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Knowing you have auto insurance can give you peace of mind. But when was the last time you actually looked at the policy you keep tucked away in your car’s glove compartment? And are you sure you’re covered for everything that could go wrong on the road? Here are some types of coverage your policy might include — and some you might want to consider.
Just as ignoring minor health symptoms can lead to a serious illness, ignoring the strange sounds and smells your car has been making can lead to a complete mechanical breakdown or a serious accident. Here are some signs that you should bring your vehicle to a mechanic.
Many newer vehicle models come equipped with technology that helps drivers navigate, helps them apply the brakes correctly and even lets the car temporarily steer itself if all else fails. But while cars are getting smarter and safer, are drivers keeping up?
The answer is “probably not,” according to the latest MetLife American Safety Pulse poll.
Drowsy driving accounts for as many as 1,500 deaths, 71,000 injuries and 100,000 crashes each year, according to estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. But one group of drivers is particularly at risk for driving while drowsy — young people under age 25. A North Carolina study cited by the National Sleep Foundation found that these young drivers cause more than half of all drowsy-driving-related crashes.
Business auto insurance needs to cover more than personal auto insurance does. While a personal policy covers you and your car, business auto coverage has to cover vehicles that are owned by the business, along with other scenarios like employees using their own cars for business and someone driving a company car home.
When you’re dissatisfied with a product, you’ll probably want the company you purchased it from to pay you back. This is common practice with businesses that offer tangible products like clothing or electronics, as long as you return them. But compensating unsatisfied customers is less common with businesses offering services — like auto insurance companies.
California Gov. Jerry Brown recently vetoed a bill that would have made drivers pay a higher price for texting behind the wheel. In August, the state’s legislature passed Senate Bill 28, which would have more than doubled the fines for those caught texting while driving. Brown vetoed the bill in September.
Did you know there are times when you could get a ticket for speeding even if you’re not driving over the posted limit? If you get in an accident when the weather is bad or road conditions are poor, a police officer might cite you for driving “too fast for conditions.”
You have a clean driving record. But what if your spouse doesn’t? Or what if your young adult child (who still lives at home) has a proven tendency to get in accidents? Your good auto insurance karma would be canceled out by the less-than-stellar driving records of those who have access to your car.
In such cases, some drivers turn to what’s called a “named driver exclusion.”
Vehicle fires might be on the decline, according to new data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Firefighters responded to 215,000 vehicle fires in 2010, a 1.6 percent decrease from the previous year.
Yet vehicle fires are still frightening, dangerous and costly. They killed 285 civilians in 2010, caused $1.3 billion in direct property damage between 2003 and 2007, according to NFPA. Preventing yourself from getting burned involves a combination of vehicle maintenance and the right auto insurance protection.
