Archive for the 'cars totaled' Category
Below are some tips to reduce your auto insurance bill, prevent substantial premium increases and avoid becoming assigned risk.
Claim Reports: You know about credit reports, you should also know about claim reports. C.L.U.E.® (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange), is a claim report service provided by ChoicePoint, Inc. ChoicePoint, Inc. states on their web site “C.L.U.E. is a claim history information exchange that enables insurance companies to access prior claim information in the underwriting and rating process. C.L.U.E. Personal Property reports contain up to five years of personal property claims matching the search criteria submitted by the inquiring insurance company. Data provided in C.L.U.E. reports includes policy information such as name, date of birth and policy number, and claim information such as date of loss, type of loss and amounts paid.”
Tip: C.L.U.E. reports contain information on claims history by a residence address. Just like credit reports, a C.L.U.E. report may have errors. It is advisable to obtain a copy of your C.L.U.E. report at ChoiceTrust.com to check your report for errors.
Credit reports: Insurance companies are now looking at credit reports to determine future premiums. They have determined that people with better credit scores have fewer claims. Consequently, if you have a poor credit report you may find yourself paying more for car insurance.
Tip: Always make at least the minimum payment for your bills on time, particularly your insurance bill.
Glass Coverage: Most auto insurance salespeople recommend “full” glass coverage for an additional premium, when you purchase collision coverage for your car. They remind you how much it costs to replace all your windows if broken by a vandal. What they do not tell you, and it is unlikely that they would even know (I would only trust the answer from an underwriter, not a sales representative), is whether your insurance company will use a previous glass claim to increase your future premium and whether they will report your glass claims to C.L.U.E.
Some insurance companies will report glass claims to C.L.U.E. and then use these claims to raise your premium or even worse, cancel your car insurance policy making you assigned risk with a substantial premium increase. Allstate notified me that after four claims in less than five years, they terminated my auto insurance policy and then offered to sell me coverage in their Indemnity Company with a shocking premium increase. These claims consisted of two claims for a broken windshield, one for a stolen and recovered car and one accident.
I had a sports car and had to endure a total premium increase over a period of four years of approximately $12,000 and remain claim free before I became eligible for coverage outside of the assigned risk pool. I wrote a letter to the president of Allstate complaining that they should not have considered my glass claims when canceling my car insurance because the glass claims were made under a separate part of the policy for which I paid a separate and additional premium. Allstate responded in a letter stating “Although this claim activity does not indicate that you were directly at fault in each loss, the frequency and severity of the above losses was not within our range of acceptability. After careful review, I regret to inform you that we cannot reverse our original decision regarding the above policy. We have however continued to offer coverage in our Indemnity Company.”
Tip: Check with the underwriting department of your insurance company to see if they will consider glass claims when assessing premiums or if they report glass claims to C.L.U.E. If yes, do not make a glass claim. The two windshields which Allstate provided me with were aftermarket windshields which would have cost me less than $300 each. During the last 30 years of my driving history, I have experienced two broken front windshields, one broken rear windshield and two broken side windows. While the financial risk of totaling a car can be substantial, the financial risk of replacing a windshield is comparatively insignificant. It does not make sense to file a glass claim if it will increase your premium. You may even want to decline this coverage altogether and save the premium.
Tip for leased vehicles: Some lease agreements require that the car be returned with an OEM windshield. If you lease a car and replace a front windshield using your “full” glass coverage, insist that the insurance company provide you with an OEM windshield from the manufacturer. If you pay for the windshield yourself, check your lease agreement carefully to see if you must use an OEM windshield from the manufacturer or if you can use an aftermarket windshield. Some people with leased cars who have replaced a windshield with an aftermarket windshield are shocked, when they return their car, to find that the leasing company is charging them $800 for a new OEM windshield, even though the aftermarket windshield is in perfect condition.
