.

The Lowest Auto Insurance Rates In Ohio Are Found In the Smaller Towns

A female single driver, age  24-44 who prefer to only have the the state minimum liability limits (bodily injury and property damage)  can enjoy the lowest auto insurance rates in Ohio at an annual premium of $251.00. A married, male driver whose age is above 64 who also live in small towns or rural areas can enjoy a much lesser insurance costs, as much as $204.00 annually.  Student auto insurance or policies intended for youthful drivers whom live and operate their vehicle in the intermediate size cities pay higher premiums. But the good thing is, the price they have to pay is still less compared in the big cities.  The location of one’s residence greatly affects the cost of a car insurance policy.  Every size city regardless if it’s rural or urban determines the risk characteristics and cost of an insurance policy. A small rural area has a much smaller traffic risk and in most cases, a low-crime rate.  When it comes to lower traffic and less crime, the possibility of vehicular accidents and theft is much less compared to cities which have huge traffics and high crime rates.  The smaller rural area enjoy the lowest auto insurance rates in Ohio.

 -Mike

Michael E. Dortch
President &  Managing Agent
InsureDirect.com
Corporate Home Office
618 South Broad Street
Lansdale, Pennsylvania  19446
(800) 807-0762  ext. 602