Monday, March 10, 2008

Cats, Rats, and Brats: What Homeowners Insurance Doesn't Cover

According to surveys conducted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), millions of homeowners assume that their standard homeowners insurance insures them against several kinds of losses typically excluded from coverage. These exclusions are sometimes referred to as “Cat, Rats, and Brats,” reflecting three exceptions to standard coverage.

Cats. A 2007-2008 survey conducted by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association reveals that 71.1 million of America’s 113.7 million households (63 percent) own at least one pet. This represents an all-time high for pet ownership in the United States. Many people assume that their home owners insurance covers damage to windows, doors, furniture, and carpeting caused by pets. They are mistaken. A standard homeowners insurance policy excludes damage caused by cats, dogs, rabbits, and other pets. The NAIC reports that 22 percent of the people they surveyed thought that their insurance covered injuries to or theft of pets. This is not correct.

Rats. Damage by wild creatures is not covered by homeowners insurance, either. Nearly a third of the homeowners surveyed by the NAIC (31 percent) mistakenly believe that damage caused by infestations of rats, bats, mice, ants, termites, and other pests is covered by their homeowners insurance. It is not. Pests are so prevalent that insurance companies cannot afford to assume the risk of property losses they might cause.

Brats. Children and young adults lack the experience��"and sometimes the respect for property��"to be careful with personal possession or even the home. Whether the result of an innocent accident or malicious acting out, damage caused by children is not covered by home owner insurance.

Living on the flats. According to the U.S. government, virtually every part of the United States is subject to flooding. Some areas are more susceptible to flooding than other areas, of course. The areas most at risk are known as Special Flood Hazard Areas. Because floods cause widespread damage, private insurers cannot profitably insure against their risk. To prevent floods from wiping out the assets of the millions of Americans who live in flood zones, the U.S. Congress enacted the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, establishing the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Funded with premiums from homeowners and able to borrow against the national treasury, the NFIP offers the only kind of flood insurance available in the United States. Optional in some areas, flood insurance is mandatory for homeowners who live in Special Flood Hazard Areas. Despite the fact that flood insurance requirements are disclosed when a person purchases a home, the NAIC found that 33 percent of respondents wrongly assumed that their homeowners insurance covered flood damage.

War-like acts. The mainland of the United States has sustained damage from war-like acts only four times in its history. The first attacks came in the War of 1812 when British troops invaded points along the border with Canada and burned Washington D.C. The second incursion occurred when forces under the command of Mexican General Pancho Villa raided Columbus, New Mexico on March 9, 1916, and burned the town. The third attack occurred on February 23, 1942, when a Japanese submarine fired on an oil refinery in Santa Barbara, California. By far the worst attack occurred when terrorists from the al-Qaeda network flew airliners into the World Trade Center and The Pentagon on September 11, 2001, killing 2,998 and causing more than $30 billion in direct property damage. Damage caused by war and acts of terrorism are not covered by homeowners insurance.

Earthquake cracks. Earthquakes have struck 39 of the 50 states since 1900. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), earthquakes cause more than $4 billion in property damage per year. Because earthquakes cause widespread damage in a matter of seconds, insurance companies cannot afford to cover earthquake damage with a general homeowners insurance policy. Nevertheless, the NAIC survey reveals that 35 percent of homeowners believe their homeowner’s insurance covers earthquake damage. To insure their homes, homeowners need to purchase separate earthquake policies. After the Northridge earthquake of 1994 that caused $12.5 billion in losses, California insurers stopped offering earthquake insurance. To guarantee that homeowners at least could rebuild their homes after a severe earthquake, the California legislature passed a law requiring property insurers operating in the state to offer “mini-policies” to cover primary dwelling spaces, but not pools, patios, and other non-essential structures.

For most people, their home is their biggest expense and largest asset. While the majority of homeowners know that some things are excluded from their homeowners insurance coverage, a surprisingly large number of people��"roughly a third of homeowners��"do not realize that their coverage excludes some types of damage. Every homeowner should review their homeowner’s insurance policy to verify their coverage then contact their insurance agent to discuss what types of additional coverage might be necessary to protect their home.



A frequent contributor to online and print publications, Bradley Steffens is the author of twenty nonfiction books for children and young adults and coauthor of seven more. His newest book, Ibn al-Haytham: First Scientist, is the first biography to be published in English about the medieval Arab scholar known in the West as Alhazen.

