Hail Damage & Car Insurance Claims

If you live in the midwest, or other select areas across the United States, there’s every chance you’ve witnessed a hail storm. Hail storms are most common during the spring and summer, and unfortunately, they can cause significant damage to your vehicle if you don’t have a garage, canopy, or other protective covering.

Is Hail Damage Covered by Car Insurance?

You may be wondering, “Does car insurance cover hail damage?” The answer is yes, but only certain types of plans will cover damage caused by something other than a collision or accident.

What Type of Car Insurance Covers Hail Damage?

Hail damage repairs are covered by comprehensive insurance plans. Comprehensive coverage insures drivers and vehicle owners for things outside of vehicular accidents, such as vandalism, theft, fire, storms, and any event that is typically referred to as “an act of God.”

Therefore, damage caused by fallen trees, strong winds, and other nature-related hazards such as hail is covered if you pay for a comprehensive insurance plan.

Does A Hail Damage Claim Raise Car Insurance Rates?

The short answer is no, a hail damage claim won’t raise your car insurance rates. However, frequent claims of any type could eventually raise your insurance premiums.

Additionally, in some cases your hail damage repair costs will still come out of your own pocket even if you try to file a car insurance claim.

Is it Worth Fixing Hail Damage on A Car?

Hail damage car repair costs vary depending on the type of vehicle you drive, where you’re located, and the extent of the damage. If you file a claim with your insurance for hail damage, your deductible will need to be paid in full before the policy kicks in. In such cases, it may only be worth filing a claim if your vehicle has extensive damage that would cost far more than your deductible, such as a broken windshield, windows, or deep hail dents in the body of your car.

Additionally, where and how the hail damage is repaired will affect the cost. Be sure to compare prices between local auto body repair shops before settling on one, so if you do have to pay out of pocket you can get the best deal available.

Contact Accurate Auto Insurance Today

If you’re searching for trusted, low cost auto insurance in Illinois, or dependable comprehensive coverage, contact Accurate Auto Insurance today.

There are many factors that can impact insurance rates for carriers of auto and motorcycle insurance in Illinois. Your location is one of the many variables that can lower or raise your car insurance premiums.

How Does A Zip Code Affect Car Insurance?

There are numerous factors that can affect auto insurance rates, including age, credit score, driving record, car make and model, marital status, and more. Where you live, and therefore where your vehicle spends most of its time when it’s not in use, can greatly impact your rates, too. This is because insurance companies look at all factors that might result in drivers filing claims, including location-related risks.

Individuals who live in states with a high rate of uninsured or underinsured drivers may see higher premiums. The same goes for individuals who live in high crime areas. If your vehicle is stolen, broken into, or damaged due to vandalism, this usually results in a claim.

Additionally, drivers who live in rural areas might face higher premiums because most local residents have to drive long distances, which results in more time on the road and an increased risk of car accidents. However, cities are known to have more traffic and higher property damage statistics. Local weather can also affect car insurance premiums.

How Does Car Theft Affect Insurance Premiums?

If you file multiple claims for theft losses in a limited time period, you can see your insurance rates begin to climb. This is because your insurance company will realize there is a high risk associated with insuring your vehicle. This is also why individuals who live in neighborhoods with higher crime rates typically see higher premiums.

Visit our blog if you’re interested in learning how to prevent car break ins and ways to lower your insurance rates by proactively protecting your vehicle against theft.

How to Avoid Higher Rates

Insurance companies all have different ways of calculating insurance rates by zip code, county, state, etc. Unfortunately, moving from one location to another to reduce your car insurance costs isn’t typically feasible or sensible. The best way to avoid high insurance premiums is to pay attention to other factors that affect rates and adjust the ones you can. This might include installing anti-theft equipment on your vehicle, or reducing your daily mileage.

Accurate Auto Insurance – Cheap Car Insurance Quotes

If you’re looking for the cheapest car insurance in your area, from Illinois to Arizona, Accurate Auto Insurance has you covered. Contact us today to get the most affordable insurance quotes in minutes, regardless of where you live. Whether you need cheap car insurance in Chicago, Waukegan, Springfield, or other cities and states throughout the country, we can help!

