Realizing that one’s car has been stolen or is a total loss following a collision can be devastating on its own.

“What can be even more disheartening is when it is learned that more is owed to the lender on the vehicle than what insurance will provide as reimbursement,” said Lee Rogers of Florida Insurance in Orlando. “There is where car gap insurance can come in handy.”

What is Car Gap Insurance?

Car gap insurance is one of the many “extras” in automobile insurance that is not required by the state. As the name implies, cap gap insurance covers the difference between what standard insurance will pay when an automobile is lost or damaged beyond repair, and what is owed to the lender.

This type of insurance coverage is typically most beneficial for those leasing vehicles, those who have put down a low down payment when buying a car and for those with vehicles that have particularly high depreciation rates.

Here’s a hypothetical situation for how car gap insurance would come in handy. Say a new car is purchased for $30,000 and then 12 months later is totaled in an accident. Due to depreciation, traditional insurance says the vehicle is only worth $23,000. Depending what the down payment was, the purchaser could find themselves on the hook for several thousand dollars unless they have car gap insurance.

“Depreciation of a new vehicle is particularly important to keep in mind when considering insurance coverage,” Rogers said. “Most new vehicles lose up to 20 percent of their value 12 months after being driven off the lot.”

It is always better to purchase gap insurance sooner than later, but many car insurance companies allow policyholders to purchase gap coverage in the months following the purchase of a new vehicle.

There can be a cap on the amount of coverage that insurance companies will pay out in gap coverage.

The cost of gap coverage depends on the particular insurance provider but some calculate it as a single-digit percentage of a given premium.

Car gap insurance cannot only bring peace of a mind to a policy-holder but it can save thousands in out-of-pocket costs should a vehicle be totaled or stolen.

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit http://www.floridainsurance.com

Most teenagers look forward to the day that they can apply for a driver’s license. Unfortunately, most auto insurance companies consider teen drivers “high risk” due to their lack of experience behind the wheel, and must charge accordingly.

The motor-vehicle accident rates for 16 to 19-year-old drivers are higher than those of any other age category. Why is this?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, teen drivers have a low ability to identify hazards in the driving environment. Teens tend to take more risks while driving partly due to being overly confident. Teen drivers are also more likely than older drivers to engage in risky behaviors like speeding, tailgating, ignoring traffic signs and signals, taking illegal turns, passing dangerously and failing to yield to pedestrians. Teenagers are more prone to driving without wearing seat belts. Alcohol and/or drugs, which lead to many serious auto accidents, may also be a risk young drivers are willing to take.

Studies have shown that many graduated drivers licensing (GDL) programs are associated with reductions of up to 40 percent in fatal and injury crashes among 16-year-old drivers. Some states are planning to enact laws that require drivers with learner’s or exam permits or provisional licenses to display identifying decals on their license plates. 

But how does all this factor into the cost of insuring a teen driver?

Companies that issue auto insurance policies determine their rates by considering the amount of risk posed by the motorist – the less risk, the lower the premium rate. What this means for teenage drivers and/or their parents, is they must shop around to find an insurance provider that will take on such high risk drivers for a comparatively low premium.

Is it better to add a teen on to your family’s policy or to put him or her on a new policy? Teens and their parents may want to ask the agent who manages the family's existing policy.

For more information, visit www.floridainsurance.com on the Web or call 1.888.525.2210. 

With deductibles and limits and liabilities, it can be difficult navigating the waters of auto insurance.

If you don’t know your PIP (personal injury protection) from your PDL (property damage liability), here are some of the basic things to consider when shopping around for auto insurance.

It is first helpful to know the auto insurance rules in your state. Here in the Sunshine State, the minimum coverage is $10,000 for personal injury protection and $10,000 for property damage liability.

WHAT IS PIP?

Personal injury protection is there to cover you regardless of whether you are responsible for the accident or not. Also known as Florida No Fault Insurance, PIP also covers your children and members of your household, plus passengers in your automobile who do not have PIP coverage and don’t own a vehicle.

Florida requires that every driver carry PIP and property damage liability coverage for the duration of your licensing and registration period.

WHAT IS PDL?

