I recently read that Honda is planning to come out with an affordable hybrid gas-electric model in 2009. It is part of their effort to re-establish themselves as the leader in fuel-efficient green automobiles. Toyota is definitely leading the pack now in that arena with the Prius. This is great news for all of us drivers who want the savings a hybrid brings (not to mention the positive effect on the environment!), but could not afford the Prius. This, by the way, is a classic example of the beauty of a capitalist society - when competition benefits the consumer. If only insurance companies were designed the same way! Oh sure, they’re in competition with each other in a way, but they will never be completely in consumers’ control because insurance is required by law.
I live in California and I unfortunately have recently become qualified for California high risk car insurance. (Yippee!) From the moment I was informed by the California DMV that I was in need of SR22 insurance, I began praying that auto insurance would no longer be required by law. This is a futile dream, however, and pretty dumb as well. Cars are dangerous and until the day health care becomes universal, California auto insurance is a necessary evil. If I were to get badly hurt in an accident while uninsured, it would put a far bigger dent in my pocket than any insurance premium could. So, what to do? I felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall ever since the day I received that fateful high risk auto insurance verdict from the DMV. I was stuck between the proverbial rock and a hard place. That is until I discovered this wonderful thing called an insurance broker.
Think of the broker as hybrid car insurance. Using an insurance broker saved me lots of money because they had such a large variety of insurance programs to choose from. You see, a broker makes “agreements” with various insurance companies to offer/sell their programs to potential customers. By the way, you, not the insurance carriers, employ the broker. This makes them work even harder for you. (Please do not confuse the broker with the insurance agent. The agent is the opposite, actually- employed by the carrier and limited to offering the insurance programs of that carrier.) The minute I made the decision to use a broker, I started to breathe easier, and that feeling only multiplied with the passage of time. Take it from me folks. Use a broker!
Popularity: 31% [?]
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So, you just turned 70 and how does your insurance company celebrate this milestone? They inform you that you have graduated to the high risk auto insurance category and subsequently raise your premium through the roof. This happened to my great Aunt who lives in California. About six months after her birthday her insurance company told her she qualified for California high risk car insurance rates and raised her premium significantly. She decided to drop the carrier rather than pay the ridiculous price they were asking but had trouble finding a reasonable California auto insurance quote from any other insurance company. It was a very trying time for her. I happened to be living out in California around the time this happened to her and I remember one night vividly. She had been on the Internet and on the phone with a number of different carriers, all to no avail, and she just put her head in her hands and cried like she was five again. It was very hard to watch. She had recently lost her husband, so she was stretched pretty thin as it was.
I asked around for advice and one person I talked to gave me a piece of advice that made all the difference in the world. He told me to try purchasing the insurance through an insurance broker rather than direct from the carrier or from an insurance agent who acts merely as an extension of the carrier. The reason an insurance broker was a better option for my great Aunt is because only the insurance broker has the ability to offer a variety of insurance programs. Basically how it works is this: The broker makes what are called “agreements” with different carriers to offer their insurance programs to potential customers. When I spoke with the broker, I found out an interesting fact. The broker is employed by you, not the insurance agencies, which is another reason why they are better- more willing to work with you because of the very nature of that relationship.
So, the moral of the story is to save yourself and your loved ones a lot of heartache and just immediately go for the broker. As a side note, when searching for a broker, look specifically for ones who specialize in high risk auto insurance if you find yourself in a situation like my great Aunt.
Popularity: 28% [?]
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If you are purchasing a new car, this is the perfect time to re-evaluate your California auto insurance. Believe me, I understand how that is probably the last thing you feel like doing. Buying a new car is exciting and fun! You get to test drive different makes and models, you have the pleasure of getting a whiff of that new car smell over and over in each different car, and don’t forget the daily daydreams that feature you (looking like your most fabulous self) behind the wheel of your brand new car!
