Posts Tagged ‘Insurance’

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Auto insurance: Roadside assistance

July 12th, 2010

Like many things to do with motoring roadside assistance can be a matter of personal choice or experience. However, in order to judge how effective they are, there is one or two things you can do.

Read carefully through what the various organisations are offering, This is for comparitive purposes, and so that you can judge which is going to provide the most suitable service for you.

Read the small print carefully. For example, I know of one in the UK that provides for breakdown to home recovery. However you have to read the small print to find out that this provision only works if you are within 10 miles of home. Any further than that and you have to pay normal recovery rates.

The Nikon

Normally these operators will offer a number of different standards of service contracts. Make sure you choose the one that suits you. For example, if you do a lot of long distance travelling, which might include overnights, make sure that it provides for either accommodation if they cannot get you and the car home, or other form of transport to get you home.

Beware of overseas coverage. This is particularly a problem in Europe. I had international roadside assistance for travelling through France and Spain, only to find out when I needed to use it that the French motorway operators do not allow private roadside assistance companies to access their motorways. You have to get off the motorway first, and pay for the French to get you off.

Finally, you should always ask others, and your local consumers association, about the standard of service that has been received from the various operators. Recommendation is the best data to base your choice on.

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How to choose an auto insurance broker – Part 3

April 7th, 2010

When choosing an insurance broker for your automobile insurance, you will find it helpful to find an agent that knows you and your family well. Also, you should know the agent well. It should be someone that is trustworthy and has a good business relationship with trusted individuals in your community.

If you are new to a community, ask your work associates who they use and why they use them. Also ask your fellow civic club members, neighbors, and church associates. You will probably find right away that there is one or two agents that the majority of people use. This is especially so if you live in a small town.

Go and meet the agent personally and ask him what he has to offer. Mention the people who recommended him so that you have some common point of reference.

A lot of insurance companies have big boasts about low premiums. But in the long run, a personal agent who knows you and your needs may be able to offer you the same options at an affordable, if not cheaper, rate.

It is good if your insurance agent is in the town where you live so that you can go and sit across the desk from him to review your policy periodically. But, with the technological advantages that we have now, that may not be necessary. However, you should feel free to pick up the phone and call your agent at any time. He or she must be assessable to you. If the agent always seems out of pocket and unable to speak to you directly about the mundane issues, then how can you be sure he will be there when you need him in a crisis?

When you find a good agent, keep him! Don’t jump here and there seeking something better. If you are struggling with your insurance premium, go talk to your agent. He may be able to offer you some advice that could save you some money or give you the additional coverage that you need.

The trust element is vitally important between you and your agent. If you see a policy advertised somewhere that is cheaper, take it to him and ask him if he can match it. He will probably tell you that there is a reason that it is cheaper. You should be able to respect his advice. If not, you could end up switching companies and find that the cheaper insurance doesn’t give the coverage that your previous policy offered. The sad thing is that you will probably not discover that until it is time to make a claim. Then it will be you who loses.

We have all heard the old saying that “you get what you pay for”. Well, automobile insurance is no exception. We would all be wise to have a personal agent who we know and respect to go over our policies with us carefully to make sure we have the coverage we need.

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How to find the right auto body repair shop

December 20th, 2009

I have been involved in Smash Repairs and Body shops in Australia for over 20 years, I also worked for 10 years with two different Insurance Companies. The facts you need to know:-

Firstly: If you are involved in an accident and your car has to be towed from the road, do not let the towing company tell you where they will tow your vehicle to, it is important that you contact your insurance company prior to the towing company picking up your car and towing it. Towing companies are paid royalties to take vehicle to certain panel shops, and you certainly don’t need your vehicle towed to some backyard panel shop that has to pay towing companies for work.

Playing with the DOF

Secondly: You are not required to obtain more than ONE quotation for repairs if you are insured, however, if you are not insured and you require a third party to pay for repairs to your vehicle, it is recommended that you get 2 or more quotes in case legal action is required. If you are insured Insurance companies may make you feel like you must run around town and get at least 2 or 3 or even more quotations, but you only require ONE, so it is best to get a few recommendations from friends, family etc., before choosing which repairer best suits you.