We serve drivers in Illinois, Indiana, Arizona, Michigan, Texas, Nevada, Ohio, Wisconsin, and more.

The term “totaled” comes from the insurance term “total loss.” Put simply, when the cost of repairing a damaged vehicle exceeds the cost (or a set percentage of the cost) of repairing the vehicle, it makes little financial sense to spend the money for repairs. The insurance company calls the vehicle a total loss, and gives you cash for the vehicle.

Many drivers are upset when an auto insurance company tells them that their car is totaled. When we think of a totaled car we think of a mangled pile of steel. Since the decision to total the car is based on the amount of money it would cost to fix the car, some vehicle owners (especially those who are attached to their vehicle) will want to look for other options.

In certain states, drivers have some recourse, and can work with the insurance company on determining what will happen to the vehicle. For instance, shopping around for better estimates from trusted body shops, or finding shops that will use non-manufacturer parts, may lower the cost of fixing the vehicle. Check out state websites and know your rights.

It’s important to keep in mind that the total insurance companies are working with includes the cost of repairs, your rental vehicle, towing, storage, and any other incidental expenses associated with a lengthy and complicated repair. You may also be able to keep the vehicle if you are hopelessly attached (it is your property after all), but the insurance company will not be able to get paid by the salvage yard, and this may affect your payout.

How “Actual Cash Value” is Calculated

If your vehicle ends up totaled, despite your efforts to work with your insurance company, you will be given the “actual cash value” of the vehicle (or “ACV”). This amount is based on a claim adjuster’s estimate of what the car may have been worth prior to the accident. In many cases, the payout provided falls short of the true cost of replacing the vehicle.

Totaled vehicles are not good for the driver, and not good for the insurance company. So drive safe and avoid accidents! 

If the airbags deploy, is the car totaled?

One commonly held belief is that deployed airbags automatically render the car ‘totaled.’ While deployed airbags alone will not total a car, the cost of replacing the airbags can push the calculation for repairs higher than the ACV of the vehicle. Each individual airbag is likely to cost at least $1,000, with additional costs to replace modules or other related parts.

What happens if you total a leased car?

An accident with a leased car can be very expensive for the driver. If you total your leased vehicle in an accident, your insurance will be on the hook to pay out the ACV to the leasing company. The problem that can arise in this situation is that the driver will still be liable for the remaining payments on their leasing schedule. Oftentimes, the amount remaining on the lease exceeds the insurance payout, causing the driver to pay the rest.

Making the Most Out of a Wrecked Car

If your vehicle has been totaled in an accident, it is important that you take the following steps following the accident in order to salvage the unfortunate situation as best as you can. Following a total loss accident, both you and your insurer have options. Before explaining these, you should know the things to do after your accident.

Clean out your car.

Be sure to remove all personal belongings and papers from the vehicle. Depending on what happens next, you may not be able to access them later.

Report the accident and file your claim immediately.

A total loss claim can sometimes take weeks to complete, and the sooner you file your claim, the sooner the insurer can begin working on it. Don’t procrastinate!

Have the vehicle towed to the insurer’s preferred repair shop.

If you think there’s a good chance the car has been totaled, have it towed to a body shop preferred by the insurance company. Many companies have shops they work with, and you may speed up the claims process by using one of their shops. You can have your car towed to the tow company’s lot, but they’ll probably charge a storage fee. The preferred shop will usually hold your car without this fee.

Locate your title.

This is no time for your title to go missing. If your car is a total loss, you’ll have to sign the title over to the insurance company. If you can’t find it or you’ve lost it, you’ll have to file for a lost title at the DMV, delaying the claims process.

Review your car loan.

Knowing the balance on your car loan can prepare you in case the outstanding loan is greater than the current value of your car. Insurance loss claims are not paid out on the basis of what you still owe but on the current value of the vehicle.

One form of protection against this situation is to purchase what is called gap insurance. This pays the difference between what your car is worth currently and the amount you still owe on your loan. A rule of thumb for gap coverage: If you are less than halfway through the term of your loan – say two years on a five-year loan – having gap insurance is probably a good idea.

Do your own research.

This is not a requirement, but doing research at websites like Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com) can help you determine if the payout offered by your insurer is reasonable. Also, if you’ve made any recent major upgrades, it’s a good idea to collect the receipts as the improvements may be a factor in your final payout.

