How Good Student Discounts Can Affect Auto Insurance Rates

Getting a driver's license is every teenager's biggest dream - at least at the time. It gives them the opportunity to take on the responsibility of driving and being able to get themselves from point A to point B. Obtaining that card also gives parents a chance to see how their children react when given that level of responsibility and are always content to see them achieve such an accomplishment. But getting a license is also followed by the purchasing of a car for the teen or putting them on the auto insurance policy of their parents. In either case, the cost to insure a teenager or new driver can often be quite high since they have no driving experience on the road and teens tend to be erratic drivers. Even with the rising insurance costs in the auto insurance realm, there are still ways to get discounts for teens and college students through educational discounts that just about everyone can take advantage of.

With the rising insurance costs associated with auto insurance, it's important to take advantage of any discounts available to drivers. Luckily for parents, there are a few different educational discounts that can be utilized to lower the monthly premiums for insurance policies containing young drivers. These educational discounts can be applied to both teens in high school and young adults in college and the great thing is that most states allow children to stay on their parent's auto insurance plan until they turn 25.

One of the best and easiest discounts to take advantage of is the good grades discount. This discount is just as simple and self-explanatory as the title itself. Any teen or young adult that does well in school and maintains a GPA average (determined by the insurance company), will get a discount on their auto insurance. The way to prove this is by getting the quarter's report card for high school students and a semester's worth of grades for college students. This is all the proof that's needed for the insurance company to apply the correct discount.

Another great discount available also has to do with grades but takes it a step further. For those that stay on the dean's list (college students) or honor roll (high school students), additional discounts are available. For students that are consistent, some insurance companies even give extra discounts for each semester. This means a much lower premium on the auto insurance policy.

In order to find out if your insurance policy gets these discounts, it's important to speak to an insurance agent. If the discounts aren't automatically applied, then speak to an insurance agent.

Missouri DWI laws & Penalties

The state of Missouri persues both Missouri DWI and Missouri DUI cases. A Missouri DWI commonly refers to a drunk driving violation, whereas a DUI refers to driving while under the influence of drugs. If you are arrested for a Missouri DWI it means that you were driving with a blood alcohol level of .08% or greater. This is true only of tests administered up to three hours after the arrest. The Missouri "per se" law allows police to arrest (and the courts to convict) even if your ability to drive was not impaired if you submitted a chemical test of .08% or greater.

If you are arrested on charges of Missouri DWI and refuse to take the blood alcohol test, or if you did take the test and you were above the legal limit, you can lose your license. You have fifteen days after the arrest to take action to protect your driving privilege. It is crucial to have the help of a lawyer for this!

Penalties for Missouri DWI

A Missouri DWI is considered a misdemeanor, provided it is a first offense. In this case, you will be facing a possible jail sentence of up to six months. Also, you will have to pay a fine that cannot exceed $500. Keep in mind, though, that you will also be responsible for paying for your court and incarceration costs. You will lose your license for 30 days, and also face a 60-day restricted driving period. During this restricted time you can drive to and from work and your alcohol education classes. Also, this will be part of your permanent driving record.

A Missouri DWI conviction also carries the requirement of attending the Substance Abuse Traffic Offender Program, or SATOP. The SATOP class costs $190. You will also have to pay to have your license reinstated when you complete the class.

The court also has the option to ask a first time Missouri DWI arrestee to drive only with an ignition interlock device for the duration of the probation period, which is 1 to 2 years. This device will keep the car from starting when the driver has alcohol in his system. This device comes with a monthly maintenance fee that will be your responsibility.

Finally, remember that your Missouri DWI will cause your insurance premiums to increase significantly. No matter if there were injuries or not due to your driving drunk, you will see a huge rise in premiums. You may even lose your current coverage and be forced to seek alternative car insurance.

Here is a summary of the punishments faced for a Missouri DWI:

Missouri DWI First Offense
•Class B misdemeanor

•Up to 6 months in jail

•Up to $500 in fines

•1 to 2 years probation

•90 day drivers license suspension (temporary after 30 days)

Missouri DWI Second Offense
•Class A misdemeanor

•Up to 1 year in jail

•Up to $1,000 in fines

•1 to 2 years probation

•5 years drivers license suspension

Missouri DWI Third Offense
•Class D felony

•Up to 5 years in prison

•Up to $5,000 in fines

•1 to 2 years probation

•10 years drivers license suspension

Missouri BAC Assumptions
•Bac reading of .08 or greater is evidence of intoxication at the time the test was taken.

Missouri Implied Consent Laws
•Chemical testing is allowed. Blood, breath, urine or saliva.

•The arresting officer is required to advise the defendant of the penalties for refusal. A test refusal is admissible in court. The defendant has 20 minutes to contact an attorney.