Car Rental & Towing Coverage: While it may be a good idea to have this coverage, it is not always a good idea to use it. Some people have realized that this coverage is not just available when an accident has occurred. For instance, some people have used the car rental coverage when their car was in a repair shop or the towing coverage when their car broke down on the road. As with glass coverage, using this coverage may be the same as filing a claim.
Tip: Check with the underwriting department of your insurance company to see if they will consider rental or towing claims when assessing premiums or if they report these claims to C.L.U.E. If yes, do not use car rental or towing coverage unless you have had an accident, in which case it will be part of the accident claim. If you are concerned about towing costs when your car breaks down, you can buy one of the roadside assistance memberships such as the one available from AAA which provides additional benefits not provided by your automobile insurance policy.
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Collection cars are highly sought and even have special trade shows dedicated to their very existence. In the world of collectors, you have mechanics who can rebuild old cars to look new, individuals who have protected the original beauty of the car without extensive restoration or collectors who completely build collection cars from the ground up. Every year, collectors gather at shows around the world in order to view a variety of collection cars together in one place.
Early camaros, vintage mustangs and other muscle cars or trucks are just a few of the collection cars that are showcased at trade shows. In exchange for an entry fee, event organizers accept collection cars into their show and award prizes for the top entrants. All collection cars are judged by preselected experts, who decide which are the best of the lot so to speak.
Collection cars are not only nice to look at, but they also bring a pretty price for their owners. Antique and collection cars are highly sought among collectors, but are also popular among those who simply wish to reminisce about their glory days. In addition, many collection cars are purchased for investment purposes. If preserved, collection cars may continue to increase in value during the years to come. If entered into additional car shows, they may continue to win awards or garner media attention that will make them even more desirable.
Collection cars will not be found at the local car dealership, but they are close by for the enthusiast who doesn’t mind doing their research. Some of the best places to search for collection cars are specialty magazines, the local newspaper’s classified ad section, televised or local trade shows, and even online. Before purchasing anything online, buyers are urged to conduct due diligence on the automobile. An in-person inspection, along with a mechanic’s observation, should be conducted prior to signing on the dotted line.
Quite often, collection cars are invited to participate in local parades. No matter the time of year, these auto enthusiasts are anxious to showcase their set of wheels and are proud to ride as part of many parades on an annual basis. Many collection cars can be entered into parades by contacting the local city hall to inquire about participation. Everyone loves collection cars, including those who don’t characterize themselves as collection car enthusiasts. From the professional mechanic to the hopeful auto designer and the child who isn’t even old enough to sit behind the steering wheel, collection cars are a sight to behold and are celebrated by all who appreciate classic detail at it’s finest.
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For Do-It-Yourselfers, there is nothing quite like spending the weekend working on their projects, and these includes vintage car buffs. Mostly, people who love cars, knows a thing or two about them. Some have even gone as far as to learn how to build the cars themselves, this means that this is more than a hobby, it’s a passion.
With that said, think about if the person is a race car buff too. Combine all these elements and you get a person who loves vintage race cars. One type of vintage race car that many aficionados admire is the sprint car. So if you are restoring, repairing, or maintaining a vintage sprint car, then you will certainly need some vintage sprint car parts.
As a primer, sprint cars are high powered race vehicles that are designed for a short race, usually on a circular or oval track of dirt or cement. These cars need enough power to immediately build up speed and make a mad dash to the finish line, thus the term “sprint.” Because of the high speed that these sprint cars undergo when racing, a lot of them can get into accidents and incur damages.
Some of the first sprint cars produced can now be dubbed as vintages and although they are not racing now, they are still considered as timeless treasures especially for those who have been a fan of these sprint car races. These races are so popular that there is even a Hall of Fame and Museum dedicated to it, this can be found in Knoxville, Iowa.