Fill out all required paperwork quickly.

Total loss situations often require a lot of paperwork, and finishing it as quickly as possible helps to speed the process. If you have an outstanding loan on the car you’ll probably need a signed, notarized power of attorney transferring ownership to the insurer once the loan is paid off. Be sure to sign your name exactly as it appears on the car’s title.

The Insurer’s Options

In a total loss situation, your insurer can choose whether to replace your car or reimburse you with a check. If they offer a replacement, it must be a make and model comparable to your totaled vehicle, and the condition must be as good as or better than your car was before the accident. The insurer must also buy from a legitimate dealer, and if it’s not more than three-years-old, provide a warranty.

Your Options

• You can reject the replacement vehicle offered by your insurer, and the company can then settle the claim by paying you the price it would have paid for the replacement— including taxes and transfer fees.
• If within 30 days of receiving a cash settlement you find a replacement that costs more than the settlement, your insurer must either pay to cover the difference, find a cheaper car or negotiate a lower price.
• This requirement does not apply, however, if your settlement was based on the price of a replacement car you refused to accept.

Keeping Your Totaled Vehicle

If for some reason you want to keep your totaled vehicle, it can be fairly difficult to do under Illinois law. Some of the factors that impact this choice will include:

• To discourage “chop shops” – criminal operations that break cars down for their parts – Illinois law says if your totaled vehicle is less than 9 years old, you must turn it over to the insurer with the title.
• If the totaled vehicle is 9 years or older, you may keep it. However, it becomes a “salvage vehicle,” and these cannot be legally driven on Illinois roads.
• If your totaled vehicle has only sustained extensive hail damage but is otherwise drivable, your insurer may allow you to keep it.

Looking for Affordable Car Insurance?

We hope that you have found our explanations helpful, and that you’ll think of us for instant auto insurance quotes. This article is brought to you by Accurate Auto Insurance, where even less-than-perfect drivers get the lowest auto insurance quotes every day.

First, it’s important to make sure you understand exactly what a totaled car is. To put it simply, it’s when it’s determined to be a “total loss,” or it would cost more to repair the car than the car is worth. Read this for more information on what a totaled car is.

Then check out these common questions (and answers!) on totaled cars. We hope you never have to undergo this experience—but it’s always best to be prepared.

1) How common is “total loss”?

A totaled car, or a car determined to be a “total loss,” is more common than you might think. According to CCC Information Services lead analyst Susanna Gotsch, 14.24% of all vehicle appraisals in 2013 were determined to be a total loss.

2) Who decides if my car is totaled?

Both your insurance provider and your state’s laws determine whether your car is totaled or not. Be sure to be aware of both your insurance coverage and how your state defines total loss.

3) What is the worth of my totaled car?

Your insurance provider bases this off of the market value of your car right before the accident. It’s determined by type of car, mileage, condition, standard features, extra features, and where you live.

If you want to figure out what your car’s market value was before the accident on your own, you have a couple of options. You can use websites like Kelly Blue Book to look up a typical market value of a car like yours or you can get another estimate from an appraiser.

4) What is gap insurance and how does it work? Do I need gap insurance?

Gap insurance is important to be aware of. If necessary, gap insurance can cover the difference between what your car is worth and the balance you owe on it. If you’re financing or leasing a car, gap insurance could be helpful for you—especially if you are less than halfway through an auto loan. If you own your car or if you owe less on the loan than the car is worth, gap insurance isn’t necessary.

If you have a totaled car and you are in the first half of financing or leasing a car, you could still owe money on a loan—for the same wrecked car. That’s where gap insurance can come in handy.

Any questions? Contact Accurate Auto today

To learn more about how a totaled car could affect you, feel free to contact the auto insurance experts at Accurate Auto today. Check out our FAQ for more answers to common questions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMuGbE4d3Z4

Hank gets fired!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoX6UjRj4Xo

SR22 Insurance Featuring “Hank”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3LROdm7has

Customer Service featuring “Hank”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-EOutjnZQQ

Bad Credit featuring “Hank”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzPWVtbeWPs

Mr Sav-A-Lot – Mint Tea

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrrqyoG-Ac4

Pretty Packaging

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djv6FwNaUig

Gecko Smash!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6VuVjy7X5E

Fortunately there are auto insurance companies that specialize in classic cars. Often the same companies insure classic boats, modified cars, and sometimes even priceless heirlooms. Since these companies specialize in antiques and collectibles, they will be better able to determine the insurance value of your car, ensuring that the loss of your vehicle, should it occur, will not be financially devastating.

