Reader’s Question:

My friend went to a car rental last week since her car broke down which she is still using until now. And in the car rental, she was given a waiver, is that something like a car insurance and just different style? How can one still be insured even if they just borrowed a car here in Palm Beach, Florida?

Kim

Brandon, FL

Cars nowadays are necessity it is hard sometimes for us to go to a short or long distance place without it. This is the reason why in the State of Florida there are a lot of car rentals. But it is still advisable for a driver with rented car to have a Car Insurance policy.

Car Insurance Companies usually offer a Non-Owner Policy for those who doesn’t have a car of their own and usually borrow or rents a car. This policy pays for the injuries and damages that you have incurred to the other driver in case you are driving a borrowed or rented car but this policy doesn’t pay for your own injury and damages. Car Rental agencies in Palm Beach, Florida usually offers a Collision Damage Waiver and Liability policies but this is not an insurance, it just an arrangement that the certain car rental agency will relinquish its right with certain exceptions and to pull through from the borrower the cost of damage to the car. If you have your own car insurance then it might already cover the damage to the rented car though your policy might have its own limit that might be smaller than the worth of the rented car. If your car insurance has a low coverage limit then you might as well increase it. Your car insurance might have a higher premium but then again it is cheaper than buying the additional coverage from the car rental.

Tags: auto liability insurance, car insurance, collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, rental car insurance

Reader’s Question:

I had a car accident the other night here in Palm Beach, Florida but it wasn’t I to blame. Of course, we filed a police report and I’m counting the other party’s auto insurance would be responsible enough to pay for the damage on my car. If the driver won’t initiate to tell his insurance company, can I call his insurer and tell them about the accident? Shall I also report this to my auto insurance company or let it pass since the accident wasn’t my fault?

Adan

Palm Beach, FL

Dealing with your own auto insurance provider after an accident could be aggravating and annoying. And picture out doing business with the auto insurance provider of another person who collided with your vehicle. Well, you have to keep your cool when you’re making a claim with the auto insurance provider of the other driver who was at fault. That driver should be accountable for telling his insurer about the accident. But it would be a good idea to contact his insurance provider since at-fault drivers may be unwilling to do that. And I assume that you got all the necessary details at the scene of the crash like the name of the insurer, claims contact number and name of an insurance agent.

Then you have to tell the other driver’s auto insurance provider that you have been in an accident with one of their policyholders and report to them any property damage and injuries. Recount only the truth because the authorities would find out who caused the accident and the insurance provider would decide on who was at-fault based on the law enforcement’s reference, in spite of your explanation. Even if you were not the one who caused the accident, you have to call your own insurer in Palm Beach, Florida. They can be able to help you if the other driver and his insurance provider won’t take responsibility for the crash.

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance company

Reader’s Question:

A friend here in Palm Beach, Florida told me that if I want to go over arbitration with my car insurance company because of my insurance claim dispute, I need to check my insurance policy first regarding the list of organization who can arbitrate my claim. There’s nothing listed in my policy so how can I go on with the arbitration?

Garry

Palm Beach, FL

If you want to submit a Demand for Arbitration form regarding a claim dispute against your car insurance company in Palm Beach, Florida and there is nothing listed in your car insurance policy as to which organization to submit it to, you can submit that document to Florida department of insurance. You may also opt to send the Demand for Arbitration document to the offices of American Arbitration Association or AAA. Both of you and your car insurance company should agree to arbitration and remember that the rules here would be tougher. Moreover, the rulings in arbitration will be binding resolution.

In case you have an attorney who will represent you at an arbitration trial, you should tell your car insurance provider in advance. Your car insurance provider should tell you as well if an attorney would represent them in trial. Just like the procedures in court, both you and the car insurance company will be allowed to provide proofs that support your claims. Both parties could also bring in witnesses, who should agree to questioning by the other party and by the arbitrator. The arbitrator will have the authority to decide if you have the entitlement to be given any compensation under your car insurance policy and how much it would be. In case you and your insurer make a settlement on your own while in the course of arbitration, the arbitrator could decide that your settlement would be the resolution.

