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Thursday, May 3, 2007

How much life insurance do I need?

In most cases, if you have no dependents and have enough money to pay your final expenses, you don’t need any life insurance.If you want to create an inheritance or make a charitable contribution, buy enough life insurance to achieve those goals.
If you have dependents, buy enough life insurance so that, when combined with other sources of income, it will replace the income you now generate for them, plus enough to offset any additional expenses they will incur to replace services you provide (for a simple example, if you do your own taxes, the survivors might have to hire a professional tax preparer). Also, your family might need extra money to make some changes after you die. For example, they may want to relocate, or your spouse may need to go back to school to be in a better position to help support the family.

You should also plan to replace “hidden income” that would be lost at death. Hidden income is income that you receive through your employment but that isn’t part of your gross wages. It includes things like your employer’s subsidy of your health insurance premium, the matching contribution to your 401(k) plan, and many other “perks,” large and small. This is an often-overlooked insurance need: the cost of replacing just your health insurance and retirement contributions could be the equivalent of $2,000 per month or more.

Of course, you should also plan for expenses that arise at death. These include the funeral costs, taxes and administrative costs associated with “winding up” an estate and passing property to heirs. At a minimum, plan for $15,000.

Other sources of income

Most families have some sources of post-death income besides life insurance. The most common source is Social Security survivors’ benefits.

Social Security survivors’ benefits can be substantial. For example, for a 35-year-old person who was earning a $36,000 salary at death, maximum Social Security survivors’ monthly income benefits for a spouse and two children under age 18 could be about $2,400 per month, and this amount would increase each year to match inflation. (It drops slightly when the survivors are a spouse and one child under 18, and stops completely when there are no children under 18. Also, the surviving spouse’s benefit would be reduced if he or she earns income over a certain limit.)

Many also have life insurance through an employer plan, and some from another affiliation, such as through an association they belong to or a credit card. If you have a vested pension benefit, it might have a death component. Although these sources might provide a lot of income, they rarely provide enough. And it probably isn’t wise to count on death benefits that are connected with a particular job, since you might die after switching to a different job, or while you are unemployed.

A multiple of salary?

Many pundits recommend buying life insurance equal to a multiple of your salary. For example, one financial advice columnist recommends buying insurance equal to 20 times your salary before taxes. She chose 20 because, if the benefit is invested in bonds that pay 5 percent interest, it would produce an amount equal to your salary at death, so the survivors could live off the interest and wouldn’t have to “invade” the principal.

However, this simplistic formula implicitly assumes no inflation and assumes that one could assemble a bond portfolio that, after expenses, would provide a 5 percent interest stream every year. But assuming inflation is 3 percent per year, the purchasing power of a gross income of $50,000 would drop to about $38,300 in the 10th year. To avoid this income drop-off, the survivors would have to “invade” the principal each year. And if they did, they would run out of money in the 16th year.

The “multiple of salary” approach also ignores other sources of income, such as those mentioned previously.

A simple example

Suppose a surviving spouse didn’t work and had two children, ages 4 and 1, in her care. Suppose her deceased husband earned $36,000 at death and was covered by Social Security but had no other death benefits or life insurance. Assume the surviving spouse is 36.

Assume that the deceased spent $6,000 from income on his own living expenses and the cost of working. Assume, for simplicity, that the deceased performed services for the family (such as property maintenance, income tax and other financial management, and occasional child care) for which the survivors will need to pay $6,000 per year. Assume that the survivors will have to buy health insurance to replace the coverage the deceased had at work, and that this will cost $12,000 per year.

Taken together, the survivors will need to replace the equivalent of $48,000 of income, adjusted each year for an assumed 4 percent inflation.

Thanks to Social Security, the survivors would need life insurance to replace only about $1,700 per month of lost wage income (adjusted for inflation) for 14 years until the older child reaches 18; Social Security would provide the rest. The survivors would need life insurance to replace about $2,100 per month (adjusted for inflation) for three more years when the non-working surviving spouse has only one child under 18 in her care.