Tips For Buying Automobile Insurance

Getting the automobile insurance which is just right for you is important as it gives you adequate protection in case of an accident or theft. And don't think you can take your automobile insurance for granted as you're so confident you won't get into an accident at all. Because if you do and gets sued for damages, having the right automobile insurance protects you financially as a lawsuit normally doesn't go beyond your coverage when asking for damages.

Getting an automobile insurance doesn't have to be a daunting experience - purchasing it should be easier than buying the car itself. There are several things which you should have in mind when getting an automobile insurance.

There are various insurance companies out there, all eager to get your business. Check out the reputable ones and make a cost comparison, paying close attention to coverage, deductibles and price quotes.

Cheap insurance quotes are not exactly the best. In many cases, "cheap" means inadequate and poor service. So be sure to check out several companies which will offer you adequate coverage at a reasonable price and will give you prompt and professional service if ever you make a claim.

Consider a policy that offers only liability coverage if you have an older car. The money that you save on car insurance can be saved and put towards a brand new car or a slightly used car. Many times, it does not pay to insure an older car, but you should always have liability coverage in case you are in an accident. If you are in an accident and someone sues you, you can lose everything if you do not have proper liability coverage.

One of the best ways to compare automobile insurance premiums is to shop online. This is usually the best way to find out the best quotes without having to make dozens of phone calls. Some companies will even give you quotes from their competitors in addition to their quote. This can save you quite a bit of time when you are shopping for the best car insurance deal.

Deductibles and coverage are major determinants of the cost of your premium so be sure that the quotes you get are the same for these 2 factors. Other factors that affect the cost of your automobile insurance are beyond your control such as age and gender.

Aspects affecting insurance premiums that you can control include your driving record, if you are a student, your grades, and the location of the vehicle. Certain towns have higher insurance rates for comprehensive insurance, than others. It also matters if you park your car in a garage or if it is parked outside.

So, getting the best car insurance rates isn't difficult, but it does take some research and work on your part.



Interested in car insurance? Check out www.aboutcarinsurance.com for up-to-date news and information about auto insurance deals and other related subjects.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Dealing with auto insurance companies

Once you have arranged an appropriate insurance coverage for your vehicle, you're supposed to relax. Though, regarding the fact that you are not the only driver on the road, having to share it with some negligent or drunk drivers, be cautious, as being involved in an auto accident or having your car stolen isn't the only frustrating problem to deal with. Legal consequences-filing a claim, abiding by the time limits set by the insuring company, being aware of your rights and privileges, etc.-are found to be more difficult jigsaws to be handled with after the accident.

Initially the method for filing claims wasn't meant to be tedious and complicated. Making a claim, estimating the loss, issuing the check of reimbursement and that's it. But in reality ambiguous insurance policies, complex laws with various lap-holes in them enable insurance companies avoid some responsibilities committed before their customers. Thus taking a good accident attorney is really worth considering, as he/she will support you through legal minefields and act as your personal shield against deceptive insurance agents-if you'll have to deal with some. As a result you'll procure the best financial compensation for every single inconvenience caused by the accident.

But before referring to a certain lawyer, there are several things that everyone should be aware of. Take into mind that you're entitled to file an action against the driver who has caused the accident. In order to make him/her pay for your personal injuries, damages to the vehicle, moral distresses, lost wages, etc. you must be able to prove that your injuries are the direct result of the other side's negligent or imprudent behavior on the road. Following tips would act as a valuable aid in the process of asserting your innocence and other driver's culpability consequently: take notes of the road conditions, location, weather, time, visible damages to your vehicle and other property, etc. Ask for a copy of the police report as well. Having a disposable camera for such cases would be a great asset. After dealing with all the abovementioned, you'll have to contact your insurance company. The sooner you do it the better, because some insurers have certain deadlines for notifying them and the failure in complying with these limits will definitely result in annulling the insurance policy.

As for the stolen cars, the process of filing an action in this case is much longer, as considerable amount of time is assigned to the police to trace down the stolen vehicle. You should keep in constant contact with the police and immediately inform both the positive and negative results of the investigation to your insurance company.

And the last thing worth considering is to double-check your policy regarding the rental coverage. If you are not the one to be accused for the accident, you will be authorized to get a rental car paid by the insurer of the other driver while your car is being fixed. Rental reimbursement coverage is advisable if the mishap was your own fault.

