The cost of gas still presents a veritable nightmare for a lot of drivers, and understandably so.  It seems like when gas prices stabilize, we are only able to enjoy it on a superficial level, because we know darn well that sooner or later — sooner rather than later, more often than not — they will go up yet again.  We know that during spring when all the schools go on break, the cost of gas will spike.  We know that during summer, prices will absolutely sky rocket.  We know that in November and December, during the holidays, they will go up all over again.

In other words, we know that there really, realistically seems to be no end in sight.

But I bet a lot of us do not know that these high gas prices can lead to low car insurance rates.  How?  Well, we will be discussing that in the coming posts for this series.

Now that we have discussed in detail what Commercial Car Insurance is all about – let’s talk about how you can get this particular car insurance.  Firstly, you need to have that conversation with you car insurance agent. 

You need to make sure that you discuss with them your individual needs as well as your business needs for car insurance.  You may be fortunate enough to learn that you do not really have to switch car insurance policies.

However, you might have to switch car insurance policies.  This is something that you need to be prepared for.  The first thing that you want to do is get a quote – that way you know just how much you are going to need to pay.  Remember, that you can absolutely shop around a bit, so if you do not like the quote – you don’t have to settle.

Now that we have talked just a little bit about Commercial Car Insurance – let’s dive right in.  What you need to know about Commercial Car Insurance is that it is mainly for those of us in a home-based business.  While most people think that if they start up a business, it is okay to just drive around in their car for business still under their personal policy.  That is not a good thing to do.

The reason for that is because if you do get into an accident, or something does happen, you are going to be in trouble.  This is especially true if you have told your car insurance company that you have not been using your car for business purposes.  That is misrepresenting your car and your claims will most likely be denied, so you will have to pay-out-of-pocket for a lot of the fixing. 

In the next blog, we are going to talk about how you can get Commercial Car Insurance at a fairly low cost!

Finding the differences between car insurance policies is almost like pulling teeth.  You have to make a lot of phone calls and you have to do a heck of a lot of research online. 

Well – that is exactly what we are here for!  To help you decipher between all of the different car insurance policies out there.  For example, there is a difference between Commercial Car Insurance and personal car insurance policies but what are they?

Well, that is what I am going to go over in the next few blogs.  Firstly, you need to understand that Commercial Car Insurance is actually for vehicles that are used for commercial use.  For example, if you have a home-based business that you use your car in, you should invest in Commercial Car Insurance.  The reason … well, that is in the next blog!

Accidents do happen. Cars get totaled. That comes as no surprise. What is a surprise, however, is the actual value of your car when it is totaled. Car insurance companies do not rely on the Blue Book, or even the National Association of Automobile Dealers to find these values. Most of them have their own proprietary lists. Some factors include the vehicle’s condition before the accident and its mileage.

Sometimes insurance companies will even ask local car dealers what they might charge for a replacement. There are lots of things companies do to determine the value of your totaled car — and you may not agree with the amount they decide to use.

If that happens, there are things you can do, such as show them maintenance records, get your own quotes on replacements, or even keep yourself safe by purchasing gap insurance.

Sometimes, people borrow your car. If it is a spouse or other, very close family member, he or she may be included on your insurance and have permission to drive your vehicle, and that is all right.

Sometimes, however, we let our friends drive our vehicles, and that is where potential problems arise. If your friend is a bad driver, you may well have to pay for that.

Let’s just say that your friend borrows your vehicle and then has an accident. You will, of course, have to file a claim if that happens — and it will be up to you to pay any applicable deductions. Not only that, but the odds are good that your insurance rates will increase as a result.

Of course, if your friend did not get your permission, you may not be liable for any damages. However, if your friend does not have insurance, then anyone else involved in the accident may be able to come after you for damages.

It doesn’t really hurt anyone if you talk on your cell phone without a hands free device while you are driving, right? It doesn’t matter if you try to put on makeup on the highway, correct? Multitasking behind the wheel isn’t risky at all, is it?

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

You end up paying if you are a bad driver. According to the industry’s standard, you can count on your premiums going up by about forty percent of the company’s base rate if you get into an accident for which you are at fault. That may not be the formula your insurance company uses, but regardless, being at fault for an accident can and will make you pay more money.

Driving defensively and safely does more than simply keep you, your passengers, and the other drivers you encounter safe; it can save in terms of money as well.

Canceling your car insurance policy might seem like an easy endeavor, but contrary to popular belief, it is not simply a matter of ignoring your bill after your period of coverage have ended. Actually, a lot of people mistakenly go that route, only to get a very rude awakening. You see, when you do something like that, more often than not, your car insurance company will simply send you yet another bill for your following premium payment. If you fail to pay that one, then your insurance will be canceled due to nonpayment — and that will show up on your credit record, which could cause problems when you try to qualify for another policy from another car insurance company.

Instead, you need to read your current policy. It will tell you plainly how to cancel your policy. Some require you to submit your cancellation in writing; some require you to call. At any rate, you can always call your company or an agent anyway, and let them know your intent to cancel. Quite often, you will be sent a cancellation request requiring only your signature.

The subject of teenage drivers is often a sticky one. For sure, the subject of adding your teen driver onto your insurance policy can be an incredibly frustrating one.

However, there are some facts you may not know about, where teen drivers are concerned. For instance, just because your teen turns sixteen does not mean you have to add him or her onto your policy right away. Feel free to wait until he or she is actually a fully licensed driver.

You see, it is not a requirement that you add a teen driver onto your car insurance policy simply because he or she has reached the age to drive. It is fine to wait until your teen actually gets his or her license. Of course, if you are in a rather high risk insurance pool, you can also add your teen when he or she gets a permit.

However, you need to remember to tell your insurer that your teen has a driver’s license.