The Car Insurance Blog

sneaky mechanics, two prices for one job

Administrator — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 07:45:10 +0000

It’s not uncommon: Your mechanic goes under the hood to make a repair, and in the process, spots another part in need of fixing. Unfortunately, it’s also as common to be charged as if the mechanic were taking apart your car twice, rather than just once to access both problems. To get to a damaged water pump, your mechanic would remove several belts. Should he notice a problem with a belt, he’s not going to do twice the work (for example, sticking the belt back in the car and then remove it later for repair). Why should you pay for twice the labor? He was going to take the parts off anyway.

Sneaky Mechanics, Regular Maintenance

editor — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 07:41:17 +0000

When it comes to your car’s regular scheduled maintenance, your vehicle manufacturer and your mechanic will agree on one thing — your car will need some repair at some point. However, their opinions on just exactly what and when it should be done are, shall we say, worlds apart. Also, expect that the dealership’s list will surely be four times as long since obviously, there is a lot of profit to be made in repairing things that don’t need to be fixed.

Take the 2005 Honda Accord, for example. After one year of usage or 10,000 miles, Honda will recommend that the tires be rotated and the engine oil replaced. In comparison, Majestic Honda dealership in Lincoln, R.I., will advise 17 points worth of inspection and repair (from testing window wipers to lubricating door hinges) after just 7,500 miles.

8 Car Insurance Myths

editor — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 07:45:36 +0000

Here are 8 myths about car insurance that have bothered most car owners. Many owners believe and drive by these fallacies everyday.

1. The color of my car will affect my insurance rate
No. The factors that will affect your insurance rate are your vehicle’s year, make, model, body-type, engine size and driving record.

2. My insurance rate is set by the government
This is not true. The government will not set your insurance rate. Your address, credit score and marital status will determine the premium that you will receive.

3. My credit score will not have any effect on my car insurance rate

(to be continued…)

Sneaky mechanics, outwitting them

editor — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 07:42:40 +0000

Car owners must have a basic working knowledge of the common parts of their vehicles. Sometimes deceitful mechanics will look for opportunities to take advantage on their clients’ lack of knowledge about their own cars. A favorite trick of these sneaky mechanics involves your car’s motor oil. What they do is hold the dipstick in a way that it won’t go all the way so to show that your car’s short on oil. Now, that is just a cheap trick but others can be quite expensive and surprising, too. A detached spark plug can look like and fake engine trouble. Car owners who know more about their car parts are less likely to be fooled by these sly mechanics so, in short, read your car’s manual or find a basic repair book.

High Priced Repairs for High-Tech Cars

editor — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:00:38 +0000

Without a doubt, hybrid-technology-based car owners are surely proud and awed to have participated in advancing this new, cutting-edge technology. However, they must also remember that costs of repair and maintenance for these special types of vehicles will be obviously more expensive than repair and maintenance costs for average cars. A transaxle which fails just after the expiration of the warranty may cost the owner $5,000 for the part replacement and an additional $3,000 for the labor. This amount represents approximately 40% of the original base price for the hybrid car.

Other costly repairs may include about $1,000 for side mirror replacement, $2,000 for a headlight and much more for more intricate systems of the car like adaptive cruise control or even rear view camera. These amounts are justified by the complicated and difficult systems associated with these vehicles. If you own these types of cars, make sure you have adequate car insurance coverage or else it is going to be a painful process for you.

How to Make a Car Insurance Claim

Administrator — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 02:38:54 +0000

No one wants to get involved in an accident even if you are covered by a car insurance. However, since accidents can never really be foreseen, it may be inevitable that if and when it happens, you will need to make a claim on your coverage from your insurance provider. To make things easier for you and your provider, here are some tips on making a claim:
1.Never drive away from an accident, especially if a person or an animal is hurt or injured or property is damaged.
2.Get the names and pertinent information of all involved in the accident, the insurance company will need this to process your claim.
3.A sketch of the accident is also necessary, if possible, show exact boundaries where the accident took place and road or traffic signs in the area.
4.Have your Certificate of Motor Insurance ready so that you can show it to the police or the other parties involved.
5.Report the accident to the insurance company at once even if you do not intend to file a claim, it will help your appraisal and your insurance company.

Car Insurance for Leased or Rented Car

editor — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 05:48:55 +0000

Opting to lease or rent a car will often times prove to be a better decision that actually buying one. Still, car insurance is something that should never be neglected since whether lease, rent or buy, insurance is normally required by most states. As a matter of fact, banks and dealers which finance the cars, make it a requirement for the drivers to get collision and comprehensive insurance coverage. This is to ensure coverage if in case the vehicle is totally lost. In some states, additional coverage aside from comprehensive and collision are sometimes required in accordance to the law.

Sneaky car mechanics

editor — Mon, 10 May 2010 07:37:35 +0000

More and more people nowadays feel that finding a good auto shop proves to be quite challenging. To look for the perfect mechanic who is not only highly-skilled and certified, but more importantly, who is trustworthy enough to offer his services at the right price is something that car owners are finding to be a definite impossibility. If you do not pay attention, you might find yourself a bit struggling on the financial side for just a minor repair. The series of articles that follow will reveal a few “sneaky” tricks that most mechanics pull off to cheat customers of their hide. Being more aware and conscious of these matters will help hopefully help car owners in getting, less likely, tricked or cheated off.

Kinds of Insurance Policy Coverage

editor — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 05:15:46 +0000

• Bodily Injury Liability Coverage- when a road accident occurs and you have injured someone, as the indicated policy holder (or any family member, for that matter, who were named on the policy) you are entitled to this kind of insurance policy coverage which will handle all the expenses.
• Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage- this will cover the medical payments, lost wages, and the value of replacement services to the injured policy holder and anybody inside the car when the accident happened. In some cases, the cost of funeral is also covered.
• Property Damaged Liability Coverage- this will pay for the damages you have caused to the other car or cars involved in the accident. Also included are damages done to objects or properties that your car have hit.

Cost of Car Insurance Coverage for Teenagers

Administrator — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:41:46 +0000

Anything that is associated with a teenager is usually expensive like clothes, jewelries, allowances, gadgets and other stuffs. Providing your teenager with an auto insurance coverage is no different. There is a need to keep them safe while on the road especially with the rising incidence of drunk driving accidents. The life of your teenager is of course priceless hence can never compare to the amount you have to pay as premium for their insurance coverage.

Teenagers are considered a high risk group because of the different misdemeanor that they usually get involved with. Helping your teenager to become a responsible driver is very important not only for his safety but to help you lower the premiums on the car insurance coverage. As a parent, you need to lead by example and show your teenager how to be a responsible driver, otherwise he will adopt whatever driving habits he forms while on the road.