Thus, taking all the abovementioned tips into account will significantly elevate the tiresome process of dealing with insurance companies.

Wawanesa provides comprehensive materials on auto insurance.



David Hunter is the owner of a small insurance agency in California. He also writes articles about insurance.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Important Information on California Health Insurance

There are mainly two departments which give information and stipulate regulations regarding health insurance: 1. The California Department of Insurance and 2. U.S. Department of Labour.

The first department issues and manages licenses for health insurance companies in California and the second one deals with all the matters related to job-based health insurance coverage nationally.

If you are currently facing problems with your insurance coverage or you are looking for proper health insurance services or you don't know whom to contact, the following information will help you understand whom to approach in given situation and what to expect. The California and federal health insurance regulations offer you all the protection you need. In order to exercise your rights effectively you need to be familiar with these regulations.

California Department of Insurance

The California department of insurance regulates all kinds of insurance contacts. Of course, the regulations are applicable only to those insurances purchased in the state of California or those that need to be registered in the state due to some other legal reasons. Obviously this includes health insurance also. Therefore, you can obtain a list of health insurance companies having license to do business in the state and also the kind of coverage they offer from the California department of insurance or visit the department's website.

Also, if you have a grievance with a particular health insurance company you can fill-up required complaint forms and submit to the department. For example, if the insurance company refuses to pay for certain procedure that is believed to be included in the coverage, you can approach the department to find out what the regulations say on that particular issue. However, contacting the department in these situations is not mandatory. Proper legal representation is advised.

U.S. Department Of Labor

It is important to note that when it comes to health insurance that is job-based, U.S. Department of Labor has stipulated regulations that are applicable. So, if you have problems with insurance or with your employer, you may contact the department through the Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration which is the relevant section of the department that handles these claims or issues.

For instance, it is important to know that for bigger companies having more than certain number of employees, it is mandatory on the part of employer to provide continuous coverage for a certain period of time even after you leave the job or till you are hired by another employer. If you feel this or any other rule has been violated by either your employer or the insurance company, it is always advisable to contact the Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration in order to file a claim Last, but not the least, remember that the state of California offers coverage plans for those with pre-existent conditions that get rejected by health insurance companies due to the same conditions. Enquire with the California Department of Insurance about this coverage and the requirements to be eligible if you happen to fall under this category.



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Learn more about california health insurance and health insurance for any state by visiting:

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How Anybody Can Afford U.s. Family Health Insurance

Affordable health insurance for our families is one thing we all want. However finding quality health care and affordable family health insurance aren't always easy. Clearly your first step is to get free health insurance quotes.

Your Options for Family Health Insurance

Usually the most affordable method of purchasing family health insurance is through employer-provided coverage. Because the costs of coverage are shared by the employee and the employer, your family ends up paying lower premiums. Of course, you'll also face limitations because most employers only offer one or two plans to choose from.

Another possibility is to purchase your own family health insurance plan. It may cost a little more (the average family premium is over $400 per month) but you will be able to choose from a network of doctors and you will be able to select your own deductible.

Here's a great tip: enter "The Consumer's Guide to Health Insurance" in a search engine like Google and you will get dozens of results that offer you free guides to family health insurance. Then choose two or three and request them. This will give you comprehensive information on the subject.

Medical Insurance Issues

Picking affordable health insurance should be done carefully. Some plans offer lower premiums or deductibles but don't cover many important medical needs, such as preventative medicine. Preventative medicine includes yearly screenings, immunizations, and regular physicals that are meant to detect early signs of health problems, such as cancer, or to prevent problems from developing, such as measles or polio. Even though preventative medicine is often recommended by doctors, not all insurance plans cover them nor will they extend their coverage in most cases if a doctor requires the tests to be done. For this reason, you need to carefully review your policy regarding the types of preventative medicine your family needs to ensure that you can take these medical precautions.

Prescription coverage is another important issue. Some insurance plans are moving away from paying the costs of prescriptions. Of those that do, you will still be expected to pay a co-payment between $5 to $35 per prescription. Those costs can add up, but they are considerably less than the $100 and up price tag on the most common prescriptions that your family may need. It's a good idea to search around for a health plan that covers some prescription costs.

How to Buy a Family Health Insurance Plan

If you are going to buy a private family health insurance plan, it's wise to shop around. Many insurance providers are willing to provide you with a health insurance quote based on your requirements. These health insurance quotes will make it much easier to compare plans.

