Auto insurance is not something that can be finished in a few minutes. You can hire an auto insurance broker who can shop many companies for you however I find it hard enough to maintain all the underwriting rules of one company. If you want an absolute good policy, stick with a top named company. Do not go to a non standard company unless everything is explained.
Your car insurance does not cover mechanical repairs. You want to do a mechanical inspection on a regular basis on fan belts, brakes, hoses, a/c systems, flat tires, battery check, alternator check, starter, spark plugs, and fuel to name a few. If you need a good mechanical look on google maps for the keyword mechanic.
Look at reviews of the company. If your mechanic does not have any 5 star reviews you may want to go somewhere else. If you love them give them a five star review. Anyone can get a few five stars by having their staff and a couple friends post nice things. I ultimately look for mechanics with 15 or more 5 stars. I also use this when search for doctors, attorneys, REALTORS, or insurance providers when a client moves out of state. We have seen to many people go to shady mechanics.
Your car insurance may not cover your mom who came in from out town and borrowed your car for the afternoon. Depending on your policy it may or may not cover injuries to her or the people she hits. Or it may or may not cover the actual vehicle.
I often see people with bald tires ask if insurance covers their tires, it does not. In Phoenix many drivers have large tires to make their vehicle look good. Too many times, they do not replace tires because they cost a fortune. A decent 20" tire was around $250 each. Less expensive tires could be found for $175 but I was warned that they will not last a year.
Your auto insurance does not cover items inside your car such as a briefcase, cd's, dvd's, make up, jackets, or anything else that is not a permanent feature. These items are covered under your home or renters insurance if you carry it. However you need to be careful about turning in such a small claim as this can raise your renters or homeowners rates from three years. Your auto insurance may also not cover custom rims and tires. I see most companies have a limit of $1000. A client yesterday paid $5000 for his set.
Be safe, get a good agent that will take the time to go through all this with you. If your agent was on and off the call in 15 minutes just assume your policy is garbage. A good agent will spend at least an hour going through everything and ask to meet you in person to really go through everything.
Comments(2)