•Tests resulting in a BAC reading of .08 or greater result in a 30 day suspension.

•Test refusal results in a 1 year license revocation, is admissible in court. The completion of a substance abuse traffic offender program may be required for a license to be reistated.

•PBT test results are admissible as evidence of probable cause, but not as evidence of BAC level.

Chemical Testing
•Blood draws for police testing must be administered by a licensed physician, registered nurse or other qualified person.

•The defendent has the right to have an independent chemical test done by a qualified person. The independent test costs are the defendant's responsibility.

•Test results must be provided to the defendant and their Missouri DWI attorney upon request.

Missouri SR22 Insurance

In Missouri, after you get a DWI conviction in order to get your drivers license back you'll be required to carry what's known as a SR22 insurance policy for a period of 3 years. The SR22 insurance policy is a high risk auto insurance policy that is mandated by the Missouri Department of Motor Vehicles and provided by smaller companies that specialize in this type of auto insurance.

We have worked out a special discount only available here for our website visitors. You won't be able to find a cheaper SR22 insurance policy in Missouri for any less.

Bad Credit Auto Insurance

Certain credit risk factors might necessitate applying for bad credit auto insurance. At Select Insurance Group, we strive to provide you with a thorough understanding of how bad credit affects auto insurance premiums. Knowing your credit score in advance will help you to find suitable, affordable coverage.

Based upon credit scores, many insurance companies determine the probability that auto insurance claims will be filed. They then set rates accordingly and charge more for those with a low score. Bad credit auto insurance may be a necessary choice for certain individuals. However, other options are possible and affordable solutions exist.

Locating Bad Credit Auto Insurance

Select Insurance Group works closely with insurance carriers who will provide the lowest quotes possible. We offer rate comparisons with hundreds of carriers and cost cutting tips to assure that the best available coverage is obtained. We represent numerous insurance carriers who do not use credit scores when rating automobile insurance. Often, premiums for individuals with poor credit are quoted at lower rates than are available from carriers who use credit scores.

INSTANT QUOTES for bad credit auto insurance are guaranteed and are offered free of charge by clicking HERE. Our On-Line Automobile Quote form takes only a few minutes to complete. It covers personal data as well as driver and vehicle information. Quotes may be sent by e-mail, fax, postal mail, or telephone. Feel free to also visit our main website at www.selectinsuranceteam.com or call us for a free consultation at 1-855-GET-SELECT

Caught driving without auto insurance?

In some compulsory insurance states, insurers must notify the proper state agency that a motorist’s coverage has lapsed, but much time often elapses before the overworked state agency takes action. In most compulsory insurance states, police officers can confiscate a motorists license tags if the motorist cannot produce proof of insurance.

SR22 and Proof Of Insurance

Tags seldom are seized until motorists commit offenses that bring them to the attention of the police. Even if insurance dodgers are prosecuted and convicted of violating compulsory insurance laws, they have little to fear. Many judges, who deal routinely with far more serious offenses, are quite lenient with someone who does nothing worse than refuse to buy insurance. In short, regardless of their reason for not purchasing coverage, insurance dodgers face little risk of meaningful punishment. Find cheap sr22 insurance here.

For these reasons, compulsory laws are viewed by many as futile. In the states that have experimented with such laws over the past several decades, every imaginable means of enforcement has been tried and retried at one time or other with the same results: little difference in the percentage of insured drivers. With extremely- vigorous (and costly) methods of enforcement, some states have managed to reduce their uninsured motorist level somewhat.

Another major argument against compulsory laws is that they are too costly to administer. In states with compulsory laws, besides processing millions of forms showing evidence of insurance, these departments must also process many other kinds of forms as well: changes of registration, new registrations, insurance cancellations and terminations, plus changes in vehicles, insurance companies, and names. In addition, insurance companies have substantial expenses in notifying state authorities whenever a policyholders coverage lapses or expires.

Proper enforcement of compulsory laws requires an extensive data processing system, special layers of state bureaucracy, and enough state police officers to locate and confiscate the license plates of uninsured drivers. Apart from the fact that crime-fighting resources and highway safety patrolmen must be diverted to track down uninsured motorists, no state can afford the vast amount of funds needed to follow up, identify and punish all insurance people who avoid their responsibility.

Of all the states with compulsory laws, Missouri has carried out the most effective and extensive enforcement program. Supervised by the Motor Vehicles Department, record-keeping and forms preparation are done by a computer system provided by the Department of Transportation. The Department of Public Safety employs some 50 staff police officers who confiscate about 19,000 sets of license plates a year.

Why is auto insurance necessary?

