Insurance Companies Listed in Alphabetical Order

N

nacre.com - NAC Re
nakhodkare.com/english%5Fhome.html" >Nakhodka Re
ngic.com - National General Insurance
nationalguardian.com - National Guardian Life
nationalindemnity.com - National Indemnity
nlv.com - National Life of Vermont
Nationwide Re
ncmic.com - NCMIC Insurance Company
tnic.com - Netherlands Insurance Companies
tne.com/default.htm">New England Life
nycm.com - New York Central Mutual Fire
newyorklife.com - New York Life
nysif.com - New York State Insurance Fund
nissanins.co.jp - Nissan Fire & Marine nlcinsurance.com - NLC
nobel.com - Nobel Insurance Group
nmicfb.com - Nodak Mutual Insurance Company
niac.org - Nonprofits' Insurance Alliance of California
norcalmutual.com - NORCAL Mutual
nclife.com - North Coast Life
northernlifetsa.com - Northern Life
northland%2Dinsurance.com - Northland Insurance Companies
northwesternmutual.com - Northwestern Mutual Life

O

ohic.com - OHIC Insurance Company
ohiobwc.com - Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation
ocas.com - Ohio Casualty Group
ohionatl.com - Ohio National Life
fb.com/okfb - Oklahoma Farm Bureau
oldguard.com - Old Guard Insurance
kayegroup.com - Old Lyme Insurance Company of Rhode Island
oric%2Dhb.com - Old Republic Insurance Company
onyxgrp.com - Onyx Insurance Group
omic.com - Ophthalmic Mutual Insurance Company
ormutual.com - Oregon Mutual
gnic.com - OrionAuto
orioncapital.com - Orion Group

P

eig.com - Pacific Eagle Insurance Company
pacificlife.com - Pacific Life
superior.com - Pacific Rim Assurance
mcgrawgroup.com/overview.htm - Pacific Specialty Insurance Company
palic.com - Pan-American Life
partnersmutual.com - Partners Mutual Insurance Company
patrons.com - Patrons Oxford Mutual
greins.com - Peerless Insurance
pekininsurance.com - Pekin Insurance
pemcoins.com - PEMCO
pennamerica.com - Penn-America Group
pennmutual.com - Penn Mutual Life
pennnationalinsurance.com - Penn National
phmic.com - Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company
phico.com - PHICO
phlyins.com - Philadelphia Insurance Companies
phl.com - Phoenix Home Mutual Life
pmic.com - Physicians Life Insurance Company
pmic.com - Physicians Mutual
pmare.com - PMA Re
pminsco.com - Preferred Mutual Insurance Company
preferredrisk.com - Preferred Risk Mutual
premierber.com - Premier Life (Bermuda)
premierlux.com - Premier Life (Luxembourg)
presidentiallife.com - Presidential Life
principal.com - Principal Financial Group
Principal.cl - Principal Vida Chile
progressive.comProgressive
insurancecanada.ca/promutuel - Promutuel
promutual.com - Protection Mutual Insurance
protective.com - Protective Life Corporation
theprovident.com - The Provident
providentmutual.com - Provident Mutual Life
prudential.com - Prudential
pxre.com - PXRE Re
pyramidlife.com - Pyramid Life

Q

None

R

reciprocalgroup.com - Reciprocal Group
reliancedirect.com - RelianceDirect
rgh.com - Reliance Group Holdings
relianceinsurance.com - Reliance Insurance Company
http://reliancenational.com - Reliance National
reliancesurety.com - Reliance Surety
reliantinsurance.com - Reliant Insurance
reliastar.com - ReliaStar Insurance
rlicorp.com - RLI Corp
http://rockinghamgroup.com - Rockingham Group
royal%2Dcanada.com - Royal & Sun Alliance (Canada)
royal%2Dgroup.co.uk - Royal & Sun Alliance (UK)
royalsunalliance.com - Royal & Sun Alliance (US)

S

safeco.com - Safeco
saif.com - SAIF Corporation
finance%2Dsamsung.com/index1.htm">Samsung Fire & Marine
scor.com - SCOR Group
http://seaboard.com - Seaboard Life
reliastar.com - Security-Connecticut Life
lon.com - Security First
ing%2Dslr.com - Security Life Reinsurance
smlny.com - Security Mutual Life Insurance Co. of New York
stgcofbalt.com - Security Title Guarantee of Baltimore
seibels.com - Seibels Bruce Group
selectiveinsurance.com - Selective Insurance
sentry%2Dinsurance.com - Sentry Insurance
shelterins.com - Shelter Insurance Companies
shenlife.com - Shenandoah Life
captive.com/service/signetstar/index.cfm">Signet Star Re
skandia.com - Skandia
soremana.com - Sorema NA Re
scfbins.com/facts.htm">South Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual
southernheritage.com - Southern Heritage Insurance Company
southernunited.com - Southern United
stpaul.com - St. Paul Fire & Marine
stpaulre.com - St. Paul Re
standard.com - Standard Insurance Company
standard%2Dusa.comStandard Life (Indiana)
state%2Dauto%2Dins.com - State Auto Insurance
scif.com - State Compensation Insurance Fund
statefarm.com - State Farm Insurance
sfmic.com - State Fund Mutual
state.nv.us/siis - State Industrial Insurance System
http://sterlingins.com - Sterling Insurance Company
dnp%2Dsp.co.jp/32/sumitomo%2Dmarine/MAK1E.HTM">Sumitomo Marine
sunamerica.com - SunAmerica
sunlife.com - Sun Life
superior.com - Superior National Insurance Company
superior.com - Superior Pacific
swissre.com - Swiss Re
swissreamerica.com - Swiss Re America

T

http://teachers.pptnet.com/main.htm">Teachers Protective Mutual Life Insurance Company
tbic.com - Texas Builders Insurance Company
tig1.com - TIG Holdings
tmglife.com - TMG Life
tokiomarine.co.jp/index%2De.html" >Tokio Marine
http://users.deltanet.com/users/insure - TOPA Insurance Company
torchmarkcorp.com - Torchmark Corporation
transamerica.com - Transamerica
transre.com - Transatlantic Re
travelers.com - Travelers
unitrin.com/pci.htm">Trinity Universal
20thcenturyinsurance.com - 20th Century Insurance

U

unicoverre.com - UnicoverRe
unigard.com - Unigard
uins.com - Union Insurance Company
us.fortis.com - Union Security Life
unitedamerican.com/default.htm">United American Insurance Company
ue.org">United Educators
unitedheritage.com - United Heritage Mutual Life
utaic.com - United Teachers Associates Insurance Company
unity%2Dlife.com - Unity Life
uuic.com - Universal Underwriters
unum.com - UNUM
usaa.com/cp%5Faboutusaa.asp">USAA
usau.com - United States Aircraft Insurance Group)
uslife.com - US Life
usfg.com - USF&G
uticafirst.com - Utica First Insurance Company
uticanat.com/index.cfm">Utica National

V

http://val%2De.com - Valley Insurance Group
verlan.com - Verlan Fire Insurance Company
veteranslife.comVeterans Life Insurance Company
viaticus.com - Viaticus
vamutualins.com - Virginia Mutual Insurance Company

W

warriorinsurance.com - Warrior Insurance Group
conseco.com/about/biz%5Fwnico.htm">Washington National Life
wausau.com - Wausau
webriskins.com - Web Risk Insurance
westbendmutual.com - West Bend Mutual
westernamericanlife.comWestern American Life
westernnational.com - Western National Life
westernreserve.com - Western Reserve Life
westernsouthernlife.com - Western Southern Life
westfield%2Dcos.com - Westfield Companies
westfield%2Dcos.com/lifpg.htm">Westfield Life
wmic.com - White Mountain Insurance Company
autoinsure.com - Windsor Group
wilmic.com - Wisconsin Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company
wcf%2Dutah.com - Workers Compensation Fund of Utah

X

None

Y

yasuda.co.jp/index%5Fe.html" >Yasuda Fire & Marine

Z

thezenith.com - Zenith National
zurich.com - Zurich
zurichamerican.com - Zurich American
zurcan.com - Zurich Canada
zurichcommercial.com - Zurich Commercial
zurichdirect.com - Zurich Direct
zurichpersonal.com - Zurich Personal
zurichre%2Dna.com - Zurich Re (North America)
zurichsmallbusiness.com - Zurich Small Business
zurichbusiness.ch/home.html" >Zurich Switzerland

Insurance Companies Listed in Alphabetical Order

A

Acacia Group
Accredited Surety and Casualty Company
Admiral Insurance
AEGON
Aetna
AFLAC
Agway Insurance Company
Aid Association for Lutherans
AIG Domestic Life Companies
Alfa Insurance
Allendale Mutual
Alliance General Insurance Company
Alliance Insurance Companies
Allianz
Allianz Deutschland
Allianz Life of North America
Allied Group
Allmerica Financial
Allstate
AmComp
American Agents Insurance Company
American Agrisurance
American Bankers Insurance Group
American Chambers Life Insurance Company
American Community
American Credit Indemnity
American Family Insurance
American Fidelity & Liberty Insurance Company
American International Group, Inc.(AIG)
American Medical Security
American Mercury
American Financial Group, Inc.
American General Corporation
American Merchants Casualty Company
American National Property & Casualty
American Re
American Reliable Insurance Company
American Security Group
American United Life
Amerisure
Ameritas Life Insurance
AmerUs Life
Amica
Amwest Insurance Group, Inc.
Anthem Health & Life Insurance Company
AON
Arbella
Argonaut Insurance Company
Arkwright
Armed Forces Benefit Assoc.
Armed Forces Insurance
Army & Air Force Mutual Aid Association
Asset Guaranty Insurance Company
Attorneys Liability Protection Society
Atlantic Mutual Companies
Aurora Life
Auto-Owners
Avomark
AXA Group

