When it comes to auto insurance, many people are easily confused by the different types of coverage available. To help you understand these coverage types better, they are listed below with definitions and explanations for your benefit.

Liability Cover – Liability coverage is the minimum auto insurance covered required by law in most states. It is intended to cover the victims of an auto accident that is deemed to have been caused by you. Your own bodily injuries or property damage is not usually covered by liability insurance.

Comprehensive Coverage – Comprehensive cover requires your auto insurance company to pay for damage to your car caused by something other than an auto accident such as fire, theft or vandalism. This sort of coverage is subject to a deductible. If you decide upon a $100 deductible, then you pay the first $100 and the company pays the rest up to the policy limit. Sometime this cover is combined with collision protection that covers you for damages sustained in a car accident.

Collision Coverage. Collision coverage is intended to cover losses to your car when you are involved in a collision with another car or with a stationery object.

Uninsured/Underinsured Cover. Uninsured and underinsured driver coverage protects you when the negligent driver has no auto insurance or insufficient insurance. In most sates this only covers bodily injury, and not property damage.

GAP Cover – When you buy a new car or even a fairly new used car, it’s vale will depreciate by at least 20% when you drive it off the lot. So, on a $30,000 car your auto insurance company will only pay out $24,000 at the most in the event of it being stolen or totalled, yet you will still have to pay off the $30,000 loan. If you have GAP cover than you will be able to recover the $6,000 difference.

Personal Injury Protection (No Fault). This form of cover is only required in “no-fault” states but is optional in others and covers injuries to yourself and others in your vehicle regardless of fault.

Pay-Per-Mile – Pay-Per-Mile insurance is a novel approach to possibly saving money on car insurance. With this type of insurance the price of your premium would be directly linked to the number of miles you drive. The fewer the miles, the lower the costs would be. This sounds promising, but it does suffer from two major drawbacks. Firstly it is available in very few states (around 12 at the time of writing) and secondly it involves the insurance company fitting a tracking device to your car.

Auto insurance policies are usually a combination of coverages. For example comprehensive and collision cover are quite often combined under the title “full coverage”. Whatever the terminology, it is always best to seek further advice before purchasing your policy.

Trying to find effective advice on where to purchase car insurance online? Visit affordable auto insurance quotes guide for some hype free advicermation

The law requires car owners to have auto insurance as owning and driving a car is associated with so many risks and liabilities.

What is an auto insurance?

Auto insurance, also known as car insurance, motor insurance and vehicle insurance, is an agreement between an insured person or group and an insurance company. It is a type of insurance purchased for vehicles like cars and trucks. The primary purpose of an auto insurance is to provide protection against losses incurred as a result of traffic accidents and against liability that could be incurred in an accident.

How does an auto insurance work?

The insurance person or group pays premiums to the insurance company. Premium is an amount of money charged for insurance coverage. In return, the insurance company as defined in the policy promises to pay compensation in the event of an accident or theft.

A proof of insurance is then issued by the insurance company to the insured person or group. This is presented to the law enforcements in case they are stopped or they met an accident. This also serves as proof that the car is insured at a particular time period.

Although some auto insurances are required by law, others are optional for car owners. Some have higher premiums like sports car and expensive cars.

Auto insurance provides coverage for medical, property and liability. Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries and rehabilitation. It also covers lost wages and funeral expenses. Property coverage pays for theft of or damage to the insured vehicle. Liability coverage pays for property damage or bodily injury to others by the car owner as it is a legal responsibility. The insurance coverage has very specific insurance policies.

In the US, each and every one of the 50 states have a differing auto insurance law, costs and coverage requirements. Knowing your area’s auto insurance laws, requirements and regulations gives you ample benefits. It gives you protection in times of vehicular accidents and saves you money on premiums of your car insurance policy.

Save on your auto insurance by following these tips.

1. Shop for insurance and compare insurance quotes first before buying a vehicle. This will help you get the best deal possible as it will increase your chances of finding lower rates. Do not forget that rates vary from company to company and they change at least twice.

2. Usually, auto insurance companies offer discounts or premium reductions, or special insurance rates such as Low Mileage Discount, Good Student Discount, Multi-Car Discount, Safe Vehicle Discount and Good Driver Discount. Your Age (being at least 25 years old), Good Credit Score and Car Pooling can also earn you discounts. If you purchase other policies from the same company and/or avoid installment fees your premiums will be lesser. So take advantage of these discounts to save even more.

3. Know the different coverages. Avoid duplicate and unnecessary coverage. When adding physical coverage to a vehicle, consider higher deductibles.

About the Author: Fred Gagnon specializes in providing tips and information on auto insurance. Stay informed on auto insurances and visit Auto Insurance Qoutes and Auto Insurance Qoutes Online.

If you are researching short-term car insurance, you’ll be sure to find out that prices are high, and could continue to rise. South Africa is a high risk environment for insurers. Knowing why and what you can do lower these costs for your situation is important in helping you make the right decisions.

Industry experts cannot ignore that South African roads are increasingly dangerous. The country is often a leader in traffic injuries and fatalities. The privilege of driving is constantly being extended, even to those who are not qualified drivers.First, let’s examine what is driving the costs. Car insurance risk is the major culprit behind higher short-term insurance premiums.

Younger drivers have always been viewed as a higher risk. Drivers aged’-30 historically pay the highest rates.As carmakers continue to upgrade their offerings, prices reflect those gadgets, leather seats, on-board computers and more. As car prices go up, so must the cost to insure them.

In the homeowners and household insurance market, the main influencing factor is fraud. Some estimate are that six to 10 percent of short term insurance claims are fraudulent. That amounts to more than R2 billion each year.Insurers must also consider car theft and hijackings as they calculate their premiums. The latest statistics show a decline in thefts, but the rate of hijackings continues to rise.

Even though you have no control over the number of fraudulent claims, you can keep their effects from impacting your premiums. Try making the offer to your insurer to submit to a polygraph test each time you submit a claim. Many will offer a substantial savings on your premium in return for your honesty. Now, how can you overcome these factors for your own personal situation?

You can decrease your auto insurance premium by increasing your deductible. Keep this in mind while you are comparing quotes. Just make sure that you can afford the higher deductible in case you have a claim.

Maintaining a clean driving record not only keeps you safe, but can also save you money. If your driving record isn’t as clear as it could be, you can attend a driving course offered by car manufacturers or the Automobile Association. This can help clear negative history. Driving courses aren’t just for bad drivers, however. A driver with a clean record can attend to possibly lower their insurance premiums.

Adding security devices can help as well. Anti-hijack devices and global tracking systems are good investments for this purpose. And, if you live in a high-crime area, consider moving. This can reduce both your car and homeowners insurance rates.

The cheapest insurance is not always the best. Be sure the policy you choose provides adequate cover for your needs at a price you can afford.Finally, shop around for the best insurance rates. But be smart.

Tom Martens is the syndication coordinator for Carinsurancesa.co.za. South Arica’s leading car insurance portal.