Mandatory auto insurance laws

Support for compulsory insurance laws stems from the belief that such laws increase the number of financially responsible drivers. Many state legislators say that, because of constituent pressure, it is politically difficult for them not to support compulsory auto insurance laws.

These laws often require that drivers present proof of insurance before they are allowed to register their vehicles and make it illegal to drive without proof of current insurance. The seriousness of the crime and penalty for driving without proof of insurance vary among the states, with possible punishment ranging from a fine to a jail sentence. Some states, like Missouri, require motorists to present documentary proof of insurance to register their cars, but the majority require only that people sign affidavits attesting that they have, and will maintain,
liability coverage. Find affordable sr22 insurance coverage here.

In contrast to compulsory insurance laws, financial responsibility laws, in force in the majority of states, do not make it illegal to operate a vehicle without insurance or the financial equivalent (usually in the form of posting a bond to cover damages) until after an accident occurs.

Even the best and best-enforced compulsory insurance laws, however, offer no protection from operators of stolen vehicles, drivers from other states, drivers of unregistered vehicles, hit-and-run drivers, drivers whose insurance limits are too low to pay for all the damage they have caused, or insurance dodgers who cancel their policies soon after they receive proof-of-insurance certificates and register their vehicles. Therefore, even in states with compulsory insurance laws, motorists need uninsured and under-insured motorist insurance to protect themselves from losses caused by these drivers.

In the mid 1950s New York was the first state to enact a statute requiring insurers to offer uninsured motorist (UM) coverage. Virtually every state now requires auto insurers to offer this coverage, and in 29 states and the District of Columbia drivers must purchase it.

Most state laws mandate a minimum basic UM coverage be offered at limits equal to the automobile bodily injury coverage required under the state’s financial responsibility law for liability. The concept is that the policyholder is provided with the minimum protection required by law irrespective of whether the at-fault driver has insurance. Because such limits were often unrealistically low (that is, insufficient to cover actual accident costs), insurers began making available higher limits of UM coverage, usually in amounts up to the third-party liability coverage chosen by the insurance buyer. The theory was that policyholders should have access to the same level of protection for themselves as they were providing to others.

As insurers offered higher limits of UM coverage, an anomalous situation developed. A policyholder carrying higher limit UM might be in a more advantageous position after being injured by an uninsured motorist than after being injured by a financially responsible motorist carrying lower limits of bodily injury liability insurance. Therefore, the next step in the progression was development of coverage designed to fill the gap between the limits available to the victim of the inadequately insured motorist with the desired degree of
protection.

This form of insurance is known as under-insured motorist coverage (UIM). Thirty-two states have laws or regulations requiring insurers to offer this type of coverage, and insurers offer it voluntarily in most other states.

An insurance broker can help you save cash!

We all like having to pay our monthly insurance fees, right? We simply can't wait until those payments start emptying our accounts like clockwork soon after payday, right? I am certain that you will agree that those are two of the silliest assertions you've heard in a long time!

Then why, if paying our premiums leaves such a terrible taste in our mouths, do we accept the very first policy we can get our hands on? Why don't we do a bit of homework until we discover the most cost effective insurance policies with the best cover? Won't paying our insurance policies month after month then be a bit less agonizing?

One of the best ways to discover insurance plans is by making use of an insurance broker.

Most "normal" people don't possess extensive knowledge of the insurance industry.

If the insurance company suggests that I take advantage of policy A, and that I must also select policy B, C, and D in addition to that (to receive the best coverage of course!) it's almost guaranteed that the average buyer will believe them and that I will most likely end up paying 5 times more than necessary.

An insurance broker in contrast, makes a living off insurance! Selling insurance policies is their "8 hours a day 5 days a week" job and that makes them experts in the field!

The good thing about having a broker is that they will not be charging you anything more - you might in fact end up saving cash! Yes, of course these brokers have to get paid for their products and services, but this is usually in a form of commission from the insurance companies. These commissions already form part of your month-to-month premium, regardless of whether you use a broker or not. Yes it's true! If client An opts for policy A from company A without using a broker, client A will be paying the same for this specific policy than client B would be when making use of a broker.

Another positive point about using the expert services of an insurance broker is that they do not work for a particular insurance provider (don't confuse an insurance broker with an insurance agent like a state farm, american family, farmers, shelter, or allstate). For this reason your broker will be able to provide you with numerous quotations and choices from various insurance agencies. They will also know which policies and companies to steer away from.

Having access to an insurance broker is almost like having your own insurance personal assistant. You can settle back and relax while they handle everything - from the first quote to the actual pay-out of a claim following an accident!

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Enroll online.
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Plug the device into your car.
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Drive as you normally do.
For the next 30 days, you’ll keep track of your good driving habits with the Snapshot device. You can log in to your Progressive policy anytime to see your projected Snapshot DiscountSM.