Purchasing insurance, on the other hand, is a bore and is usually the cause for daily headaches, not daydreams and fantasies. Unfortunately, there is no way around it. Car insurance is a requirement in all states, including California. The best way to search for California auto insurance is to go through a broker. The main reason I say this is because the broker is the only one who can offer you a number of insurance programs to choose from. This type of variety will more often than not give you the best odds at a reasonable car insurance quote. California has numerous brokers licensed in the state, so I would look for a broker that is well established in the insurance community. Basic rule of thumb: the more carriers a broker offers, the more respected the broker is in the insurance community. (Insurance carriers, as you can imagine, are pretty picky about whom they make agreements with.) If a broker is respected within the insurance community, it gives them the maneuverability to work with their customers and offer more competitive prices. This is especially the case for those customers in need of high risk auto insurance.
Don’t let purchasing auto insurance ruin your daydreams. Find a good insurance broker instead.
Popularity: 28% [?]
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When searching for a car insurance quote, California can be an annoying state to reside in. Don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to insult California. It is a beautiful state with gorgeous weather and lots to offer. It’s just that its “rules and regulations” tend to vary from other states. California auto insurance isn’t the only arena the state tries to differentiate itself in. For instance, the California DMV requires new residents to take the written drivers license test before they will issue you a California driver’s license. Apparently, being a licensed driver in all the 49 other states isn’t quite up to par.
So, how does one navigate California auto insurance? My best advice is to go through an insurance broker, especially if you are in need of California high risk car insurance. (Note: make sure the broker is licensed in the state of California specifically!) There are a couple of reasons why I recommend using a broker. First, it saves you a great deal of headache and time. It is no fun researching different carriers, trying to find the best quote, comparing their options, etc., especially when you are not someone who speaks the language of insurance fluently (as most of us do not).
The second reason is the level of customer service. By definition, the insurance broker is employed by you, the consumer. The nature of that relationship alone almost guarantees that the broker will do his best by you. Third, and lastly, a broker is the only one who can offer you a variety of insurance programs to choose from. While an insurance agent, for instance, may give you good customer service, he/she is bound by his/her employer, the insurance carrier they represent, and so can only offer you its insurance programs. The broker, on the other hand, makes what are termed “agreements” with a number of carriers to offer their insurance programs to prospective buyers.
Bottom line, California can be an irritating state to live in when you first move there. Save yourself some time and find an insurance broker. You can use that extra time to study for the driver’s license test!
Popularity: 27% [?]
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Today’s economy is pretty rough. People are losing jobs right and left because of cutbacks, companies are going out of business, and everyone keeps on bring up that dreaded “R” word: Recession. It seems that no one is immune. I was reading just the other day, for instance, that quite a few car companies are experiencing financial woes. (By the way, this is probably a good time to buy a car because, as we all know, when sales are down salespeople are far more likely to work with you on price.)
Unfortunately, there is an industry that is annoyingly immune to the state of the economy: car insurance companies. “Why is this?” you might ask. Because car insurance is required by law. For this reason, trying to get a reasonable car insurance quote (California insurance or any other state for that matter) in these times of economic trouble is no small feat. And if you are in need of California high risk car insurance (otherwise affectionately known as SR22 insurance), it can seem like your own personal mission impossible.
Fortunately, there is a better way and that better way is known as the insurance broker. The fact of the matter is, an insurance broker is the only one who can offer a variety of insurance programs. The broker, by the way, should not be confused with the agent. The agent is employed by a single carrier and so is limited to offering that particular carrier’s insurance policies. The broker, on the other hand, makes “agreements” with a number of carriers, which is why they can offer more than the agent (or the direct carrier, if you were thinking of going that route). Contrary to popular belief, purchasing “direct” from the source and cutting out the middle man so to speak does not save you money- not in the insurance industry anyway. Also, the insurance broker is employed by you, the consumer, and so the very nature of that relationship makes the broker more willing to work with you. This is especially key for all of you high risk auto insurance applicants.
The economy is a bit of a downer at the moment. Hopefully we will be back on the upswing in no time at all. Until then, I advise taking a look at what an insurance broker in your area has to offer. It could help you get through these tough times.
Popularity: 27% [?]
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If you have been convicted of a DUI or DWI, then the above statement is true for you. As you know, a DUI/DWI conviction is a serious matter. I am sure that the incident was not your finest moment and I am also sure that you have been paying the consequences for that action ever since- from fines, to possible jail time, to license suspension, to court mandated programs, to community service. Being that your license was suspended, you have also been subjected to either the horrible California public transportation system or the joys of carpooling. (At the very least, you maybe saved some money on gas and helped to improve our environment!)
