Let?s face it, there are few people in the world who actually enjoy trawling through a car insurance policy. All the legalese and multitude of terms make it heavy going. But it is important to know exactly what you are signing on for so that you can work out if it is what you want. Once you understand the different aspects of a car insurance policy you may choose to forego some of the options in return for a discount on your car insurance premium.

However, it is unwise to do this if you don?t first know what it is you are giving up. There are a few basic terms that you need to understand like Collision Coverage, Comprehensive Coverage, Bodily Injury Liability and Property Damage Coverage.

Here is a snapshot of what each of the terms mean:

Bodily Injury Coverage ? the funds that an insurance company would pay for damages caused to another individual involved in a motor vehicle accident.

Collision Coverage ? this covers the cost of repair or replacement of the insured?s car no matter who caused the accident.

Comprehensive Coverage ? this is for the cost of repair or replacement of the insured?s car for reasons other than an accident.

Property Injury Liability or Property Damage Coverage ? this covers any costs associated with damage to property as a result of a motor vehicle accident. In many cases this is mandatory.

With Collision Coverage you can choose the level that you pay in the event you need repairs or replacements if your vehicle collides with another vehicle or property. This amount is called the deductible and basically the higher the deductible you elect, the lower your premiums will be. How does it work? Just like medical insurance, you pay the deductible amount, sometimes called an excess, first and then the insurance company pays the remaining repair costs.

Comprehensive Coverage encompasses things like damage caused from falling objects, fire, certain natural disasters, theft and vandalism. Deductibles work the same way as with Collision; the more out of pocket costs to you, the lower your car insurance premium will be.

Liability coverage ? either bodily or property damage ? kicks in if in the course of an accident there is damage to either another person or property. For example, if you drive into the back of another driver or your foot slips off the brake onto the gas pedal and you plow down a mailbox. Your liability coverage will kick in and pay for the damages that you caused with your insured vehicle.

Every car insurance policy is different and that?s why it pays to read through several car insurance quotes from different companies so that you can make a fair assessment of which policy is right for you. Now that you know about the basics of what you are paying for and why it is necessary, that job should be a lot easier. Not reading the Sunday paper easy, but hopefully much easier than you would have found it before reading this article.

You can save money on your car insurance premium. Get the information on car insurance that you need so that you can be confident you are choosing the right policy and saving as much money as you can. Visit the Car Insurance Information site.

Policyholders are wise to carefully read and comprehend the policy procedures before taking out insurance coverage. The procedures will offer information, including exclusions of what the policy will cover.

The majority of companies that offer car insurance have various exclusions, rules, and regulations listed within the policy procedures and brochures. The companies also provide a 24-hour claims line where the customer can call any time to make the company aware that an accident has occurred and a claim is in the making. The services may provide a measure of help to complete the forms. If you notify the company first, they will save you time by sending you an ?accident report form.? This form will provide detailed instructions and once it is completed, it is important to send the form back to the company immediately.

You will need proof, evidence and any other information to support the information provided on the claim form. It is recommended that drivers carry with them at all times a working camera to take pictures of the accident. The companies will have a foot to stand on if you have pictures detailing the accident. Third party accidents are ?word against word? therefore, any linking evidence is vital to protect you against liability.

If possible, send any receipts of the accident, or other documentation, sending only copies to the insurance company. Keep the original copies of the accident in a secure habitat for your own records. Many insurance companies that offer car coverage may make their own recommendations to garages for repairs. Thus, the company is taking your word of the damaged caused and therefore, the referrals have only the details giving to the company by you. Many insurance companies require that at least two estimates are provided to them and these estimates are required to be sent back to the company for disbursement. Some insurance companies will leave it up to the policyholder to find the garages, get estimates and submit these estimates to the company. However, if the company recommends the garage, then the policyholder is wise to take the vehicle to this garage to avoid problems.

If you have an accident and it is not your fault, know the steps to protect your self. Drivers are encouraged to drive safely; however, no one can predict what another driver will do. The first step to take if an accident does occur is to review your procedures and brochures giving to you by the company, thus making sure you have adequate coverage. If you have third party coverage, then only the passengers in your vehicle are covered as a rule. Thus, you will be responsible for any repairs on your car if you have third party coverage. On the other hand, if the third party driver is at fault, then his insurance policy should cover you, unless he has no coverage at all.

If you have full coverage, or comprehensive coverage then the policy will cover maximum damage including personal injury in most instances. Drivers are advised avoid panic if they are in an accident. An unstable mind will lead to confusion, and sense legal issues are involved you want to remain calm. The drivers are expected to provide copies of insurance, as well as give the officers (if applicable) a vivid detail of what occurred.

It is important to call the insurance company hotline to report the accident. Be sure to gather all pertinent information, including medical treatment reports, police reports, and other vital details, gathering them to submit to the insurance company. Do not confront or contact the third party involved at any time during the claim procedure to avoid default. If you have witnesses make sure you submit their names, address, phone numbers and any relative details to the company along with the claims. If possible, ask a pedestrian outside of the accident to provide written notes, defining the arrangement the cars were in at the accident. Finally, note the third party drivers ?plate number,? and any other information you believe will help you during the claim investigation. It is also important to note any relative charges against you during the accident, if you are in fact somewhat to blame.

Authored by Michael Bens. For more great information about all forms of insurance visit our free online insurance publication the Gabae Insurance Source to find the information you’re looking for!

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I was looking for car insurance for my teenage daughter and my initial thought was How can I save money? After all, I knew I would be getting high quotes. But when you’re talking about insurance for an inexperienced, high-risk driver, is saving money all you should focus on?

A teenaged driver represents a greater insurance liability because of their inexperience, and because statistics have shown that they are involved in more fatal accidents than any other age group.

When you take out a car insurance policy, you have to at least get the state minimum-required limits of liability. For example if you get Arizona car insurance, you need a minimum of $15,000 per person and $30,000 per accident Bodily Injury and $10,000 per accident for Property Damage. If you want to raise those limits to have more protection, you’ll pay a higher premium.

Now think about this scenario with a teenage driver. His or her friends are riding along, singing to the radio and being a distraction. The driver runs a red light and causes a collision that puts three people in the hospital and totals two vehicles. The costs of this collision for hospital bills alone could be well over $100,000, hardly covered by the $30,000 per accident minimum. After your insurance pays, you are responsible for the rest.

What’s more, you may be open to a lawsuit from the other driver — a lawsuit that may drain every asset you have.

In the end, I decided to raise the limits on Bodily Injury, Property and both Uninsured and Underinsured Motorist coverages. It only amounted to a few dollars more a month but added plenty of extra peace-of-mind. I then decided to do some shopping to compare my current auto insurance company’s quote with a couple of other insurers. As it turned out, my current company was still a better value with all things considered but at least I knew that I was getting the right insurance at the price I was comfortable with.

Scott Lunt is a freelance writer with over 15 years experience writing insurance-related articles. You can compare car insurance quotes for teen drivers and find more tips on saving on car, home, life, health and long-term care insurance at LowerYourInsurance.com. The site also includes a handy worksheet to help you when shopping for car insurance.