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Montana Car Insurance Guide – Everything You Need to Know About Auto Insurance in Montana

admin — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 22:38:59 +0000

What are the Montana car insurance minimum coverage requirements? How does one find the cheapest Montana car insurance rates? What are some of the best Montana auto insurance companies? Read on to get answers to your MT car insurance question and learn how to find the best Montana auto insurance policy for your specific needs.

The Penalty For Not Having Montana Car Insurance

Do you know what it means not to have car insurance in Montana? For Montana drivers it may mean a misdemeanor charge that includes a fine of up to $500 and 5 points added to your license (30 points on your driver’s license in Montana leads to automatic revocation of your driver’s license). As an added bonus a free 10 day vacation in the county jail.

Plus, if you didn’t learn the first time, the state of Montana will either charge you another fine, higher than the first time, or put you in jail for another 10 days. In addition, you’ll also have your driver’s license suspended for 90 days.

Montana Tort Auto Insurance Laws

Montana is under a tort system when it comes to car accidents. This means that for you to be charged with an accident’s damages, you must be proven to have been the cause of the accident. Each state under a tort system of law for car insurance operates slightly different, so the best place to go in the State of Montana to find out about the minimum state car insurance requirements is by contacting the Montana State Auditor in Helena by calling (406) 444-2040, or by visiting their website at http://sao.mt.gov.

Montana Minimum Auto Insurance Coverage Requirements

Under Montana law, you must have Bodily Injury Liability coverage with a minimum of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. Bodily Injury Liability car insurance covers the medical expenses of all occupants of your car in the event of an accident.

Montana residents are also required to carry $10,000 of Property Damage car insurance coverage. Property Damage coverage pays for any property damages resulting from an accident, including the damages suffered by the other driver.

Keep in mind these are only the minimum requirements for the state of Montana. With the rising costs of car repairs and medical expenses, the numbers can add up fast. Since you will be held personally responsible for any expenses not covered by insurance, you may want to increase these coverage amounts substantially.

Montana Optional Auto Insurance Coverage

While not required under Montana law, you may want to purchase collision and comprehensive car insurance coverage. Collision pays for damages to your vehicle in the event of an accident, and comprehensive car insurance will pay for repairs up to the Blue Book value of the car. If the cost of repair exceeds the Blue Book value, the car may be deemed to be totaled, and you would be awarded the cash value of your car. It’s for this reason that many lenders require that any car purchased with a car loan carry comprehensive car insurance.

Uninsured/underinsured insurance is not required in Montana but is highly recommended. This type of car insurance coverage protects you in the even that you are in an accident with a driver who either is uninsured or underinsured. This type of coverage will also help pay for medical expenses and car repairs following an accident with one of these drivers.

You might also want to consider Personal Injury Protection car insurance coverage in addition to the Montana state requirements. Personal Injury Protection coverage insures you and your passengers to provide help with medical bills, lost wages, and replacement services after an accident, even if you were found to be the cause of that accident.

How To Find Cheap Montana Car Insurance Rates

As always, you may want to review your Montana car insurance policy once every 6 months to make sure you have adequate coverage for your driving needs and you are not paying any more than you should. Shop around and do a side-by-side comparison of prices and the coverage offered. Compare at least 3 different car insurance companies in order to find the best rate.

Montana Auto Insurance Companies

No one single insurer is the best choice for every Montana resident so be sure and shop around. Here is a listing of some of the top MT car insurance companies:

AIG
SF Insurance
GEICO
Allstate
Esurance
Liberty Mutual
Progressive

Compare Montana Car Insurance Quotes Online

So if you live in Montana and plan on a drive down Sun Road in Glacier Park, considered to be the one of the most scenic drives in the United States, you may want to make sure you have proper car insurance. Of course, there is no need to have to drive all around town as well and get rates from one Montana auto insurance agent after another – there is an easier way. Compare MT auto insurance quotes online from competing companies and then choose the one that will best meet your needs.

By: James J. Robinson

Tips to Obtain the Least Expensive Car Insurance Quote

admin — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:15:45 +0000

Driving a car can be a lot of fun, but at the same time there are a number of things that you need to attend to before you can drive wherever you want. One of the major things that you need to keep you car street legal is car insurance, because without it you could end up losing your license or even being thrown in jail for violating a law that most places take very seriously. Buying cheap car insurance is therefore a priority for most people and here are some ways that you can get quotes that are less expensive than you might think.