Several qualifications must be met for classic auto insurance. Most importantly, these insurance companies will not insure daily use vehicles. Often a limit of 5,000 miles per year is imposed, to allow for pleasure driving and short trips to shows (for longer trips the vehicle should be towed). This is the same limit enforced by motor vehicle divisions when you apply for historic license plates. Next you must check with the insurance provider to make sure your car really is an antique or collectible car. Some 1970s and 1980s models will not qualify, but if your car was made before 1972, you’ve got an antique on your hands, no doubt. Finally you must make note of all modifications, updates, and restorations made to the car. A classic car insurance agent is an expert who will know the true value of your vehicle, and can ensure that any repair work done to it uses the appropriate parts.

If you choose to go with a classic car insurer rather than a typical auto insurance policy, you may be surprised by how affordable your premium quote is. This is mostly because of the low miles the car will clock on the road – it is out of harm’s way most of the time, and therefore a very low risk to insure, even if it is worth $30,000 or more. Inexpensive classic car insurance can also be obtained for vehicles completely off the road for restoration or storage, covering theft, fire, and other non-collision losses.

So if you are thinking of restoring a car, it is probably unwise to do so if you must use that car for everyday driving. Your insurance company won’t cover the true value of the car, and you could be out all of your work in the case of an accident. But if you have a beauty that you can afford to limit the miles on, it may be worth keeping her off the streets in order to qualify for classic car insurance. With a low premium and the peace of mind that you are insured for the full value of your investment, you can better focus on your hobby.

Gap insurance can sometimes be purchased on newer used cars, where the dealer price of the car still may be significantly higher than an insurance payout would cover. Some insurance companies will only cover brand new cars, however.

So how do you get gap insurance? First ask your current or prospective insurance provider if they can give you gap coverage. Just like you would shop around for your basic auto insurance premium, you may want to shop around for your gap coverage. It is usually very affordable, and worth the extra cost to ensure that you do not end up carless and saddled with thousands of dollars in debt. Some dealers may try to sell you their own auto gap insurance as an add-on, but you can often get a better deal by purchasing this special coverage on your own.

Gap insurance is often required when leasing a car. It the coverage may be included in the lease price, but if not you will need to make sure you are covered. Since you didn’t purchase the car, the dealer will lose money if it is totaled. So they may want repayment from you immediately.

Finally, if you have an older car you are probably not eligible for gap coverage. If you still owe money on your older car, the best thing to do to protect your investment is to drive safely!

Whether or not to purchase gap insurance is a decision only you can make as a car owner, balancing the supplementary insurance premium cost against the potential risk of finding yourself with a totaled car in the future. Like all insurance, you never know when you might need it, but you sure are relieved that you are covered when an accident happens.

This article is brought to you by Accurate Auto Insurance, where Chicago, Illinois and Indiana drivers get quick, free auto insurance quotes.

Top Ten Websites for Auto Insurance Laws

Searching all over the web to find out your state’s coverage minimums? Need to find out your rights as an auto insurance consumer? We’ve put together a list of some of the top websites for insurance law information.

1. Insurance Information Institute
http://www2.iii.org

At the Insurance Information Institute you can find out how auto insurance works, determine how much coverage you need, and learn the steps of filing a claim. You can also explore statistics for things like teen driving, driving and cell phones, etc, and watch videos of what to do after an accident.

2. Auto Insurance Remedy
http://www.carinsurancerates.com/

At Auto Insurance Remedy you can review the lists of minimum coverage requirements by state, and read articles from some of the nation’s top insurance providers.

3. Consumer Action
http://www.consumeraction.gov/caw_insurance_auto.shtml

At this federal government site you can find links and contact information for your local insurance regulator, and read tips on finding insurance that complies with state laws. Consumer Action also helps you know your rights as a consumer, and provides advice on staying safe while researching auto insurance online.