The life insurance amount needed today to provide the $1,700 and $2,100 monthly amounts is roughly $360,000. Adding $15,000 for funeral and other final expenses brings the minimum life insurance needed for the example to $375,000.

What’s left out?

The example leaves out some potentially significant unmet financial needs, such as

* The surviving spouse will have no income from Social Security from age 53 until 60 unless the deceased buys additional life insurance to cover this period. It could be assumed that the surviving spouse will obtain a job at or before this time, but she could also become disabled or otherwise unable to work. If life insurance were bought for this period, the additional amount of insurance needed would be about $335,000.

* Some people like to plan to use life insurance to pay off the home mortgage at the primary income earner’s death, so that the survivors are less likely to face the threat of losing their home. If life insurance were bought for this goal, the additional amount of insurance needed is the amount of the unpaid balance on the mortgage.

* Some people like to provide money to pay to send their children to college out of their life insurance. We may assume that each child will attend a public college for four years and will need $15,000 per year. However, college costs have been rising faster than inflation for many decades, and this trend is unlikely to slow down. If life insurance were bought for this goal, the additional amount of insurance needed would be about $200,000.

* In the example, no money is planned for the surviving spouse’s retirement, except for what the spouse would be entitled to receive from Social Security (about $1,200 per month). It could be assumed that the surviving spouse will obtain a job and will either participate in an employer’s retirement plan or save with an IRA, but she could also become disabled or otherwise unable to work. If life insurance were bought to provide the equivalent of $4000 per month starting at age 60 until 65 and $3,000 per month from 65 on (because at 65 Medicare will make carrying private health insurance unnecessary), the additional amount of insurance needed would be about $465,000.
(iii.org)

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Why should I buy life insurance?

Many financial experts consider life insurance to be the cornerstone of sound financial planning. It can be an important tool in the following situations:
- Replace income for dependents
- Pay final expenses
- Create an inheritance for your heirs
- Pay federal “death” taxes and state “death” taxes
- Make significant charitable contributions
- Create a source of savings

1. Replace income for dependents
If people depend on your income, life insurance can replace that income for them if you die. The most commonly recognized case of this is parents with young children. However, it can also apply to couples in which the survivor would be financially stricken by the income lost through the death of a partner, and to dependent adults, such as parents, siblings or adult children who continue to rely on you financially. Insurance to replace your income can be especially useful if the government- or employer-sponsored benefits of your surviving spouse or domestic partner will be reduced after your death.

2. Pay final expenses
Life insurance can pay your funeral and burial costs, probate and other estate administration costs, debts and medical expenses not covered by health insurance.

3. Create an inheritance for your heirs
Even if you have no other assets to pass to your heirs, you can create an inheritance by buying a life insurance policy and naming them as beneficiaries.

4. Pay federal “death” taxes and state “death” taxes
Life insurance benefits can pay estate taxes so that your heirs will not have to liquidate other assets or take a smaller inheritance. Changes in the federal “death” tax rules between now and January 1, 2011 will likely lessen the impact of this tax on some people, but some states are offsetting those federal decreases with increases in their state-level “death” taxes.

5. Make significant charitable contributions
By making a charity the beneficiary of your life insurance, you can make a much larger contribution than if you donated the cash equivalent of the policy’s premiums.

6. Create a source of savings
Some types of life insurance create a cash value that, if not paid out as a death benefit, can be borrowed or withdrawn on the owner’s request. Since most people make paying their life insurance policy premiums a high priority, buying a cash-value type policy can create a kind of “forced” savings plan. Furthermore, the interest credited is tax deferred (and tax exempt if the money is paid as a death claim).
(iii.org)


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Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Why people borrow against their equity

People borrow against their home's equity for myriad reasons. The two most common are to pay for home improvements and to consolidate debt. Other uses for equity money are: to pay tuition, medical expenses, living expenses during unemployment, and big-ticket purchases.