Here's another great tip: go to 'The National Committee for Quality Assurance' website (www.ncqa.org) and click on 'Site Map'. Then scroll down and click on 'Resource Library' where you will find lots of good information relating to family health care. If you are in-between jobs you can also consider "Short Term Health Insurance." Simply do a search in Google for this term and you will find lots of information.



For more information go to Family Health Insurance. You will also discover why organic milk is so much worse for everybody in the family compared to regular milk.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Insurance Policies of All Varieties and Budgets

What is insurance? It is a contract between you and an Insurance company that will provide you with monetary compensation if you suffer a loss of some type. You receive this compensation because you make timely prepayments to the insurance company. These prepayments are called insurance premiums. They are Pre payments because you pay them before a loss occurs so you can get compensation when and if something happens.

In 1752, Benjamin Franklin launched the Philadelphia Contributions for the Insurance to protect homes from loss by fire. He also invented the lightening rod as away to reduce the risk of paying out a lot of claims. Today we have many different types of insurance offered through thousands of insurance companies. Such as:

1. Life Insurance, this protects your family from loss of income if something unforeseen should happen to you, it may not only help with the bills but also help your family with the funeral expenses..

2. Car Insurance, This is a mandatory insurance in many parts of the U.S. It is to help pay for car repairs, injuries, and work loss if you are ever in an accident.

3. Home Owners Insurance, this is mandatory by most mortgage companies, you must maintain insurance on your home, this helps protect you from loss by theft, fire and other disasters, and it helps protect the Mortgage companies asset, your home.

4. Health Insurance, This is in case you or your family become ill or suffer an unexpected accident and suffer the pans of heavy medical expenses. Costs for medical care are very high and you could loose your entire life savings if you have large medical bills to pay, and no insurance to help.

5. Renter’s Insurance, if you are renting a home or apartment you want to protect your valuables, all the items in your home, which you have worked so hard to get, could be lost through theft or fire.

Basically, insurance is a safety net; it is there to protect you in case something bad happens. By making prepayments you buy yourself a certain amount of insurance coverage, that is there to be used if and when you need it. It is similar to wearing a helmet for protection when riding your motorcycle, or wearing a seat belt while driving in your car. A little added protection is always the smart way to go.

Think of all you have to lose if you were to become disabled and had no way to support your family or yourself until you were able to get back on your feet. That insurance check you would receive would be a certain blessing, wouldn’t it? This is why insurance is so necessary. It helps take care of your financial responsibilities when you are unable to take care of them yourself. Consider it a helping hand during the bad times.

So wouldn’t it be wise to cover yourself and know you’ll be able to handle the financial part of whatever unfortunate circumstances should arrive?



For more insurance policy searching and decision making tips, see: http://www.insurancepolicy101.com Insurance Policy

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Do You Need Travel Insurance in your Great UK Vacation?

Whenever you’re offered travel insurance, you probably can imagine yourself with

broken legs due to a vehicular accident, eating a badshrimp, or having a mishap in a foreign rental car. If your from UK, a local weekend trip within the

boundaries of UK may not need any travel insurance. But if your from not there and have plans of traveling to UK, you will definitely need travel insurance.

In reality, you will surely need travel insurance in UK. But it can be used in

certain situations only. If you’re injured in UK, you don’t need to claim against your existing life insurance. You can use the travel insurance when you

cancel or cut short a holiday trip. For instance, you’re on a holiday trip in UK for two weeks and halfway, you get injured and you have to stay in the

hospital. Your holiday vacation is cut short and you have to take care of the hospital bills and the hotel accommodations. If you have travel insurance, the

insurance provider will be the one to cover such expenses.

More and more people are now taking advantage of domestic flights because they are already cheaper. Road trips are too exhausting. Canceling holiday

vacations will usually leave you without money but do not worry because your travel insurance can also take care of that. Lost luggage is also included

because this usually happens in domestic flights. So even if you your MP3s, cameras, or other valuables are lost together with the luggage, you can easily

replace them through the help of your travel insurance.

So whether you have plans of going to another country or to other parts of UK, travel insurance will always come handy. If you don’t know much about travel

insurance, make sure that you consult a legitimate travel agent or your travel insurance provider. Check with them first before making any purchase of

insurance policies. They are the ones who can educate and familiarize you with the different policies and their coverage for your country of destination.

Don’t forget to check the emergency lines of the insurance claims since they are open 24/7.