Enjoying your savings
On day 31, your initial Snapshot savings—which can be anywhere from 0 to 30 percent— kicks in. After six months, you’ll send back the device, we’ll finalize your driving snapshot, and you can keep saving for as long as you’re insured by Progressive.

You can only save money with Snapshot—your rate won’t go up—but if at any point, you decide the program isn’t right for you, just call us and then send back your device.

Quote and enroll in Snapshot to try usage-based insurance today!

What Happens If You Get Caught Driving Without Auto Insurance?

It doesn't matter where you live, chances are you're going to be required to carry some form of auto insurance policy on your vehicle before the DMV will issue you title and tags-and a judge will let you stay out on the highways, of course! Maintaining your auto insurance coverage is a huge part of being a responsible driver. The problem is, people slip.

So what happens if you get busted driving without an auto insurance policy?

When you're caught driving without auto insurance coverage you can guarantee that you're going to have to pay a fine. How high that fine happens to be is going to depend on your state, but it's not going to be pretty. That's also going to go hand in hand with whatever court costs the judge orders you to pay and, potentially, a civil penalty to get your license back-which we're going to talk about in a minute.

The judge is well within his (or her) rights to confiscate your license if you're caught driving without a license, and they will probably do so with very little hesitation. You can lose your license for up to a year after driving without insurance, and the fees to get it back are usually fairly hefty. Depending on your state's policies you may also find that you have to retake your written test before you can be relicensed, something you probably didn't enjoy very much the first time around.

And then there's the up to five years in jail you could be facing. Any way you want to look at it, it's going to be bad.

The bottom line is that even if you can only afford the minimum level of auto insurance coverage for your state, the consequences of driving without any insurance at all don't bear thinking about. Your bank account will thank you in the long run.


call me for a FREE QUOTE. 1-855-GET-SELECT (4387353)

Steve Ludwig
Select Insurance Group
Saint Peters, MO
636-410-6219 Ext 1

Cheap Auto Insurance For Teens

When looking for cheap auto insurance for teens it is important to keep in mind several factors about driving and what insurance providers are looking for. You see, as a teenager, you don’t have any experience to show about your driving record or any kind of financial responsibility for that matter. If you’re paying too much for insurance than it is best to understand that all auto coverage providers are different from each other and many can offer specials if you know how to get them.

There are some techniques to get cheap auto insurance for teens who can use that really work well. When in this economy, it’s tough to be too savvy but sometimes you just have to because who can afford ridiculous premiums each month.

Here are a few tips that can help you obtain cheap auto insurance for teens:

- Have a good student record to show. Many institutions offer discounts for good students who get a 3.0 grade point average or better.

- Purchase an older vehicle. By having a new, fast, shiny and expensive car you will be charged higher monthly rates. The reason the do this is because it would cost them a lot more money to pay for damages from a new car than an old one.

- Use online resources to shop many providers. This is an invaluable technique where you only have to insert your information one time and then have handfuls of top-rated providers you can choose from.

It makes purchasing cheap auto insurance for teens much easier when you already have the layout and costs sitting right in from of you to compare from all of the providers. It sure beats sitting on the phone for hours or having to go sit at each insurance agents’ office just for one quote.

The best resource for cheap auto insurance is right here. Just fill in your basic info and press continue and you’ll have access to the lowest rates ever. All you have to do is => Click Here to begin saving on your insurance now.

Reviewing your insurance coverage

When was the last time you sat down and really looked at your insurance policies - your car insurance, your home insurance and your personal liability insurance? If you are like most people, it's been years. More likely, you receive copies of your policy from your insurer and file them away somewhere and you never look at them again -- until or unless you need to file a claim. That's a big mistake. Instead, you should set aside some time to review all your policies. You just might find that there are opportunities to save some real money.

For example, did you know that discounts are offered to policyholders who have all their policies with one insurer? Take a look at your policies and see if you can consolidate with one carrier. Also, remember that you can generate substantial savings by changing your deductibles. Many people select a relatively low deductible for their car insurance --sometimes as little as $250. If you have a good driving history, you can increase that deductible to $1,000 and reduce your policy cost by 15 to 20 percent. Similarly, if you increase your homeowner's insurance deductible from $250 to $2,000 or slightly higher, you could see a premium decrease of 25 to 30 percent.

Besides the savings you could realize in premiums, you really do need to be reviewing your coverage to make sure it is still appropriate. For example, you may have taken out a personal excess liability (or umbrella) policy years and years ago and a $1 million coverage level may have seemed adequate at the time. However, maybe you have saved more and your net worth has increased and maybe now a $2 million policy is needed. These policies do not increase automatically so it is up to you to stay on top of the situation. Also, you should be aware that the addition of an extra $1 million of coverage on an umbrella is usually quite cheap. The first million in coverage is usually the most expensive.