Now, if you have been lucky to be an owner of a vintage sprint car, then you have got your hands full. This is because owning a vintage sprint car and actually getting it up and running is an entirely different thing. Of course it is common that if a person purchases a vintage car, he or she desires to restore it. But, not everyone has the patience or the drive to go through with the project until the end.
One of the tasks that turn a number of people off when restoring vintage vehicles is looking for parts. Back in the “pre-internet” days, restorers would usually go to junkyards and hope that they would hit the jackpot and find the parts they need. This is usually a hit and miss routine and most of the time, people would go home empty handed. They would then move on to other junkyards and after a while it feels like you are in a scavenger hunt.
But those days are gone, sure this can still be done and some people still do it, but there are now more options, easier ones too. First off, going online will be the best option. There are many retail websites that offer these vintage sprint car parts for sale. You can also try auction sites like eBay. There you can do a search and place a bid. You may also try and join forums of vintage sprint car club websites and ask for information from their members.
Some professional restorers have these parts in their garages. Try to contact them by scouring for their numbers in magazines. You have nothing to lose in calling them up and asking if they have them.
Most of these procedures would require you to do just a couple of browsing and a few phone calls. No sweat, you will soon be able to find your vintage sprint car parts without having to leave your home or office.
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Restoring a vintage car is a labor of love. While admittedly there are some that do this as a business, all of them, those that restore and collect vintage cars, are driven by their passion, they are fueled by their desire for vintage cars and watching them return to their full glory is what makes them happy.
Ownership of a vintage car sets an image of glamour, prestige and a status symbol that shows you can afford its high maintenance, think Jay Leno. Aside from having the money to pursue such an endeavor, you should also have the passion for it. You need to be very patient when restoring a vintage car.
After restoring a vintage car, a lot of people would either drive out from time to time, or keep it in storage so that they will be in great condition when they present it at car shows. This great concern for safety is understandable; this is because a vintage car restoration project is no laughing matter. A huge investment in time, money and effort is done and watching a car get destroyed or to have it stolen can be a huge blow.
This is where having an insurance comes in. But unlike regular car insurance, vintage car insurance can be different. One thing that collector’s like is that a vintage car insurance is relatively far cheaper than regular car insurance. You have to consider though that this insurance policy is cheaper because they only cover certain mileage. There are also conditions like parking garages that are considered.
Also, the price of a vintage car insurance policy will depend on the make and model of the vehicle, the rarer the car is and the more expensive it is in the market, the higher the cost of the policy is. Furthermore, make sure that your insurer will guarantee the valuation of your car prior to signing the policy. There have been some insurance companies who have denied claims for complete valuation. Although having a guaranteed valuation included in your policy will mean extra charges, this is all worthwhile as you are protected in the event that your car is stolen or is damaged beyond total repair.
Looking for vintage car insurance can be as simple as flipping through the yellow pages or browsing through vintage car magazines. There you will be able to find car insurance companies that can be able to give you a quote after you give out your details through a phone call, or if you go to their physical office. Comparing their quotes can be a troublesome task. You need to make several phone calls or visits to get their quote. Plus, interacting with an insurance agent can get you committed to their policy with their persuasion.
One of the more popular ways in finding vintage car insurance is browsing the internet. Here you will be able to find numerous insurance companies that can offer great deals in insurance policies. Plus, you don’t have to go to their physical offices to get a quote. In a matter of minutes, you will be able to get quotes from different companies and compare them. Aside from their prices though, you have to greatly consider what is included in the policy. One great thing about shopping for a policy through the net, you are not pressured to be committed to their service.