Tags: advice, auto insurance claims, car insurance, car insurance company

Reader’s Question:

I bought a new car in Florida just when we moved in Palm Beach. I heard there is a little difference in the rules regarding car insurance here in Florida in terms of loss of policy. What are those rules and what are the penalties, if there are any, for not having car insurance in Palm Beach Florida?

Dave

Palm Beach, FL

First of all, be reminded that car insurance in Palm Beach or anywhere you drive in Florida car insurance is a requisite to anyone who drives along Florida roadways. And there are certainly penalties for not having a proof of car insurance while driving when the authorities know it.

There are two occasions wherein you may lose your car insurance policy. For one, when your insurance provider cancelled your policy due to failure to renew it or to pay the necessary amount on time, you do not have other options but to subscribe for another policy. You better hurry because your former insurer immediately informs the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) once your policy is cancelled.

The other occasion is when you are driving and you do not carry with you the proof of your car insurance. And in case a police officer caught you driving with his/her knowledge that your car is not insured and you are unable to provide him your insurance card, DMV has the right to suspend your license and your car’s plate and registration up until you are able to show a proof of new insurance policy you get. However, you need to pay a $150 to $500 fee to have your license back as well as your car’s registration and license plate.

Tags: auto insurance policy, car insurance, DMV

Reader’s Question:

I have done some research for car insurance companies and I am near in reaching a decision as to which company I’d go with. Aside from checking if the policy contains the coverage I need for my car insurance here in Palm Beach, Florida, is there some kind of clauses that I should avoid?

Noelia

Palm Beach, FL

I believe that you have gone through a tough time to find the perfect insurer for your car insurance in Palm Beach, Florida. But before you go ahead and put your signature on, you have to go over the policy. Aside from making sure that it has the coverage you need, there are two sections that you must check in the policy:

1. Check if you surrender your privilege to take a matter in court and would just be compelled into mediation if there’s dispute over a certain issue. An insurance expert said that it would be a lot better not to let pass this privilege because it would be simpler for insurance companies to take advantage of you. In case you see this in the policy you are considering, everything is not automatically lost. A contract is a mutual arrangement, so you could remove that part in the policy. In case the insurer doesn’t approve the policy sans clause, you have to look for another insurer.

2. In case you find in the policy that the insurance provider could use “aftermarket parts” for body shop repairs, choose another insurer. If the vehicle that you drive is pretty recent that you intend to maintain for a long time, you’d likely be satisfied if you take some more time looking for another insurer that has competitive edge than try to argue with the insurer once you file a claim.

Tags: car insurance, car insurance policy

Reader’s Question:

I was made aware that my credit history can affect my car insurance rate that’s why I always try to keep it clean. Will you explain to me how can my credit have an impact on my premiums here in Palm Beach, Florida?

Otto

Palm Beach, FL

You almost certainly know that the lenders use the details on your credit report to find out if they would give you credit. However, in some states your credit rating could also be considered by car insurance providers. Having a good or bad credit history could have an influence on your car insurance coverage and help figure out the insurance rates that you would have to pay.

For instance, you didn’t have a job for many months a few years back. Before you land a occupation, you had some overdue payments on your credit card and other bills. This may cause your car insurance rates to go up, even if you have never filed a claim on your insurance policy. Another case is that you have always paid your dues on time but you use cash instead of a credit. This can be a problem because just like applying for a credit card or mortgage, you won’t have history of monthly payment for credit card. A lot of people know that having a good driving history is necessary; however, that is not just the case. Most car insurance providers in Palm Beach, Florida also take into account your credit as a significant rating factor.

Tags: auto insurance premium, car insurance rates, credit card, credit history

Reader’s Question:

My brother will be gone for a while and he asked me to take care of his two kids, his house and his cars. I may have to use one of his cars for some errands that I need to do. Can I get like temporary car insurance for it here in Palm Beach, Florida?