Finally, if you have done any renovations to your home and have not updated your information with your insurer be sure to do so as soon as possible. It seems hard to believe but there have been several instances where people have substantially improved their homes (sometimes adding extra bedrooms and bathrooms) and forgot to inform their insurer. In those cases, if there is a loss, the new additions are not covered. The last thing you want to do is spend $50,000 or $100,000 on improvements and not be able to get reimbursed in the event of a loss

call me at 1-855-GET-SELECT for your free insurance review.

steve ludwig
president/ceo
select insurance group
saint peters, mo

Preventing And Dealing With Auto Hail Damage

Hail storms may seem harmless, but one little hailstone can dent your car or break your windshield, mirrors and headlights. The worst part is that unless you have comprehensive coverage, your auto insurance won’t help you with auto hail damage.

The average hail storm lasts about five minutes, but according to the National Weather Services, the damage left behind adds up to $1 billion every year.

Hail is formed when raindrops pass through currents of freezing air and turn into small blocks of ice. Most of the time they measure only a fraction of an inch but they can also reach the destructive size of a grapefruit or softball.

To prevent hail damage, the Better Business Bureau recommends taking the following precautions:

1 – Park your car in a garage or under a roof before the storm begins.
2 – If you have to leave it outside, cover your car with a thick blanket to minimize the impact of hail.
3 – If driving, look for a covered safe place and wait for the storm to pass.
4 – If there’s nowhere to go, stop your car. The impact will be stronger if your car is in motion.
5 – After the storm, assess the damage and call your insurance company.

Damage to sheet metal can cost thousands of dollars to repair and replacing a broken windshield can add up to hundreds of dollars. Don’t expect a check from your insurance company unless you’ve purchased comprehensive coverage, the kind that also covers other types of weather-related damage, theft and vandalism.

If you are covered, you have the right to get your car repaired to the condition it was in before the hail damaged it. There are two ways to accomplish this: the traditional method of body repair – hammering and painting – or paintless dent repair.

steve ludwig
president/ceo
select insurance group
1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353)

Would Getting Auto Insurance Quotes Affect Your Credit Score?

These days the importance of credit score is highlighted even more. While providing auto insurance quotes credit rating is one of the key factors in determining applicants’ risk profile. Everyone seems to be interested in your credit worthiness. Mortgage companies, landlords, employers and insurers regularly check credit history of their applicants.

According to many auto insurance companies motorists with better credit ratings are less likely to make a claim. Although there are still few insurers that do not check credit history, most do ask for insurance credit score. Their calculation is not necessarily the same as standard credit check. Therefore, someone with perfect creditworthiness might receive a low insurance rating.

Currently it is almost an undisputed fact that credit habits tell a lot about applicants’ likelihood of making a claim. Insurance providers would naturally use every tool available to predict the profitability of your custom. Several studies have proved a direct link between claims and credit.

Some people might see that an insurance company enquired about their credit rating. They might assume that is the reason for the drop in their rating. This assumption would not be true as this would be considered a soft pull and would not affect your score. Nearly all of the credit checks that are not related to a credit application are considered soft pull.

When you apply for a loan, credit card or mortgage you would have a hard pull on your credit history. The purpose and indications of these two credit enquiries are completely different. The soft enquiry provides valuable information about your credit habits not necessarily needs. But hard pull offers insight to current need of credit.

In conclusion, there is not really much you could do about it. If you want a decent savings on your car insurance you need to compare different quotes. When you do that they will go ahead and check your insurance rating. Simply you could tell them to knock themselves out. It is unlikely that it will hurt you in anyway.

Contact me at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) for your FREE auto insurance quote

Steve Ludwig
select insurance group
president/ceo

Delivering Pizzas? You may need Drive Commercial Auto

Do you or your teenager earn a little extra spending money using your car - maybe delivering pizzas or other products? Many people don't realize that their Personal Auto policy won't cover vehicles when they're used to earn money, including making deliveries.

Be sure to check with your agent or broker to see whether you need a Commercial Auto policy to get the protection you need.

call me at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) for your FREE auto insurance consultation.

Steve Ludwig
Select Insurance Group
President/CEO

Why Auto Insurance Costs Vary By Zip Code?

When auto insurance companies are setting rates they should be charging just premiums based on many factors they take into account. Insurance works on the theory of collective pool of money to pay for the damages few motorists suffer. Nonetheless, everyone does not contribute the same amount into the pool to be eligible for the benefits.