Shop Around

The single most important thing that you can do in order to get the least expensive quote is to shop around. Not all car insurance companies are created equal and it is quite possible that some car insurance company out there might have a better plan for your specific needs than the one you are currently working with. Different companies tend to have strongholds in different areas of car insurance, so some companies might excel at providing cheap minimum coverage while other car companies might excel at quality versus cost, which in turn would result in a different range of quotes.

However, one thing that you need to keep in mind as well is to shop around the local insurance providers. Many of these providers will not show up in a web search or an online insurance quote comparer, because the companies that work those websites tend to only look at national firms when they are computing their competitiveness within the insurance market. While this is usually a good plan, every now and then a local provider has an excellent plan that nobody ever hears about, which is why you need to make sure you check them out before making a final decision.

Ask for Better Prices

Insurance companies are very similar to companies that work in the credit card industry. They are always looking to expand the number of customers that they have, because if they are continually expanding their customer base then it means that they are paying out insurance plans on firmer financial ground. Expansion is the key for any credit or income sharing type business and for that reason the customer actually has a lot of leeway in dealing with insurance companies that they didn’t know they even had.

In some cases, if you ask for a lower place straight out of the starting gate you might actually be granted it by the particular agent that you are working with. If an agent senses that a particular offer that is given by you might result in a sale if accepted, then there is every chance that they will speak to their supervisor about it. If the supervisor agrees, then you are good to go with an insurance plan that you were able to get for less than the quoted price. While this might seem a bit farfetched, please note that it costs you nothing to ask and the result might be just what you were looking for.

Other Tips

After you’ve shopped around for car insurance quotes and tried to browbeat your way down to better prices, there is not much else that you can do. The simple truth of the matter is that beyond malleability at the level of the company, there are not that many ways for you to obtain cheaper car insurance. Some areas offer driver training courses attached to insurance discount certificates, so checking with your local government to see if they offer such a thing would be the next step to take once you’ve exhausted the other opportunities available.

By: Amy Nutt

California Car Insurance Requirements

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:25:05 +0000

California Law requires all motor vehicle owners to have insurance which provides Bodily Injury Coverage and Property Damage Coverage.

In the State of California the required minimum coverage for bodily injury is $15,000 per person injured in any one accident and $30,000 for all persons injured in any one accident.

The required minimum coverage for property damage is $5,000 for injury to or the destruction of property of others in any one accident.

Optional insurance may include Uninsured Motorist Coverage. If the policy holder makes this choice, the actual coverage purchased must be at least the amount of the required Bodily Injury Coverage. If the policy holder purchases more than the required amount of Bodily Injury Coverage, Underinsured Motorist Coverage may then be purchased in a lesser amount. The State of California does not require insurance companies to provide Uninsured Motorist Coverage in any amount greater than $30,000 per personal injury in any one accident and $60,000 for all persons involved in any one accident.

As well, if Uninsured Motorist Coverage is purchased, then the policy must also include Underinsured Motorist Coverage. California requires insurance companies to offer for purchase Underinsured Motorist Coverage in an amount equal to that purchased for Uninsured Motorist Coverage. Insurers may, however, offer a greater amount of Underinsured Motorist Coverage than the Uninsured Motorist Coverage actually purchased by the policy holder.

California requires liability limits of 12/30/5 which represent $20,000 for bodily injury coverage per person and $30,000 for bodily injury coverage per accident which will pay for medical bills and lost wages. The last number of 5 represents $5,000 for property damage coverage per accident which will pay for repairs and/or replacement of objects damaged or destroyed other than the policy holder’s own vehicle.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and No-Fault Coverage are not required by the state.

Adding Collision Coverage as well as Comprehensive Coverage to an insurance policy is optional as well in California.

By: Elizabeth Newberry

Colorado Auto Insurance Minimum Coverage Requirements

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 06:08:46 +0000

Are you aware of the Colorado auto insurance minimum coverage requirements? The minimum levels of auto insurance coverage requirements are set by CO lawmakers. Driving without the required insurance is a very serious matter and can result in penalties and unwanted hassle.

Bodily Injury Liability

As a Colorado driver, you must have at least $25,000 in individual bodily injury liability insurance in place. This type of insurance pays for the medical expenses of a person injured in an automobile accident where you are considered the at-fault driver. Your policy must also have a cap of at least $50,000 to pay the medical bills for two or more people injured in the same accident.

Property Damage Liability

The property damage liability portion of your policy pays for damage caused to objects, such as the other driver’s vehicle, a mailbox, a fence, or a shed. The minimum level of coverage required by law in CO is $15,000.

