Top 10 Auto Insurance Companies in US

Progressive
This company ranks first in the list of top 10 auto insurance companies in US. It is the longest running and largest auto insurance company. It is number one when it comes to writing a standard car insurance and also a low rate car insurances. It is also the best company when it comes to handling claims and also providing an excellent customer service. It is known for providing inexpensive auto insurance. It makes insurances for motorcycles, personal watercraft, boats, RVs and also commercial autos. If one compare auto insurance companies, people say that this is one of the best of all the companies.

GMAC Insurance
This insurance company ranks second after Progressive in the top 10 auto insurance companies in US. This company provides it's customers a wide range of insurances and various other insurance related products to individual customers. It started in the year 1939, and since then, they have their branches in USA and Canada, and they also operate internationally in Europe, Latin America and Asia. This company also provides services for automotive dealership and several other businesses.

Infinity
If you have a proof that your driving record has no records of motor accidents or if you are facing difficulties in getting an insurance coverage because of previous accident records or because of the age or maybe the occupation you have, then this company there to help you out. They provide one of the best quality and low rated insurances. So if you are not getting any insurance due to some accident records, then you can avail it from this company.

Ensurance
Ensurance had a very humble start in the year 1999. But it grew up at a very fast rate in order to become the fastest growing auto insurance company in US and one of the best auto insurance companies as well. This company has some innovative ways to serve its customers and provide them with excellent services. It also provides good prices compared to the other companies.

Allstate Auto Insurance
This is a company which is known to provide its customers with excellent financial holdings. This company is mainly for teen aged or aged drivers. Some people say that this is the only company that "does not penalize you for being separated from your spouse". It provides excellent discounts to its customers and people have faith in this company, since the past 75 years. It also has an online service facility. No wonder they are there in the list of top 10 auto insurance companies in US.

GEICO Auto Insurance
Over the past 70 years, Government Employee's Insurance Company (GEICO), has been providing it's customers with the best financial holdings. It provides support to the customers on the basis of where the customers are located. It has around 9 million customers and this company is known to provide their customers with the best services.

Liberty Mutual Auto Insurance
This company has been serving it's customers for the past 98 years. It is one of the best rated auto insurance companies in US. It has it's offices in about 20 countries and it serves the customers over phone or online. I am sure when it comes to providing good services to customers, experience does count.

Nationwide Auto Insurance
This is one of the largest financially strong insurance company in the market. Their main motto is to satisfy the needs of their customers and they serve them day and night. This company has been protecting the drivers, since the past 80 years. No wonder this company is included in the list of top 10 auto insurance companies in US.

21st Century Auto Insurance
It is one of the best auto insurance company and is known for providing excellent customer services. Some say that they are better than GEICO and they have quite open and frank policies. So you can safely get your auto insurance done from this company.

Unitrin
This company is new to the list of top 10 auto insurance companies and it has been rated excellent by A.M. Best. Like the other insurance companies, even they provide their customers with varieties of options and low rate insurances.

Now you have the list of the top 10 auto insurance companies in US. So, no more will you be facing any kind of problems when it comes in selecting the best auto insurance company that will help you in protecting your car. Some of these companies also provides you with full coverage auto insurance. Decide well, before you narrow down on a company and make sure that you go through all the feedback of the company.
 

How Do I File a Car Accident Claim?

Filing a car accident claim does not just involve knowing how to respond after an auto accident occurs. It can also involve preplaning. In the United States, most drivers are required to carry their current vehicle registration and car insurance information in their vehicle. To ease the stress of dealing with an accident, you can clean out your glove compartment and use it to store only your important papers and documents. It can also save time to keep a list of emergency phone numbers in the glove box such as the local police and a tow truck company you are familiar with. Generally, it is also useful to keep a small disposable camera, pen, and notebook in the glove box for record keeping after an accident occurs. 