Traveling in UK is much more relaxing and enjoyable if you have your own travel

insurance. Although it is considered an additional expense, it will still be a worthy investment just in case you do get ill or injured. It is better to

pay for travel insurance rather than exhausting your pockets for countless medical bills abroad or other local UK destinations. Unexpected circumstances can

give you a terrible headache but if you have the travel policy, you don’t have to worry about a thing.

Having travel insurance is not considered a luxury but it is a necessity. Who says

travel insurance is only for the rich and powerful? Even ordinary individuals can obtain travel insurance and you can purchase them online or in the local

offices of the insurance providers. You can also get them in travel agencies when you book your travels. So the decision is entirely yours. If you want to

pursue an unsecured trip, then so be it. But if you’re a smart traveler looking for peace of mind and an enjoyable trip, seek help first in purchasing

suitable travel insurance.

Whether you’re in UK, in the United States, Canada, or anywhere in the world, the need for travel insurance cannot be denied. Get one now and feel safer when

traveling.



To read more about Travel Insurance, head over to www.learninghow.com.au and find all the educational resources you need.

Content Insurance - Do Storage Companies Provide Enough?

We all know people who have moving horror stories. Even if a move goes perfectly, it's bound to be stressful and exhausting. When you're dealing with large-scale moves, big rental trucks and self storage, the stress compounds even further.

Self-storage facilities generally don't have that great of a reputation, whether they deserve it or not. Generally, you get what you pay for. If you use the cheapest storage unit you can find, in the seediest part of town, with the scummiest employees imaginable, you might be putting your precious snow globe collection at risk. On the other hand, you might shell out a small fortune for the best climate controlled, 24-hour attended storage unit you can find, and have an accident or theft still occur. Nothing is failure-proof.

If you are storing things like expensive furniture, collections, your best china, imported rugs or anything else that has a lot of value, you might consider purchasing self-storage insurance. Some self-storage units do offer some type of insurance. Before you go out and spend money on an insurance policy, you should be sure you're not buying coverage you already have.

However, the vast majority of self-storage units have very strict disclaimers that keep them immune from any theft, loss or damage to your property. When you are dealing with a self-storage company, be sure to read the entirety of every single document you sign. You want to be fully aware of the policies that may affect your possessions.

If you don't feel like your possessions are adequately protected from a disaster or unfortunate event by the self-storage contract, self-storage insurance is a good idea.

Generally, self-storage covers damages or lost property that happens due to burglary, lightning, windstorm, hail, fire, smoke, earthquake, building collapse, explosion, vandalism, riot and water damage.

When you are purchasing your self-storage insurance policy, you will want to read it very carefully. Many insurance policies don't cover losses due to floods, especially after the massive loss the industry took after the hurricane Katrina disaster.

If you are concerned about flood or tidal wave coverage and your self-storage policy doesn't provide it, you can contact the U.S. Government and the National Food Program, which does offer flood insurance. If you are storing your things in a sensitive coastal area, this might be a very good idea.

As you navigate the insurance system and choose an appropriate self-storage insurance policy, you will also want to be very aware of what types of possessions are not covered.

For example, one very popular self-storage insurance policy that many friends of mine have used excludes deeds, bills, currency, evidence of debt, securities, money, notes, jewelry, watches, precious stones, furs, boats, vehicles and some business inventory from coverage. That's a lot of valuable stuff!

If you are storing things such as the items I just mentioned, I recommend not putting them in a storage unit. Luckily, things like the family heirloom jewelry and deeds, bonds and securities are small enough to put in a bank safe deposit box.

Hopefully after reading this, you feel better informed about self-storage insurance. Remember, read anything before you sign it!



For all your personal storage and business storage requirements, we offer 7 day a week access that is both private and secure from our 3 Toronto storage space locations.

Look for the Best Internet Marketing Consultant to Provide You with Effective Internet Marketing Service

Due to the constant advancement of technology, the internet is also continually changing. If you have your own online business, there may be some things which you do still do not know. This is due to the fact that each passing time, there are a lot of things about the internet which are always being defined. Even if you have known so much for the past years, this does not give you the assurance that you will be able to manage your business well. In order for your online investment to succeed, you need the help of an expert. You can turn to the assistance of an internet marketing consultant if you want to make your website gain more visitors and clients. If your training or knowledge regarding internet marketing is limited, you greatly require the support of a professional. Even if your business is small, you still need the help of an internet marketing consultant to earn you a top spot within search engine results. With the help of a consultant, you will also be able to get ahead of your competitors. Since investing on something which you are not sure of can be confusing, you need a consultant to teach you the proper things to do. When you seek the help of an internet marketing consultant, he or she will be able to provide you with an internet marketing service which is suitable for your online site.