Please keep in mind that the minimum levels of insurance coverage set out here are just that. Drivers in Colorado do have the option of buying more coverage if they want to. Before you make a decision about what level of coverage to buy, you will need to keep in mind that if you at the at-fault driver in an accident, you will be responsible for paying for damages above your policy limits.

It makes more sense to insure your vehicle properly and not take the chance that you will have to consider tapping into your savings or liquidating your assets after an accident. Your insurance company or agent can help you to figure out how much coverage you should have in place.

Find Colorado Auto Insurance Coverage Today

Now that you know what the Colorado auto insurance minimum coverage requirements are, why don’t you get take the next step and make sure you have enough protection for your needs? Spend a few moments comparing rates from some of the top companies and you can be on your way to the best Colorado car insurance in a jiffy!

By: James J. Robinson

New Jersey Auto Insurance Minimum Coverage Requirements – How to Find the Best NJ Car Insurance

admin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:31:28 +0000

Finding the best New Jersey car insurance rates is often just a matter of doing your research. Read on to learn some of the New Jersey car insurance basics and find out a few things that maybe you didn’t know about auto insurance coverage in New Jersey and then put your newfound knowledge to good use shopping around and comparing NJ car insurance quotes. Read on and see how much you may be able to save!

In New Jersey you are also required to have a minimum bodily injury liability coverage in the amount of $15,000 per person up to a total of $30,000 per accident. Bodily injury liability protects you or another driver on your policy if you are found to be at fault in an accident that resulted in an injury or death, for such things as medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and legal defense, if necessary.

You’re also required to have at least $5,000 of property damage liability in New Jersey. If you or another driver on your policy is found to be at fault in an accident, property liability damage will cover damage to another person’s property such as a fence, car, or home, and any legal costs associated with the accident.

In addition, you are required to have a minimum of $15,000 of personal injury protection. Personal injury protection may include all medical expenses, dental and optometric treatment, ambulance and nursing services, necessary medications, medical supplies, and prosthetic devices.

Be sure and shop around and compare NJ auto insurance companies side by side in order to find the best NJ car insurance coverage.

By: James J. Robinson

Quality Auto Insurance Policy

admin — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 20:47:35 +0000

It is an under-stated fact that driving isn’t a right, it’s a privilege. With luxury car and SUV sales increasing daily, it is apparent that many drivers want to feel very privileged to be driving. But while moon-roofs, third-row seats and On-star may make driving a bit more exciting, it doesn’t lower the need to carry a quality auto insurance policy.

A quality auto insurance policy will provide a driver with the necessary coverage while also safeguarding them from financial damages and/or losses that can be incurred during an accident. All states require a minimum amount of standard coverage, usually categorized as liability coverage. However, the wise driver would do well to ensure that they are getting a quality auto insurance policy that also includes medical payment options, personal injury protection, and/or under-insured/un-insured motorist insurance. Most insurance companies also offer collision and comprehensive damages, at an increased cost to basic insurance premiums.

There is no single trait that makes a quality auto insurance policy, but the following are some qualities that make an insurance policy better than average:

o Affordability: While location plays a large role in how much drivers will pay for a policy, quality auto insurance policies have premiums that are at the low end of the reasonable spectrum.

o Flexibility: A company that offers all ranges of coverage, from liability to comprehensive, and the option to change levels of coverage and deductibles for each, is more likely to be able to provide a customer with ongoing satisfaction. Watch for companies that only offer the minimum insurance required by the state. While there is nothing wrong with minimum coverage, it will not help drivers who are involved in an accident and need medical care or a new vehicle.

o Plenty of opportunity for discounts: Part of the joy of driving is receiving those discounts on monthly premiums for being a good student or a safe driver. Quality auto insurance policies allow drivers to lower their rate by adding safety and anti-theft devices onto their vehicles. Some will even discount premiums due to good payment history or taking a defensive driving or accident prevention course.

One trait of a quality insurance policy is one that doesn’t necessarily receive adequate attention. It is the “low-hassle” factor. Policies that have an on-line component to them, a place where the insured can change policy information, pay the bill or just review the policy documents before adding a new vehicle, can save the policy-holder a significant amount of headache. This translates into less stress and more time to enjoy driving. With the proliferation of larger, more family-oriented vehicles, Americans are traveling more now than ever before. With so many drivers on the road, purchasing a quality insurance policy isn’t just a good idea, it is a requirement.

By: Tristan Andrews

Three Auto Insurance Secrets

admin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 02:43:58 +0000

Want to learn something new about auto insurance? Something that can save you a lot of money or get a claim paid? Forget the usual tips. Check out these secrets.