B

badgermutual.com - Badger Mutual Insurance Company
baltlife.com - Baltimore Life Companies
bankersinsurance.com - Bankers Insurance Group
conseco.com - Bankers National Life
theberkshire.com - Berkshire Life
bluecares.com - Blue Cross/Blue Shield
bmiconline.com - Brethren Mutual
brotherhoodmutual.com - Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company
buckeyeins.com - Buckeye State Mutual
bma.com - Business Men's Assurance Company of America

calfarm.com - CalFarm
camico.com - CAMICO Mutual Insurance Company
canadalife.com - Canada Life
capitolindemnity.comCapitol Indemnity
catholicaid.qpg.com - Catholic Aid Association
cfli.org - Catholic Family Life
execpc.com/%7Eckis - Catholic Knights Insurance Society
cbic.com - CBIC (Contractors Bonding Insurance Company)
celinagroup.com - Celina Insurance
celticnet.com - Celtic Life
centenniallife.com - Centennial Life
centralinsurance.com - Central Insurance Companies
centralsecuritylife.comCentral Security Life
cso.com - Central States Health & Life
centrere.com - Centre Re
cguinsurance.net/body.html" >CGU Insurance
championslife.comChampions Life
charterins.com - Charter Insurance Companies
chartwellre.com - Chartwell Re
chubb.com - Chubb
cigna.com - CIGNA
cinfin.com - Cincinnati Insurance Companies
allmerica.com - Citizens Insurance Company
cseinsurance.com - Civil Service Employees Insurance Group
cna.com - CNA
cnare.com - CNA RE
cnicnet.com - Coast National Insurance Company
gcr.com/GCR.nsf/Doc/AboutUs">Cologne Re
colonialinsurance.com - Colonial Life of Texas
cpdirect.com - Colonial Penn Insurance Company
colonyins.com - Colony Insurance
columbuslife.com - Columbus Life
commtravel.com - Commercial Travelers Mutual Insurance Company
cuusa.com - Commercial Union
culife.com - Commercial Union Life
comrisk.com - Commonwealth Risk
condorins.com - Condor Insurance
conseco.com - Conseco
continentalgeneral.com - Continental General
cooperators.ca - Co-operators General Insurance Company
copic.com - COPIC Insurance Company
cottonstatesinsurance.com - Cotton States Insurance
countryfinancial.com - Country Insurance & Financial Services
cfins.com - Crum & Forster
cumberlandgroup.com - Cumberland Group
cunamutual.com - CUNA Mutual

D

deltadental.com - Delta Dental
discoverre.com - Discover Re
thedoctors.com - The Doctors Company
dodsongroup.com - Dodson Group
donegalgroup.com - Donegal Insurance Group
dpic.com - DPIC Insurance Company
dhgroup.com - Duncanson & Holt Group

E

eig.com - Eagle Insurance Group
eig.com - Eagle Pacific Insurance Company
eaglestarre.com - Eagle Star Re
edic.com - Eastern Dentists Insurance Company
ebico.com - EBI
ecoverage.com - eCoverage.com
electricinsurance.com - Electric Insurance Company
empirefireandmarine.com - Empire Fire & Marine
ercgroup.com - Employers Re
equitable.com - Equitable Companies
equilife.com - Equitable Life & Casualty
erieinsurance.com - Erie Insurance
markelcorp.com - Essex Insurance Company
execrisk.com - Executive Risk
icwgroup.com/products/explor.html" >Explorer Insurance Company

F

factorymutual.com - Factory Mutual System
farwestservices.com - Far West Insurance Company
fami.com - Farmers Alliance Mutual Insurance Company
farmers.com - Farmers Insurance Group
fmh.com - Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Company of Iowa
farmersmutual.com - Farmer's Mutual Insurance Company (WV)
farmerslindsay.com - Farmer's Mutual Insurance Company (Lindsay)
fedfirst.com - Federated National Insurance (FedFirst)
fccigroup.com - FCCI
http://thefund.com - Fireman's Fund
firstcolonylife.com - First Colony Life
http://firstlife.com.jm/corporate/index.cfm">FirstLife of Jamaica
firstnonprofit.com - First Nonprofit Companies
firstpenn.com - First Penn-Pacific Life
firstrehab.com - First Rehabilitation Life
http://nervm.nerdc.ufl.edu/%7Effbic/ffbf.html" >Florida Farm Bureau
fpic.com - Florida Physicians Insurance Company
flic.com - Florists' Life Insurance Company
floristsmutual.com - Florists' Mutual Insurance Company
fmiweb.com - FMI Insurance Co
foremost.com - Foremost
forethought.com - Forethought Life
fortis.com" >Fortis Group
fortisbenefits.us.fortis.com - Fortis Benefits Insurance Company
ffg.us.fortis.comFortis Financial Group
health.us.fortis.comFortis Health
fortisltc.comFortis Long Term Care
fmins.com - Frankenmuth Mutual franklininsurance.com - Franklin Insurance Company
fmic.com - Fremont Mutual
frontierhealthcare.net - Frontier Healthcare
frontierins.com - Frontier Insurance
fulcrumins.com - Fulcrum Insurance Company

G

gainsco.com - GAINSCO Insurance Company
gamaweb.com - GAMA
gancanada.com - GAN-Canada
gsic.com - Garden State Indemnity
gardenstate.com - Garden State Life
geico.com - GEICO
genaccus.com - General Accident
genacc.ca - General Accident Group (Canada)
genam.com - General American Life
gencas.com - General Casualty
gencas.com - General Casualty
gcr.com/GCR.nsf/Doc/AboutUs">GeneralCologneRe
gcr.com/GCR.nsf/Doc/AboutUs">General Re Corporation
generali.com/e%5Fhome.html" >Generali Group
gerlingamerica.com - Gerling America Insurance Company
renre.com - Glencoe Re
equiselect.com - Golden American Life
goldenrule.com - Golden Rule Insurance Company
gsmlife.com - Golden State Mutual Life
graindealers.com - Grain Dealers Mutual
grangeinsurance.com - Grange Insurance
grayinsco.com - Gray Insurance Company
greins.com - GRE Insurance Group
gaic.com - Great American Insurance
greatnorthwest.com - Great Northwest Insurance Company
gwla.com - Great West Life & Annuity Company
gmrc.com - Grinnell Mutual Group
grocins.com - Grocers Insurance
guar.com - Guarantee Life
guard.com - Guard Insurance Group
theguardian.com - Guardian Life
preferredrisk.com - Guidant Insurance Group

I

igfinsurance.com - IGF Insurance Company
illinoismutual.com - Illinois Mutual Life
iprf.com - Illinois Public Risk Fund
infarmbureau.com - Indiana Farm Bureau
ilmic.com - Indiana Lumbermens Insurance Company
indianapolislife.com - Indianapolis Life
industrialrisk.com - Industrial Risk Insurers
inalco.com/english/index.htm">Industrial Alliance Life Insurance Company
infinityinsurance.com - Infinity Group
icwgroup.com - Insurance Company of the West
insurors.com - Insurors Indemnity Company
gmacpolicy.com - Integon Corporation (GMAC Insurance)
intercargo.com - Intercargo Insurance Company
ific.com - International Fidelity Insurance Company
irishlifeusa.com - Irish Life of North America
isbamutual.com - ISBA Mutual Insurance Company
itthartford.com - ITT Hartford

J

jacksonnational.com - Jackson National Life
jeffgroup.com - Jefferson Insurance Group
jpfinancial.comJefferson Pilot Financial
jalden.com - John Alden Life
deere.com/insure/index.htm">John Deere Insurance Company
jhancock.com - John Hancock Mutual Life

K

kclife.com - Kansas City Life
kfbs.com/kfbl - Kansas Farm Bureau Life
kemperinsurance.com - Kemper
kemperre.com - Kemper Re
kemi.com - Kentucky Employer's Mutual Insurance
fb.com/kyfb/kfb.htm">Kentucky Farm Bureau
keyport.com - Keyport Life
gcr.com/GCR.nsf/Doc/AboutUs">Kolnische Ruckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG
koreanre.co.kr/eindex.htm">Korean Re

L

llic.com - Lafayette Life
lsic.com - Lake States Insurance Company
ltic.com - Lawyers Title Insurance Corporation
lib.com - Liberty Financial Companies
libertymutual.com - Liberty Mutual
libnat.com - Liberty National Life
annuity.com/lswco.html" >Life Insurance Company of the Southwest
lifeinvestors.com - Life Investors Insurance Company
lifeofva.com - Life of Virginia
lincolnmutual.com - Lincoln Mutual Life
lnc.com - Lincoln National Corporation
lincolnre.com - Lincoln Re
reliastar.com - Lincoln Security Life
lititzmutual.com - Lititz Mutual
lloydsoflondon.co.uk - Lloyds of London
lon.com - London Life
londonpacific.com - London Pacific Life & Annuity Company
lrg.com - London Reinsurance Group
lumberins.com - Lumber Insurance Companies
luthbro.com - Lutheran Brotherhood
lwcc.com - Louisiana Workers Compensation Corp

M

msagroup.com/home/noswap%5Findex.htm">Main Street America Group
managedcomp.com - Managed Comp
manulife.com - Manufacturers Life
maritimelife.ca - Maritime Life
markelcorp.com - The Markel Companies
mncic.comMaryland Netherlands Credit
masscasualty.com - Massachusetts Casualty Insurance Company
massmutual.com - Mass Mutual
mcgrawgroup.com - McGraw Group
meadowbrookinsgrp.com - Meadowbrook Insurance Group
medescrow.com - The Medical Escrow Society
medmarc.com - MEDMARC Mutual Insurance Company
mendotainsurance.com - Mendota Insurance Company
mbins.com - Merchants & Business Men's Mutual Insurance Company
meridianins.com - Meridian Insurance
metlife.com - Met Life
meemic.com - Michigan Educational Employees Mutual Insurance Company
mpmlc.com - Michigan Physicians Mutual Liability Company
midlandrisk.com - Midland Companies
mnlife.com - Midland National Life
preferredrisk.com - Midwest Mutual Insurance Company
mmico.com - Millville Mutual
mlmins.com/Default.htm">Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company
minnesotamutual.com - Minnesota Mutual
mmicompanies.com - MMI Companies, Inc.
monroeguaranty.com - Monroe Guaranty Insurance Company
jeffgroup.com - Monticello Insurance Company
mongen.com - Monumental General Life
mmutual.com - Montgomery Insurance Companies
youknowus.com - Motorists Mutual
marclife.com - Munich Amercian Reassurance Company
munichre.com - Munich Re
themutualgroup.com - The Mutual Group
mutualofenumclaw.com - Mutual of Enumclaw
mony.com - Mutual of New York
mutualofomaha.com - Mutual of Omaha
mutualtrust.com - Mutual Trust Life

CONSUMERS: AUTO PREMIUM QUOTE TOLL FREE NUMBERS

(As of January 11, 2008)

Assembly Bill (AB) 2677 was passed by the State Legislature to help consumers shop for a personal auto insurance policy. Effective January 1, 2005, the law requires every admitted insurer selling private passenger automobile insurance policies to provide consumers with a cost estimate of its lowest priced personal auto policy at the limits the consumer requests and for which the consumer is eligible. This mandate may be met by either (1) maintaining a toll-free telephone and/or (2) maintaining an Internet Web site where consumers can obtain a cost estimate or be referred to an insurance agent/broker who will provide the estimate.
AB 2677 also requires insurer information regarding the toll-free telephone number and/or Web site to be provided to the California Department of Insurance (Department). The Commissioner has made this information available on the Department's Internet Web site and consumer toll-free telephone line (800) 927-4357.