Ways to use equity loans and credit lines
• Home improvements: Making upgrades and repairs to a house can make the home safer, more energy efficient, more comfortable, better looking, or a combination of those things. It can increase your home's value.
This is an efficient use of equity debt -- deploying it in such a way as to make the house more valuable. If you want to spend equity money to prepare the house for sale, make sure you apply for the loan before putting the home on the market. After you officially put your house up for sale, you will have trouble finding a lender willing to extend the loan.
• Debt consolidation: Many people rack up a lot of credit card debt and turn to home equity to ease the burden by using their equity to consolidate debt. Doing this can reduce monthly interest charges, because credit card interest rates are often more than 10 percentage points higher than rates on home equity loans and credit lines.
There's a dark side to using equity to consolidate other debts. You might be tempted to run up the credit card balances again, leaving you with big debt and no equity. It might be best to cut up all but one or two cards, stop carrying them with you, and use cash more often.
• Misc. (For education and medical expenses, unemployment and big ticket purchases): Sometimes, the easiest way to pay tuition and fees for the kids' private school, or for college or technical school, is to turn to home equity. This is especially true for families whose incomes are too high to qualify for grants or student loans. There are also student loans for this purpose.
An equity loan can be a godsend if you are hit with thousands of dollars in medical bills or you lose your job. Tax advantages and lower interest rates also make equity loans an option when financing a car, motorcycle or some other high-priced purchase. Many a homeowner even uses equity in the primary home to make a down payment (or the entire purchase price) on a vacation home.

There's one thing to watch out for when using equity debt to pay for medical care, unemployment or big-ticket items. You are unilaterally disarming yourself in the battle against creditors should you eventually have to declare bankruptcy. In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you can walk away from unsecured debt, such as credit card balances. But if your house secures those debts, you are stuck with paying them. If you can't make the payments, you can lose the house to foreclosure, and you won't see a dime of the sale proceeds until all the creditors are paid. It might be better to tap other sources of money: savings, your 401(k) or individual retirement account, or stocks and bonds

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Why Home Equity Popular

Home equity loans and lines of credit have become increasingly common since the mid-1980s as property values have soared and homeowners have learned about managing personal debt. Among the reasons for this surge in popularity: attractive interest rates and tax deductibility.

Equity rates
Because home equity loans and credit lines are secured by one's personal residence, lenders consider them almost as secure as primary mortgages. While equity rates generally are higher than rates on primary mortgages, they usually have lower rates than credit cards and auto loans.

Average rates for home equity loans and lines of credit are available from Bankrate.com's current rates of 4,000 financial institutions around the country.

Tax deductibility
Way back in the disco era, most interest on consumer debt was tax-deductible. That was good news for people who got auto loans in the '80s for Pintos and Fieros equipped with the latest eight-track stereo technology. But it was a bad deal for the federal government, which, by the mid-1980s, was hip deep in budget deficits. To reduce the need to raise income tax rates, Congress and President Reagan yanked the tax deduction for consumer interest. Except for mortgage debt. The deduction for mortgage interest remained. That goes for home equity debt up to $100,000.

Another route
While home equity debt has grown in popularity, getting an equity loan or line of credit isn't the only way to extract cash from one's castle. There is also the "cash-out refinance." For a cash-out refi to make sense, mortgage rates have to have dropped, and property values must have risen. This was the case for millions of homeowners in the early years of the 21st century, and cash-out refis were legion.

With a cash-out refi, you refinance the primary mortgage for more than the outstanding balance. Let's say you bought a house for $100,000 a few years ago, and now you owe $70,000. But the home has doubled in value over the years, so it's worth $200,000. You could do a cash-out refi of $150,000. You would pay off the $70,000 outstanding mortgage and take $80,000 in cash. Of course, you could only do this if you could afford payments on a $150,000 mortgage. You can also compare mortgage refi rates to home equity rates.So far, you have learned what equity is and that there are two kinds of equity debt: home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, or HELOCs. Equity loans are provided in a lump sum, and they are paid off in equal monthly installments over a set period. Home equity lines of credit have revolving balances and work like a credit card.