Thirdly: You may obtain a quotation from any panel shop anywhere of your choice, you are not obliged to use the Insurance companies suggested smash repairer. However, it is recommended for your guarantee of workmanship, otherwise most Insurance Companies will pay you out an agreed amount for repairs if you choose a repairer they do not recommend for warranty reasons. If you are not insured, another way of choosing the right panel shop is to get a list of repairers that the leading insurance companies recommend, and visit those first, often if a panel shop is recommended to a wide range of larger insurance companies, then they are surely recommended as a quality business with the highest standard of workmanship. Insurance companies choose very carefully what panel shops they use for repairs, as they also require the highest quality of workmanship, REMEMBER the Smash Repairs customer is also the Insurance Companies customer.

Fourthly: Have a look around the smash repair shop you have chosen to repair your vehicle, check they have a clean spray booth and paint shop. Ask how much experience there staff have had and if the panel shop itself holds there own guarantee of workmanship as well as your insurance company. If you are not insured you will require

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How to choose an auto body repair shop – Part 7

May 25th, 2009

Who thinks about autobody shops until they need one?. Usually we end up going with who ever has the best rate,whoever can get us in the fastest, and whose most convenient.

Even in a “need it now” situation there are some things you can do to ensure you get good service.

When you take your car in, pay attention to how many people work there. If there are only three or four people working and there are 30 cars on the lot. This can spell trouble.

Look at the cars on the lot. Are they covered in dust, indicating they have been there several days or longer? A sign of slow service.

Lilliput 669GL

Pay attention to how the workers handle the vehicles. Are they taking proper can with other vehicles?

Ask the shop what kind of guarantees they offer on their work. Don’t do business with any company that won’t guarantee their work at least a year. (depending on the type of repair.)

Be sure they are using new materials. Ask! Don’t assume. Stress that you want new parts/materials. If used parts will work for you, be sure you are being charged the appropriate rate.

Make sure they have the parts/materials needed. You don’t want to pay for time your vehicle is just sitting on the lot. If they need to order parts, have them call you when the part is available. Most shops can get parts within a day or two.

Discuss charges: By the hour plus parts or buy the job? If they are charging by the hour find out how long the repair will take, make an appointment and let them know you expect repairs to be completed in the stated time.

If you have to leave your vehicle Make Sure They Have Some Way to Secure the Lot! A lot of body shops do not tell you that they are not responsible for vehicles. Reputable ones will have insurance to cover any incidents that occur.

Don’t assume. From personal experience, I can state, there is nothing worse than going to pick up your vehicle only to find it has been vandalized and the autobody won’t pay for the damages!

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Auto glass: How to repair a crack

April 9th, 2009

Ok, you were driving your car, on the road and there was this truck in front of you…everything was fine until that little rock hit your windshield…you could see that it was a tiny chip, but was enough to ruin your day, or worst, your week!You try to calm down and you think: the insurance can cover the damage, right?…Well may be that’s not a very good idea, because to fix a chip in a windshield would cost you between 10 and 20 dollars (approx.) if you buy a Do-it-yourself kit. And if you send your car to be fixed you can spend a little more (about $40 to 60, again prices are approx.). After the work is done, they will bill your insurance company and they will count this as a claim which means that the company might raise your rate if you continuously keep making claims (It doesn’t matter to them the amount of the claims, what they care is the numbers of claims you make). So the alternative is to pay the $40-60 for a professional to fix your windshield or just try something new and fix it yourself!.

If you choose the second option, first of all check the size of the chip, if it is about the size of a penny or up to 2,5 cms of diameter(1 inch) you probably will be fine. But if the crack is bigger just forget it. Even if you take your car to a professional he/she would tell you that it doesn’t worth the try, and start thinking how to buy a new windshield. This is something that actually happened to me.

it's a bright, colorful jungle in there

Another thing to consider is to check if there isn’t any “hairs” coming from the crack. If there is, again, think about getting a new windshield.

