jacksonville car insurance

6 common car insurance misconceptions

1. Red cars cost more to insure than other colors

Do red cars cost more to insure? While there’s a rumor floating around that red cars will cost you more, the car’s color is not a factor in how your insurance is calculated. The make and model of a car will affect it, but not the color. 

2. The more expensive the car, the more it costs to insure

Car insurance definitions

Actual cash value (ACV)

The value of a car considering the age, mileage, make, model, and overall condition of the vehicle.

Appraisal

An estimate of the value of a vehicle or property, or the extent of damage from an accident at the time of loss. Usually conducted by an impartial appraiser.

Bodily injury liability coverage

Pays damages for injury or death resulting from a covered accident for which you are at fault. May also provide you with funds for a legal defense. 

Carrier

What happens if your insurance lapses?

Legal requirements

Most states require some level of auto liability insurance. This is the coverage that pays for the other person’s medical needs or property damage from an accident, if you’re at fault. So if you own a car and you’ve allowed the liability insurance on it to lapse, you might be violating the law – even if the car is parked and not driven. If you drive the vehicle and cause an accident without being covered, you’ll be cited and subjected to stiff fines or worse.

Financial consequences

Car Insurance Terms

In order to understand what your car insurance company is really telling you, you need the right terminology. All of those big words that they use on your policy and when they discuss how much you have to pay won't help you at all if you don't know what they mean. You need to understand not only the terminology but the different kinds of insurance that you can get, too. That way you'll get what you need at a price that you can afford, and you won't find that you aren't covered for something you thought that you had coverage for in the event of an accident, theft, or other problem.

Commercial vs. Business & Personal Auto Insurance

Do You Need High-Risk Car Insurance because of a Medical Condition?

Differences between Insuring a Motorcycle and a Car

Cracked Windshields

Comprehensive Insurance Covers a Cracked Windshield

Even if it’s a tiny crack, you need to get it fixed – small cracks rarely stay small. The good news is that any comprehensive policy should cover auto glass repair or even windshield replacement, as long as the crack was from a covered event. Depending on your policy, windshield repair (rather than replacement) might not cost you anything, so check with your insurance company or agent before doing anything.

What To Do After A Hit And Run

Pull Over Safely

As you as your car gets hit, try not to panic. Pull over to a safe spot and take a slow, deep breath to calm yourself. While it is natural to be startled after being struck, being panicked can distract you from the rest of the traffic on the road. This could cause you to possibly collide with other drivers, property, or worse. It’s best to get out of the flow of traffic in order to get your bearings. Check yourself and anyone else that is in the vehicle for injury. If anyone is seriously hurt, call 9-1-1 for medical assistance.

10 Most Common Auto Insurance Claims

1. Rear-end crash

No matter the cause, this type of collision will always be your fault. As the driver in the rear, it’s your responsibility to control your vehicle and stop, if needed. You can often expect a whiplash claim by the driver you hit to follow. If you have collision insurance, you’re covered.

2. Chipped or cracked windshield

You can be driving innocently along and a truck up ahead sends a rock flying at your windshield cracking it. The replacement is covered by your comprehensive insurance, but a deductible will apply.

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