Once a car wreck take places, you should stop your vehicle to assist in making a car accident claim. If your car is blocking the flow of traffic or in an unsafe spot, you will want to maneuver it out of the way to a legally acceptable spot such as the shoulder of the road. It is important to note, however, that in some states it is not legal to move your vehicle after an accident occurs. Therefore, you should know the laws that apply in your state and act accordingly. To make others aware of the situation and avoid additional accidents, you can turn on your hazard lights or use road flares.
After stopping, you should try and determine your location by looking around for nearby road signs or landmarks. Typically if serious injuries have occurred, you should call 911 immediately. If no one is injured, the police should be contacted so you can officially report the accident. At this point, it may also be a reasonable option to go ahead and contact your insurance company.
While waiting for assistance to arrive, you can begin the process necessary to file a car accident claim. You can take out your notebook and write down everything you remember happening, such as the date, the direction of traffic flow, and anything else you believe to be pertinent. Exchange contact information, drivers’ license numbers, and insurance information with the driver of the other vehicle. If the individual driving is not the vehicle’s owner, you will likely need to get information for the owner as well to avoid problems when you make a car accident claim. If there are any witnesses on the scene, you might want to take their contact information since this information may be needed by the police and your car insurance carrier.
At this point, you may want to go ahead and pull out your disposable camera. Try and take pictures of the other car's license plate number, any damage received to either vehicle, and any injuries suffered by you or passengers traveling with you. For accuracy, insurance companies usually recommend that you take pictures before either vehicle has been moved.

When the police or medical professionals arrive, write down their contact information to add to your notes. In some areas, the police will not report to the scene if both vehicles are drivable and no serious injuries have occurred. In these situations, it is usually advisable to go to the police station and complete a vehicle incident report. You will probably want to complete this step as soon as possible since most insurance providers impose a time limit on the amount of time you have to make a claim after an accident occurs. Even if no immediate emergency medical assistance was required, you may still want to go to the hospital for an evaluation, as car accident injuries such as whiplash may not present immediately but could show up several days later. 

What Types of Insurance Coverage Do I Need?

In today’s world, having sufficient insurance coverage is a key component of being financially secure. While there are many different types of insurance on the market today, there are a few basic kinds of coverage that every adult should have. Here are some examples of the kinds of insurance policies you should acquire and maintain if at all possible. 

Over the years, auto insurance has moved from the realm of being optional to coverage that many jurisdictions require as a matter of course. Proof of insurance is required to register a new vehicle or obtain a tag for a current vehicle. While the exact requirements for the car insurance will vary from one location to another, just about every jurisdiction with mandatory insurance requirements invokes stiff penalties for a failure to comply. In other words, driving without this type of insurance coverage could cost you a great deal in fines even if you never get into an accident.
Another example of insurance coverage that is almost mandatory today is health insurance. Employers often provide employees with the opportunity to enroll in group health insurance plans. The employer may pay the entire monthly premium or share the cost with the employee. In the latter situation, the employee’s share is often managed with a payroll deduction, making it simple for the employee to maintain continual coverage.
For people who are employed by companies that do not offer health insurance benefits or individuals who work for themselves, there is also the option of obtaining a personal health policy. As with group plans, it is impossible to insure an individual or an entire family unit. Insurance coverage of this type is becoming more common as more people choose to set up their own businesses and employers choose to discontinue offering group insurance policies to their full time employees.
Life insurance is also considered an essential today. Whether whole life or term life coverage, the idea is to provide financial resources for loved ones in the event that the policyholder should suddenly die. Fortunately, there are plenty of options with life insurance policies, making it possible to obtain insurance quotes that just about everyone can afford.
Insurance coverage for the home is also an excellent idea. Homeowner’s insurance is a good option for people who own property. People who choose to rent or lease can purchase tenant’s insurance that offers protection in the event of theft or damage to personal property covered in the terms of the policy. Premiums for insurance of this type will vary depending on the location and the amount of coverage required.
Other types of insurance coverage are available and may be ideal for certain situations. Burial insurance has become an excellent way to prepare for end of life expenses related to funeral and burial expenses. Travel insurance adds an extra element of security for people who journey outside the coverage area of health and other types of coverage. As time goes on, different kinds of insurance continue to emerge as needed. 

