One of the best ways to find a good auto insurance company is by checking out their ratings. These ratings are a result of massive consumer surveys – people who have actually done business with several auto insurance companies are asked to rate the insurers based on certain criteria that includes customer support and ease of filing claims.

Keep in mind that these ratings are not comprehensive and are essentially just the opinions of a number of consumers who may not necessity comprise a valid representation of the whole consumer base. As in any other rating system, auto insurance company ratings have limitations, and the better you understand these limitations, the better you can use rating information to guide your decisions.

Do not be misled by high ratings, because they don’t necessarily mean that the auto insurance company’s rates are low. Keep in mind that most ratings are limited to certain sates or vicinities, and that the top scorers may not be in business in your area. The auto insurance ratings reflect average consumer perceptions of the auto insurance company and its service, not assurances of any kind. Be open to the possibility that while other people may have had good experience dealing with a particular auto insurance company, you may experience something different.

Ratings can be unreliable, especially if they are based on haphazard surveys that do not verify respondent ownership of the product or services being surveyed. For example, some rating companies may ask random consumers for their opinions regarding a certain auto insurance provider without making sure that the respondent actually uses that insurer. Non-scientific ratings are misleading, so be careful how you use the information they give you. Do not base your decisions on ratings alone – it is important to also do some research yourself.

By: Peter Emerson

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To further complicate matters, even if a loss is covered, the policy most likely includes a deductible as well as coverage limits. Depending on the nature of the loss, multiple insurance companies may be involved. For example, if a storm strikes and you have both wind and flood damage, you may have to file a claim with your homeowners insurance for the wind damage and another with the national flood insurance program (if you have flood insurance) for the water damage.

Depending on where you live, your deductible may be higher under certain circumstances. For example, in Florida, your deductible for hurricane damage is much higher than if your home was burglarized. So, will your insurance company pay or won’t they? Look at it this way, insurance companies DON’T want to pay. They are in business to generate profits and will need to be convinced BY YOU that the claim should be paid. The burden of proof lies on you, the homeowner. This means that you will need to prove your case and do it well. The better prepared and more organized you are, the better.

Start with documentation. You may need to take dozens of photos and provide your insurance agent with detailed estimates to counter against the insurance company’s original settlement offer. You may need to demand to see how the agent depreciated your property and negotiate a more reasonable method. While your homeowner’s insurance policy is a contract, the claims process does provide room for negotiations with auto insurance company (more information on best negotiation tactics in How to Contact with Auto Insurance Company? article).

Your best bet is to be prepared for a fight. Your tools in this battle include a detailed home inventory, digital photos and video documenting the damage, estimates from local contractors, and a willingness to demand a better offer. You don’t have to do this alone. In fact, many contractors are willing to be present during the insurance adjuster’s visit to help point out damage that the adjuster might have otherwise ignored. In addition, public insurance adjusters act as advocates for the homeowner and work on your behalf to negotiate a higher settlement offer.

Arm yourself with knowledge, documentation, and real-world estimates while also considering professional representation and you’ll be better equipped to answer the question, “Will they pay for it?”



By: Car Insurance Expert

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To break the declarations page down further, we’ll discuss each aspect presented on the page, and this is done in no particular order, meaning your declarations page may or may not have the same information in the same order listed here. First we’ll mention the auto insurance company’s information on the page. The declarations page will have the name of the insurance company, as well as their contact information including a phone number and address. If you need to contact the company, the information is readily available here and also on the insurance card that you should have somewhere in your car in case it is immediately needed.

Next, you should find your policy number. Your policy number is a way the auto insurance company can identify you without using your name. This lessens confusion as there is typically more than one client sharing the same first and last names. A policy number can include numbers and letters together, or just numbers. You will need to know your policy number any time you want to contact the insurance company. You can also find your policy number on the insurance card.

Information regarding the coverage you have purchased is also included in the declarations page. The coverage you purchased will include the minimal requirements provided by your state, as well as any additional coverage options you felt the need to purchase. Bodily injury liability, property damage liability, personal injury protection, and uninsured motorist bodily injury may be some of the coverage options you purchased that will be listed on the declarations page. Read more about automobile premiums and policies in Auto Car Insurance Premiums section of author’s site.

The cost of each coverage you purchase for your auto insurance policy will also be listed on this page. The price of your policy is determined by individual factors, including the cost of coverage you added to your policy. If you carry additional coverage options past the state’s requirements, you can look at these “extra” options and decide if they fit into your budget, or if you can add more coverage for added protection.

Your deductible amounts may also be listed in the declarations page. A deductible amount is the amount of money you are willing to pay, out-of-pocket, when you make a claim to the auto insurance company. Any time you file a claim and expect the insurer to cover an accident-related cost, the insurer requires you to pay upfront a deductible. This amount can range from $250, to $1,000 or higher. The lower deductible you choose for your policy, the more expensive your policy premium will be.

Look for the policy periods on the declarations page to find out when your coverage begins and when it ends. You should also be aware that you have the option with the insurer to automatically renew your policy when it expires. This helps to avoid any time period of not carrying auto insurance, known as a policy lapse. It is illegal to drive a vehicle without proper auto insurance so it is vital that the policy always be in effect.

You will also notice your information, or the policyholder’s information, listed on the declarations page. Your name, address, and phone number will be listed on the page. It will also have information regarding the vehicle(s) you have insured with the company, such as the year, make and model of each vehicle. Always keep this information up-to-date with the auto insurance company so they can contact you easily with any questions they have or information they need.

You may think the declarations page is just one more nagging piece of paperwork, but in actuality it is the most important piece of paper that you have for your auto insurance. You will need to review your declarations page every time your policy renews to make sure no coverage was accidentally dropped or so you know your information is correct. Don’t disregard your declarations page as it comes in the mail or think of it as worthless because you think you already know what coverage is on your auto insurance policy.



By: Car Insurance Expert

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Doble-A asked:


By best, I mean the lowest priced rate they can come up with. What is the advantage I get going to a broker instead of directly going to a popular auto insurance company? Thanks a lot.
I live in Bronx, NY, work in Manhattan and I have a 2000 Toyota RAV4.

georgiapeach asked:


I need general information concerning auto insurance complanies that pay claims directly to the driver. They want me to absorb all costs (repairs, rental, etc.) and then they will issue me a “reimbursement” check. I don’t want reimbursed for something that their insured driver did to me! I just want them to cover all costs associated with the claim! What, if any, legal action can I take to have the matter proceed in my favor?

karateface asked:


My auto insurance company has been charging me fees, rate increases (originally I was told it would be a decrease!), and a whole other mess with the DMV. I have not had any tickets, accidents, or claims. No one has been able to satisfactorily explain to me why this is happening. How do I now if I have a case with the insurance commission/and or a small claims lawsuit?
My main problem is not the rate increase. The insurance company received my payment on time. But, they did not POST it until a few days later. sometime in this period of a few days, the DMV audited the insurance companies system and decided this was a lapse I guess. I had to give the DMV 500.00 or lose my registration. This was 6 months ago. It took us 4 months to get the insurance agent to tell us what really happend (they are good at the runaround game). They said that they had sent the paperwork to the DMV and that we should be getting our check in 30 days as the insurance compay was at fault. This month my insurace is 100.00 more and I called the DMV and they recieved the paperwork, but not a follow up call they were supposed to get. Since I called them, I personally was able to give the OK to send the packet to the refund department. My insurance company says that the extra 100.00 is for “reinstatement of coverage”, coverage I never lost in the first place.