Location is one of the main determining factors in deciding how much each driver should pay. Insurers collects mass amount of statistics and make countless permutations to make sure that they make money from their business while remain fair to their premium payers. While they categorize these statistics location becomes the obvious one.

When they can make money charging reasonable rates in some areas in others they might require double the amount to be profitable. Probably profitability of insurance business is the fairest method of coming up with insurance costs for each area. In essence each area becomes a separate pool of insurance in the theory.

Clear patterns might help individuals to understand why the charges are different. For example densely populated areas like metropolitans have high rates of accidents, theft and other car crimes. And therefore insurance providers have to pay out more claims. It is only fair that people in these areas pay higher premiums to meet the pay-out amounts rather than expecting a peaceful small town folks contributing to their pool of insurance.

Principle of insurance employs probabilities of a loss happening. It is true that you might not have accidents or your car might not be damaged in most dangerous roads and neighborhoods but that is not necessarily the point. By merely being there you attract the risk element and get charged the risk premium.

The best motorist could do is to find out what is the average auto insurance costs in their area and compare that with theirs. This will allow them to determine if they are paying too much for their insurance or not. Simply you need to work within the limitations of your geographic location and make the most of it by adopting and adjusting your vehicle specifications, parking arrangements and so on.

call us at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) to learn more!

Are the Cheapest Auto Insurance Quotes Always the Best Choice?

Naturally nobody could blame you for wanting the cheapest auto insurance quotes especially when the going is tough as it is. Depending on your preferences the answer to this question could be different. Hopefully there will be one or two tips in this article for you as to how to choose your insurance company.

Certainly there are many cases in which the cheapest quotes could provide a solution. For example, they would be much better than not having any insurance. Many motorists would want the bare minimum coverage and absolute lowest prices because of their financial situation.

We can not rule out that money plays an important factor in your choices but we need to keep in mind the promise of insurance. It is not like any other products that you see, like and buy off the shelf. It is a promise to pay the claims when you suffer an unfortunate accident. For that reason you need to trust the company behind the promise.

Ideal solution to this dilemma is to get several quotes from competing auto insurance companies and line up your options. If you have a few companies at the low end of the price list, then you could comfortably pick one of them.

You have a problem when you have most of the companies piled up at a price range and one company comes considerably lower than anyone else. Unless that is a highly reputable company you would be better off dumping that choice. The rule of averages work pretty well in most cases and it makes much more sense to get rid of the highest and lowest quotes from your list.

It is worth mentioning that insurance companies are well regulated and you would be safe with most of them. But common sense should prevail all the time and the quotes should make sense. After all you are buying auto insurance for peace of mind. It is important that you feel comfortable with the insurer because it offers reliable security and fairly priced quote

Call us at 1-855-GET-SELECT (438-7353) to discuss auto insurance companies and options.

shopping options for auto insurance

Shopping for car insurance can be a big undertaking. It can be daunting at times but is very important. There are now many ways to get yourself insured and the coverage you need.

Smart customers know it pays to do a little research before buying car insurance. Just based on the price of the insurance rates today, why not take the time to check the rates with several companies. Researching companies holds true for renewals as well. You can get a feel for the insurance market and find out if you have the best rates. If your current policy is already cheaper you know you are doing all right.

The first and best way to find out what is out there is to go through your local yellow pages. Most, if not all, companies will give you quotes right over the phone. This way you can run down the list and get multiple rates right away. One thing to remember is to compare apples to apples. This means make sure you are getting the price for the same type of coverage.

Full coverage for one company is not the same as for another. Limits are important to look at as well. Bodily injury with company A may be a little cheaper then B but their coverage may be only 10,000/20,000 while B's is 100,000/300,000. You want to make sure you are aware of the coverage you are have and that you want the type of insurance you are getting a rate for. You can always adjust your policy up or down to meet your needs. Before adjusting it down consider that you may save a few dollars now by lowering coverage but during a claim be unhappy that the limits paid are lower then your damages. Always, always buy as much insurance as you can afford.

Another way to find companies in your area is to go online (www.insuredbysteve.com) . The Internet is an excellent tool to help you shop around. You can look up many carriers and may even be able to run quotes yourself. There is no waiting on hold and you can usually do it 24 hours a day. You do not have to wait for an agent to help you or call you back if he or she is busy. You can print out lists and easily compare prices.

Online you can also check the credentials of the company. You can look to see how long they have been in business and find locations. You can find companies that are not in your local area but can serve you just as well. Some companies allow you to start your policy right on the computer for added convenience. You can get your quote, enter your information and activate your policy immediately. Proof of insurance usually can be printed right from your home computer's printer.