Putting together an effective insurance coverage plan requires assessing all current needs as well as considering future needs. Once you have an idea of what you need, balance that with what you can reasonably afford today. Many insurance providers offer clients the option to increase their coverage at a later date, if they choose to do so. This makes it possible for you to obtain additional coverage when and as you can afford to do so.

What is an Insurance Claim?

An insurance claim is the actual application for benefits provided by an insurance company. Policy holders must first file an insurance claim before any money can be disbursed to the hospital or repair shop or other contracted service. The insurance company may or may not approve the claim, based on their own assessment of the circumstances.
Individuals who take out home, life, health, or automobile insurance policies must maintain regular payments called premiums to the insurers. Most of the time these premiums are used to settle another person's insurance claim or to build up the available assets of the insurance company. But occasionally an accident will happen which causes real financial damage, such as a automobile wreck or a tornado or a work-related accident. At this point the injured policy holder has the right to file an insurance claim in order to receive money from the insurance company.

In general, the insurance claim is filed with a local representative of the insurance company. This agent becomes responsible for investigating the specific details of the insurance claim and negotiating the payment from the main insurers. Many times a recognized authority (doctor, repair shop, building contractor) can file the necessary insurance claim forms directly with the insurance company. However, sometimes the policy holder may not want to file an actual insurance claim if the damage is minor or another party has agreed to pay out-of-pocket for their mistake.
After an insurance claim is filed, the insurance company may send out an investigator called an adjustor or appraiser. The insurance adjustor's job is to objectively evaluate the insurance claim and determine if the repair estimates are reasonable. This is to prevent possible fraud by contractors who may inflate their bills for additional compensation. Insurance companies tend to accept the adjustor or appraiser's evaluation as the final word on the insurance claim.
Some insurance claims may not be recognized by the insurance company for any number of reasons. If a claimant's premiums have not been paid in full, the policy itself may not be active. Another insurance company may have already agreed to pay for the damages listed in the claim. This happens quite often in automobile accidents where one party is held responsible. Another reason an insurance claim may be rejected is a failure to fall under covered conditions. Most insurance policies spell out specific areas which qualify for benefits. If the accident or damage claim was caused by carelessness or an unavoidable "Act of God", the insurance company has the right to withhold payments.

 An insurance claim is the only way to officially apply for benefits under an insurance policy, but until the insurance company has assessed the situation it will remain only a claim, not a pay-out.

 

What Could Happen if I Drive Without Car Insurance?

The laws concerning car insurance vary from state to state and country to country. In general, most states have "financial responsibility" laws that dictate how much car insurance every driver must carry in order to drive on public streets. The absolute minimal coverage required is called liability insurance, which only provides financial restitution for injured third parties and damaged property. The driver's own losses are usually not covered under this form of car insurance. Failure to obtain minimal car insurance can lead to a substantial fine, court-ordered community service and the loss of driving privileges for up to a year.