Taryn

Palm Beach, FL

Temporary car insurance is perfect for temporary car possessions, vacation driving and if a new driver would be taking over driving tasks of an automobile. The temporary auto insurance would give you protection with full or liability insurance, depending on what coverage you need. I assume that your brother has an existing car insurance policy but a temporary driver may not be covered on his policy. Since, he will be gone for a while and you will use one of his cars, he may consider purchasing temporary car insurance. A lot of car insurance providers in Palm Beach, Florida offer temporary car insurance.

A lot of car insurance policies are written for weeks instead of a longer period such as six months which is the typical term for a conventional policy. For the ease, often times the insurance rates for a temporary auto insurance policy is considerably larger that the pro-rated amount for an annual policy. The temporary car insurance policy could give liability or full coverage and this could be the perfect answer for your current car insurance needs.

Tags: auto insurance policy, car insurance

Reader’s Question:

Will the medical payment coverage on my auto insurance here in Palm Beach, Florida still pay for my medical expenses if I get into an accident driving another person’s car? Also, do I need to get the PIP if I am already paying too much for my health insurance?

Neal

Palm Beach, FL

The coverage for medical payments or what is called the Medpay would pay for your medical expenses and also for your passengers after a car accident. This would include accidents while you are driving your own automobile, while you are driving another person’s car but with their permission, or injuries to you or other family members while you are pedestrians. MedPay would pay regardless of who caused the accident, but if another person is at fault, your car insurance provider in Palm Beach, Florida may go after them and seek damages from the other party.

Personal Injury Protection or the PIP would pay for medical expenses and also lost wages for you and your passengers who got injured in an accident. It would also provide coverage for funeral costs and PIP is required in the state of Florida. If you are already paying too much for great health and disability insurance, you may opt to purchase only the minimum cost since it is required.

Tags: auto insurance

Reader’s Question:

How do car insurance companies here in Palm Beach, Florida figure out if a driver is considered as high risk? Do these car insurance companies do some investigation or something?

Thaddeus

Palm Beach, FL

Car insurance providers in Palm Beach, Florida, and anywhere for that matter, generally like to do their own study as a method to help them figure out if a driver might be higher risk than an average driver who has car insurance. The conventional method that they go by is that men are always a higher risk than women; teens are always higher risk than adults and those who are living in the city are higher risk than those who are living in the country.

Car insurance providers also would do some checking to find out if a driver has had continuous car insurance coverage with some car insurance providers, not necessarily theirs. If for some reason a driver has not, this is a signal for them that the last car insurance policy the driver had was cancelled for some reason, or that the person has just been driving without having car insurance coverage. Either of this possibility may cause the car insurance provider the driver has selected to work with to put him/her in the high risk category.

Tags: auto insurance company, car insurance, high risk insurance

Reader’s Question:

My grandpa still insists on driving so we still need to have him insured here in Palm Beach, Florida. How can a senior obtain affordable auto insurance?

Lisa

Palm Beach, FL

Senior citizens could save on their auto insurance in many ways. One of the most basic ways is to check out as much auto insurance companies in your area as possible to compare their premium rates for the kind of insurance that your grandfather needs. It is not commonly known how much the premiums could vary for one insurance company to another. Some auto insurance industry insiders say that 300% is a very close number. When comparing auto insurance quotes, elderly people must be sure that they check to find the insurance coverage they need and if any discounts could help them to save some amount.

One other way for your grandfather to save on his auto insurance in Palm Beach, Florida is to have higher deductibles. You can try to check if his car is a make and model that can be considered as the auto insurance industry calls a ‘low profile’ automobile. These kinds of cars are not reported stolen as much as other cars are and those that also have lower costs for repair.

Tags: auto insurance, auto insurance quotes, auto insurance rate, senior citizen car insurance