By author on November 25th, 2008
Reader’s Question:
I have some kind of disagreement with my car insurance company here in Oklahoma regarding a claim that I filed and I already plan to take the matter to court. I was advised that I can go through mediation first, what exactly is that?
Garrick
Norman, OK
Mediation can very well be of assistance if you have a disagreement with your car insurance provider regarding a claim that you filed. A mediator should be someone who will not take sides to aid both parties to reach a settlement. This mediator doesn’t have the power to provide a binding resolution nor give out a grant to either party. The mediator is just there to suggest a resolution to the problem. Mediation will be an excellent first thing to do if both you and your car insurance company in Oklahoma agree to partake since it could wipe out the need for more harm on both parties.
To be able to mediate a car insurance claim, the primary thing you must do is go over the writing in your car insurance policy. Majority of car insurance policies interprets who would mediate a car insurance claim. You will have to submit a Demand for Arbitration document to whoever is indicated in your car insurance policy. This kind of document is available from Oklahoma’s department of insurance and you can indicate there whether you would like mediation or arbitration. You may very well seek legal consultation with your lawyer about the mediation process and he/she could be present at any mediation sessions.
By author on November 25th, 2008
Reader’s Question:
I will need to get an auto insurance here in Oklahoma soon, but I wanted to know first what things could influence how a car insurance company determine my rates?
Edmond
Edmond, OK
There are many factors that could influence how your car insurance rates are determined. It would be beneficial for you to know these factors when looking for an auto insurance provider there in Oklahoma.
1. Age - The age group you fall under will greatly affect your rates. Teenagers and Senior Citizens pay the most since both these segments of the population have, statistically, shown a higher risk in getting involved in car crashes.
2. Driving Record or History – Another significant factor that is considered for car insurance rates. Certainly something that you have more control of, unlike your age. Car Insurance companies can look back up to three years on your record.
3. How you use your vehicle – if you drive daily to work, how many miles you drive and how long you are on the road will also have an impact on your rates. The longer and farther you go on the road the higher the likelihood of you getting involved in a car crash.
4. Make and Model of your vehicle – If you own a brand new, top-of the line vehicle you are more likely to fall victim to car theft and vandalism. It also costs more to insure an expensive vehicle due to costly repairs and replacements as compared to older, second-hand vehicles.
5. Prior Claim History – How many times you’ve filed a claim in the fast will give a car insurance provider an idea of you will be a high-risk customer.
By author on November 21st, 2008
Reader’s Question:
I want to understand why elderly car insurance is expensive and I want to help my grandmother here in Oklahoma keep car insurance expenses down. Thanks!
Ralf
Broken Arrow, OK
It is unfortunate that elderly people have to pay higher for auto insurance. Statistics, however, have shown that senior citizen drivers are very much prone to getting involved in car accidents. With only teenagers ranking higher in deaths and injuries resulting from vehicular collisions. Most auto insurance providers don’t have much of a choice since the physiological effects of aging, deteriorating eyesight, decreased strength and stamina while driving, slower reflexes to avoid accidents and many other factors have caused older people to have no choice but be tagged as “High-Risk” drivers. But that doesn’t mean that you and your grandmother there in Oklahoma would just have to live with it. There are still ways to compensate for high elderly car insurance rates, here are a few tips:
Enroll In Defensive Driving Classes.
Regardless of age, it is always a good idea to take defensive driving lessons as these enhances your skills in driving safely. Accredited courses would also qualify you to get additional discounts towards your auto insurance rates.
Drive an Older Vehicle.
Drive an Older or at least a less expensive car. Switching to an older vehicle will cost your grandmother less in terms of auto insurance premiums and you can even decrease or drop comprehensive and collision damage insurance.
Increase Your Deductibles.
Did you know that the higher your deductibles the lower your auto insurance premiums would become?
By author on November 21st, 2008
Reader’s Question:
I’m afraid that winter conditions here in Oklahoma would cause my car insurance to skyrocket, is there anything I can do to prevent this?