Rates for equity debt tend to be relatively low, and the interest payments are tax-deductible. There is another way to extract cash from a home's equity, and that's the cash-out refinance, which shares the same rate and tax advantages that equity loans and credit lines have.(bankrate.com)

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Home equity line of credit ( HELOC)

A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, works more like a credit card because it has a revolving balance. A HELOC allows you to borrow up to a certain amount for the life of the loan -- a time limit set by the lender. During that time, you can withdraw money as you need it. As you pay off the principal, you can use the credit again, like a credit card.

Example:

Let's say you have a $10,000 line of credit. You borrow $5,000 to pay for new kitchen cabinets. At that point, you owe the $5,000 you borrowed, and you have $5,000 remaining in your credit line, meaning that you could borrow another $5,000.

Instead of borrowing more from the line of credit, you pay back $3,000. At this point, you still owe $2,000, and you have $8,000 in available credit.
A HELOC gives you more flexibility than a fixed-rate home equity loan. It also is possible to remain in debt with a home equity loan, paying only interest and not paying down principal.

A line of credit has a variable interest rate that fluctuates over the life of the loan. Payments vary depending on the interest rate, the amount owed and whether the credit line is in the draw period or the repayment period.

During the equity line's draw period, you can borrow against it and the minimum monthly payments cover only the interest, although you can elect to pay principal.

During the repayment period, you can't add new debt and must repay the balance over the remaining life of the loan.

The draw period often is five or 10 years, and the repayment period typically is 10 or 15 years. Those are generalizations, and each lender can set its own draw and repayment periods. Lenders have been known to have draw periods of nine years, six months, and repayment periods of 20 years. Bankrate surveys home equity line of credit lenders for their current rates.

A line of credit is accessed by check, credit card or electronic transfer ordered by phone. Lenders often require you to take an initial advance when you set up the loan, withdraw a minimum amount each time you dip into it and keep a minimum amount outstanding.

With either a home equity loan or a line of credit, you have to pay off the balance when you sell the house. (bankrate.com)

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What home equity debt is

A home equity loan or line of credit allows you to borrow money, using your home's equity as collateral.If the above paragraph seems like gibberish, you have surfed to the right place. We will explain what home equity is, what collateral is, how these loans and lines of credit work, why people use them, and what pitfalls to avoid.

First, some definitions:

Collateral is property that you pledge as a guarantee that you will repay a debt. If you don't repay the debt, the lender can take your collateral and sell it to get its money back. With a home equity loan or line of credit, you pledge your home as collateral. You can lose the home and be forced to move out if you don't repay the debt.

Equity is the difference between how much the home is worth and how much you owe on the mortgage (or mortgages, if you have more than one on the property).
Example:

Let's say you buy a house for $200,000. You make a down payment of $20,000 and borrow $180,000. The day you buy the house, your equity is the same as the down payment -- $20,000: $200,000 (home's purchase price) - $180,000 (amount owed) = $20,000 (equity).
Fast-forward five years. You have been making your monthly payments faithfully, and have paid down $13,000 of the mortgage debt, so you owe $167,000. During the same time, the value of the house has increased. Now it is worth $300,000. Your equity is $133,000: $300,000 (home's current appraised value) - $167,000 (amount owed) = $133,000 (equity).
A home equity loan (or line of credit) is a second mortgage that lets you turn equity into cash, allowing you to spend it on home improvements, debt consolidation, college education or other expenses.

Equity loans, lines of credit defined ...
There are two types of home equity debt: home equity loans and home equity lines of credit, also known as HELOCs. Both are sometimes referred to as second mortgages, because they are secured by your property, just like the original, or primary, mortgage.