Following is the list of insurers and their respective telephone and/or Web address information. Note: This list is not all inclusive, as the Department continues to collect the insurers' data. The information on this Web site will be updated frequently, so please be sure to visit this site again for the latest information.

INSURER NAME
TELEPHONE
WEB SITE ADDRESS

21ST CENTURY CASUALTY COMPANY (800) 211-7283 www.21st.com
21ST CENTURY INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 211-7283 www.21st.com
AIG INDEMNITY INSURANCE COMPANY www.aigdirect.com
AIU INSURANCE COMPANY www.aigdirect.com
ALLIED PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 282-1446 www.alliedinsurance.com
ALLSTATE INDEMNITY COMPANY (800) 557-8283 www.allstate.com
ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 557-8283 www.allstate.com
ALLSTATE PROPERTY AND CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 557-8283 www.allstate.com
AMCO INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 282-1446 www.alliedinsurance.com
AMERICAN ECONOMY INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 472-3326
AMERICAN HOME ASSURANCE COMPANY www.aigdirect.com
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA, INC. www.aigdirect.com
AMERICAN STATES INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 472-3326
AMERICAN STATES INSURANCE COMPANY OF TEXAS (800) 472-3326
AMERICAN STATES PREFERRED INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 472-3326
ATLANTIC MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY www.atlanticmutual.com
AXA RE AMERICA INSURANCE COMPANY (866) 729-8999
CALIFORNIA CASUALTY INDEMNITY EXCHANGE (THE) www.calcas.com
CENTENNIAL INSURANCE COMPANY www.atlanticmutual.com
CLARENDON NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 333-5553
COAST NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 888-0080
DANIELSON INSURANCE COMPANY www.naicc.com
DANIELSON NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY www.naicc.com
DEERBROOK INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 349-7342 www.deerbrook.com
DEPOSITORS INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 282-1446 www.alliedinsurance.com
DELOS INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 203-1179 www.delosinsurance.com
ENCOMPASS INSURANCE COMPANY www.encompassinsurance.com
EVEREST NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY http://www.everestnational.com/
FARMERS INSURANCE EXCHANGE www.farmers.com
FEDERAL INSURANCE COMPANY www.chubb.com/
FIDELITY NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY (866) 699-1885 www.fnf.com

FINANCIAL INDEMNITY COMPANY www.unitrinspecialty.com
FIREMAN'S FUND INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 633-6006 www.firemansfund.com
FIRST NATIONAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA (800) 472-3326
GEICO CASUALTY COMPANY (800) 841-3000 www.GEICO.com
GEICO GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 841-3000 www.GEICO.com
GEICO INDEMNITY COMPANY (800) 841-3000 www.GEICO.com
GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA (800) 472-3326
GLENS FALLS INSURANCE COMPANY (THE) www.encompassinsurance.com
GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 841-3000 www.GEICO.com
GRANITE STATE INSURANCE COMPANY www.aig4auto.com
GUIDEONE MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY (877) 448-4331
GUIDEONE SPECIALTY MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY (877) 448-4331
HARBOR SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 233-2442
HARTFORD CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY www.thehartford.com
HARTFORD UNDERWRITERS INSURANCE COMPANY www.thehartford.com
HORACE MANN INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 999-1030
HORACE MANN PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 999-1030
HUDSON INSURANCE COMPANY (866) 836-7064 www.hudsoninsgroup.com

INFINITY INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 782-1020
INTERINSURANCE EXCHANGE OF THE AUTOMOBILE CLUB (877) 222-1445 www.aaa.com

KEMPER INDEPENDENCE INSURANCE COMPANY (877) 252-7878 www.ekemper.com

LIBERTY MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 837-5254 www.libertymutual.com
MARKEL AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 236-2862
MARYLAND CASUALTY COMPANY (800) 208-1003

MERCURY INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 956-3728 www.mercuryinsurance.com
MERASTAR INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 637-2782 www.merastar.com
MGA INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 552-2463
MID-CENTURY INSURANCE COMPANY www.farmers.com
NATIONAL AMERICAN INSURANCE COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA www.naicc.com
NATIONAL INTERSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 929-1500 www.nationalinterstate.com
NATIONWIDE INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA (800) 282-1446 www.alliedinsurance.com
NORTHBROOK INDEMNITY COMPANY (800) 349-7342 www.deerbrook.com
NORTHERN INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK (800) 208-1003
NORTHWESTERN PACIFIC INDEMNITY COMPANY www.chubb.com/
OREGON MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 444-7012 www.ormutual.com
PACIFIC INDEMNITY COMPANY www.chubb.com/
PACIFIC PROPERTY AND CASUALTY COMPANY www.anpac.com
PACIFIC SPECIALTY INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 303-5000 or (800) 828-3003 www.psic-onespot.com
PERMANENT GENERAL ASSURANCE CORPORATION (800) 582-6401
www.pgac.com

PROGRESSIVE CHOICE INSURANCE COMPANY (888) 464-3841
PROGRESSIVE WEST INSURANCE COMPANY (888) 464-3841
REDLAND INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 937-3965
SAFECO INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA (800) 472-3326 www.safeco.com

SAFECO INSURANCE COMPANY OF ILLINOIS (800) 472-3326
www.safeco.com
SAFEWAY DIRECT INSURANCE COMPANY (888) 581-3700 www.safewaydirect.com
SAFEWAY INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 807-2339 www.safewayins.com
STANDARD FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY www.travelers.com
STATE FARM FIRE AND CASUALTY COMPANY www.statefarm.com
STATE FARM GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY www.statefarm.com
STATE FARM MUTUAL AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY www.statefarm.com
SUTTER INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 530-1124 www.sutterinsurance.com

TOKIO MARINE & NICHIDO FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY, LTD (866) 791-7571
TWIN CITY FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY www.thehartford.com
UNITRIN AUTO AND HOME INSURANCE COMPANY (877) 252-7878 www.ekemper.com

UNITRIN DIRECT INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 253-7744 www.unitrindirect.com
UNITRIN DIRECT PROPERTY & CASUALTY COMPANY (800) 253-7744 www.unitrindirect.com
VICTORIA FIRE & CASUALTY COMPANY
VIGILANT INSURANCE COMPANY www.chubb.com/
VIKING INSURANCE COMPANY OF WISCONSIN (800) 334-0090
WAWANESA GENERAL INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 640-2920 www.wawanesa.com
WAWANESA MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY (THE) (800) 640-2920 www.wawanesa.com
WESTERN UNITED INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 207-3618
WORKMEN'S AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY (800) 737-1757

Inside Insurance: Changes coming to uninsured motorist auto coverage

By David Colmans

Most drivers fear, with good reason, a traffic crash with an uninsured or underinsured driver.

If it happens, there’s a good chance it’s going to cost you money unless you have uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on your auto policy.

Even if you have the coverage and the other driver is underinsured, a serious accident that does significant damage to your car or badly injures you or your passengers could cause serious financial problems ahead.

With the recent enactment of Georgia Senate Bill 276, there is important information regarding an additional choice in UM/UIM coverage that you need to know.

The new law, which applies to private passenger auto insurance, requires that you either select or reject UM/UIM coverage with a new feature.

Currently, the law states that when you purchase UM/UIM coverage and are in an accident with an underinsured driver, the at-fault driver’s liability coverage is deducted from your UM/UIM coverage when determining the amount to be paid after the accident for injuries and property damage.

Starting with policy renewals in 2009, another coverage option will be available:

• (The new option) UM/ UIM coverage in which the policyholder’s UM/UIM coverage is added on top of the at-fault driver’s liability insurance, to the extent of proven damages, or;

• (current law) UM/UIM coverage in which the at-fault driver’s liability coverage is subtracted from the policyholder’s UM/UIM coverage, or,

• (also current law) No UM/UIM coverage is purchased.

Here’s how you will choose which option is best for you. If you currently have UM/UIM coverage and take no action prior to your next policy renewal, you will receive, and pay for, the additional UM/UIM coverage, also known as “stacked” coverage. Because this option will provide additional coverage, it is likely to cost more than your current UM/UIM coverage.

If you do not want the enhanced UM/UIM coverage, you must opt-out of it using a form that will be sent to you by your insurance agent or company.

If you have already rejected UM/UIM coverage, in writing, and you take no action you will continue to have no UM/UIM coverage.

Georgia insured motorists will receive from their insurer at least 45 days prior to their policy renewal notification of this change in Georgia law, and will be asked to make a choice as to what coverage choice they want.

The new law that goes into effect in 2009 states that if you currently have UM/UIM coverage, and you do not respond to your insurer, you will automatically receive the enhanced coverage that may include a higher UM/UIM premium.

If you opt-out for the enhanced coverage, you will continue to be insured for UM/UIM as before. Selecting the additional UM/UIM coverage option may be important to some drivers, and less important to others. The key is that the new law gives motorists another choice when determining the right amount of coverage for themselves and their families.