Driving around town may also afford you the chance to find a company that is close to you. An agency close to your home or job is convenient (877 My Insurance is located at 14575 Manchester Rd 2 miles west of highway 141). Agencies close by also let you make payments right in the office and lets you get to know your agent. This way however does give you a limited amount of choices and prices may not be as good as you may get by calling around.

Is one way better then the other? Well that is up to you. Some people just want to get the process over and done with. Some people want the best rate available. Some want the best and most coverage available. The answer is whatever is most comfortable for you is what you should go with.

Let me shop your insurance rates and find you discounts that you might realize, existed. You can do so by calling me direct at 636-410-6219 or visiting www.insuredbysteve.com

Knowing What to Look For in an Auto Insurance Company

You may have many questions when it comes to auto insurance. Many parents worry about their teens driving and others worry about how their family will be protected if an auto accident were to occur. So what is auto insurance and what exactly does it cover? In the event of an accident, your auto insurance company will insure that you and your passengers are covered. In spite of this, you are the one to determine the level of coverage that works best for you and your family.

Types of auto insurance

Liability insurance, or third-party insurance, is generally the lowest form of auto insurance that an insurance company will offer you. This is the basic insurance you receive if you are ever involved in an accident and the accident has been proven to be your fault. With liability insurance, the auto insurance company will pay the damages to the other party.

With this plan, the coverage limits offered by the auto insurance company are usually set ahead of time. These restrictions are the maximum amounts the auto insurance company will pay if an auto accident occurs. For example, the insurance agent may choose to allow $15,000 coverage for each person (bodily injury). Or, $45,000 for bodily injury coverage and/or $15,000 for property damage (per accident).

Before an accident occurs, you must confirm with your auto insurance company what they will cover and what the monetary limits of coverage are. Sometimes you might be offered a very low insurance premium by an auto insurance company, only to realize that your coverage is minimal and unrealistic once an auto accident occurs.

Collision and Comprehensive coverage

In addition to liability, the auto insurance company will offer you a comprehensive insurance plan so you will be comprehensively covered in the event of an accident. In simple terms this means that if you are responsible for an auto accident, the insurance company will pay for the repair of your vehicle. But, this is not as simple as it sounds. The auto insurance company will always have the final say on what amount will be covered by them, so if it is cheaper to give you the market value for the car, then they will.

You might think that your car is worth $2,000, but the market value might only be $1,000.

This is a common scenario. So, if the repair of your car is more than $500 then the auto insurance company will simply pay you the book value for your car. You must make sure that the insurance company does not control the market value of your car. Normally, organizations like the AA will give an impartial market value. As with third party insurance, the auto insurance company will almost always reduce the amount that will be paid out as much as possible, so generally a comprehensive insurance plan will have the highest coverage limits.

Recreation Vehicles

Because a recreation vehicle is much different than a car, RVs require a separate insurance plan. It is common for RV owners to assume that their RV is insured comprehensively because their car is. Make sure you check with your insurance company for RV regulations.

More types of auto insurance

In the event of an auto collision, Medical (MedPay), Personal Injury protection (PIP) and no fault cover are the insurance plans that will cover you and your passenger's medical expenses.

Under no fault cover, the auto insurance company will pay the costs, no matter who is determined to be at fault for the accident. This ensures that your family and friends are covered no matter what.

PIP is often a minimum requirement for auto insurance in some states, but ask your auto insurance company what the minimum requirements are.

Uninsured/Underinsured motorists' coverage

This coverage is often a minimum requirement in some states and it will cover you in the event of an auto accident if the person at fault is underinsured or not insured at all. In the event of such a situation, you must ask your auto insurance company what you will be charged.

Rental reimbursement, towing and labor

These are extra options, often given with a comprehensive insurance plan, and they are available as specials for auto insurance. If your car is damaged the auto insurance company will pay for most rental costs. Also, the auto insurance company might offer to pay for the tow of your vehicle, but it is not always included.

The legal requirements

Most states require a minimum level of coverage-ranging from full comprehensive car insurance to third-party auto insurance. In most cases it is up to you, the driver, to ensure that your auto insurance company offers you the minimum requirements for coverage. In most cases the auto insurance company is not responsible for instructing you of the minimum requirements.

But of course, a reliable auto insurance company will try their very best to advise you so you receive the best auto insurance deal possible.

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Understanding High Risk Auto Insurance

There are many drivers on the road that are considered to be high risk. They are the habitual speeding ticket recipients, DUI offenders and others who make bad choices. Driving a motor vehicle has its own inherent risk factors. By choosing to compound those factors with negligent behavior often leads to accidents, arrests, citations and more. High risk drivers who are arrested for such behavior are often incarcerated; fined; have their license suspended or revoked; have insurance premiums increased; or can possibly even lose their job.