Home equity loans and lines of credit usually are repaid in a shorter period than first mortgages. Most commonly, mortgages are set up to be repaid over 30 years. Equity loans and lines of credit often have a repayment period of 15 years, although it might be as short as five and as long as 30 years. (by bankrate.com)


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8 Things You Should Know About Auto Insurance

Dealing with the ins and outs of auto insurance can be as tricky and confusing as trying to untie the Gordian knot. Although we can’t help you with the knotty Gordian problem, the following recommendations could help you figure out some of the more complicated points of auto insurance.

1) Determine appropriate coverage.
Help control the price you pay, just ask American Insurance Association executive Dave Snyder. For example, Snyder notes that half of your auto insurance bill covers liability and “that has to do with how you are going to use the vehicle, such as for commuting to work and your driving record. If you’ve got a clean driving record, you figure to pay less for insurance than you would if you had a speeding ticket on your record. You can control the other half of your premium which covers damage or loss to your vehicle, comprehensive and collision coverage.”

2) Shop around for insurance.
“In most states,” Snyder reports, “there are hundreds of insurers competing for business, so it’s possible to save hundreds of dollars by obtaining quotes from different auto insurance providers.” Picking up on Snyder’s theme is his AIA colleague, Nicole Mahrt. Mahrt urges you to work with your insurance provider to get more than one quote. “It pays you to shop around, especially if you feel you’ve been paying too much.”

3) Look for insurance discounts.
“Many insurers will give you a discount if you buy two or more types of insurance from them, for example auto and home insurance,” confirms John Marchioni, senior vice president of Personal Lines for Selective Insurance, in Branchville, N.J. More cost-saving suggestions from Marchioni: “Ask about discounts for air bags, anti-lock brakes, daytime running lights and anti-theft devices.”

4) Consider taking a higher deductible.
“You could lower your insurance bill by increasing your deductible,” Mahrt says. “But just make sure you can pay the higher deductible if you file a claim.”

5) Look into “stacking” coverages if you file an insurance claim.
Insurance trade group officer Daniel Kummer explains that stacking uninsured/underinsured motorist coverages means “you can collect from more than one of your auto insurance policies. Most states prohibit this practice, but there are about 19 states that either allow stacking or don't address the issue either through legislation or litigation,” according to Kummer, director of personal insurance for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. “Be sure to check your auto insurance contract to see if it's allowed. “Be advised that you’ll likely pay a higher insurance premium if you have stacked coverage. “It could be 10% to 30% more depending on the litigious nature of the state in which you reside,” says Kummer.

6) Check with your insurance provider BEFORE buying a car.
“Your premium is based in part on the car’s sticker price, the cost to repair it, its safety record and the likelihood of theft,” answers Selective’s John Marchioni. Remember to avoid shopping by price alone. “You want an agent and a company that answer your questions and handle claims fairly and efficiently,” emphasizes Marchioni, senior vice president of Personal Lines for Selective Insurance.

7) Notify your auto insurance company as soon as you change companies.
“Be sure to cancel your old policy,” suggests PCI’s Dan Kummer. “Do it the same day, but don’t cancel your old policy until you’ve lined up a new contract. That’s important because some states like New York will fine you for the number of days you go without insurance.” One last thought from Kummer on the subject: “Most auto insurers specify in your contract that you can terminate your policy any time you want by informing your company in writing about the date you wish that coverage be terminated or you can do that over the phone.

8) Pick the insurance payment option that best fits your budget.
“Generally, most companies will give you the ability to pay over time, but that comes at a price,” says Kummer. “Your payment could increase a few dollars each time you pay by installment. Insurers can accept payments monthly, quarterly, or every six months, what ever is most convenient for you. Remember, though, that the more you break down your payments, the more the cost adds up.” (article from insurance.com)


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The Consequences of Not Having Auto Insurance

When young adults graduate college they have aspirations of starting their first "real world" job, getting their own place and buying a brand new car - one that does not need a screwdriver to start. However, college students are also graduating with much more than just a college degree and a dream, they are graduating with a substantial amount of debt. In fact, many students graduate with an average of $3,262 in credit card debt - 10 percent of that group owing more than $7,000 in credit card charges.