The next advice I can give to you is: don’t wait. Once the crack is there, fix it immediately. Rain, dust, glass cleaning products make the fixing more difficult and of course if it’s cold outside and you have your heater on inside of the car, it’s more than possible that the chip will grow in no time making the fixing impossible.

The best is to keep the glass protected until you get the repair kit; and because it cures using the sunlight it would be advisable to wait for a sunny day to start working on it, but work in the shade and only expose the car to the sun AFTER the work is finished. Each product comes with its own set of instructions so what I can tell you here is follow them exactly as they indicate, and don’t do it if you are in a hurry. Remember that investing 30 minutes to 1 hour of your time could save you hundreds and give you the unique satisfaction of learning something new and doing-it-yourself. Good luck!

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How to Choose an Auto Body Shop

March 19th, 2009

As a large majority of the general public drives an automobile, it is important to have certain resources on hand which relate to the car. Things such as insurance companies, auto dealers and automotive parts stores are all important businesses to have close by should an individual need their assistance. However, perhaps the most important business contact an individual should have is an auto body shop. As a good auto body shop is important for your car repairs and pocketbook there are a few ways an individual should go about selecting the best auto body shop in their area.

Consider Recommendations

Since many individuals use auto body shops, it is highly likely that one will know someone else who has also used a local auto body shop. As a result, asking for recommendations from friends and family members is a great way to select the perfect auto body shop. There are a few different reasons why considering recommendations is a good step to take prior to settling on a particular body shop. First, friends and family members will be able to state whether they have had a favorable experience with a particular auto body shop or not. Not only will they be able to comment on the overall cost of services but how the staff handled their automobile situation as well. This is a great point of reference when you are trying to find a shop that does good body work while charging a fair price.

Another reason to consider asking for recommendations from friends and family members with regard to choosing an auto body shop is to make sure that the company you are considering dealing with will treat the customer in an honest and fair manner. As any individual who has to put their car in the shop wants it to go as smoothly as possible, asking for recommendations with regard to auto body shops will help because you will be able to find a good shop with reasonable prices.

Have an Auto Body Shop Picked Out Before it is Necessary to Use One

Because an inoperative car, due to an accident or otherwise, is already a stressful situation, one does not want to face any additional stress by having to find an auto body shop to fix their car at the last minute. For this reason, it is a good idea to have an auto body shop picked out before one even needs the assistance of one. This is also beneficial as the individual can check out the shop beforehand and ask questions of the staff, such as do they offer towing to their facility, for example, and receive answers to other important questions.

Warranties

Another factor to consider when wondering how to choose an auto body shop is whether or not the auto body shop offers warranty on any of its parts or services. Since warranties are frequently offered in auto body shops, if one shop doesn’t offer many warranties or any warranties at all, then that prospective customer may very well wish to keep looking for an auto body shop that does offer warranties on its parts and/or services. When a shop offers warranties it makes the customer feel as if the shop is confident in their work and will do a good job.

Payment Accepted

Another factor which may be a determining one when choosing an auto body shop is what types of payment the shop accepts for auto body repair. If the auto body shop only accepts cash and checks in limited instances which must be paid up front, then perhaps considering another auto body shop which accepts many different forms of payment, such as a variety of credit cards, may be the best bet. In addition, auto body shops may sometimes offer installment plans which can work out well for those who are on a strict budget yet need to have their automobile repaired as soon as possible.

Choosing the right auto body shop is a very important decision to make. By considering the previously mentioned tips when choosing an auto body shop, it may just help the individual choose the best possible one.

Saft og vann (raspberry juice drops in water)

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How to choose an auto body repair shop – Part 1

February 18th, 2009

How to Choose an Auto Body Repair Shop

The best way to avoid being ripped off on auto body repairs is to be prepared. It is also good to know how to select a good auto body repair person, what kinds of questions to ask about your repair, and your consumer rights.

To choose the best auto body repair facility to fit your needs: ask for recommendations, shop around for the best price, check to make sure the repair shop is licensed or registered, and ask if they provide a car for you to drive, or recommend a car rental service. Your auto insurance may cover this expense, check with them first.