Claire
Midwest City, OK
You’re not alone, a lot of people frown at the prospect of having to pay higher auto insurance rates every winter. Car insurance companies can’t be blamed fully for this, however, as winter conditions makes it very hard to downright dangerous to hit the road for extended periods of time. Heavy snow fall, causing visibility to drop dramatically. Heavy and dangerous falling tree limbs and other frozen debris are another danger causing extensive damages to your vehicle. Getting stuck in ferocious snow storms and myriads of other events that can cause damage and even vehicular loss. These events dramatically increases your risk of filing an insurance claim, hence the higher insurance rates.
There are definitely ways to compensate for winter insurance rates. The best way would be to perform a pre-winter checkup on your vehicle. Preferably by a mechanic there in Oklahoma that you can trust. Make sure that your engine has the appropriate level of anti-freeze. Also check that your heaters and the vehicles defrosting system is in good working condition. Check transmission and brake fluid. Try to drive on major roads and highways during winter, as these are generally well kept from snow build up. If visibility is poor then take extra precaution and remember not to go beyond the speed limit as it will be very tricky to brake on an icy road. Have towing and emergency numbers handy at all times as well. You want to avoid accidents that would cause your rates to go higher than it already is.
By author on November 21st, 2008
Reader’s Question:
They say that if you get married, your auto insurance rates will go down. Is this true? My boyfriend and I would like to know more information that could help us lower our car insurance rates here in Oklahoma, Thanks!
Cassie
Tulsa, OK
It is quite possible for your auto insurance rates there in Oklahoma to go down once you get married. More so if you and your spouse or spouse-to-be have excellent driving and credit histories. Car insurance companies generally see married couples as less prone to getting involved in car accidents as compared to singles. This is of course, all based on accumulated statistical data over the years by institutions like the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) However, relying on marriage alone would not really be that reliable to effectively save you a lot of money towards your auto insurance premiums.
If you are looking into ways to save on your insurance rates, here are some tips and suggestions:
1. Increase your deductibles – agreeing to pay for a higher deductible when you file for an insurance claim (but you would do everything possible not to let that happen, right?) will actually make your regular auto insurance premiums lower.
2. Take Defensive Driving Classes – you and your spouse can take state accredited defensive driving classes that will not only make both of you safer drivers on the road, it will also result into added discounts towards your insurance premiums.
3. Consider driving an older vehicle – it costs less to provide insurance to older vehicles, since you can opt to minimize or even drop comprehensive and collision insurance coverage, as compared to expensive, brand new vehicles.
By author on November 21st, 2008
Reader’s Question:
Is it true that the number of miles you drive in a year affects how much you pay for insurance? I seem to be paying a lot for my coverage here in Oklahoma and I would like to learn how to cut costs.
Francis
Norman, OK
The number of miles you accumulate annually while driving will definitely have an impact on how your insurance rates will be computed therein Oklahoma. Someone who drives an hour to work everyday will have a higher insurance rate as compared to someone who drives once or twice a week only. This is because the longer and farther you drive, the higher the chance or likelihood that you will get involved in a car accident or file a claim for damages. Your auto insurance agent will ask you questions such as where you live, where you drive to work and how often as well as how far you usually drive in a regular basis.
Aside from this, you may also be interested to know about other factors that could affect your car insurance premiums, The Kind of car you own drive has an impact on your rates. If you drive a second-hand, older car then you would pay a lower auto insurance premium as compared to owning a top-of the line expensive vehicle. This is because the more expensive your vehicle is, the higher the likelihood of car theft, vandalism or it would be expensive to make repairs or reimbursement should you file a claim with the auto insurance provider. Your driving history and credit history also has an impact on how your insurance premiums will be computed
By author on November 21st, 2008
Reader’s Question:
I live in Oklahoma and I am wondering how much car insurance do you recommend that I get for my vehicle?
Cheng
Oklahoma City, OK
The amount of auto insurance you need to get depends on the following factor: The type of vehicle you own, where you live, the annual mileage you accumulate but the most important of all is that the the auto insurance you choose falls within the minimum state liability insurance coverage requirements, as mandated by the Financial Responsibility laws of Oklahoma. To explain further:
Your Type Of Vehicle
The type of vehicle you own should be a consideration when you look for the right auto-insurance policy. A second hand or used, older vehicle would cost you less to insure and you might even save more if you drop comprehensive and collision coverage. A brand new, expensive car will have higher insurance premiums due to an increased likelihood of theft and higher costs to replace when you file a claim.