1. Demand the legal policy minimums if you have no assets. Do you really need a lot of liability coverage if you have no money in the bank? Insurance companies will tell you that you do because you can be sued regardless. It’s possible. I can’t promise you that you won’t be sued and end up paying a chunk of your paycheck to someone for life.

However, honest insurance salesmen admit that people without assets are rarely sued. Lawyers work on a commission in these cases, and won’t take a case where there is no money to be collected. In fact, having a bigger liability policy can be an invitation to sue, and it won’t protect you from personal liability, because they always sue for more than the policy limit anyhow.

If you have no assets to protect, why buy auto insurance? Because it is a legal requirement. In that case why not just buy the minimum coverage required? But be careful. My own insurance guy lied for years, claiming I had just that, when in fact I was paying for “company-recommended minimums.” You might have to push the point, and may even have to sign something saying you understand how risky it is to be “under-insured.”

2. Claim diminished value. If you have a collision policy, your insurance company will pay for the repairs after an accident. However, is the financial damage really fixed? Not necessarily. A car that has been in an accident and had the body fixed may look the same, but it won’t sell for the same price. Would you pay the same for a car that has been in an accident?

A car that has been in an accident might be worth $2,000 less than a similar un-damaged car. This is called “diminished value,” and may be covered by your policy. However, diminished value is often not paid unless you push the point. Get a car dealer to do an estimate of the diminished value if necessary, and present this to the insurance company. You pay for insurance to have your losses covered, and they aren’t covered if you aren’t paid for this.

3. Lower your premiums by removing kids from the policy. You may have already discovered that you pay a lot for insurance as long as you have driving-age children at home. Even if they are off at school, if their legal residence is your house, you pay more.

However, there is a little-known exception to this rule. If your children are at a college that’s more than 100 miles away, you can have them taken off the insurance policy. This can dramatically reduce your premiums. The catch? They are excluded drivers, so you can’t let them drive the car when they come home to visit.

These are just a few examples of the auto insurance secrets that insurance companies probably don’t want you to know.

By: Steven Gillman

Cheap Auto Insurance in Michigan

admin — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:09:02 +0000

If you have been using the same auto insurance for years, now may be the time to switch. More and more companies are now offering cheap auto insurance in Michigan, and they can give you substantial discounts just for signing up.

Many websites are very helpful in generating quotes and comparing them for you – within 10 minutes or less. Simply subscribe to the mailing list (usually for free), fill out an uncomplicated form and you will already receive fresh quotes from Michigan’s top auto insurance companies. You can also choose to receive quotes from national providers and agents that have offices in Michigan.

Choose a website that has comparative rating systems so you can instantly compare rates and never have to do the math yourself. Some sites even ask you for your specific insurance needs so that they can adjust the search results to companies relevant to you. Many Michigan auto insurance companies have very strong web presence, so you can expect them to be actively connected to these comparison directories. In most cases, you can already buy your Michigan auto insurance policy online, without being rerouted to another website.

When shopping for cheap auto insurance in Michigan, do no just look at the bottom line. Inexpensive auto insurance packages are sometimes inexpensive because all they offer is minimum coverage. In the Michigan, that means $20,000 for injury liability for one person in an accident, $40,000 for injury liability for all injuries in an accident, and $10,000 for liability for property damage in an accident. You should look at packages that may be slightly higher, but offer far bigger coverage. Such an insurance package can save you from financial burdens later on should you cause injury or property damage that is worth much more than the minimum coverage. The additional few hundred dollars that you use to buy your insurance now can go a long way.

With our many payment plans available we are able to customize an affordable payment option that fits your budget. Sumner Insurance provides full coverage homeowners and cheap auto insurance.

By: Jennifer Bailey

Auto Insurance-What is Full Coverage?

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:21:56 +0000

I am a Houston Farmers auto insurance agent. I often talk to people that use the term “full coverage” to describe their auto coverage. I interpret this to mean that they have some level of liability insurance plus comprehensive coverage for their car. Sometimes customers think this means “Full coverage protects me from everything”. That is NOT correct!

The liability part of an auto policy covers injury to another person or damage to their vehicle. (See your policy or agent for complete terms) In my state of Texas the minimum required by law is 20/40/15 or $20,000 for an injured person, $40,000 for more than one person injured per accident, and $15,000 for damage to another persons auto. If you take this minimum coverage and add coverage for your vehicle, some would say they have full coverage. If there is a serious accident and the injuries and lost wages are $300,000, this policy would leave the customer responsible for paying about $260,000 from their assets to settle the claim. At that point the customer probably would not feel like they have full coverage! My opinion is that the liability part of a policy is VERY important. Talk to your agent for advice and consider getting the maximum coverage available and not the minimum required. You should also consider possibly getting an umbrella policy to increase your limit to a higher level that what is available on an auto policy.

