Road unworthy vehicles are not limited to the ones that have been on the road for decades or the ones whose taillights are broken but also the ones without auto insurance. In other words, you should not let your vehicles out of the garage or the driveway if you don’t have insurance. The reason why car insurance is crucial is that anything can happen on the road. With an auto insurance policy, you don’t have to think of how broke you are and how you cannot afford to fix the paintwork for the vehicle you scratched, your insurer will repair or replace your car in the event of an accident, and you will be on the right side of the law. Auto insurance is important as your drivers’ license.
Image Source: Pexels
In a bid to meet this legal requirement, most people end up making costly mistakes accidentally, and others do it knowingly. Some of these mistakes include:
Paying too much
While it’s a legal prerequisite to drive, no one enjoys buying car insurance. To get the process over with, most people end up getting and paying for insurance offered by the first insurer they meet. But, you shouldn’t rush the search. Shop around for the best deal by collecting insurance quotes from top insurers, then compare their rates against what they cover, and also how much the policy costs.
Failing to compare similar items
When searching for the best deal, you should look at the individual components in the quotes separately. The most important elements to look out for include property damage liability, bodily injury liability, underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage, comprehensive covers, and collision covers among others.
If you are new to this, check with the state department of motor vehicles to identify the coverages that you must have.
Failure to buy a commercial auto liability policy
If you are a business owner, you should know that you need commercial car insurance, not just the personal auto liability coverage. The commercial cover will be necessary if the vehicle is involved in an accident in the line of duty. Look out for insurance policies with business-related terms. Otherwise, you will be left with expensive litigation that you’ll have to pay out of pocket.
Providing inaccurate or insufficient information in the application
If you want to get the most accurate quote, you must provide accurate information in the application form. Failing to provide the right details will leave you underinsured or overinsured. While some habits and past DUIs might put you in the high-risk category, it is the safest way of obtaining a fair quote. Keep in mind that if your insurer finds out that you are lying, you may be forced to pay higher premiums or the company could cancel your policy. So always provide accurate details of your home, driving habits, and the exact engine size and age. Also, don’t lie in your application.
Failure to update your policy after a major life event
You must update your policy after a divorced marriage, moving to a new state or city, or adding a newly licensed teen driver to your home.