Before you agree to have the shop do the repairs ask for the labor rate and full price on parts and supplies. Most places will charge a flat labor rate based on the estimated time it takes to perform a specific repair. If you have a really complicated repair, you may want to get a second opinion. Most shops will provide you with a free estimate as long as the damage is not from hail.

Inner Glow

If you decide to get the work done, ask for a full written estimate including: identifying the condition to be repaired, parts needed, and estimated labor charge. The written estimate should state that they will contact you for approval should they need to do any additional repair.

There are some things you should know about the parts to be replaced or repaired. Parts have three classifications new, remanufactured/rebuilt/recondi tioned, and salvage. New parts are made from the original manufacturer’s specifications. Remanufactured/rebuilt/recondi tioned parts have been restored to good working condition. Salvage parts are taken from another vehicle without altercation. Although salvage parts are the least expensive they generally do not include any warranty or guarantee. You should receive a detailed receipt for all parts and repairs upon the completion of your repairs.

The facility should be clean and well-organized. It should be staffed with people that are knowledgeable and are able to answer your questions. The latest equipment should be used and it should be in good shape. Technicians should have good training and should be certified. There certification should be displayed for viewing.

The repair shop should have a warranty on their parts and a guarantee on the work they do on your car, unless they are salvage. If the parts are not new they should notify you of that ahead of doing the repairs.

Overall, recommendations are the best way to select the best auto body repair shop.

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Some Great Suggestions To Choose An Auto Transport Company

February 10th, 2009

It can be an overwhelming experience to choose the right kind of auto Transport Company; you can start choosing your auto transport company through yellow pages and even through the internet. Internet these days has become one of the most reliable sources for searching any kind of material which you might require. You can get information from pin to paper for the availability of any product. Hence it can act as a valuable source for searching the auto transport company. You can always gain an advice from your household transporter for the auto transportation. As a well known fact running an auto Transport Company requires the necessary skills and experience. Running an auto transport company also requires contacts with the insurance company and some special equipment. For more details go to www.tours-guide.com .Incase you are searching an auto transport company you can even enquire among your friends and relatives, they can always act as a valuable guide for the purpose of searching an auto transport company further incase the auto transport company is selected by your friends and relatives then there is no need for screening the company also as the information you have obtained is from a near and dear source and they are the ones who have had the experience of working with these companies and you can also have an insight about the quality of service.

However when you are searching for auto transport company then you will have to look in for the following qualities:

unnecessary

The company must possess a proper transport authority
It has always essential that you do conduct a small amount of research before you select the auto transport company as this can save a lot of time. This research is particularly relevant with the auto transport companies as this is an important criterion that you get your vehicle transported through a transport company which has been registered with the transport authorities and they do possess an active MC and USDOT numbers. However the registration criterion is an exception for the forwarders and the brokers. These forwarders require only MC number. It is essential that you search the companys credentials for their company name and USDOT number; the carrier must have the necessary credentials for the transportation of the vehicles.
Insurance and liability
In addition to the registration the companies must possess liability and provisions for cargo insurance. It is quite obvious that the amount of insurance coverage vary from company to company. It is essential that you enquire the coverage amount of insurance before finalizing the auto transport companies. For more details go to www.infozabout.com .Ensure that the insurance coverage is equal to the worth of your car it is also essential that you enquire on the limits of insurance and even ask for additional insurance.
References and records
There are a number of ways in which you can ensure the authenticity of the auto transport company. Enquire with someone in the related field like a car salesman; also ensure that you check with business bureau for any complaints that are being filed against the company.

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How to choose an auto body repair shop – Part 4

January 3rd, 2009

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With all the horror stories surrounding auto body repair shops, finding a good one can seem difficult. You find yourself worrying about a mechanic who will not do the job properly, the mechanic who overcharges you, or the mechanic who uses bad parts. While there are some less than spectacular body shops out there, it isn’t that difficult to find a good one.