However, now it is time to get insurance again. It is mandatory, by the way, to provide proof of insurance in order to get your license back. Being that you have a DUI/DWI conviction, you are automatically categorized as a high risk auto insurance candidate. California high risk car insurance often results in either of these scenarios: an extremely expensive premium or no premium at all; either a carrier is going to charge you an arm and a leg or they will simply refuse to carry you period.
“So, now what?” you might be thinking. Listen, there are no magical answers. The fact of the matter is, you messed up and there are consequences. However, there are also options. Your best bet is to find an insurance broker who has experience with SR22 insurance. A broker is a viable option because he/she is the only one who can offer a variety of insurance programs. This is not to be confused with an agent, who is employed by a single carrier and so can only offer that particular carrier’s insurance policies. The broker makes what is termed agreements with a number of carriers, which is why they can offer more than the agent or direct carrier. Also, the broker is actually employed by you, the consumer, so they are often more willing to work with you. When researching insurance brokers, take a look at the number of agreements they have. Insurance companies are pretty darn picky about whom they make agreements with, so the larger the number the greater the respectability of the broker. This is key for someone who has a DUI/DWI conviction on his or her driving record.
In summary, don’t drink and drive (or drug and drive) ever again. In the meantime, purchase your SR22 insurance through a broker.
Popularity: 34% [?]
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If you have uttered this statement recently (or something like it), my heart goes out to you. For those of you not in the know, the SR22 insurance certificate is what is required for high risk auto insurance. California high risk car insurance candidacy is usually acquired because of careless or reckless driving, speeding, or too many accidents, although it can also be acquired because of your age or the type of car that you drive. Once obtained, the SR22 insurance certificate acts the same way as a regular insurance ID card does- as your proof of insurance. I should note, however, that if you stop paying for your insurance when you have SR22 insurance, your provider is required by law to report you and your license will be suspended. For this reason, it is very important to have insurance that you can afford. Therein lies the catch-22. SR22 insurance is often times either impossible to obtain (i.e. the recurring hang-ups) or extremely expensive to obtain (i.e. you hang up on them this time). The phrase “stuck between a rock and a hard place” has begun to take on a whole new meaning.
There are a couple of different ways to go about purchasing California auto insurance: through an agent, direct from the carrier, or through a broker. If you have been getting a lot of hang-ups lately, then you’ve probably been calling either an agent or a carrier. An insurance broker is much more likely to work with you for a couple of reasons. First, a broker is not limited to one carrier, like the agent and direct carrier are. A broker conducts business by making “agreements” with a number of carriers to offer their insurance programs to potential customers. This kind of flexibility is key when purchasing high risk auto insurance. Second, by definition, it is you (and not the carriers) who employs the insurance broker. Therefore, the broker’s first obligation is to you and not the carrier. (An insurance agent, by the way, is the opposite. He/she is employed by the carrier.) By the very nature of the transaction, the broker will do their very best by you.
To sum up: If you have been experiencing hang-ups and obscene quotes at the mere mention of SR22 insurance, start tapping the insurance broker population for your high risk auto insurance needs.
Popularity: 35% [?]
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High risk auto insurance is a bummer, that’s for sure. Usually an elevation from standard California auto insurance to California high risk car insurance is precipitated by an incident such as a DUI/DWI or a series of incidents- reckless/careless driving, too many speeding tickets, or too many accidents. High risk auto insurance is a real downer because it is either ridiculously expensive or seemingly impossible to obtain.
Here’s the thing. You will be hard pressed to find much sympathy if you are classified as a California high risk car insurance candidate because, let’s face it; it’s your fault. However, everyone deserves a second chance, so here are a couple of tips. First, go through an insurance broker when shopping for a car insurance quote. California insurance brokers have a greater likelihood of providing you with a lower premium because they are not tied down to a single insurance carrier like the insurance agent is. Rather, they make agreements with a number of carriers to offer their insurance programs to potential customers. Also, a broker is much more likely to work with you because it is you, the consumer, who is the employer of the broker rather than the carrier. (An insurance agent, for instance, is employed by the carrier. Stay away from the insurance agent.)