It is important to have enough liability coverage to protect your current assets from lawsuits, and to protect your future assets from judgements that could result from an injury lawsuit. In addition it is important to be able to cover your moral responsibility to be able to “make it right” if you injure someone! How would you feel if someone you love is very seriously hurt and the driver only has $20,000 to offer as settlement. …You don’t want to be the one that only has the $20K if you hurt someone.

A so called “full coverage” policy could also be lacking uninsured motorist coverage, personal injury protection, towing/road service, rental car reimbursement, gap coverage, and more.

I suggest taking the time to understand your insurance options and get a good agents advice on what would be good coverage for your situation. Texas residents are welcome to call my Houston auto insurance agency for more information.

By: Glenn Lamb

Auto Insurance FAQs: Your Questions Answered

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:05:07 +0000

When it comes to auto insurance, most consumers have questions about the kind of coverage they buy, what they’re required to have and if there are options for high-risk drivers.

Learning the answers to these and other questions can help you make better purchasing decisions when it comes to car insurance. And now, finding answers is easier than ever!

Frequently Asked Questions about Auto Insurance

Can I drive without car insurance?

No! Almost every state requires its motorists to carry liability insurance, which covers damages to people and property resulting from an accident for which you are at fault.

All states also have financial responsibility laws, which require you show the state that you have the funds to pay claims if you have a bad accident. If you don’t have proof of sufficient funds (which varies by state), you’ll need to purchase at least the minimum state-required coverage.

What are the minimum insurance requirements?

While minimum coverage amounts vary by state, all state-required insurance will cover your liability for bodily injury and property damage.

For example, if the minimum auto insurance requirement in your state is listed as 25/40/15, this means that you’ll have coverage up to $40,000 for all motorists injured in an accident, up to a $25,000 for one person in an accident and $15,000 for damaged property.

While this may seem like a healthy amount of coverage, purchasing the state minimum is really purchasing a bare bones insurance policy. The Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.) recommends carrying at least $300,000 liability coverage per accident and $100,000 per person–and your insurer will encourage you do to the same.

What happens if I can’t find car insurance?

If you’ve applied for car insurance and been turned down because of your driving record or other factors, fret not–you still have options available to you. According to the I.I.I., you have two options: join a state assigned risk pool or buy a policy from a non-standard insurer.

An assigned risk pool consists of insurers in your area, who under state law, are required to participate in proportion to the amount of voluntary business they accept. As a result, insurers must accept motorists assigned to them and write policies accordingly. But because insurers have to take a substantial risk on insuring high-risk drivers, premiums are significantly more expensive.

Non-standard insurers may also be able to write you an auto insurance policy. These types of private insurers typically write policies for motorists with a poor history of accidents, people who live in “high-risk” neighborhoods and those who drive high performance cars.

While both of these options may have you forking over some extra cash, they might be your only source of auto insurance until your circumstances improve. Just remember to keep shopping around so you can switch insurers once you find a better premium price.

What are the differences between nonrenewal and cancellation of a policy?

You or your insurer can choose not to renew your auto insurance policy after it expires for a variety of reasons. You might decide not to renew your policy if you find a better deal somewhere else or weren’t happy with the service you were receiving.

An insurer may not renew your policy if you did something to substantially increase their risk to cover you–or if the company decides to write fewer policies in your area.

Cancellation, on the other hand, is more serious. According to the I.I.I., insurers cannot cancel a policy that’s been in force for more than 60 days unless:
You fail to pay your premium You defraud the company Your driver’s license is suspended or revoked
Cancellation of your policy may also make it harder to find insurance in the future, thus forcing you to buy a high-risk policy for a more expensive premium.

What if I’m not satisfied with my insurer?

As a consumer, you have rights when it comes to your auto insurance. If you’re not satisfied with your agent, let him or her know. If your complaint still goes unchecked, see if the insurer has a consumer complaint department and file a complaint.

If your issues remain unsolved, contact your state department of insurance. The department of insurance exists for consumer education and protection, and they can provide you with help and resources to take your complaint to the next level, or find a new insurer. You can contact your department of insurance by phone or find them online for more information.

A knowledgeable consumer is a powerful consumer!

Finding questions to your auto insurance answers is the first step to becoming an educated consumer–allowing you to make wise purchasing decisions about affordable car insurance. Find more answers to your auto insurance questions by contacting your state department of insurance!

By: Megan Mahan