Start by asking your auto insurance company for their suggestions. In most cases, if you need an auto body shop, the insurance company will already be involved. It is illegal for your insurance company to demand that you choose a specific shop, but they often have a list of shops that they have worked with before. You may also want to ask your friends or relatives for their recommendations. If you get a recommendation from someone you know, ask them questions about the shop, how it works and how they treat their customers.

Once you have a short list of options, you’ll need to do a little research on the companies, and the Better Business Bureau is a good place to start. They can provide information on how long the body shop has been in business, how many complaints have been filed against the shop, and how the complaints were resolved. You should always do this when using a new body shop because it will reveal information the body shop will never tell you.

The next step is to ensure that the auto body shop is licensed with the state, and its workers as well if that’s required. Some insurance companies will not pay for the repairs or damages if the shop uses unlicensed workers, and you cannot use your not knowing as an excuse. Check beforehand, and save yourself time and money later. You should also look for a shop that’s workers are part of a professionally sanctioning body, usually America’s Collision Repair Association.

After doing your research, try a visit to the auto body shop and get a feel for the business and its customers. You can see the types of vehicles they work on, and often see examples of their completed work. Ask if they have any workers who have done similar repairs, or if any of their workers have experience with your model of car. In some cases they may have performed the exact same job on the same car, and can show you proof of their work.

The best thing to do is to trust your instincts. If the auto body shop, or any of its workers make you uncomfortable or hesitant, keep looking. There’s a good auto body shop out there just waiting.

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Auto insurance: Why cars are declared a total loss

September 30th, 2008

After you’ve been in an accident and your car has been declared “totaled” getting the right answers is essential when it comes to making decisions; especially if you plan on keeping the “total” loss from becoming a complete loss.

When my wife had a minor accident in the car she had inherited from her mother after her death, she was devastated. The car meant the world to her. The damage was minor and purely cosmetic. The car still ran fine. It was 10 years old, but for us, its value was more sentimental than monetary. We wanted to keep it and we were willing to cover whatever costs we had to beyond what the insurance company was willing to pay. Keeping the car was our main concern. The car was still registered and worked fine. We would take the insurance money and add what we needed in order to make the repairs.

Or so we thought. There was one small problem. We didn’t own our car anymore.

Day 33/365

As it turned out, because it was declared totaled, if we accepted the settlement, the insurance company would take the car. The registration would be canceled and the car would be turned over to a salvage company for disposal. By accepting the settlement we would be relinquishing our rights of ownership. We had to choose… the car or the money. It didn’t seem right or fair and we questioned the decision.

After numerous phone calls and countless questions it became clear that the rules were so vague that nobody knew for sure. In the end, the truth lay somewhere in the middle of all the stories.The reality is that the rules regarding what happens after your car has been declared “totaled” vary widely depending on the insurance company and the state where the accident happened. And therein lies the problem most people face in such a situation. Asking the right questions can make dealing with the problem a lot easier.

Ordinarily we rely on the professionals, insurance companies, repair shops and motor vehicle registries to guide us through process of recovering from the loss. Not always a great idea! In the event that your auto is declared “totaled” but you think otherwise, ask as many questions as you can and don’t accept the first answer you get. In our case, ask and verify was the moral of the story.

In the event your car is declared a total and you have doubts here are some rules you should follow:

1. Know your policy terms. Have a copy of handy when you talk to your insurane company and be sure they explain your rights and responsibilities… and thiers

2. Use a mechanic you know and trust. Inflated damage and repair estimates can result in estimates that can lead to the wrong decision

3. The the insurance company of the driver at fault has the final say. Your insurance company may not be aware of the other companys policy terms. NEVER assume the first call will get you in the right answer.

4. The car or the money… often you have a choice. The decision to declare a car “totaled” is a financial one, not a mechanical one. Your car might look bad, but if the damage is cosmetic, you can avoid having it declared a total loss by accepting a settlement that won’t cover the cost of repairs. But remember… if you can keep it… an ugly car can still be a useful one.

5. The final desion will be yours…make it wisely

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