It is important that once you obtain your high risk auto insurance from the insurance broker (complete with your required SR22 insurance certificate), you take this opportunity to re-establish a record of responsible driving. Drive safely and soberly within the speed limits at all times. Also, it might be a good idea to take a defensive driving course so that you can learn techniques in avoiding accidents. (While you’re at it, you might want to avoid California freeways altogether because they are magnets for car accidents!) Taking a defensive driving course may also have the added benefit of lowering your monthly insurance premium. Lastly, be sure to make all your monthly payments because if you miss a payment on SR22 insurance your broker is legally required to report it and your license will be automatically suspended.
Popularity: 27% [?]
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Cars are an expensive proposition these days. There’s the actual purchase of the car as well as the monthly lease/financing payments that come after. Then, there’s the maintenance- oil changes, brake alignment, tires, etc. Also, we have to fuel our cars, which these days is an expensive undertaking. I was actually reading an article today that pretty much had the experts saying that the current fuel rate is here to stay. They do not predict it going down anytime soon. For all our sakes I hope some alternative fuel sources hit the market pretty soon, but until then we are all stuck in this boat, especially in California where the public transportation system is so poor. Cars are a necessity.
This brings me to the final component of the expense of cars: insurance. California auto insurance is mandatory for all drivers and therefore a mandatory expense. Of course, you could always take your chances and drive uninsured, but this I would not recommend. First of all, if something happens to you, the doctor bill will make your car insurance payments seem like mere pennies. Second, the consequences are pretty dire as well- fines, license suspension, and impoundment. Third, have you driven the freeway lately? It’s crazy out there! Accidents happen all the time. You must protect yourself.
If you are classified for high risk auto insurance in the state of California, the expense of your insurance will most assuredly rise. You can be classified for California high risk car insurance for a variety of reasons such as too many tickets, too many accidents over a period of time, owning the wrong type of car, even your age. If you find yourself unfortunate enough to be in any of these categories, here’s what I suggest. Save yourself the headache of exhausting research and rejection- find an insurance broker. An insurance broker is the way to go because a broker can offer you a variety of insurance programs to choose from. Also, an insurance broker by definition is employed by you (not the carriers they offer) and so by very nature will do their best by you.
Gas prices are insane enough. Don’t let the insurance get you too!
Popularity: 21% [?]
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Recently, there was a report published by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) listing the top ten cities with the highest car theft rate per capita. Of the top ten metro areas reported, four are located in California. In fact, those four are actually in the top five. The only city in the top five not in California is Las Vegas and, let’s face it, plenty of Californians drive to Vegas often. Why not? It’s a great weekend getaway. In case you’re curious, by the way, the number one city for auto theft is Modesto, California.
This report is not going to make it any easier to get a reasonable car insurance quote. California is already a tough state for that, especially if you need high risk auto insurance. Come to think of it, if you are someone who qualifies for California high risk car insurance and you live in Modesto or the other three areas, maybe you should consider a move. (Just kidding!) I will say this, however. In times like these, it is even more important to shop wisely for your car insurance. There are a few different ways to procure California auto insurance; through an agent, direct from the carrier, or through a broker. My advice is go with a broker for a couple of reasons. First, an insurance broker is not tied to one insurance carrier, unlike the agent and direct carrier. As a result, he/she can offer a greater variety of choices as far as insurance programs. Second, the insurance broker is employed by you, not by the carrier like the agent is. Therefore, when it comes down to it, you, the employer, are first priority. An agent is employed by the carrier and obviously if you are buying direct, the carrier is going to look out for itself rather than you. Something to note - the more carriers a broker carries, the better. One reason is pretty blatant - the more the carriers, the more choices for you. But also, if a broker has agreements to carry quite a few different insurance carriers, it means they have a solid reputation in the insurance community, which is important as well.
When looking for an affordable car insurance quote, California can seem like an impossible state. Don’t lose hope. Affordable insurance is possible!
Popularity: 28% [?]
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