EVER wondered who would make a great driving partner?

Me too. I value my driving record and I hold it sacred. But then again, I am the insurance geek and I care about my reputation as a good driver with no tickets or accidents. For me to have an at-fault accident on my record would be like most people getting fired from their job or waking up with a zit on their face!   I've been fired before and it is humiliating.  As far as the zit, its par for the course in just being a human, nothing a little make-up can't hide--but some people go way over-board on that one, let's admit it!

The reason I bring this up is because lately I've been thinking of car pooling.  Yes, there is a commute Virginia!  And its really long & lonely. Some days music keeps me company or the current radio show, but having a driving partner will help on those lonely days when conversation is the order of the day. And talking to the radio host out loud in your car does not count as conversation!  Trust me, I tried it!

But who to drive my car or in my car?
I know you are waiting with baited breath for my solution because you have wondered the same thing, haven't you?  On those lonely treks home when you've had a bad day at the office and just want to vent or confide in someone before you get home and kick the dog.

We really don't want to kick our poor innocent Man's-best-friend, do we? 

Well.... in Insurance there is a species we don't usually think about when we think insurance.

"What?  You don't think insurance??  Are you  nuts?? "  I say.
"No, only insurance geeks live, breath and die  insurance thoughts"  You say.
Timidly I reply, "Okay that's fair".  I smile a crooked smile.

Once again, I digress.

Okay, so here it is.   Claim adjusters. 
Now you know the answer.  Make friends with the species, I mean person, that handles claims day-in and day-out and I guarantee a great driving partner.  
 There is a possibility they might be a bit paranoid, however. It's the chance you might have to take to find a good driving partner.
Oh well, sometimes we might have to take the compromise road.

Claims adjusters will spot a potential accident way before it happens and therefore be a great driving partner. You may have to put up with a few "Watch out for that!" or "watch out, they're braking ahead!" when you are driving, but its worth it......... right?

Well, there ya go, i've solved another insurance dilemma for you without you even having to ask.  

Afterall, I am the Insurance Geek.   

Have a great holiday this week everyone!!!    And as always, please comment if you'd like.  
  

**October brings on the cooler weather and there is a sense of newness in the air for some reason.  I'm not sure why the cooler weather makes people happier...there must be some kind of scientific research somewhere about it?  Don't you think?***

However, there still are things that happen to us humans that get us a bit heated up...  and I am here to talk about them  AND they usually have to do something with insurance! 

That's why I'm the Insurance Geek, I love insurance stuff! 

Anyway, I digress.

The other day I was looking at an MVR (motor vehicle report) and saw that this gentleman's license was suspended.  Most insurance people will not let you continue your insurance with a suspended license (because legally, you can't drive, so who is now driving your car?).  

I sent the agent an email to ask them WHAT'S UP? with this customer.  He told me that Mr. Doe was driving a friends car he borrowed and didn't ask the most important question you should EVER ask a friend..............

"Do you have insurance on this car?"

Well, he made a funky turn and got pulled over and of course was asked to produce an insurance card.  When the officer checked it out by running the VIN on the car, he discovered there was no insurance.  So they take the car (not always) and impound it.  And since YOU were driving with no insurance, not your friend, YOU get the ticket.

Now lets say, for some reason the same person pulled over didn't realize they were going to suspend his driving privileges, or he didn't make it to court.  If his license had already been suspended and he was pulled over, his little problem now became a big one cause he now has a MAJOR VIOLATION: Driving on a suspended license.  Doesn't matter if you didn't know (major violations stay on your record for five years).

So two things to get from this blog post:
1) Always ask your friend or acquaintances the big question about insurance before you borrow their car. (This always goes for you designated drivers if you are driving someone else).
2) If you move you have to change your address with the DMV!!!  Don't forget that is also a law! If they can't find you, they  may just suspend your license to get our attention!

Well as always, I have brought you more information than you'll ever know or want to know, but wouldn't I love it if you  post your own story here?    
YES !!!!

Happy October & cooler weather everyone!  (except maybe those who live in Arizona!)

WOW!!  No feedback on my last blog posting about auto insurance?? I'm kind of surprised.  Auto insurance is one of the things that really  make people  mad, even me!

Ever since I moved to Texas, my rates have been double what I was paying in Upstate New York (not down state, they are actually atrocious and not for the faint of heart!)  I couldn't understand why Texas rates were so high.  I thought maybe it would be a little better here, you know?

WELL, after driving on these roads I know why rates are so crazy....
                        "THEY SAY EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS! AND THAT
                                            AINT NO  LIE!!!"
Auto rates are BIG here!
Let me tell you why and maybe this will help you, wherever you are, to understand.

FIRST, Traffic going into Dallas is packed.  Lots of people going that way, and not much light rail or buses that I see.  Don't see much carpoolers either but some van pools.  How many people can a van pool hold, six maybe?

SECOND, Roads here are made of concrete, yes concrete.  Not sure why. Maybe my Engineer husband can tell me why. Anyway, they crack and there is much upheaval going on.  So the roads are almost like a see-saw... up and down!

THIRD, People are in a hurry here. Why?  Cause they are always late since there is so much traffic! They leave too late from home or the gym and now they are in a hurry.
BECAUSE  of these three top reasons, there are more claims here in the area and therefore...  YOU GOT IT!  Rates are higher.

I am sure there are hundreds more reason rates are higher here, but don't want to go on and on and bore you!