Look for your 2009 auto insurance policy renewal notice that will advise you about this potential change in your coverage. Ask your agent or company if you have questions.

Auto Insurance For Anyone Considering A Change

A question often asked is whether or not securing your car will help to reduce your UK car insurance premiums.
Most insurance companies will allow consumers seeking to insure their classic car the opportunity to drive their vehicle around 5000 miles a year.
If you have more than one car to insure on the same policy then you can definitely get cheaper car insurance by availing the multiple-car discount option that many companies offer.
New Jersey car owners are required to have bodily injury and property damage liability, as well as personal injury protection (which can cover medical, rehabilitation, and funeral costs, as well as any lost earnings due to the accident
Now, in both cases if the two vehicles in the accident were carrying uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, their insurance company would take care of the excess bodily injury, and property damage costs not covered by your policy.
Again, if you are carrying the same coverage�s as listed above, 4 of the 6 people would be covered by your state minimum policy because everybody was under the $20,000 per person limit, but you maxed out your per accident bodily injury at $40,000, so you would need to take care of $20,000 of bodily injury on your own
4 of the 5 people would be covered by your state minimum policy because everybody was under the $20,000 per person limit, but you maxed out your per accident bodily injury at $40,000, so you would need to take care of the 5th person on your own.
Did you know that in order to drive legally in most states, drivers are required to purchase a minimum of liability insurance, including property damage and bodily injury? Car insurance is required in all states, to one extent or another, but drivers are still free to choose to what extent they cover their personal property and health.
A simple Internet search will lead you in the right direction if you�re looking for companies that will give you online car insurance quotes.
Buying car insurance online saves time and money�you just fill in your details, get a quote, do a comparison between quotes from different providers, choose the most beneficial one, fill the application, save it, pay the premium and in some states even print out the insurance card yourself.
If you are a first time buyer, or you have a limited budget for your car, you should carefully investigate the different insurance policies available, as some might suit you better financially.
Being caught at the scene of an accident or at any sort of traffic stop without proof of car insurance has been cause for an expensive ticket for several years.
One of the simplest ways to realizing affordable car insurance is by paying a higher deductible.
Sure, we can not stop our children from eventually driving, but we can find ways to get cheap car insurance for our driving teenagers.
Young people who want to renew their car insurance policy might have to pay more if they have been recently involved in any accident or a serious traffic violation like drunk driving.

Pennsylvania Car Insurance: For Residents

Pennsylvania has insurance requirements uniquely its own for its residents, and consumers can find information pertaining to specific state requirements from the Pennsylvania Insurance Department located in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh by calling (877) 881-6388 or by visiting their website at http://www.ins.state.pa.us/ins/site/default.asp.

Pennsylvania is one of the United States largest no fault states. What this means is that in the event of an accident each individual will be covered by their own insurance company, regardless of which driver was responsible for the accident. This was intended to cut back on the number of lawsuits brought forth against other drivers each year. No fault does have its exceptions, however. In the event that an injury is severe enough to lead to excessive medical expenses and severe consequences the state will allow the victim to seek recompense from the individual responsible for their accident. For this reason all vehicles registered in PA are required to be covered by a liability policy. Liability will pay for at least a portion of the damages suffered by the victim’s person and their vehicle. For Pennsylvania the minimum limits are fifteen thousand dollars for the medical expenses of a single driver, thirty thousand dollars for the combined medical expenses of all of the individuals in a vehicle and five thousand for any property damages, including necessary repairs to the vehicle of the victim.


While it is not required it is suggested that all drivers purchase more than the minimum liability policy, as well as a comprehensive and collision policy. Comprehensive and collision will pay for the damages suffered by the vehicle of the driver responsible for the accident; without comprehensive and collision coverage the driver is left solely responsible for paying for their own repairs. This will also allow for recompense in the event that a vehicle must be totaled in the amount of the blue book value of the vehicle. For those cars that are still under lien comprehensive insurance may in fact be required, and be accompanied by gap insurance. Gap insurance is an option for those individuals whose cars are valued at a lesser amount than the balance of their lien, and will help provide the difference.

Uninsured motorist insurance is also strongly recommended for Pennsylvania residents due to the fact that its neighbor to the north, New York, does not require its drivers to purchase liability insurance. This means that at any given point in time a driver without liability could be traveling PA roads, and if they are involved in an accident for which they are responsible the other driver will be forced to take them to court and attempt to pull the damages from their personal assets (assuming the accident is ruled an exception to the no fault policy). Uninsured motorist insurance will help pay for some of the damages suffered by their vehicle, as well as the medical expenses and pain and suffering of the insured.

Illinois Car Insurance: What Every Driver Needs to Know Before Purchasing an Car Insurance Policy

With the propaganda regarding car insurance flying across the airwaves and through the internet to the ears of the consumer it can be very easy to become caught up in the business of saving money on your car insurance. The problem with that is that most of the time when car insurance is offered at a lower premium that usually means that something else is not being offered. This begs the question, “How much can you really afford to lose?”

Every state has its own minimum requirements when it comes to car insurance, and Iliinois is no exception. Their specific guidelines can be obtained through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Division of Insurance in Springfield at 217/782-4515 or Chicago at 312/814-2420. Consumers can also visit their website at http://www.idfpr.com/DOI/Default2.asp .

Every vehicle in the state is required to be covered under a liability policy; that means that if the vehicle is involved in an accident for which it is responsible the damages suffered by the body of both the victim and the victim’s vehicle will be paid for. IL requires that all drivers purchase an insurance policy for their vehicle which allows for twenty thousand dollars in covered medical expenses for a single individual and forty thousand dollars in combined medical expenses for all of the vehicle’s occupants. In addition, liability will pay for fifteen thousand dollars in property damages to the victim’s vehicle and the surrounding area.


IL is also one of the few states that require its motorists to possess uninsured or underinsured motorist insurance. Since not all states require that their drivers have liability insurance it is a cinch that at some point there will be drivers without insurance on Illinois roads. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage will provide for bodily injury and vehicle damages suffered by the insured in the event that the driver responsible for the accident did not possess liability coverage or whose coverage was not adequate to pay for the resultant expenses. This will also pay for damages suffered as a result of a hit and run.

While it is not required by the state it may be required by the lender that a car still possessing a lien obtain comprehensive and collision coverage. This way, in the event that the vehicle is damaged in an accident for which its driver is responsible it can be repaired. If the cost of the repair is greater than the blue book value of the car it will be declared as “totaled” and the cash value of the car awarded to the owner.

Florida Car Insurance: An ABC Guide to Requirements

All Florida drivers are required to carry a minimum level of liability to the tune of ten thousand dollars for an accident involving a car with a single occupant, twenty thousand dollars for an accident involving a car with multiple occupants and ten thousand dollars for necessary property repairs, including those needed by the victim’s vehicle.


FL is a no fault state. In the event of an accident, regardless of who is at fault each driver’s own insurance company will see to their expenses. This means that all of its drivers are required to carry PIP (personal injury protection), or no fault, insurance at a minimum of ten thousand dollars. Their no fault insurance will pay for their medical expenses should they be in an accident, regardless of who is at fault. This will pay for a portion of medical benefits, lost wages and death benefits; the amount of coverage varies per company but is generally found in the vicinity of eighty percent, sixty percent and five thousand dollars, respectively.
PIP coverage will provide insurance benefits to the insured even in the event that they are not the driver of the vehicle if they are injured while in another person’s vehicle or injured while walking or riding a bike. PIP benefits will also extend to the child of the insured if they are injured on the school bus, passengers in the vehicle who do not have PIP, residents of their home or qualified other drivers driving their vehicle with their permission.
While it is not required most FL insurance companies suggest that all drivers carry comprehensive and collision insurance. This will pay for damages to their car should they be involved in an accident in which they were at fault. This is including (but not limited to) accidents involving wildlife, inclement weather and stationary objects, as well as moving vehicles.
As not all states require their drivers to obtain liability insurance it is recommended that all Floridians purchase an uninsured/underinsured motorist policy. This will provide coverage in the event that the insured is involved in a hit and run or an accident with a driver who either does not have liability insurance or whose insurance is so poor that it will not cover the costs of the damages resulting from the accident.
Many insurance companies will offer the added bonuses of rental insurance, gap coverage (which will pay the difference between the value of a vehicle and the amount remaining on its lien if the vehicle must be totaled) and reimbursement for towing services.
Further information can be found through the Office of Insurance Regulation in Tallahassee by contacting their office at (800) 342-2762 or visiting their website, http://www.stateofflorida.com/Portal/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=20.

Texas Car Insurance: Requirements

Texas has its own set of requirements for its residents when it comes to auto insurance. For information pertaining to specific state regulations consumers can contact the Texas Department of Insurance, located in Austin, by calling 800-252-3439 or by accessing their website at http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/. In the meantime there are some basic rules that everyone should know.

All Texans are required to maintain liability coverage on their vehicles at all times. Liability will pay for necessary medical and repair expenses for the other party following an accident for which the insured is responsible. The state has mandated a minimum level of coverage that is considered acceptable. Liability minimums in TX are:

Twenty thousand dollars for medical expenses incurred by a single individual (driver who is alone in the car at the time of the accident)
Forty thousand dollars for the combined medical expenses of all of the occupants of the vehicle when it was struck.
Fifteen thousand dollars for any necessary property repairs, including those for the victim’s vehicle

Although it is not required it is strongly suggested that all drivers purchase a comprehensive and collision policy. This will pay for repairs to the vehicle of the insured following an accident that they have caused (liability will leave the party responsible holding the bag for the complete cost of their own repairs). In the event that the necessary repairs to the vehicle cost more than the car’s Blue Book value insurance will “total” the vehicle and award the owner the cash value of the car. Collision insurance may be required for vehicles still under lien, and for those vehicles whose Blue Book value is less than the balance on their lien for whatever reason gap coverage may be available. Gap coverage is intended to help “bridge the gap” in the event that the car must be totaled.

TX uninsured car insurance is also a wise investment. There are many states in the US that do not require liability insurance, and at any given point in time these drivers may be loose on Texas’s city street. In addition to accidents involving uninsured motorists this coverage will also assist those who become the unfortunate victims of a hit and run.