Where You Live
Urban dwellers pay more for auto insurance as compared to rural folks. Accident and Car theft rates in your area greatly affects the insurance rates available for you.
State Minimum Requirements
Your auto insurance should have adequate liability insurance that falls within the minimums required by your state. For Oklahoma that would follow the 10/20/10 rule. That will be $10,000 total payment for each individual you injure per accident, minimum of $20,000 for injuries per accident and $10,000 to pay for damages to private or public property.
By author on November 21st, 2008
Reader’s Question:
I have multiple cars here in Oklahoma do you think I can get some discounts for getting all my cars under one auto insurance policy?
Joyce
Lawton, OK
Depends on whether the auto insurance provider you choose provides multiple vehicle policy discounts. Most of the time though, auto insurance provider do give incentives for their customer who chose to expand their auto insurance coverage with the same provider or carrier. There are lost of benefits to owning a multi-vehicle auto insurance policy. You get to enjoy the same coverage period and making auto insurance renewals becomes more easy since you only have to renew one policy for all of your vehicles.
I suggest you get in touch with several popular auto insurance providers there in Oklahoma and discuss what discounts and rates are available for putting all of your vehicles under one policy. Also, you may even get additional discounts for also putting under your insurance whoever will be driving your other vehicles. Once you are able to compare quoted don’t stop there, it is highly recommended that you do some additional research on the reputation and the quality of customer service (especially in the event you need to file a claim) they provide. Car insurance is a long term commitment and no amount of cheap rates will justify the frustration of having to deal with an unhelpful auto insurance company. There are a lot of web pages that you can find that provides consumer testimonials and reviews to whoever your looking to provide you insurance rates.
By author on November 13th, 2008
Reader’s Question:
I see a lot of options in my search online for an auto insurance company. How would I know that I’ll end up with a trustworthy company for my car insurance coverage here in North Cleveland, Oklahoma?
Nima
North Cleveland, OK
You probably now have the perfect idea as to what insurance coverage you need and know the price to tone with it. But there is one more thing that you shouldn’t forget to do – choose the right auto insurance company. Choosing the right company for your auto insurance in North Cleveland, Oklahoma is as challenging as choosing the right coverage and getting cheaper premium rates. You already know as well as to which insurer offers the cheapest premiums, but don’t forget to do a little research on what they usually do when a customer files an insurance claim. For that reason, you need to know which insurance provider is the most dependable and trustworthy.
You could follow these steps:
–You may go online at the Oklahoma department of insurance and take a look at the consumer complaint ratios.
–Work with an insurance agent to find some details concerning a specific insurance provider.
–Take a look at the insurance provider’s financial strength ratings by visiting websites of independent rating companies.
–Check online for certain reviews of experts and comments from consumers regarding a particular insurer.
By author on November 12th, 2008
Reader’s Question:
My teenage daughter has already gotten her learner’s permit here in East Canadian, Oklahoma. Am I gonna be obliged to add her as a named driver in my car insurance policy?
Nevaeh
East Canadian, OK
Your teenage daughter must have been so thrilled to have her learner’s permit and be able to drive legally in East Canadian, Oklahoma. I’m pretty sure that you have thought her on how to be responsible on the road. With regard to adding her as a named driver in your car insurance, you can actually hold your fire until she already has her driver’s license. Majority of the car insurance providers do not require parents to include their teenager to their policy until they are licensed. But there can be some exclusion such as if you’re in a high-risk pool, you could have your teenager listed on your policy once they have their permit.
In case your teen daughter gets her driver’s license but you fail to tell your auto insurance provider that you have a teen driver and you filed a claim for her following an accident, she would still be covered. However, your insurer will be unconstrained to then charge back the premiums from the period that your daughter got her driver’s license. Summing up, you are not mandated to add your teen daughter to your insurance policy just because she is already on her driving age.