Students forget to factor in other life costs, such as health care, 401K deductions, income taxes, car payments, auto insurance, rent, utility bills, student loans, credit card bills and food expenses into their monthly budget. "After you graduate and land your first job, you do not think about having to pay for all of these expenses," stated a graduate from Ohio University. "Unfortunately, reality sets in pretty fast and you realize you do not have the money to make ends meet - it is a hard lesson to learn!"

College Debt
Why is there so much credit card debt among college students? "Many credit card companies set up kiosks on college campuses offering free pizzas and t-shirts to try and entice students to sign up for a credit card," noted David Roush, CEO of Insurance.com. "The problem is many college students do not have the income or financial knowledge to manage a credit card - a problem that is leading students into a lifetime of financial despair."

In addition to the outrageous credit card bills, students are also graduating with student loans ranging from $10,000 to $52,000 or more. Often students figure they will be able to pay everything off once they get a job and start making "real" money, but that simply is not the case.

Not only are credit card and student loan bills financially crippling to many new graduates, it is also forcing grads to cut back on other necessary expenses, such as auto insurance - one bill you legally cannot drive without! "Driving without auto insurance is illegal in all 50 states, however, many young adults elect to go without auto insurance because they think they cannot afford to have it," stated Roush. "A scary thought when 15.3% of all automobile accidents are caused by drivers between the ages of 20 - 24."

While deciding not to pay for auto insurance may seem like a good idea at the time, graduates are not considering the expense of getting caught without auto insurance or the cost of getting into an automobile accident. "Imagine if you had to pay the medical bills of someone who gets injured in car accident when you are at fault - suddenly paying for car insurance does not seem so bad," says Roush.

The Penalty of Driving Without Auto Insurance
According to the Insurance Information Institute, the cost of driving without auto insurance can vary from state to state, depending on the percentage of drivers who are uninsured in that state. For instance, in Massachusetts residents can be charged anywhere from $500 to $5,000 in fines and receive a one-year jail sentence. In Florida, Louisiana, Connecticut and New Jersey, drivers operating a vehicle without the state required minimum will have their vehicles impounded - which can cost you thousands depending on how long it takes you to get your car out.

To find out the auto insurance state minimum and fines and penalties for driving without insurance in your state, visit the Department of Motor Vehicles' website.

How to Budget For Auto Insurance
As you look for auto insurance, make sure to check if the insurer offers a 6-month or 12-month payment plan to help you manage your auto insurance payments better. In addition, many auto insurance providers offer a variety of discounts, including alumni discounts. So make sure to ask if your college or university is eligible for a discount, because every bit helps when you are first starting out on your own.

To help make researching auto insurance rates easier, Insurance.com offers an auto insurance comparison application. Here, you will be able to evaluate multiple rates from best-in-class insurance providers - helping you find the best auto insurance coverage for your newly graduated budget.(insurance.com)


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What is covered by a basic auto policy?

Your auto policy may include six coverages. Each coverage is priced separately.
1. Bodily Injury Liability
2. Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
3. Property Damage Liability
4. Collision
5. Comprehensive
6. Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

1. Bodily Injury Liability

This coverage applies to injuries that you, the designated driver or policyholder, cause to someone else. You and family members listed on the policy are also covered when driving someone else’s car with their permission.