New York Car Insurance: Guidelines for Every Citizen

The consequences of not having car insurance are irrefutable; in today’s rapidly growing economy the cost of vehicle repair and medical expenses is out of reach of many. Finding the right car insurance policy can be very difficult, however, and requires at the very least a basic understanding of the minimum requirements established by the consumer’s state of residence.

Complete information about insurance options for New Yorkers can be obtained from the New York State Insurance Department at any one of their seven locations by calling 1-800-342-3736 or by visiting their website at http://www.ins.state.ny.us/. New York is a no fault state, which means that in the event of an accident it does not matter which party is responsible, each will have their expenses settled by their own insurance company. The other driver will not be held liable. This was intended to decrease the number of lawsuits per year and allow drivers who were involved in an accident to seek medical care as quickly as possible. PIP, or Personal Injury Protection, insurance is intended to cover the costs of medical care for the insured, and residents who are covered by a comprehensive health insurance policy may elect to carry only the minimum amount of PIP insurance; however, this is not recommended as PIP does not exist solely for medical expenses. It will also assist the insured with such matters as lost wages or funeral expenses following an accident if the need exists.


There are loopholes in every system and the no fault system is no exception. In the event that an injury is severe enough and medical bills excessive enough an accident victim may seek recompense from the driver who caused the accident. This loophole has led to the requirement that all NY drivers purchase a liability policy. Liability will pay for damages suffered by the vehicle and person of the victim of an accident, and in New York provides minimum benefits to the tune of twenty five thousand dollars for medical expenses accumulated by a single driver, fifty thousand dollars for the combined medical expenses of all of the occupants of the vehicle and ten thousand dollars for repairs to any property that may have been damaged in the accident, including the victim’s vehicle.

In addition to liability and PIP insurance NY also requires its drivers to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance. This will pay for damages suffered by the vehicle or person of the insured in the event that they are struck by a vehicle belonging to a person who either does not possess insurance or whose insurance policy does not extend to cover the quantity of damages inflicted. Uninsured/underinsured motorist insurance also provides coverage for those drivers who find themselves the victims of a hit and run.

While not required it is suggested that drivers purchase collision/comprehensive insurance for their vehicle. In the event that a driver is responsible for an accident liability will leave them to foot the bill for their own auto repairs. Collision will provide some assistance with these costs and total the vehicle if the cost of repairs exceeds the vehicle’s blue book value. Drivers who possess a collision policy and whose vehicle is currently under lien may elect to purchase gap cover will make up the difference between the value received for the car and the amount remaining on the lien in the event that the car must be totaled and the blue book value is less than the amount remaining on its lien.

California Car Insurance: Requirements Every Motorist Should Know

There’s no doubt about it, California provides a cornucopia of sights and sounds for those who have not lived there long enough to become jaded; however, California’s population is steadily growing and as a result there are more drivers on California roads then ever before. This means that it is absolutely essential for every motorist to carry a quality car insurance policy.

Like most states CA has made it a requirement for every driver to possess liability insurance. Liability will pay for damages inflicted to the body and vehicle of the driver whose vehicle was struck by the insured. The minimum level of coverage is as follows: fifteen thousand dollars for medical expenses if there was only one occupant of the vehicle, thirty thousand dollars for the combined expenses of all occupants of the vehicle and five thousand dollars to pay for additional property damages, including vehicle repair. This is considerably less than is required in other areas of the country.


While liability will pay for the damages to the other driver’s vehicle it leaves the driver responsible for the accident holding the bag for their own repairs. Collision and comprehensive insurance exists to pay for these costs. Aside from accidents with other vehicles this also allows the insured to have necessary repairs made at their insurance company’s expense (less the amount of their deductible) in the event that damages were caused by other factors, such as rolling off of an icy road or being struck by a deer.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage will pay for repairs to the vehicle of the insured and any medical expenses incurred as a result of injury suffered by the insured in the event that they are involved in either a hit and run or an accident with a driver who does not carry insurance or whose level of coverage is insufficient to pay for all expenses.

Neither collision and comprehensive insurance or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage are required for CaA drivers; however, they are strongly recommended, as well as carrying a liability policy greater than the minimum required. More information regarding California auto insurance can be obtained by contacting the California Department of Insurance in Los Angeles at 800-927-HELP (4357) or by visiting their website, http://www.insurance.ca.gov.

The Global Strategic Business Report on the Automotive & Vehicle Insurance Industry Provides Insightful Analysis, Market Overview, Structure, Types of

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c93425) has announced the addition of Automotive & Vehicle Insurance Industry - Global Strategic Business Report to their offering.

The Automotive & Vehicle Insurance Industry Report provides insightful analysis, market overview, structure, types of auto insurance, and outlook of the industry. Richly laden with qualitative and quantitative analysis, the report provides the reader with a rudimentary statistical preface to global auto insurance industry. A synopsized discussion offers preludes to regional auto insurance markets such as the United States, Canada, Japan, Europe (France, Germany, The UK), Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. The closely summarized market report is designed to offer a macro level picture of the trends, market structure, recent mergers & acquisitions, and strategic corporate developments witnessed by the industry. Also provided is a compilation of recent past/ historical perspective of the industry, and strategic corporate developments and product launches within it. The report examines the leading companies' footing in the industry at global and/ or regional level, along with their annual written premiums. Global key and niche players briefly discussed and abstracted in the report include Allianz SE, American International Group, Inc., Amlin Plc., Assicurazioni Generali, Aviva Plc., CGU Insurance, Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance, Farmers Insurance Group, Generali -Providencia, Groupama, Insurance Australia Group Ltd. (IAG), Legal & General Group Plc., Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., Millea Holdings, Inc., Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Ltd., NFU Mutual Insurance Co., PICC Property and Casualty Company Ltd., PT Asuransi Tokio Marine Indonesia, Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group, Sumitomo Life Insurance, Suncorp Metway Insurance Ltd, and Zurich Australia Insurance Limited.

Chapter Titles Include:

1. Auto Insurance - An Introduction

2. A Regional Perspective

3. Product Launches

4. Product Launches in Past

5. Recent Industry Activity

6. Industry Activity in the Past

7. Focus on Select Players Worldwide

Companies Mentioned:

- Allianz Corn hill, UK

- Allianz SE, Germany

- American International Group, Inc., US

- Amlin Plc, UK

- Assicurazioni Generali, Italy

- Aviva Plc, UK

- CGU Insurance, Australia

- CSOB Pojistovna, Czech Republic

- Dai-ichi Mutual Life Insurance, Japan

- Direct Line, UK

- Ecclesiastical Insurance Group, UK

- Equity Insurance Group Ltd, UK

- Farmers Insurance Group, US

- Generali -Providencia, Hungary

- Groupama, France

- Grupo Bradesco de Seguros, Brazil

- Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., US

- Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Company, US

- Insurance Australia Group Ltd. (IAG), Australia

- Legal & General Group Plc, UK

- Liberty Mutual Group, US

- Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., US

- Millea Holdings, Inc., Japan

- Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company, Ltd., Japan

- NatWest Life, UK

- NFU Mutual Insurance Co., UK

- Pacifica - Credit Agricole, France

- Partner Reinsurance Company Ltd, Bermuda

- PICC Property and Casualty Company Ltd., China

- PT Asuransi Tokio Marine Indonesia, Indonesia

- RESO-Garantia, Russia

- Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Group, UK

- Sompo Japan Insurance Inc., Japan

- State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, US

- Sumitomo Life Insurance, Japan

- Suncorp Metway Insurance Ltd, Australia

- The Travelers Companies, Inc, US

- United Services Automobile Association, US

- Zurich Australia Insurance Limited, Australia

Huntington Beach cheap auto insurance - Henderson car insurance rates - Thousand Oaks car insurance quotes 659

Snow and ice upon a pavement create merely transient danger, and the only duty upon the property owner or tenant is to act within a reasonable time after notice to remove it when it is in a dangerous condition. Ask your regular passengers about their own health insurance policies and its coverage. Several industries, particularly the insurance industry favors this system because it lowers legal fees which account for up to 15 percent of the cost of auto insurance. For more information about Evan Aidman, a Delaware County, PA Personal Injury Lawyer and his work with clients with serious injuries click here: Delaware County, PA Attorney.
However the "first party" benefits a policyholder receives from her own no fault insurance company are not mandatory and the benefits may be lower that in the "true" no fault states. Whether your boat provides family recreation or a personal getaway, make sure to purchase an insurance policy for your boat that will cover all four of the above situations before you hit the water; that way, you can enjoy yourself knowing you and your boat are protected after you set sail. Click Here for Attorney Aidman's website: Delaware County, PA Attorney. Reviewing your home owner insurance policy annually, or whenever you make changes to your home, your homes contents, and your valuables, will undoubtedly make changes to your insurance rates. The coverage for the uninsured motorist protects the insurance holder in case he or she has an accident with an uninsured person.
Further, the doctrine of hills and ridges does not apply in a case where there is no evidence that generally slippery conditions prevailed at the time at the time of the accident. Let's look at the main kinds of cover and attempt to throw a little light on the subject. Trying to get insurance cover can be a real minefield to most people. Home Owners Insurance Quote DelawareCar Insurance Quotes FloridaHealth Insurance Quote Tennessee. Paying closer attention to your driving habits and the rules of the roads, you are less likely to get as many traffic citations, and less likely to be in any accidents that would involve filing an insurance claim.
Below are several tips for saving money on your quotes and rates based on the factors considered by home owner insurance companies. It provides the insurance policies that should possibly have been supplied by the other party. For example, when a customer in a grocery store slips on grapes, the customers attention may have been drawn by a catchy advertisement or display put up by the store.
This is called "comparative negligence." (See Chapter 9 of the complete book for a discussion of comparative negligence.) Defendants argue that the claimant should have seen the hazard and avoided it. Whether your boat provides family recreation or a personal getaway, make sure to purchase an insurance policy for your boat that will cover all four of the above situations before you hit the water; that way, you can enjoy yourself knowing you and your boat are protected after you set sail. It is then easy to show that the property owner should have known of it and should have had the crack repaired. Comprehensive insurance policies protect the insurance holder in the unfortunate situation that their automobile or other vehicle is taken without the owner's permission, damaged illegally, harmed by an act of nature or damaged otherwise. The purpose of the hills and ridges doctrine is to protect landowners from liability for slippery conditions of which the owner may not have notice or sufficient opportunity to make safe.
Collision coverage pays for all damages to a automobile or other vehicle when it is in collision with another automobile or other vehicle or non-vehicular object, even if the insurance holder is at fault. Avoid including the value of your land when considering rebuilding costs. To get free quotes and learn more about insurance please visit the following recommended sites.
These include anti-theft alarms, sturdy doors and windows, dead bolt locks, and smoke detectors. Many elements of an auto insurance policy that could be optional are cover for the uninsured motorist and personal injury protection. Several industries, particularly the insurance industry favors this system because it lowers legal fees which account for up to 15 percent of the cost of auto insurance.
Covers the medical costs of anyone injured on your boat, or because of your boat. You could be missing out on cheap car insurance simply you have added to your car. No fault insurance applies to state in which an insurance company will pay for minor injuries resulting from an accident regardless of who is at fault. So there we have it, whether you require PIP and at what level, depends on several factors: where you live, your driving habits, your employment, your health, your personal circumstances and your level of existing cover.