 In this day and age of mandatory car insurance laws, it is very difficult to go through life without some proof of financial responsibility. Many lenders will not finance a car until the borrower agrees to provide minimal car insurance on the vehicle. Police have the right to set up traffic checkpoints and request proof of car insurance. A few states allow some drivers to provide alternative proof of financial responsibility, such as a surety bond or self-insurance policy, but this practice is not very common.
If you are fully aware of a lapse in car insurance and you continue to drive a vehicle, you can be held liable for all medical expenses suffered by the other party in a major accident. You will also be responsible for restoring the damaged vehicle to its original condition, or for paying for a replacement vehicle out-of-pocket. If a police officer discovers that you have no viable car insurance, you could be charged with a violation of state law, and the courts will impose fines, community service and/or suspension of driving privileges. At least three points may be added to a driver's record in states using a punitive point system.
If you are found guilty of violating the state financial responsibility laws concerning car insurance, you may find it much more difficult to obtain affordable coverage in the future. Insurance companies can and will run background checks to determine the risk factor of potential clients. Previous failures to obtain car insurance can raise the premiums substantially or even disqualify an applicant completely.
There are a few loopholes and exceptions to be found in financial responsibility laws, but a successful defense often requires a very good attorney who is intimately familiar with state laws and procedures. Some charges of driving without insurance can be reduced to driving with a suspended license or being unlicensed. Experts say that the chances of a reduced charge are best when the defendant can prove a short lapse in coverage, typically 30 to 60 days. Judges can be lenient on first time offenders, which could mean a 60-day suspension of driving privileges instead of a full year.
Another possible defense against an uninsured driver charge is the driver's lack of knowledge of the lapsed or invalid car insurance. Some insurance companies may cancel a driver's policy without providing sufficient notice. A driver may also argue that the car's owner failed to inform him or her of the car's insurance status. Under most circumstances, ignorance of the law is rarely an acceptable excuse, but it also falls on the state's prosecutor to prove the defendant's lack of car insurance at the time of the incident. Without definite proof the vehicle was uninsured, the state may not have enough evidence of an actionable violation.

 In short, a number of things can happen if you fail to obtain minimal car insurance, and most of them are bad. You'll be held financially responsible for hospital bills and property damage claims, while simultaneously working off community hours on the weekends and depending on others for transportation to work. If you continue to drive without insurance, each and every law enforcement officer on the street can charge you with a crime, even if you are only stopped at a routine traffic checkpoint. If you plan to operate a motor vehicle on public streets, it is in your best interest to obtain at least the minimal car insurance coverage required by state law.

 

What is an Insurance Premium?

An insurance premium is the actual amount of money charged by insurance companies for active coverage. An insurance premium for the same service can vary widely among insurance providers, which is why experts strongly recommend getting several quotes before committing to an insurance policy. Insurance agents or brokers will take your basic information and calculate an insurance premium estimate based on your answers and other factors. The lowest quoted price on an insurance premium may be the better bargain, but the level of coverage may also be lower.

The cost of an insurance premium is largely based on statistics, not necessarily on individual habits or history. A 22 year old male seeking car insurance for a sports car can often anticipate a higher insurance premium than a 45 year old woman driving a mid-size sedan. Both may have excellent driving records, but the insurance company considers a younger driver in a faster car to be more at risk for accidents. Therefore, the insurance premium quotes will be noticeably different. In general, a more expensive or faster car will cost more to insure, simply because owners of those vehicles TEND to drive faster.
The same philosophy holds true for medical insurance premium costs. Non-smokers statistically live healthier lives than smokers, for example. Construction workers may have more serious on-the-job accidents than accountants. A 55 year old lumberjack who smokes may be charged a higher health insurance premium than a 30 year old non-smoker working in an office. Conversely, an insurance premium may be reduced if the policy holder changes his or her habits and lifestyle.
An insurance premium is generally collected in monthly or semi-yearly payments. If the policy holder fails to make a scheduled payment, the insurance company can choose to cancel the policy entirely. This is often referred to as a 'lapsed policy'. Either the customer will pay the balance of the insurance premium and become reinstated or the policy will become null and void. Because the billing cycle can be lengthy, it is not unusual for policy holders to forget to make a payment before the policy lapses.

An insurance premium is always in a state of flux. Rates can go up or remain stable between billing cycles. An accident claim can dramatically change the insurance premium rate of the claimant, especially if the accident report shows the policy holder was at fault. Because most states now have a mandatory minimal insurance coverage law for drivers, there may be no other choice but to pay the increased insurance premium or find another company willing to insure a high-risk driver. Insurance agencies are for-profit businesses, so they will make every effort to recoup their losses after a pay-out. Paying an insurance premium may seem like a waste of money, but knowing your expenses will be met after an accident can bring peace of mind