Important Ways to Prevent Auto Theft and Problems with Insurance

source: insure4usa

The vehicle that someone has is one of the biggest possessions, aside from their home. And the person will find that since it is something that is highly valuable that it is at an increased rate for auto theft, while can lead to problems with the person's insurance. It is not uncommon for a person to have their vehicle involved in some type of auto theft, and then discover that their auto insurance policy is not going to help them in the slightest. The mistake that people make is to assume that the auto insurance policy that they have automatically pays for the auto theft that could happen. But, this is not always the case. Many people find that they must specifically ask for auto theft coverage and then go into detail about what they want this coverage to have in order to make sure that they are protected. And this is a good idea. If you want to make sure that you minimize the potential for insurance problems should your vehicle become stolen, then you must outline what you want the insurance company to do and have this included with your policy so that there are no mistakes that can be made.

Being prepared with the proper insurance is important, however, the person should make sure that they are preventing the auto theft that could target them. The good news is that there are tons of things and products on the market that the person can do and buy in order to prevent the theft of their vehicle. One of the first things that the person needs to do is to make sure that they have anti-theft security systems installed. They are going to find that most vehicle are going to have these anti-theft systems already in place, however, most people that have their vehicle stolen do have these already installed on their vehicle. These are systems that can be easily over turned by professional thieves. Thus, the person should install their own aftermarket security system in place for the best security that they can get. And just because your car is not considered one of the most commonly stolen vehicles, the person will find that this does not actually mean that the person is safe from theft. Older cars are stolen since people are looking for the parts that are in the car, while newer cars are stolen due to the fact that they are going to be easy sells on the market.

There are several aspects that the person can do in order to ensure that their car is less of a target for auto theft and that they are not going to be affected by the insurance company. These are simple things that they can put into their everyday life and this will help to discourage their car from being such a prime target. First off, always park in areas that are well lit since no thief wants to steal a car that is parked underneath a light that is attracting attention. They prefer to steal from areas that are not well lit and are going to be easy to blend in with the darkness.

A locked car is something that most thieves are not going to take the time to fool with. Instead, those cars that leave their doors unlocked are going to be more susceptible targets for thieves to get. Therefore, always lock your car doors. And with this in mind, the more things that you have in your car, the more interesting it is to those that want to steal a car. The person will find that leaving things like iPod's or navigators in plain few can be a reason as to why their car is targeted.

Overall, the person should use their common sense on what they do with their car in order to ensure that the person is not going to experience a car theft. However, if this does happen, the person needs to make sure that they are contacting the police immediately since the sooner that police are contacted, the better the chances of them actually finding the car that has been stolen. The insurance company should be the second people that are called in order to get a claim under process and find out just what your options are in terms of getting a car replacement or so forth.

Must Do During Hurricane

As Hurricane Irene approaches the East Coast, we have prepared a few helpful safety tips related to your car, which can play a key role in surviving such a natural disaster. 
People will be affected in a wide range of ways from this storm system from direct home damage and power loss, to the interruption of goods and services. The most important tip is knowing that extreme weather is no place for driving. Don’t drive in the storm. Risks such as hydroplaning and striking unexpected submerged objects in deep puddles are too real, and emergency services will have their hands full. Don’t add to their challenges. 
That said, here are some things to consider.

Fill the gas tank. If your county loses power for days, it may be essential to drive to shelter or travel to obtain services. In good weather, that is an easy task, but when millions of other people also need a hotel, the distance you must drive can be considerable. And in the end, you may end up sleeping in the car.
Install new windshield wipers, or at least freshen the existing ones by wiping with a paper towel moistened with window cleaner. In our tests, we have found that simple action can often add months of service.

Check the tire pressure, including the spare tire. When it is time to go, you don’t want a simple flat tire to hold you back. If debris litters the streets, the chance of a tire puncture is much greater.

Pack a go-bag. It is highly recommended that each family member prepare a go-bag. Likewise, you should have a go-bag in the car, with cash, water, food, clothes, and other living essentials in case you have the need to bolt. Should the house sustain significant damage, you can’t count on being able to retrieve everything that you might otherwise want for travel.

Maps. Have paper maps with you, including an evacuation route printed from your state government’s website. A GPS with traffic services can prove valuable, but of course, some traffic information may be compromised by power outages. (Connecticut, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Virginia.)

Car charger. A cell phone can provide a vital lifeline to friends, family, and emergency services. Should the neighborhood lose power, make sure you have a charger in the car to power up your phone.

Check the windows. It seems simple, but it is important. Make sure the windows and sunroof are all closed tight.

Take pictures. This goes for the car, as well as the house. Snap a few before pictures in case you need to prove damage was caused by the storm.

Park the vehicle on high ground, removing the risk of flooding. A water-damaged car is an expensive, disappointing boat anchor.

Protect the garage. In the south, modern homes are built to hurricane codes, with structures and even garage doors engineered to withstand harsh storms. That is not the case for much of the region about to be introduced to Irene. Consider parking your car outside, tight against the garage door—sideways—to block high-speed winds and hopefully preserve the door’s integrity. Should true hurricane-force winds break through the garage door, the storm can do serious structural damage. With an attached garage, that damage can quickly translate to the house.

Insurance paperwork. If possible, keep a copy of the car insurance paperwork in a Ziplock within your go bag. Should the car be damaged, don’t delay calling the insurance company for days. Chances are, you’re not alone. The insurance phone lines will be clogged, and the local repair shops will quickly be booked up.

Evacution. If you decide to drive away from the storm, before the harsh winds arrives, drive safely. Don’t speed, especially in the rain. The faster you drive, the greater the risk of hydroplaning—when water causes a vehicle's tires to lift off the road surface. Stick to major roads. Avoid short cuts, as they are more likely to have problems, especially after the storm (trees down, flooding), and less likely to have emergency workers keeping the road clear. Try to limit the family to one car, so as to minimize road congestion. And stay away from flooded areas and downed power lines. 
With some quick preparation, your car can play a key role in weathering the storm. Good luck.

Save Cash On Your Insurance Rates

Saving money on car insurance is something that everyone in the world … especially right now want to do.  Did you know that it is actually one of the easiest things in the world to do?  Well, I did not until I actually did just a little bit of research.  Below, I am going to explore some of the ways that you can cut the costs on your car insurance premiums and make sure that you get the most of your policy!
One of the first things on my list is going to be do not … I repeat, do not modify your car or truck.  If you are thinking about it, it is going to, in the long run going to catch up with you in the form of a higher car insurance premium.  So make sure that you stay away from the modifying of your car as it will save you a whole lot of money!
The next thing that can save you a lot of money is not filing a claim with you car insurance company if the amount is five hundred and under – to be honest, you can save up to 30% on your car insurance premium by not filing small claims … that’s a lot right?  Stay tuned for more tips and tricks in how to save some cash on your car insurance premiums!