Reader’s Question:

Will I be able to get cheap car insurance company here in California if I get the help of an insurance agent?

Marcel

Modesto, CA

Remember that a car insurance agent represents only a single company so it could be that you won’t get a cheap car insurance company in California with the help of just an insurance agent. Working with a car insurance agent won’t give you so many choices but the plans that are available with the car insurance company that the agent represents.

If you would really like to get cheap car insurance company, you have to work with a car insurance broker. A car insurance broker does not represent only one car insurance company; instead they can be able to deal with different insurers. What a car insurance broker can do is that he/she can look into numerous offers from various insurers and choose a cheap car insurance company that can give you the coverage that you want.

Not only that a broker can find a cheap car insurance company, but also you will have an insurance consultant who will explain to you what you really need for your car insurance coverage. If you have other queries or something that you don’t understand concerning car insurance, a broker could be able to help you. Should there be any other issues that come up, you can simply get in touch with the broker and you’ll surely get the help that you need.

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Reader’s Question:

We are all doing fine after a serious accident and our vehicle has been declared a total loss. What can I do if the actual cash value of my vehicle according to my insurance company is not what I believe it is and I want to dispute it with them here in Visalia, California?

Bishop

Visalia, CA

To find out your vehicle’s actual cash value (ACV), the claims evaluator from your insurance provider in Visalia, California uses a mixture of value guide books, private party sales, merchant surveys and pricing sites through the Internet. They also include other aspects such as registration, sales tax and title pricing of a replacement automobile to come up with this amount. As business-minded as they are, these various factors are different from one insurance provider to another and also from each state. In the end, what one insurer figures out as the value of your vehicle may be different from another insurer as well as what you have come up with on your own.

So don’t just believe what they say about your vehicle’s ACV and engage yourself in the assessment process. You have to make some study on your own because the higher your vehicle’s worth, the greater your check will be since your vehicle has been declared a total loss. In some occasion like if you have a rare trim level or special edition automobile, you know obviously that your vehicle’s value is more than what they are telling you. Do not be scared to present your case and request them to make a correction. Remember that your auto insurance provider is obliged by law to give you a reasonable price.

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Reader’s Question:

I have not been involved in a car accident yet, and have no plans of being involved in the future, but I want to be prepared and know how to properly file a claim to my insurance company here in Berkeley, California. Any tips?

Dan Paulo

Berkeley, CA

It’s a good idea to be proactive and know how to properly file a car insurance claim if, and when, you get involved in a car accident. Car accidents may come as a shock to most that they forget to do some necessary process, or gather important information about the accident and the parties involved. Some may even find their car insurance provider unhelpful if they weren’t able to take all necessary information such as license plates, names, etc., during the accident, making filing a claim a bigger hassle than it should be. Here’s a list of the actions you need to take if you get involved in a car accident:

Get all the necessary information.
If a car accident involves others, make sure you note down names, vehicle information such as license plates, contact numbers and addresses. This will assist your insurance company in contacting all the people involved to process the necessary insurances or claims to be made.

File a Police Report.
Get in touch with the police department there in Berkeley, California and file the necessary report as soon as possible. Your insurance company will be looking for this when you file your claim.

Call your car insurance agent.
Ask what are the steps you need to do and documents you need to give or fill out to file for a claim. Also consult your policy to see what kind of coverages and bring this policy with you when you meet up with your insurance agent.

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Reader’s Question:

My daughter is already away at college and I don’t know if I should keep her on my car insurance policy. What should I do about it and what would I do in case I get into an accident here in Lompoc Valley, California?

Cherrie

Lompoc Valley, CA

If your daughter is away for college or if any other member of the household will no longer drive your vehicle for any reason, you don’t have to keep them in your car insurance policy in Lompoc Valley, California. Insurance coverage for young motorists could be too high so do not put them anymore on the policy unless you really have to do so. In any case, you have to inquire about the claim process before you sign the agreement, not if you already got into an accident.

If you are involved in an accident, you have to call the insurance agent as soon you can. Do not leave for later because you could only have as little as 48 hours to file your claim. Maintain a good record of your claim and take note of every detail, especially at the site of the accident. Note names, automobile number, everything anyone says and anything that could help you later on. Do not waste time and go after the insurance provider because they tend to move real slowly so you have to harass them.

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Reader’s Question:

Is having a DUI conviction here in California be a ground for my auto insurance company to nonrenew my policy?

Margie

Burbank, CA

Auto insurance company could nonrenew your policy only when it comes up for renewal, and state laws don’t always spell out the offenses for which an auto insurance company can nonrenew insurance policies. Nonrenewal simply means that your auto insurance company no longer wishes to sell you insurance. This is generally due to having too many claims for at-fault accidents, having a conviction for driving under the influence or DUI or receiving too many traffic citations during the last three to five years.

Because of your DUI conviction there in California, your auto insurance company may nonrenew your auto insurance policy. They may decide to keep you but it’s no doubt that they will raise your insurance premium. If you get a new auto insurance policy from another company, they may also charge you higher premiums. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get a policy for a lesser price. You can try out for yourself and get an online rate quote from this website for your auto insurance.

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Reader’s Question:

I have a DUI conviction in Fresno, California and luckily, my insurance company was able to give me coverage. But I’m just curious, what could be the reasons that an insurance company would not provide insurance for me anymore and how long do I have to carry the SR22 insurance?

Derek

Fresno, CA

Because of your DUI conviction in Fresno, California, you would have to carry the SR22 car insurance for a minimum of three years. This is a type of car insurance required by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the courts for drivers after a DUI-related offense. The SR22 form serves as an agreement between the DMV and your SR22 provider that requires the insurance company to immediately notify the DMV if the insurance company is no longer providing insurance for the driver anymore.

One of the reasons why an insurance company may not be able to provide insurance anymore is because of a lapse in coverage. Your SR22 insurance could lapse due to missing a payment or being late making a payment. The other reason could be a termination of your coverage. If your insurance company decides that you are too high of a risk due to maybe another accident or and/or DUI offense. One other reason is that if you switch SR22 providers. Even if you switch provider for your SR22 insurance, your insurance company is still required to file a Notice of Cancellation of California Insurance Proof Certificate.

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