Property damage liability insurance is insurance that covers damages you or members of your family cause to other people's property as a result of a vehicle crash.

Another type of coverage is bodily injury liability. This liability will pay for permanent injury or deaths when you are responsible for an accident. If you are sued, the insurance company will pay for injuries up to the limits set by your policy and provide you with legal representation if you are sued later.

Your company will pay for injuries caused by you and members of your household, even if they were driving another person’s automobile. It may also cover others who operate your vehicle with your consent. This coverage also provides you with legal defense in the event you are taken to court by the injured party.

When shopping around for auto insurance, it is important to ask agents about the details of each policy and what limits are right for you and your situation. 

For more information, visit www.floridainsurance.com on the Web or call 1.888.525.2210.

When applying for auto insurance, consumers want to get the best deal possible. In order to get the best deal, motorists need to provide accurate information on their applications.

By providing agents with accurate information, motorists can be sure that they are getting the lowest premium based on their exact circumstances. Determining your auto insurance premium will depend on many factors, including where you live, the kind of car your drive, how much you drive, how much coverage you want, your driving record and even your age. If an error is made in reporting any of these important facts, your rates will not be quoted correctly.

Auto insurance misquotes can happen when your application information differs from your actual driving record. All auto insurance companies ask states' motor-vehicle divisions to verify the records of drivers they insure. So, if you tell your insurance agent you have a perfect driving record, and it turns out that you don't, your insurance company will end up charging you higher premiums than your agent quotes. To avoid these kinds of misquotes, make sure you provide accurate information about your driving record and any other facts that could affect the cost of insurance, such as the make of your car or how far you commute to work. It may be a good idea to spend some time reviewing your driving history and calculating how much you use your vehicle and for what purpose. If you collect your information carefully, you have a better chance of providing information that will lead to an accurate quote.
Also, make sure you verify all of the information you’ve gathered before signing the application.

Getting the right quote on an auto insurance policy requires responsibility on the part of the consumer. The policy cannot be properly rated unless correct and complete information is provided. Without accurate information being given to the insurance companies, the quotes you receive will not be reflective of the rates you will actually end up paying. Supplying an insurance company with information that is inaccurate or incomplete will never result in lower premiums. Instead, it will simply waste your time, and you’ll end up paying higher rates than you anticipated.

When applying for auto insurance, contact a licensed Florida insurance agent who can help you review all of the information you need to secure an accurate quote. Even if you are searching for quotes online, make sure there is a licensed agent you can contact with questions.

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com

Due to the current status of the economy, drivers are looking for more ways to decrease their insurance premiums. There are a number of simple ways to reduce premiums that drivers should consider.

In today’s economy, finding cheaper car insurance is on everyone’s mind. All consumers need to save money wherever they can, and while car insurance is one of life’s basic necessities it’s also a place where people are looking to save money. While all drivers need to have adequate insurance in case of an accident, there are a number of ways that drivers can decrease their car insurance premiums, and there are many discounts given by various companies.

Many consumers can reduce their car insurance premiums by driving less. Many insurance carriers offer lower premiums to drivers who drive less than 10,000 miles per year. The rationale behind this discount is that if drivers keep their cars in the driveway more often, then they will be less likely to be involved in driving accidents. Fewer accidents mean fewer claims, and insurance companies have to spend less money.

Another way to reduce your insurance premiums is to raise the amount of your deductible. For most insurance companies, the higher your deductible is, the lower your premium is. The drawback to this is that if you do have an accident, you will pay more out-of-pocket at the time of the incident.

Another option may be to lower the amount of your coverage. This would be a good idea for those drivers who own older cars with low values. Instead of having collision coverage, you may just need basic liability coverage on an older car.

A simple way to achieve a low insurance premium is to keep your driving record clean. Drivers who have been in accidents and filed claims often see a significant increase in their rates; however, those who drive safely often see little to no increases in their premium rates. In this case, insurance companies are rewarding drivers for being responsible.

In addition, seniors may qualify for an over the age of 65 discount. They should check with their agent to see if this discount applies to them.

Finding ways to reduce your car insurance premiums can be difficult. You should contact a licensed insurance agent who will help you to review your options.