auto insurance

What car insurance companies DON'T use a credit score when deciding rates?

whether you're against it or not, it's a factor. and sorry, i don't know of ANY companies out there that don't use it. i know about 99% use credit scores, so good luck finding the one or two that havent jumped on that wagon... yet. I've bookmarked this site to go back to... http://www.safelinked.info/go.php?link=insurance All the best to you.

auto insurance

What car insurance companies DON'T use a credit score when deciding rates?

whether you're against it or not, it's a factor. and sorry, i don't know of ANY companies out there that don't use it. i know about 99% use credit scores, so good luck finding the one or two that havent jumped on that wagon... yet. I've bookmarked this site to go back to... http://www.safelinked.info/go.php?link=insurance All the best to you.

auto insurance

I have liability insurance. If I lend my car out to a friend, will my insurance pay in case of an accident?

Yes. However, does he have regular access to your car? If he borrows it more than once a month, or more than ten times a year, you should add him as an operator. Also, if he cracks it up, it's great that the other guy is covered, but . . .can you afford to buy a new car? Because you won't have any coverage for YOUR car.

Auto Insurance Glossary...

Aftermarket Part - After-market parts are made by a company other than the manufacturer of the vehicle.

Actual Cash Value- An amount equivalent to the fair market value of the stolen or damaged property immediately preceding the loss. For real property, this amount can be based on a determination of the fair market value of the property before and after the loss. For vehicles, this amount can be determined by local area private party sales and dealer quotations for comparable vehicles.

Admitted Company - An insurance company authorized to do business in California.

Agent - A licensed person or organization authorized to sell insurance by or on behalf of an insurance company.

Auto Insurance - Coverage on the risks associated with driving or owning an automobile. It can include collision, liability, comprehensive, medical, and uninsured motorist coverages.

Binder - A temporary or preliminary agreement which provides coverage until a policy can be written or delivered.

Bodily Injury - Bodily harm, sickness or disease, including death. This does not include communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

Broker - A licensed person or organization paid by you to look for insurance on your behalf.

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Cancellation - The termination of insurance coverage during the policy period. Flat cancellation is the cancellation of a policy as of its effective date, without any premium charge.

Claim - Notice to an insurer that under the terms of a policy, a loss maybe covered.

Claimant - The first or third party. That is any person who asserts right of recovery.

Collision Coverage - Coverage that insures against damage to your vehicle as a result of hitting another vehicle or object (i.e. a tree).

Comprehensive Coverage - Coverage that insures against damage to your vehicle as a result of a loss caused by something other than collision. Some examples are theft, fire, vandalism or falling objects. This coverage is sometimes referred to as "Other-than-Collision".

Coverage - The scope of the protection provided in your insurance contract, as well as any of several risks covered by a policy.

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Declaration - The part of your written policy (contract) that includes your name and address, the property that is being insured, its location and description, the policy period, the amount of insurance coverage and the applicable premiums.

Decline - The company refuses to accept the request for insurance coverage.

Deductible - The portion of a claim you pay out of pocket before the insurance company pays. A higher deductible will lower your premium and you do not have to carry the same deductible for comprehensive and collision coverages.

Depreciation - A decrease in value due to age, wear and tear, etc.

Endorsement - Any change made to a policy.

Exclusion - A restriction in your insurance policy that denies coverage for certain perils, persons, property or locations.

Expiration Date - The date on which the policy ends.

Grace Period - A period (usually 31 days) after the premium due date, during which an overdue premium may be paid without penalty. The policy remains in force throughout this period.

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Insured - The person or organization covered by an insurance policy.

Insurer - The insurance company.

Liability Coverage - Coverage that insures against damages (to other party) for bodily injury or property damage when you are legally responsible for an auto accident.

Limits of Liability - The specified amount up to which the insurance company will protect you as set forth in the policy.

Loss experience - The types and amounts of claims that you have previously had.

Material Misrepresentation - The policyholder / applicant makes a false statement of any material (important) fact on his/her application. For instance, the policyholder provides false information regarding the location where the vehicle is garaged.

Medical Payment Coverage - Coverage that pays for minor medical expenses (to you or your passengers) resulting from an accident, regardless of fault.

No-fault Insurance - An insurance system where your insurance coverage pays for your injuries regardless of who caused the accident.

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Policy - A contract between you and the insurance company.

Premium - The price of the insurance policy.

Premium Financing - A policyholder contracts with a lender to pay the insurance premium on his/her behalf. The policyholder agrees to repay the lender for the cost of the premium, plus interest and fees.

Property Damage - Physical injury to, destruction of or loss of use of tangible property (of other party).

Quote - A cost estimate for insurance coverages based on specific information, including drivers, vehicles and driving record.

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Rate - The amount you pay as premium.

Replacement Cost - The cost to repair or replace an insured item. Some insurance only pays the actual cash or market value of the item at the time of the loss, not what it would cost to fix or replace it. If you have personal property replacement cost coverage, your insurance will pay the full cost to repair an item or buy a new one once the repairs or purchases have been made.

Replacement Value - The full cost to repair or replace the damaged property with no deduction for depreciation, subject to policy limits and contract provisions.

Rider - Usually known as an endorsement, a rider is an amendment to the policy used to add or delete coverage.

Risk - The chance of loss.

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Subrogation - The process of payment recovery whereby your insurance company settles the claim for damage to your car and seeks payment recovery (including your deductible) from the other party if your car is damaged because of that party's negligence.

Surcharge - An extra charge applied by the insurer. For automobile insurance, a surcharge is usually for accidents or moving violations.

Underwriting - The process of determining risk and in what amounts and on what terms the insurance company will accept the risk.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage - Coverage that insures against damages (to you or your passengers) for bodily injury when the responsible party has no insurance or insufficient insurance to pay for damages. This coverage includes hit-and-run accidents.

Auto Insurance 101

What Is Auto Insurance?
An auto insurance policy is a contract between you and an insurance company. You pay a premium. In exchange, the insurance company promises to pay for specific car-related financial losses, within the selected coverage limits, that you may have during the term of the agreement.

Most states require that you carry automobile liability insurance in certain minimum amounts. If you are at fault in an accident the law requires that you pay the damages sustained by the person who is not at fault. These can include property damage, which is the cost to repair or replace any property that you have damaged. These can also include damages for personal injuries, which include not only the other person's medical expenses and lost wages but also damages for pain and suffering, permanent injury, and loss of enjoyment of life. These damages can come to thousands of dollars even for a minor accident. That's why adequate insurance is essential to your economic health.

The 10 costliest cars to insure

Yes, the cost of repairs has something to do with it, but who drives them and how fast they're driven also are huge factors. Here are the 10 costliest to insure -- and the 10 cheapest.

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If you're shopping for a new car, chances are you're considering things such as gas mileage, vehicle size, comfort and even that all-important CD system. But have you checked on the cost of insurance?

A quick call to your agent might help you narrow your choices -- and avoid a second case of sticker shock after you drive your new car home.

The reason: Along with your own driving record, your ZIP code and the demographics of the drivers in your household, the make and model of your vehicle can have a big effect on your insurance bill, says Russ Rader, spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Of all of those factors, the type of vehicle you put in your garage is the only variable you can change immediately.

"The choice of the car itself is going to affect, in particular, what you will spend for comprehensive and collision," says Jeanne Salvatore, senior vice president of public affairs for the Insurance Information Institute.

Why some cost more
Collision-damage costs are one of the main factors in differentiating the cost of insuring one type of car over another, says Rader. To a lesser extent, you also want to look at how attractive the car is to thieves.

Vehicles that top the insurance-cost list tend to be either high horsepower, high dollar or expensive to repair, Rader says. An expensive choice: "Sporty cars that are favored by young drivers who are risky drivers, so they are crashing a lot."

Higher horsepower means the driver is more likely to be going faster and getting into more accidents. That will send insurance rates up for everyone who owns a similar car.

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Many of the vehicles that are expensive to insure "share a common problem, and that is horsepower," says Kim Hazelbaker, a senior vice president with the Highway Loss Data Institute, an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Size matters
Some think that a smaller, more maneuverable car is able to outrun trouble and avoid crashes. It's a myth, Rader says.

"When you look at the statistics and insurance claims, small sports cars tend to be in more crashes," he says. Adding to the problem: "They tend to be engaged in faster driving."

From a statistical standpoint, the safest models tend to be the full-sized family sedan-type cars, he says.

A few other special circumstances can also send rates through the roof. If a car is a popular target for thieves, your insurance company might charge you higher rates.

If you're driving a high-priced car, it will likely cost more to fix after a collision. As a result, your insurance bill will go up when you add it to the policy, Rader says. Likewise, some luxury or high-end cars feature aluminum body panels that are more expensive to fix or replace than sheet metal, he says.

One other factor to consider: How much damage is your vehicle likely to inflict in a crash?

As sport utility vehicles have become more popular, insurance companies have had to study and factor that issue into premiums, Salvatore says. As a result, if you drive an SUV, your liability premium (which covers damage to other vehicles), could be higher because of the increased damage a vehicle of that size can cause in an accident, she says.

