Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Why Should You Have Car Insurance ?

If you are a first time car owner, buying auto insurance must seem like an unnecessary headache in the midst of all the paper work you are already besieged with.

It is certainly not unusual to be anxious about getting yourself car insurance. Buying insurance is like buying any other product. You expect to know what returns you get on your investment. The first time insurance purchaser is uncertain as the investment does not seem to give any tangible returns.

However, this apprehension of making a worthless investment is, in reality, fictitious considering the benefits one stands to gain. The policies that require a vehicle owner to have insurance before bringing out the vehicle in the open is actually in the owner’s best interests. These policies protect your assets and save you the trouble of having lawyers knocking at your door if you have an accident.

Generally, insurance covers the car, the owner and the damages incurred in case of an accident, theft, fire or any kind of mishap. There are various available auto insurance plans that can cover your liabilities and the choice that you make can go a long way in deciding the amount you are annually saving. The minimum requirement varies from state to state and you can always start with this required amount. Yet, having an insurance that covers every possible event shall provide you with a road security.

The question remains, how does one decide on the essential insurance schemes and disregard those which will not prove worthy? The answer to this lies with you. A practical assessment of your driving skills, your residential area and even your age, marital status and gender can make a difference in the expenses. Some basic tips mentioned below might serve as a guide to buying car insurance.

Rate yourself as a driver. If you are inclined to getting parking tickets and violating traffic rules you have to shell out more than a cautious driver. If you live in an area where incidences of car theft are common, it is wise to have a plan that covers such an event. Medical insurance associated with accidents is a good idea too. If you own a beautiful Bentley, it would cost you more in insurance money in contrast to an old and faithful ford model.

In some locations the distance covered plays a major role in deciding the auto insurance policy. So, if you can estimate the number of miles you shall be travelling, you can estimate on the insurance amount. In fact, a prepaid system based on the miles travelled is also obtainable.

Single owners are charged additional amount in premium than married owners. Statistics indicate more accidents occur when men are involved as the distance covered by men is more than women on an average. Keeping this in mind, insurance charges for women is less in comparison to men till a certain age limit. Now, these are some quirky factors that a smart car insurance investor can take advantage of.

That apart, with competitive pricing being the need of the hour, auto insurance companies offer plans that suit almost every kind of financial situation.