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com.

Due to rising costs of medical care and vehicle repair, Florida motorists may want to consider adding more coverage to their existing auto insurance policies. More coverage will provide motorists with more protection and peace of mind.

The rising costs of medical care and vehicle repair may create trouble for some Florida motorists. Currently, many Florida drivers only have the minimum amount of coverage required by Florida law because they want to keep their auto insurance costs low. While this may seem like a great way to save money, it may not be a good idea. Traffic accidents can be much more costly than anticipated, and it is important for Florida motorists to have the appropriate amount of coverage to cover both medical and vehicle expenses if they happen to be at fault. Should the damage you cause cost more than the minimum insurance you carry, you will be required pay the additional expenses and your assets could be in jeopardy. While the minimum amounts required by the state may be sufficient to cover the expenses that result from some traffic accidents, there may be incidents where the minimum required amount will not cover the entire cost of the incident. If a tragic accident occurs, Florida drivers will not only have to pay their deductible but will also have to cover the additional costs of medical care and vehicle repair. Being forced to do so can be financially devastating to a family.

According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Florida drivers are only required to carry $10,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and $10,000 for Property Damage Liability (PDL). PIP will cover personal injury that is inflicted on you, your children, members of your household, and certain passengers who lack PIP Insurance. PDL coverage pays for damages that you, or members of your family, cause to other people's property in an accident involving a motor vehicle. This required amount of coverage may seem like enough to protect you and your family from paying additional out-of-pocket expenses, but traffic accidents can cause serious damage to the vehicles involved and to those involved in the crash.

Having a policy that will cover the costs of both vehicle repair and medical care will save Florida motorists a considerable amount of money and grief. Purchasing additional cover will allow Florida drivers to drive with more confidence and an increased feeling of security. Florida drivers should discuss the possibility of increased coverage with a licensed insurance agent to determine what level of coverage is right for their family.

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com.

Hitting the books can make it easier for you to hit the road. Many insurance companies offer discounts to students who make the grade.

For teenagers, getting a driver’s license and their own car is a big step toward independence. However, many teenagers do not get to take this important step, as insurance rates for new drivers are costly. According to the Insurance Information Institute, adding a teenage driver to an existing policy can increase rates from 50 to 100 percent. This increased premium is often far too much for families, and the rates are nearly impossible for students who must pay for auto insurance on their own. However, students may still be able to realize their independence with the help of academic discounts.

Insuring teenagers is so costly because of the great risk that these new drivers pose to insurance companies. As teenagers are less responsible than adults and have higher accident rates than other age groups, insurance companies are forced to consider the significant amount of money a teenager may cost in filed claims when determining the appropriate rates. However, many insurance companies offer a good student discount to students who demonstrate their responsibility by maintaining good grades. Good students can receive rates that are up to 15 percent lower than other teenage drivers. These lowered rates can be the deciding factor when families are thinking of adding teenagers to their auto insurance policy.

While each insurance company has different eligibility requirements for good student discounts, most companies limit the student’s age of participation to 16-24, require that the student retain full-time status, and require proof that the student has been academically successful. Many insurance companies require students to have a 3.0 grade point average the semester before a policy is initiated or have earned a place on the Honor Roll or Dean’s List. Other companies determine a student’s eligibility based on standardized test scores, such as the SAT or PSAT.

Good student discounts can help ease the financial burden of insuring teenage drivers. Talk to a licensed Florida auto insurance agent to discuss good student discount options that may be available to your teenage children. Doing so will bring them one step closer to independence.

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com.

With television ads all claiming to save drivers money, Orlando auto insurance agency, Floridainsurance.com sees an increase in online quote requests from drivers seeking a second opinion.

The advertisements are everywhere – on the radio, television and even popping up on your computer. An insurance company can save you money; just visit their website.

The truth is, going to a major insurance company to get an auto insurance quote will not get you the best deal. Even websites that offer comparison rates are not giving actual rates. The only true way to get multiple, accurate insurance quotes is through a licensed Florida insurance agency that represents multiple companies.