Oh one more thing, the other day I was driving on a main road and up ahead everyone was putting on their brakes,  OF COURSE I was in a hurry and running late!  Anyway, when I finally got closer to the problem, I see a calf running across the road with a rope tied around his neck and a cop car chasing it, staying behind it so he could keep it from running across the other side and getting in the other lanes of traffic.  The cop was acting like a sheep dog.. and it was working!  HAHAHAHA
It was so funny and I wished I'd had my camera ready to take a pic.  BUT, alas, I was in a hurry.
On my way to my dr. appt, I thought,

"ONLY IN TEXAS!!! "


Have a story you'd like to share about auto insurance?  Well, post it here, ya'll.........

How to keep from having ANOTHER accident.

As we drive to and from our many destinations each day, we run the risk of getting into some kind of scrape! Not that we want to, but it is always because other people either drive like crap or just won't get out of our way! When an accident happens, it is always inconvenient and never our fault.  Right?

But is it really NOT your fault?  

I know what you are thinking.... someone hit me, how can it be MY fault?

My newest job has me reading about claims all day.  As an auto underwriter, I get to decide, for the most part, if we will take action or not on a household. Taking action usually means:

• Non renewing the auto policy 
• Removing coverage 
• Sending a caution letter
• Following up on an undisclosed driver 

 So, as an underwriter my job is to figure out if the action is warranted by the details of the claim.   

I'll give you some examples~~~~~
Veh 1 was driving in lane 1, when Veh 2 came over in his lane. Veh 1 swerved and hit a pole. Veh 2 left the scene. 
Veh 1 was making a left turn into lanes of traffic. The vehicles in lane 2 & 3, let him in. As he was turning, lane 3 had veh 2 coming at 30 MPH who did not see veh 1 approaching from the side.  Veh 2 hit Veh 1.
Veh 1 was backing out of parking space at the local grocery store, veh 2 was driving through and hit him.
Veh 1  and veh 2 both were backing out of the retail store at the same time and backed into each other.
Last one- veh 1  hit a pothole in the road and did damage to his undercarriage.


I realize I made all these males, but please bear with  me for brevity's sake.  Thanks.



So, do you think you could have prevented any of these?   I say yes.  And even though technically you are not at fault. You really are.  Let me expound.
In the first loss, here's a tip: Don't be in a lane when there is someone right next to you. Either move up or move back.
The second loss, next tip: NEVER, i repeat, Never allow others to wave you through. When it comes down to it, YOU will have the at-fault loss & possibly violation on your record, not them!
The third loss, my tip: Always park pulling through the parking spot. There will never be a need to back up!
Fourth loss, This tip: see above.  Or just take your time and be very careful!!
Last one: This is hard because sometimes potholes are hard to miss.  If you leave plenty of room in front of you from the next car, you 'd be surprised how much time you will have to prepare if you get yourself in a bind. TIP:  Leave plenty of room in front of you in order to move into another lane if there is something in the road.

I say you are only at fault because you are not "Driving Defensively!" Every adult should know this and practice it every day.  And then share with your children/grandchildren;  He or she.
 
Was this helpful? Or did it make you mad?
 I'd love your feedback!!!   Even if  you disagree!!     
If they are helpful, then good luck.  I live these rules every day and I have not had an accident- at fault accident, in 36 years!
 Whoo Hoo!!!!

Department of Transportation just as well be in a foreign language!

Does anyone really understand all the FAQs?

The question someone asked me today was:

What do I do about insurance and purchasing a car in a state I don’t live in?

Many people do not understand that when you register a car, the insurance must match the registration. Every state wants to be sure you are in compliance with the state laws.  EVERY state requires you to carry liability insurance on a car you are driving on their roads. HOWEVER, each state determines how strict or lax they are in enforcing these laws.

               This may be why you get so many different answers when you ask someone. 

Getting on the Department of Transportation’s website?  Well, it can be so hard to find the answer on those web sites!  They just need to spell it out in human language, simply-- “You need an insurance card for the car you are registering in the state you are registering. Don’t waste our time unless you have one in hand!” I’m sure the department employees go through this every day; that may explain why some are devoid of human emotion or patience.

               Well I don’t blame them. It seems so easy to them. They do it EVERY DAY!

Let me ask you--how many times do you register your car in another state? How many times a year do you need an ID card from another state?  I’m guessing not very often!

Just in case this does happen to you, here are the steps:

·        Determine which car you are going to buy

·        Tell your insurance agent the year, make, model, odometer & VIN

·        Pay the first month’s payment on the insurance (You should always expect there will be an initial payment for the insurance) over the phone

·        Get the Insurance card by email or fax (depending on where you are and how fast you need it and what the agent’s requirements are for delivery)

Once you have the Insurance card, you have insurance on that car. This is a Temporary card; expect a permanent one in the mail in about 30-60 days. If you do not get one, you must contact your agent, ASAP!

Insurance can be boring, but unfortunately, it’s necessary!

Insurance is one of those things that is not important until you need it.

I can hear those of you who’ve had that experience yelling, “YES”!!

Well, don’t be afraid to stand up and share your story. It always helps to share your story so that those you love will not have to experience what you experienced and NOT have insurance. 

So, Share it baby!!!

All you need to make sure that you are set and have the right protection is an agent who is patient, knowledgeable and will take the time with you.  BUT WAIT!!

You need to be patient too.  Explaining takes a long time some days!   So make the time!

Hopefully your agent is one of those. My experience is most agents are patient & knowledgeable and want to explain those things to you.  They care about you and do not want you to come up short if you experience a life set-back.  

So take the time, ask questions and seriously consider what they say. Take them as seriously as you would a financial planner, a retirement planner or your momma!

I would love to hear YOUR story about any kind of insurance product you've had experience with!  

WILL YOU SHARE IT HERE?