The Impact of Speeding Tickets

Speeding tickets remain on your driving record for three years. Those who repeatedly get speeding tickets before older ones have lapsed are more likely to be deemed high risk. However, operating certain vehicles puts you more at risk of getting speeding tickets. Recent DMV record surveys indicate that Hummer drivers receive more speeding tickets than those who drive other vehicles. A ticket for exceeding the speed limit by up to 10 miles per or hour can result in 2 to 4 demerit points going on your driving record.

How Your Driving Record Impacts The Insurance Rates You Get

Insurance companies typically pull driving records when individuals apply for insurance or when the time comes for a change or renewal of the policy. The information found there is the basis of the insurance rate you are assigned. If you have demerit points for poor driving behavior you may find that you have become a high risk driver and that insurance is harder to come by. However, you can improve your record by taking driver's education classes to remove points.

Each insurer treats information found on your driving record differently. The weight given demerit points and other aspects of your record can vary greatly from one company to another. However, if your company raises your rates, expect them to remain that way for three years. If your driving record is worse than the insurer accepts, you will be deemed high risk and denied coverage. Because guidelines differ for companies, you may or may not find that all companies consider you high risk. If you are truly a high risk driver, as in the case of those with DUI convictions, you will need to get insurance quotes from companies that specialize in offering high risk car insurance.

The Impact of a Suspended License

If you lose your driver's license, it can affect your life in a variety of ways including interfering with your family obligations and possibly even causing problems in your career. Many jobs are contingent upon having a driver's license. If this is the case, a suspended license causes even more difficulties.

When your insurer learns that you have lost your license, your policy will be cancelled. This makes it even more difficult to obtain coverage when you need it again. Because of the cancellation and the suspended license you will likely have to go through a high risk insurance company in order to get coverage, which you will need to have in order to get your license reinstated.

The Importance of SR-22 Certification

A SR-22 Certificate is legal proof that you carry at least the minimum amount of liability coverage as required by law. You must provide this to the state in order to get your license reinstated. In addition, you should carry the SR-22 with you, so that if you are stopped by the police, you can produce it and avoid further complications. High risk insurers are familiar with this form and regularly issue it for their policyholders, who often need to have it for up to 3 years. Extra requirements such as this, and the risk presented by high risk drivers, contribute to such individuals having to pay higher than usual premiums. However, for most people car insurance is a necessity and therefore they must pay the consequences.

Tips To Improve Your Rates

In order to keep your rates as reasonable as possible, make sure that you have paid any moving violations that you owe, so they can be cleared from your record quickly. Take driver training courses to remove some of the violations from your record. You can also invest in a vehicle that is more safety conscious, less costly to insure and less likely to attract the attention of the police.

By putting these tips in place and shopping around carefully for coverage, you can succeed in keeping your car insurance costs as low as possible, considering your driving record.

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pet injury coverage- progressive insurance

With Progressive's Pet Injury coverage, your auto insurance policy protects your dog or cat, too.

What Is Pet Injury Coverage?
Pets are part of your family, and when you take them with you in the car, they're your passengers, too. So shouldn't they be covered by your auto insurance policy? We think so.

That's why we offer up to $1,000 of coverage for your dog or cat if they're injured or worse when you're in a car accident, or during a fire or theft. And, it's free! That's right. Progressive's Pet Injury coverage is automatically included in your Collision coverage.*

When Can You Use Pet Injury Coverage?
If you can use Collision coverage, you can use Pet Injury coverage for pets you or relatives who live with you have. If you're ever in an accident and your dog or cat is injured, Progressive pays up to $1000 towards vet bills and medicine. Coverage also extends to a cat or dog owned by a relative who lives with you.

Pet Injury coverage is built in to your Collision coverage — there's no added cost if you choose to use it or not use it. It's just one more way we let you know we care about you and your family, human or otherwise.

How Is Pet Injury Coverage Different from Pet Insurance?
Progressive's Pet Injury coverage protects your dog or cat from injuries that result from accidents when they're inside your vehicle. Pet Injury coverage is not pet insurance, which covers your pet in the event of illness or injury.

Pet insurance pays for vet bills when your pet is sick or hurt. With pet insurance, you pay the bill and are reimbursed by the pet insurance company. Many plans have deductibles, maximums and even coinsurance. Pet insurance does not necessarily cover all medical conditions for your pet, so make sure you get all the facts before you buy.

Pet Injury coverage is built into your Collision coverage on your Progressive auto insurance policy. Your dogs and cats are covered for vet costs up to $1,000 when they're hurt in an accident.

*Pet Injury coverage is not yet available in North Carolina or New Hampshire.

Progressive App for IPhone

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