The 10 cars with the most expensive collision losses, starting with the most expensive, from 2002 to 2004 figures from the Highway Loss Data Institute are:

Most expensive models to insure
1
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
6
Lexus IS 300

2
Mercedes CL-Class
7
Honda S2000

3
Dodge SRT-4
8
Acura RSX

4
Subaru Impreza WRX
9
Nissan 350Z

5
Jaguar XK (convertible)
10
Jaguar XJ



Don't let the list scare you; insurance cost isn't necessarily a reflection of safety.

"A safe car is not necessarily the cheapest car to insure," Salvatore says. The car itself could also be expensive or just expensive to repair after an accident, which would increase insurance costs.

But a high rate is a red flag to ask a few questions. For instance, if a car has a lot of horsepower and is involved in a lot of crashes, that can also send insurance rates up, even if the car itself is relatively inexpensive.

So if you're getting ready to buy your teenager that dream model and the insurance rate comes back sky high, it may be a tip that it's time to search for another make and model.

The least expensive
Sometimes the driver really does make all the difference.

Insurance companies and crash analysts have noticed that vehicles most often associated with family transportation -- such as minivans, station wagons and family sedans -- get in fewer crashes than the high horsepower hotrods that appeal to young male drivers.

"It's pretty traditional to see things like station wagons and minivans there -- vehicles probably operated by soccer moms in non-aggressive fashion," Hazelbaker says.

In addition, many (but not all) of the vehicles that rank low in collision costs also tend to be "generally, not real expensive vehicles," he says.

The 10 least expensive models to insure, in terms of collision losses, starting with the least expensive are:

Least expensive models to insure
1
Volvo XC90
6
Pontiac Montana (standard model)

2
Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
7
Mazda MPV

3
GMC Safari
8
Ford Thunderbird

4
Buick LeSabre
9
Pontiac Montana (extended model)

5
Nissan Pathfinder Armada (2004 only)
10
Ford Taurus (station wagon)



Just as with the most costly picks, a variety of reasons can land a vehicle on the least expensive list. For instance, the Volvo XC90 and Chevy station wagon that make the top of the "best" list are "likely to be family vehicles, driven differently than the vehicles on the "worst" list," Rader says. And the Ford Thunderbird, he says, "tends to be a second or third car and is not driven as often."

By Dana Dratch. She is a freelance writer based in Atlanta

HOW TO BEAT A SPEEDING TICKET

INTRODUCTION
The most important aspect to consider in avoiding a traffic ticket is to be aware of where you are in the current traffic pattern. Many people will tend to slow down for the first two days after receiving a ticket. But a lot of people don't. This chapter is designed to assist you in keeping out of trouble in the future.

Make sure that you are driving the proper type of car. If you've got a really brightly colored car such as a red sports car, it looks like it's doing a hundred miles an hour even when it is standing still. There are a great number of quality fast vehicles that don't draw as much attention. In order to be safe in any case, make sure that you have the proper electronic equipment to protect you from any further ticketing. Make sure that you are aware of your situation on the road. Be alert at all times. Keep your eyes on the on ramps on the major highways, because they are a favorite spot for the Police. Try not to come up on a hill at 80 to 90 miles an hour because you have no way of seeing what's over the hill and if there is a patrol car there with a radar unit, you're going to be nailed before you even see him. Be on the alert for any hiding places that a patrol car may be, behind trees, around bends, or even in front of a large truck that's driving in the right hand lane. That truck is going the speed limit because there's usually a patrol car right in front of him, waiting for you to pass.

Try to keep your driving in the right hand lane as often as possible. The police know that speeders are in the left hand lane, so make your pass in the left and get back into the right hand lane as soon as possible. Try not to weave through traffic because you will draw attention to yourself. The patrol people will stop you for reckless driving as well as speeding. That could be double the problem. Keep your eye on your rearview mirror, especially at night, for any car that may be approaching from the rear very quickly. If you're cruising at 75 or 80 miles an hour down the highway and a car is creeping up on you, it's entirely possible that it's a patrol car doing a "Paced Speeding Ticket," or it's another speeder who can act as a "Rabbit." A "Rabbit" will be explained shortly.

Occasionally as you're driving down the highway, you will be passed by someone that we will refer to as a "Rabbit". You should have no problem following this rabbit at a reasonable distance, a quarter mile or so, because they will act as a target for the radar trap and will get stopped prior to you even arriving at the scene. Just don't forget about your rearview mirror because the patrol car may have spotted him from the distance and is going to follow behind you to try and overtake him. And he could get to you first.

Make sure that you keep an eye on what cars are parked on the side of the road, regardless of their make, model, or color. If it's not a police car, or an unmarked car, it could be another motorist in trouble, or it could be somebody who's just about to pull onto the highway. Be ready to move out of their way.

Know where you are at all times. It can be your best defense in avoiding a speeding ticket.

Traffic ticket

A traffic ticket is a citation issued by a police officer to motorists who fail to obey traffic laws. Traffic tickets generally come in two forms, citing a moving violation, such as exceeding the speed limit, or a non-moving violation, such as a parking ticket. Traffic tickets are generally heard in traffic court.

Generally, a ticket is a notification that one has committed a minor legal infraction, for which a fine must be paid, and/or an appearance in court must be made (See: summons). Typically this means a parking ticket for parking in an unlawful manner or allowing a parking meter to expire, or a traffic ticket for a moving violation such as speeding. The latter are usually issued after traffic stops.

United States
In the United States, most traffic laws are codified in a variety of state, county and municipal ordinances, with most minor violations classified as civil infractions. Although what constitutes a "minor violation" varies, examples include: non-moving violations; defective or unauthorized vehicle equipment; seatbelt and child-restraint safety violations; and insufficient proof of license, insurance or registration. A trend in the late 1970s and early 1980s also saw an increased tendency for jurisdictions to re-classify certain speeding violations as civil infractions.[1] In contrast, for more "serious" violations, traffic violators may be held criminally liable, guilty of a misdemeanor or even a felony. Serious violations tend to involve multiple prior offenses; willful disregard of public safety; death, serious bodily injury or damage to property.[1]

Each state's Department of Motor Vehicles maintains a database of motorists, including their convicted traffic violations. Upon being ticketed, a motorist is given the option to mail in to the local court -- the court for the town or city in which the violation took place -- a plea of guilty or not guilty within a certain time frame (usually ten days, although courts generally provide leniency in this regard). It has been estimated that approximately three out of every ten drivers in the United States will receive a traffic ticket within the timespan of one calendar year.

If the motorist pleads not guilty, a trial date is set and both the motorist, or a lawyer representing the motorist, and the ticketing officer, or a representative, are required to attend. If the officer or representative fails to attend, the court judge will often find in favor of the motorist and dismiss the charge, although sometimes the trial date is moved to give the officer another chance to attend. The court will also make provisions for the officer to achieve a deal with the motorist, often in the form of a plea bargain. If no agreement is reached, both motorist and officer, or their respective representatives, formally attempt to prove their case before the judge, who then decides the matter.

If the motorist pleads guilty, the outcome is equivalent to conviction after trial. Upon conviction, the motorist is generally fined a monetary amount and, for moving violations, is additionally given "points" demerits, under each state's point system. In the cases where the motorist is registered in a different state from where the violation took place, individual agreements between the two states decide if, and how, the motorist's home state applies the other state's conviction. If no agreement exists, then the conviction is local to the state where the violation took place. In some instances, failure to pay the fine may result in a suspension to drive in only the city or state to whom the fine is owed, and the motorist may continue to drive elsewhere in the same state.


[edit] Ireland
In the Republic of Ireland, a traffic ticket (which is mailed out to the driver) is in the form of a notice alleging that some crime - traffic offences are all criminal offences - has been committed, but stating that if a payment of a certain amount is made to An Garda Síochána within 28 days, or the amount increased by 50% is paid within 56 days, the driver will not be prosecuted for the alleged offence.


[edit] UK
In the United Kingdom parking tickets or, more formally, Fixed Penalty Notices are used to earn extra revenue for local authorities. Parking Wardens are used to hand them out. CCTV is now also used with a ticket sent out in the mail. Some authorities make more from parking fines than from Council Tax.[citation needed]

Parking Charge Notices issued by private companies are generally unenforceable under contract law and are no different from ordinary invoices. It is advisable never to pay such companies, no matter how genuine or threatening their paperwork appears to be.


[edit] Ticket superlatives
The fastest speeding ticket in the world allegedly occurred in May 2003 in Texas. It was supposedly 242mph in a 75mph zone. The car was a Swedish-built Koenigsegg, which was involved in the San Francisco to Miami Gumball 3000 Rally.[2] The fastest convicted speeder in the UK was Daniel Nicks, convicted of 175 mph on a Honda Fireblade motorcycle in 2000. He received six weeks in jail and was banned from driving for two years.[3] The fastest UK speeder in a car was Timothy Brady, caught driving a 3.6-litre Porsche 911 Turbo at 172 mph on the A420 in Oxfordshire in January 2007 and jailed for 10 weeks and banned from driving for 3 years. [4]

The most expensive speeding ticket ever given is believed to be the one given to Jussi Salonoja in Helsinki, Finland, in 2003. Salonoja, the 27-year-old heir to a company in the meat-industry, was fined 170 000 euros for driving 80km/h in a 40km/h zone. The uncommonly large fine was due to Finnish speeding tickets being relative to the offenders last known income. Salonoja's speeding ticket was not the first ticket given in Finland reaching six figures.[5]

One of the earliest speeding tickets was given in 1910. The ticket was issued to The Prime Minister of Canada's wife, Lady Laurier, in 1910 in Ottawa, Canada (the capital of Canada). She was speeding at 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. [2]

Cars, communication, feature, saving money, top How to beat a speeding ticket (or at least better your chances)

I've gotten about thirty speeding tickets in my short life, but I have zero tickets on my record. That's because no matter how formal the processes may seem, when it comes to law enforcement, you are still dealing with human beings with hearts and minds just like yours. Appeal to them as such, and you will be amazed by the results.