Make Your Online Site Successful through an Internet Marketing Consultant When you have your own website and you want to be successful, you require an internet marketing consultant to evaluate your site for you. Aside from analyzing your website, he or she will determine your good points when it comes to conducting business transactions and dealing with online clients. The most common internet marketing service that is provided by several consultants and marketing companies is selling you to their marketing channels. These channels might include e-mail marketing, affiliate marketing, or co-registration. In order to make your website or online business successful, your internet marketing consultant has to know what you are capable of. He or she also needs to know which field you have been doing well for the past years. Your consultant might inquire you how much you are willing to spend to boost the visibility of your site. When your internet marketing consultant does not delve into these areas, he or she won't be able to provide you with the best internet marketing service.

Know What Internet Marketing Service Suits Your Online Site

The core of each internet marketing service is the building of trust between the client and the marketing company. Through marketing services, you will also be able to build interaction and communication with your own clients or customers. If you are developing a website with the help of an internet marketing consultant, you will be able to locate a company that will be able to fully support your needs. Among the most common marketing service is e-mail marketing. This will allow you to create trust with the individuals who logged on to your site. Through e-mail internet marketing service, you will be able to divide your address list; separating the clients from the people you know. You can send your customers with custom-made messages to tell them how much you appreciate the time they have spent looking into your website. When sending out e-mail messages to the visitors of your site, there is one important thing which you should always keep in mind. Since you are building trust with them, prohibit from offering these individuals with whatever you are selling. If you do otherwise, they will think that you are just like other website owners who instantly sell their products. With this perception, e-mail internet marketing service will not be that effective for you anymore.

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When you seek the help of an internet marketing consultant , he or she will be able to provide you with an internet marketing service which is suitable for your online site.

Does Your Insurer Provide Roadside Assistance?

We all have weeks when nothing seems to go right, a tire could blow out, you could lock your keys in the car or your car battery could die. If you have added an emergency roadside assistance extension to your insurance policy, you probably feel like your problems are over. But there are some important things you should think about first.

Adding emergency roadside assistance onto your insurance policy can appear to be an inexpensive way to protect yourself from an unexpected breakdown or other embarrassing problem. Many insurers, including Allstate, State Farm, Geico and Progressive, offer policy holders an add-on to their auto insurance policy for a lot loss than the cost of independent auto club services. Basic assistance included on a policy can be as cheap as $6 to $20 for an annual policy, compared to $45 to $100 for an annual membership of an independent service.

But, are you aware that auto insurers keep track of your roadside assistance claims, unfortunately in some cases you may discover your premium will go up if you make one too many calls for assistance. Insurers take a whole range of factors into account when giving you a quote for auto insurance and how many and what sort of roadside assistance claims you've made is one of them.

Many auto insurers consider roadside assistance claims to be one of the predictors of risk. Most insurers state that a customer's premium should not be affected unless there are multiple claims together with several other risky factors. The chance that one or two claims would have an impact on a customer's premium is probably very low.

In some cases, any claims made under the add-on roadside assistance coverage are reported as a towing and labor claim. These claims are reported to a national database run by ChoicePoint, a company that provides insurers with claims information to help them process applications. Car insurers use this information to confirm your application for insurance to make sure you have been honest about your accident and towing claims history.

ChoicePoint doesn't include claims data from auto club services such as AAA or Allstate Motor Club and has advised insurers not to submit any claims made under auto club type services. However many insurers, do report all usage of their roadside services as towing claims, including jumpstarts, tire changes and gas delivery.

Insurers won't reject your application for insurance due to towing and labor claims, but these claims, especially if there are a number of them, may influence your premium.

Some insurers don't use roadside assistance to determine premium prices, so it is worth shopping around and asking.

Motor clubs, such as AAA and Allstate Motor Club, may be a little more expensive, but can be less of a headache in the long run as any claims you make will be kept private. These clubs also provide a wider range of services than just basic towing and breakdown assistance, including discounts on accommodation and other travel related services.



To save on Roadside Assistance and to read the latest Car Insurance Information, visit http://www.iBlogCarInsurance.com