4. About.com on Auto Insurance
http://personalinsure.about.com/cs/vehicleratings/a/blautominimum.htm

About.com has good articles on anything you want to know about insurance, by a real life auto insurance expert! This link is to a list of state minimums, with lots of in-article links to state law information, and an educational video.

5. Wikipedia on Auto Insurance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_insurance

While you should always visit your state’s official site for your specific insurance minimums and insurance consumer rights, Wikipedia has a comprehensive article covering auto insurance and auto insurance laws around the world. The article also contains good general information on coverage levels and insurance terms, and links to articles by reputable sources. If you are completely new to auto insurance, Wikipedia is an excellent place to start!

6. CyberDrive Illinois

http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/vehicles/mandatory_insurance.html

At the official website for the Illinois Secretary of State (Illinois’s DMV), you can review Illinois state minimums, find out where to purchase Illinois auto insurance, and read about vehicle codes and laws that affect Illinois drivers.

(Note: We’re based in the Chicago area, so we’re including these two Illinois government sites – #8 and #9. Every state has different laws and regulations, so we recommend that you go to your state’s specific website(s) to get the appropriate information.)

7. Illinois Department of Insurance
http://insurance.illinois.gov/

The Illinois Department of Insurance provides news and articles for consumers, businesses, and insurance providers. Stay up to date on the latest insurance laws in Illinois, and know your rights as a consumer of auto insurance.

8. Accurate Auto Insurance
https://accurateautoins.com/

Accurate Auto Insurance provides definitions of insurance terms and descriptions of insurance laws via their helpful “Insurance Information” articles. A leading provider of Illinois auto insurance, Accurate specializes in guiding the consumer who is new to auto insurance, or who has had past auto insurance troubles.

Hopefully this list helps you find the information you need about your state’s insurance laws, and provides you with the knowledge to help make purchasing auto insurance online a safe and painless process.

This list was compiled by Accurate Auto Insurance.

Believe it or not, companies actually create psychological profiles about the drivers and the cars they drive. When you think of how emotionally connected people can be to their cars, this makes a lot of sense. Do you ever feel that your car is a kind of projection of your own personality? Of course. The things we buy and show to the world often reflect our own images of self, and the way we want others to see us. So, it only follows that excessive horsepower could be correlated with the driver’s own aggressive tendencies. Conversely, low horsepower may signal a more practical, less risky personality.

Are colors also important predictors of accident risk? You might think so. For one thing, colors could vary in their visibility to other drivers and pedestrians. Colors might also match up to personality types like “red equals bold and aggressive”. But the truth is that, as far as we can tell, insurance companies do not explicitly factor your car’s color into rate calculations. There is some debate as to whether your car’s color can be determined by its VIN number, which the insurer could use even if you didn’t state the color; but we couldn’t find any conclusive evidence that this routinely used in evaluating insurance rates.

Insurance companies base some of their rate decisions on historical data about accident frequency, injuries, property damage and repair costs related to specific vehicle models. A particular model that consistently shows more collision, liability and medical costs than any other mid-size sedan will reflect those costs in relatively higher premiums for that model.

Body styles enter into rate calculations as well. Of the top-20 2010 car models with the highest premiums, four are 2-door convertibles (“ragtop” sports cars), and nine are 2-door coupes (“hardtop” sports cars). Nearly all of the top 20 have either 8-cylinder or 12-cylinder engines. And bearing names like Porsche, Mercedes and BMW, you know they carry high price tags and hefty repair costs. Conversely, the models with lowest premiums tend to be small, practical SUVs and minivans.

So let’s get to it (drum roll please). With credit to a recent study by Quadrant Information Services, the ten car models with the highest average premiums are:

1. Porsche 911 Carrera GT2: $2944
2. Mercedes S65 AMG: $2863
3. Porsche Panamera TurboAWD: $2837
4. Mercedes CL600: $2755
5. Audi R8: $2752
6. Porsche Panamera S: $2745
7. Mercedes SL600: $2716
8. Porsche 911 Carrera Turbo: $2706
9. Mercedes CL65 AMG: $2700
10. BMW M6: $2689