Although I am a law student, I employed this advice before I ever went to law school, and my education has only reinforced these theories. My approach isn't foolproof legal advice - it's simply my experienced opinions with a little law mixed in. That said, here are my secrets to getting out of a speeding ticket ordered chronologically, from the point of being pulled over to your final options in the courtroom.

Note: All of this advice assumes that you are merely breaking traffic laws. If you're trafficking a kilo of crystal meth... well, if you traffic meth, you're probably not reading Lifehacker. So read on, non-meth-heads.

Blue lights... you're getting pulled over
1. Get your attitude right.

Fighting with the police officer never increases your chances of leniency. You want him to like you. Prepare to achieve this goal.

2. Turn your car off, and turn the interior lights of your car on.

Place your hands at 10 and 2 on the steering wheel and remove your sunglasses or hat. Some people even advise you to place your keys on the roof of your car as a sign of total submission. Never, ever get out of the car.

The whole point of this is to take any unnecessary tension out of the encounter. You want the officer to be comfortable. Imagine the types of people and the dangers that most officers have had to deal with. Be just the opposite.

3. Be very polite and do exactly what the nice cop with the big gun says.

Save your pleas until after the basics are finished. Many officers will never speak to you until after they've done the basics. It's almost a litmus test for jerk drivers.

4. Once the officer has gotten your information, ask him politely if you may speak to him about your violation.

If you know you broke the law, admit it vehemently and tell the officer that he was completely right for pulling you over. Honest officers will admit that there is a lot of pride in police work, and, if you can sufficiently satisfy the pride factor, sometimes officers don't feel it necessary to punish you any further. The better you make the officer feel; the more likely he's going to like you enough to let you go.

5. Ask to see the radar then ask a few questions.

Many jurisdictions require that the officer allow you to see the radar. Don't press it if the officer says no because that's what a courtroom is for. But, at least ask, then ask a few more questions to show that you are watching.

You might ask, "When was the last time your radar gun was calibrated?" or "Where were you when you clocked my speed?" or "Were you moving when you clocked my speed?"

Do not ask these in an argumentative tone or sarcastic, know-it-all way. All that will do is make the pride in the officer fight you harder.

6. Plead your case.

Once you've gone over some basics with the officer and developed a temporary rapport, ask for mercy. Make it sincere and let the officer know that it's a big deal to you. Resist all urges to fight and get angry and simply beg as much as your dignity will allow. But, there is no reason to grovel.

7. Leave the scene as a non-memorable, nice person.

If the officer didn't let you go on the scene, then you want him to never remember you. Your next steps are in a more legal setting, and the less the officer remembers you, the better. Usually, officers only remember you if they want to remember to show you no mercy.

You've gotten a ticket, but you still want out
8. Call the officer at work.

Ask politely if you can arrange a time to meet with the officer to talk to him or her about a ticket you got recently. Usually, officers will readily meet with you, the taxpayer, and this meeting has gotten me out of many tickets.

But, don't go to the meeting and just say, "Will you let me out of this ticket?" You better have a story or some reason to motivate the officer to let you out. That's just up to you, but just be really nice and try to bridge that officer-civilian gap with a personal story and plead for mercy. The more the officer can identify with you, the more likely he is to want to show you mercy.

Remember always, the officer has full authority to drop your ticket, so remember how important he is in this process. Treat him and pursue him as the gatekeeper to your freedom. Don't be scared, though. You have a right to try to talk to the officer. You pay his salary.

9. Write a letter to the officer.

Even if you met with the officer, it can't hurt to write him a letter pleading your case to him. Write it professionally, succinctly, and include complete contact information. I've even gone so far as to offer alternative punishment. Although that alternative wasn't accepted, the officer was pretty surprised at my tenacity, and it motivated him to let me off the hook. He could tell that I really did care about this one ticket.

Make the ticket a bigger deal to you than to him, but you have to carefully do this in a professional, civil way. Anything else, and you're playing with fire.

10. Repeat calls and letters to the judge and/or the prosecutor.

If the officer won't listen to you, feel free to contact the judge that will preside over your case. Also, find out who the prosecuting attorney will be and call him at his office. They are just people, and the worst they can say is "no." You have nothing to lose at this point. Plead your case to either of them, but do not be a pest and be consistently apologetic for the lengths to which you are going to get out of your ticket. You must be sincere, or don't bother going at all.

In steps 8-10, you stand the risk of being labeled a nuisance or a troublemaker. If you get this impression too much, then bail out with apologies. But, do not be afraid to at least try to talk to the officials face-to-face. They are, after all, public servants, and you are that public.

The court is your friend
11. Follow all court guidelines.

Make the court clerk your best friend. Call the clerk often, and address him or her by first name. You want to make all court employees' jobs as easy as possible. Also, you do not want to miss any deadlines.

12. Delay.

Once you've gotten to know the clerk, ask for as many continuances (delays of your trial) as you can honestly ask for. Do not lie, but do plead for continuances to delay your trial date as long as possible. The farther you are out of the officer's memory, the better. I have heard of one case where the case was continued so long that the ticketing officer had transferred... case dismissed automatically.

13. Ask for alternative punishment.

Usually, your primary concern is keeping your ticket off your insurance. Many times, court clerks have the authority to let you go to driving school and keep the ticket off your record. Sometimes you have to pay court costs and the ticket, but at least your insurance premiums aren't going up. This completely depends on the court.

You can't handle the truth!
14. Understand your trial and your rights.

If you got a ticket, you have been accused of a crime. The ticketing officer signed a sheet of paper swearing that you broke a certain traffic law, and he saw you do it. That sworn statement is called an affidavit, and most tickets say that at the top. Don't get nervous, though; it's just a misdemeanor.

First, you'll have a hearing where you plead guilty, not guilty, or some other plea. Then, you'll have your trial where you plead your case. Then the judge decides your fate. It's really not scary at all, and you have every right to participate fully in this process no matter how much you are intimidated.

15. Show up to your first court date and plead anything but guilty.

Whatever you do, show up to your first hearing on time and dressed decently. It's probably not a good idea to wear a suit, though. In most traffic courts, you'll look silly. If you really want to know, go scope out the court ahead of time to see what to wear to blend in best.

You'll then be asked "what you plead." Pleading not guilty is a safe bet, although there are other pleas (e.g. nolo contendre) that have strange consequences in some courts. In some courts, a plea of nolo contendre has the strange effect of making your ticket just disappear to the court's files. You'd want to talk to a local lawyer about that one, though.

Most of the time, just politely say, "I plead not guilty, your honor." You'll be assigned a court date, and spend the next few weeks repeating steps 8-13. This is your second chance before the big day.

16. Go to court and duke it out.

If all else has failed, you should then go to your trial. Do not miss this out of fear, or you will definitely be found guilty. For instance, if the officer doesn't show up, for any reason, you're automatically out of the ticket. This is not unheard of.

Also, you may be able to talk to the officer or prosecutor before trial and cut a deal, just like the real convicts do on TV. If the officer is nervous about his case against you, he might let you off. This just depends on your case, but at least ask.

The trial is pretty simple. The prosecution will present their case against you. You get to respond and call witnesses if you want, and then the prosecution rebuts you. You cannot screw this up. At the very worst, you're found guilty, and you've lost nothing. Do not be scared to do this. It is your right, and you should claim it.

17. Suck it up, or fight on.

The judge will rule on you... guilty, not guilty, or some other punishment. You either take it or appeal it to the court of appeals. Rarely would it be financially wise to appeal a traffic decision, but that is up to you. And you do have the right.

Chances are, you let it die here. Try to make friends with the officer and prosecutor for next time, though.

18. Suck up... err, I mean write more letters.

It can't hurt to write the officer and prosecutor a letter telling them how nice they were and easy to deal with. Also, copy this letter to the mayor and the chief of police, and make sure you show the cc: at the bottom of the letter. That's your investment in next time.

Rage against the machine (without all the rage)
This stuff isn't rocket science. You're just dealing with people and trying to get them to see things your way. You have very little to lose, and it's a fun way to get to participate in the very government under which you live. I encourage all of you to employ all these steps in a friendly, civil way. Forget everything you've learned about courtrooms and lawyers and cops, and just go in there as a human being. It's your right, and it can really be fun and exciting. Think of it as your own personal crusade, and, if you push on, you will be amazed at how easy it is to find justice.

Slow it down there, speedy. This is not legal advice. I am not a lawyer, but I am a law student. These are generalized discussions of life experiences, and any legal statements are simply journalistic opinion and fact. If you've got real problems, remember everything you've learned about lawyers, and go hire one.

Stewart Rutledge is in his final year of law school at the University of Mississippi.

Insuring Your Luxury Car

So you’ve finally got your dream car and it’s a beauty. You probably had to pay an arm and a leg for it, so protecting your investment is obviously the next reasonable step. Insuring a luxury car is typically very similar to insuring a normal vehicle, except for the price of course. The amount of money you’ll pay for insuring a luxury car is usually significantly more, although factors like your driving record also play an important part in determining the price. Since you’ve probably got a large sum of money invested in your luxury car, you want to make sure you get the best insurance coverage possible - hopefully at a reasonable cost. Here are some helpful tips for insuring your luxury car at a low price:

Tips for Insuring Your Luxury Car
Determine how you plan on using your luxury car:
Are you planning on using your new luxury car on the weekends or just a couple nights of the week? Many people with luxury cars only use them for certain occasions and if that’s the case you could save money on your insurance. Many car insurance companies will offer lower rates for people who don’t put many miles on their car. The less the car gets driven, the less of a chance it could be in an accident or need maintenance repairs. So figure out how you’ll be using the car and the keep the miles down if possible.

Join your vehicle’s prestige car club or exclusive owners club:
Some insurance companies will actually send insurance offers at lower rates knowing that you’re a member of your car’s owner club. Other advantages include getting inside information from other members and receiving tips about the vehicle’s maintenance (i.e. where you can get a reasonable price on repairs)

Find a car insurance company that fits your needs:
Keep in mind that some car insurance companies may not offer insurance, or reasonable insurance, for your luxury car. You may have to search around for the best one, but it’s worth it to do your homework and get a good price. Try contacting your auto dealer for suggestions.