Merging the auto insurance comparison power of an agency with the simplicity of the Internet is why FloridaInsurance.com is seeing more Orlando auto insurance shoppers turn to them instead of the insurance company websites advertised on television.

“We have made the process of requesting a quote at FloridaInsurance.com easier and more customer oriented than a lot of the insurance company websites,” states Lee Rogers of FloridaInsurance.com, “When drivers in Orlando and across the state of Florida visit us online, we provided accurate quotes from real companies and advice coming directly from one of our licensed insurance agents.”

While many companies try to attract direct customers, FloridaInsurance.com is competing with their powerful customer service. Many people prefer to work with an agency because they can keep their contact person if they have multiple policies through several companies, or have to switch to another carrier.

Most auto insurance companies focus on selling their own insurance lines. Companies that advertise price comparisons on their website are providing quotes from third party companies that may or may not be accurate. Such information that can affect an insurance rate, such as credit or a motor vehicle report, may not be represented in the quote displayed on the website.

When an agent presents auto insurance quotes, the rates reflect all the information provided to the insurance company relevant to the policy. Items such as credit and driving records along with household drivers and household member driving records are all taken into consideration when a company issues a firm quote.

The combination of classic insurance agency support with next generation online quoting is making FloridaInsurance.com a destination for Orlando and Florida drivers to get accurate insurance rate comparisons.

To learn more call 1.888.525.2210 visit Floridainsurance.com.

Broken windshields are illegal. Regardless of how the windshield was cracked, deductibles are usually not applicable to windshield repair.

You wake up in the morning to start your day. After you stumble into your slippers, you walk outside with coffee in hand on your way to collect the morning paper. As you walk by your car you see a few eggs. It doesn’t quite sink in, but then when you see your garden block resting in your sagging tempered windshield, it all makes sense. Someone had too much time on their hands and claimed your car as their victim.

After you hose the eggs off your car, the next thing you do (aside from grumbling to yourself about not having surveillance cameras) is contact your insurance company. Driving in the state of Florida with a shattered or slightly cracked windshield is illegal. Fortunately, windshield repair and replacement does not have a deductible so the whole process usually is free of charge so long as you have comprehensive coverage on your auto insurance policy.

Comprehensive coverage is there for vandalism, theft, or damages caused while the vehicle isn’t moving. If a vehicle is moving and damages are inflicted on the vehicle, the collision side of your policy will cover it.

Windshields, however, operate under different rules. You are going down the interstate and find yourself behind a truck hauling pebbles, only to have one pebble fall out and hit your windshield. The pebble probably cracked your windshield in the area of impact. If only your windshield was damaged (no body damages are present) then the windshield would be covered at no deductible under your comprehensive coverage, even though the vehicle was moving at the time the windshield was punctured.

Keep in mind, you must have comprehensive coverage in order to take advantage of the free windshield replacement. If you only have the state required minimum personal injury protection, your windshield repair will have to be taken care of at your own expense. Talk to a licensed Florida auto insurance agent to make sure your coverage is enough to protect your assets and prepare you for the surprises in life.

Whether it’s a surprise in your driveway or serious collision on the highway, it’s always good to know you are fully covered.

Milla Tawnie writes for Orlando auto insurance and Orlando home insurance agency, the Florida Insurance Group. To learn more or to get auto and home insurance quotes, visit FloridaInsurance.com.

The Shiny Possession without Florida Auto Insurance Coverage

You wax your car every other weekend. You change the oil every 2,999 miles. It looks great and it runs great. You are always proud to park in front of restaurants and coffee shops to show off your set of precious wheels.

One night, you accelerate from a traffic light after it turns green. Another driver crosses the intersection, runs a red light and directly into the passenger side of your car. All airbags are deployed. You look over and around just in time to see that the at fault driver’s car still works enough drive away from the scene of the accident.

Suddenly, that bargain insurance that offers little to no comprehension and/or collision coverage has become the most expensive policy you have ever purchased. Your car is totaled, the at fault driver can not be found, and an insurance check is not on its way.

Taking care of your automobile means keeping it fully covered. Contact the Florida Insurance Group at http://www.floridainsurance.com or call (407) 277-6000 to find affordable full coverage that works for you.