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You hear about automotive recalls all the time in the newspaper, on the Internet, as well as on the nightly news. Amazingly, one in 12 cars traveling the roads today were recalled for one reason or another in 2003. However, even more amazing is the fact that only one third of the owners of the recalled vehicles chose to take their car in for the needed repairs. The car manufacturers are required to send out letters informing owners of these vehicles of the recall, regardless of whether it is a major or minor event. Also, the information regarding the recall is delivered to consumers in so many different mediums it is almost impossible that owners of the affected vehicles do not learn of the problems. However, people seem to think that if they are not experiencing any problems at the moment then the recall affects all of the other vehicles instead of theirs and end up ignoring the recall. This is negligence and simply asking for the problem with the car to crop up. However, if this happens after the recall then it is the owners fault because they were given the information and allowed to fix the problem free of charge yet they simply ignored it. As long as car manufactures report the recall and inform owners of the vehicles as they are required to do by law, it is up to the consumer to take advantage of the recall and have their automobile fixed. If not, then the owner is taking the risk. If you have not heard anything about car recalls or just bought a used vehicle and want to find out if the manufacturer issued any recalls then you should check out www.nhtsa.gov or www.autorecalls.org to see if your car is listed.
Both of these websites have all the information about recalls over the past years so you can search through the year, make, and model of a vehicle to see if yours is listed. It is very likely you will see your car listed on one of these website because more than 31 million cars were recalled in 2004. That is almost unbelievable considering the amount of technology used in developing cars as well as the fact that cars are safer than they have ever been. However, it is true that mistakes are still taking places and consumers are buying vehicles with basic problems like fuses or major problems with gas lines, tires, and seats buckling in crashes. Regardless of whether or not you believe you are driving a safe car you need to check out the websites stated above every few months just to make sure your vehicle has not ended up on the list. If it has, don’t fall into the two thirds of individuals who never respond to the recall. Instead, head to the nearest dealership or authorized mechanic who can make the free repairs to your vehicle. Why so many people don’t have time for free repairs is beyond me, but knowing your vehicle has a problem that could be potentially fatal for you and your family and that a free repair is available should be enough to motivate you to have the repair taken care of.
Another thing to keep in mind is that simple problems with your vehicle that result in a visit to the mechanic may not be a problem you are required to pay for. Millions of Americans each year take their cars to the mechanic for a basic repair, or even a major one, assuming something went wrong and they simply need to fix it. Unfortunately, many of these individuals never check to see if the problem was due to a recall and end up paying for a repair that might be free or discounted by the automobile manufacturer. So, armed with this knowledge the next time your vehicle has even the slightest problem make sure you check and see if the car has been recalled for similar problems and if you can get free repairs or discounted ones at the least. It is certainly worth checking out and could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Who Issues Recalls?
In general, the reason so many people don’t respond to recalls is because they simply don’t understand the recall process. The NHTSA , National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, is responsible for investigating consumer complaints regarding specific vehicles and problems associated with them. After several consumers have reported the same or similar problem to the NHTSA for the same model vehicle an investigation is launched. The point of the NHTSA investigation is to determine whether the consumer caused the problem or malfunction in some way or if the manufacturer of the vehicle is at fault. If the manufacturer is determined to be at fault then the owners of affected models will receive information in the mail regarding the recall of the vehicle with information included on how they can have the problem corrected free of charge. However, the NHTSA is not always the one who issues a recall.
Occasionally, the manufacturer realizes a problem exists in a certain model vehicle and will voluntarily issue a recall. Of course, the NHTSA is informed as well, and the same letter is sent to owners of the vehicle letting them know the problem with the vehicle and how to correct it. Many times, however, a recall does not affect all models of a particular year. For example, if a recall is issued on 2005 Ford Explorers more than likely it will only affect a certain batch of these vehicles and not all of them. However, if you own a vehicle of that make and year then you can take it to the dealership and the service department will run the VIN, or vehicle identification number, to determine if in fact your vehicle is affected by the recall. If so, then you can have the repairs made at no cost. If not, then you can head home knowing your vehicle is safe and sound.
Just keep in mind, however, each year millions of cars are recalled for various reasons and you should always take your car in if you suspect the recall might apply to your vehicle or if you receive a recall letter. Don’t take your safety for granted, especially if the repair for the recalled vehicle is free.
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