It’s very important to have enough liability insurance, because if you are involved in a serious accident, you may be sued for a large sum of money. Definitely consider buying more than the state-required minimum to protect assets such as your home and savings.
2. Medical Payments or Personal Injury Protection (PIP)

This coverage pays for the treatment of injuries to the driver and passengers of the policyholder's car. At its broadest, PIP can cover medical payments, lost wages and the cost of replacing services normally performed by someone injured in an auto accident. It may also cover funeral costs.
3. Property Damage Liability

This coverage pays for damage you (or someone driving the car with your permission) may cause to someone else's property. Usually, this means damage to someone else’s car, but it also includes damage to lamp posts, telephone poles, fences, buildings or other structures your car hit.
4. Collision

This coverage pays for damage to your car resulting from a collision with another car, object or as a result of flipping over. It also covers damage caused by potholes. Collision coverage is generally sold with a deductible of $250 to $1,000—the higher your deductible, the lower your premium. Even if you are at fault for the accident, your collision coverage will reimburse you for the costs of repairing your car, minus the deductible. If you're not at fault, your insurance company may try to recover the amount they paid you from the other driver’s insurance company. If they are successful, you'll also be reimbursed for the deductible.
5. Comprehensive

This coverage reimburses you for loss due to theft or damage caused by something other than a collision with another car or object, such as fire, falling objects, missiles, explosion, earthquake, windstorm, hail, flood, vandalism, riot, or contact with animals such as birds or deer.

Comprehensive insurance is usually sold with a $100 to $300 deductible, though you may want to opt for a higher deductible as a way of lowering your premium.

Comprehensive insurance will also reimburse you if your windshield is cracked or shattered. Some companies offer glass coverage with or without a deductible.

States do not require that you purchase collision or comprehensive coverage, but if you have a car loan, your lender may insist you carry it until your loan is paid off.
6. Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist Coverage

This coverage will reimburse you, a member of your family, or a designated driver if one of you is hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver.

Underinsured motorist coverage comes into play when an at-fault driver has insufficient insurance to pay for your total loss. This coverage will also protect you if you are hit as a pedestrian. (iii.org)



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What is auto insurance?

Auto insurance protects you against financial loss if you have an accident. It is a contract between you and the insurance company. You agree to pay the premium and the insurance company agrees to pay your losses as defined in your policy.

Auto insurance provides property, liability and medical coverage:

* Property coverage pays for damage to or theft of your car.

* Liability coverage pays for your legal responsibility to others for bodily injury or property damage.
* Medical coverage pays for the cost of treating injuries, rehabilitation and sometimes lost wages and funeral expenses.

An auto insurance policy is comprised of six different kinds of coverage. Most states require you to buy some, but not all, of these coverages. If you're financing a car, your lender may also have requirements.

Most auto policies are for six months to a year. Your insurance company should notify you by mail when it’s time to renew the policy and to pay your premium.
(iii.org)


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Auto Insurance: What are my car insurance coverage options?

Understanding the types of car insurance coverage options will help you make choices that you feel are right for you. Learn how liability, property and injury protections can help protect you from loss, damage and lawsuits and how limits and deductibles work. Discover what new bundled features – like Accident Forgiveness and Deductible Rewards – might be available to you. Compare auto insurance coverage options below and then get an online car insurance quote. Or, find out more about motorcycle insurance.

Auto Insurance Liability Coverages: Protect yourself and others with liability coverages*

Liability Coverage – typically helps protect you for damages to others if you’re at fault in a covered accident.

Medical Payments Coverage – typically helps provide payment for your reasonable and necessary medical treatment for bodily injury caused by a covered accident.

Underinsured/Unisured Motorist Coverage – typically helps protect you for covered damage caused by drivers who don’t have auto insurance or don’t carry enough auto insurance.

Auto Insurance Property Coverages: Protect your car with property coverages*

Collision Coverage - typically helps pay to repair or replace your insured car after a covered accident.

Comprehensive Coverage – typically helps pay for covered damages to your insured car resulting from a peril other than a collision, such as theft, windstorm or flood, to name a few.

