Auto Insurance in California - What You Need Now & Savings on the Way
Posted by Marc Marseille | Posted in Uncategorized | Posted on 01-02-2010
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As with most states, California auto insurance law requires all motorists to carry three fundamental liability components.
Bodily Injury Liability or BIL of $ 15,000 per person
Total Bodily Injury Liability (Total BIL) of $ 30,000 per accident
Property Damage Liability (i.e. PDL) of $ 15,000 / accident
The insurance business knows this as 15k/30k/15k.
But to rely on this coverage alone, would be sheer foolishness. Multi-car collisions & legal fees commonly boost the cost of an automobile accident into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. If you’re at fault & you’ve stuck to the minimums, you and your estate, are now liable for the shortfall. So, you’ll have to sell your property, deplete your bank balance and maybe even more…how do you feel about that?
Based on experience, I recommend a bare minimum of 100/300/100 and more if you’re on the road often…particularly in the numerous elite communities of Southern California. Spending a few more dollars here is value for money.
So far, we’ve discussed only liability coverage and that doesn’t apply to injuries to you and damages or loss of your vehicle. What we will discuss from here on is not mandated by law in California.
First, let’s take care of you. Personal Injury Protection (PIP) provides injury, death and disability coverage for you & your passengers. I suggest PIP coverage of no less than $ 100,000.
Next, your vehicle. To most folks, full coverage means the combination of collision and comprehensive.
There are two purposes of collision insurance; to cover the cost of damages to your vehicle or, if your car is a total write-off, to provide a cash settlement. You are liable for a predetermined “deductible” amount and the insurer pays the balance.
Comprehensive protects your auto for theft and vandalism and damages caused by Mother Nature, animal impact and fire.
Another essential coverage is protection from uninsured drivers. You are not at fault, but he can’t or won’t pay. Your uninsured motorist coverage steps in.
Southern California auto insurance introduces “pay-by-mile” program.
California’s Insurance Commission has tabled a proposal allowing insurance companies to charge consumers based on actual miles driven. Just like buying prepaid minutes for your cell phone…you would pay in advance for a specified number of miles to be traveled in a fixed period of time. A monitor fixed to the vehicle will allow insurers to observe car usage & charge accordingly.
Consumer advocates are in favor of the proposal because charging for miles driven (as opposed to an insurance company’s projection) should mean savings to low mileage motorists.
And possibly more important, it will serve as an incentive for drivers to stay off the road. Environmentalists say this type of auto insurance in La Mesa and other California cities will encourage motorists to drive less…leading to lower fuel usage, reduced pollution & less road congestion.
The plan looks good to me.
