Although the internet has made it easier to compare policies and rates, it’s still quite challenging to buy an auto insurance policy. That’s because of the technical terms and jargon insurance companies use. Such terms include SR22 auto insurance and many more. In addition to that, there are misconceptions and myths about car insurance.
For instance, some people mistakenly believe that the cost of insurance depends on the color of a vehicle. This is not true. Insurance companies consider several factors about a vehicle when setting their rates. These factors include the make, model, body type, age, engine size, age, the cost of the repair, etc.
Here are the top things to know about car insurance.
- How prices are determined
How a company calculates its premium rates depends on the individual company. However, all insurance companies use the same basic factors which have been mentioned above like the make and model of the car, and how a car owner uses the vehicle. Other factors include:
- Age, gender, and marital status; young drivers and male drivers are more likely to have accidents.
- Where one lives: people who live in urban areas with a high crime rate are considered bigger risks than people in rural areas with less traffic and car theft cases.
- The credit score: in most states or countries, insurance companies consider credit scores when calculating premiums. They claim that people with good credit scores have fewer accident cares.
2 It doesn’t always cost more to insure a more expensive car
Many people believe that it costs a lot of money to insure an expensive vehicle. This is a misconception. For instance, you might find that an expensive SUV has better claim rates for accidents or thefts than a vehicle that costs less. So the premiums may end up costing less. That’s why it’s crucial to figure out what the insurance will cost for the model of a car one is planning to buy.
3 Personal auto insurance does not cover using a vehicle for business
Most insurance coverage excludes driving personal cars for business purposes. In fact, most of the insurance companies will cancel one’s policy if they find out they are doing this. If a policyholder wants to do business with their personal car, they need to make sure that they are covered. If they don’t do that, an accident occurs and they are the ones at fault; they will be forced to pay for the damage and injuries from their own pocket. This can really ruin them financially.
4 An insurance company will pay even if someone else was driving the car during the accident
Generally, car insurance companies follow the car and not the driver. If the car owner helps somebody with their car, they are giving them their car plus their insurance. So even if an accident occurs, the insurance company will still pay for the damages or injuries. Moreover, as long as the owner of the car has SR22 auto insurance, the insurance company will pay for damages.
5 Minimum car insurance coverage may not be enough
Every state or country requires every car owner to have liability insurance- this is the minimum amount of car insurance coverage. It covers injuries to other people and damage to other property. But this type of insurance is not enough to protect a car owner in the event of an accident. So, it’s advisable to upgrade to collision or comprehensive insurance coverage as they protect the car owners as well as their cars.