Additional Auto Insurance Coverages: Protect your assets with additional coverages*

Personal Injury Protection

Additional coverage options – Optional coverages such as Towing & Labor Costs* and Tape/CD Coverage* can help tailor your coverage to help fit your particular needs.
(allstate.com)


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Auto Insurance: How do I choose the right auto insurance company? (an affer from allstate.com)

With so many companies offering auto insurance, how do you choose the one that's right for you? You deserve an auto insurance company that offers more than just auto insurance. What matters most is being able to feel confident that your insurance company will be there when you need it. When researching auto insurance companies, consider the following:


You want to be treated right when you buy car insurance. So seek out an insurance company with a large network of offices, claims centers, agencies, and helpful employees to serve you wherever and whenever you need. Allstate is dedicated to the highest levels of customer satisfaction. We've been serving satisfied customers since 1931 and we insure one out of every nine cars on the road. We’re the 2nd largest insurer of autos and homes in the U.S. We got there by serving customers like you quickly, fairly, and compassionately.
Your local Allstate agent provides personalized service and if you need assistance after hours, don’t worry. You can make a payment, file a claim or just get general information 24/7, through our online Customer Care Center or over the phone at 1-800-Allstate®. We’re always standing by.
Committed Agents
An insurance agent can assist you in making decisions for your changing needs.

Allstate offers a network of approximately 12,900 exclusive agencies and financial specialists in the U.S. and Canada to assist you with your insurance needs. Your Allstate agent offers personalized service in a local office. With a wide variety of policies, optional coverages and other products available, and as your insurance needs change, your local agent will take the time to help so you can make the choices that are right for you.
Responsiveness & Availability
It’s critical that your auto insurance company responds when you really need assistance. When you have an accident, need claims service, or road-side assistance, is help close by? After all, that’s what you’re paying for.
Allstate offers outstanding claims service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With 16,000 claim employees, 500 drive-in claim centers, and 150 claim offices, you’re never far from help. And you can be confident that your claim will be handled efficiently and professionally.
Stability
Choose a company that has been there, and will be there in the future. One way to determine financial stability is to do your research. Both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s offer financial ratings for insurance companies.
Allstate receives excellent ratings for our claims paying ability from A.M. Best, Standard & Poor's and Moody’s.* You can count on our outstanding financial strength and superior claims service to help protect what you value.
Allstate is the easy choice as your car insurance company
In addition to great service and reliability, you’ll get value for your money by purchasing a policy from Allstate. With auto discounts for safe cars and good students, you’ll be surprised how much you could save. Get an online car insurance quote today and find out if switching to Allstate could save you money.

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Auto Insurance: What should I consider when choosing car insurance?

We understand. Auto insurance coverage needs vary depending on your situation. If you have a motorcycle, the insurance options you should consider will be different than if you're adding a teen to your car insurance policy. A new car requires different considerations than an older one.

In the scenarios listed below, we provide an overview of the auto insurance coverages you should consider. In addition to explaining the coverage considerations, we've even included information on the savings and discounts you may qualify for.

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I am buying my first car and I need car insurance.
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I need auto insurance for an older car.
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I am adding my teenager to my auto insurance policy
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I am just shopping around for car insurance.
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I have a motorcycle and I need motorcycle insurance.

We're here to help you make the choices that you feel are best for you. For more information, contact a local Allstate agent today or get a car insurance quote online.
(source : allstate.com)


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Auto Insurance: Why do I need auto insurance coverage?

Having auto insurance coverage can help protect the people and things that are important to you. From liability coverages that help protect you to comprehensive coverage that helps protect the investment in your new car, quality auto insurance coverage is the foundation of a good financial plan.

Car insurance can help:

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Safeguard your investment in your automobile
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Pay for medical expenses in case of an accident
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Provide financial protection from lawsuits
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Cover losses caused by uninsured or underinsured drivers
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Pay for damage due to theft, vandalism or natural disasters
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Auto insurance coverage helps you to meet whatever might be coming down the road with a greater peace of mind.

Remember, however, not all coverages are the same. When determining what kind of auto insurance coverage applies to you, consider your specific situation. Different types of coverage options and limits fit the different needs a person might have. When you have all the information you're looking for, get an online car insurance quote.
(source : allstate.com)


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