Consumer Resources for CA Car Insurance
Welcome California consumers. We understand the concerns that you have trying to
get insurance when you have had a few tickets or accidents or even some credit
problems that may put you and your family in need of a State Mandated Insurance
Plan to secure insurance coverage
This website will help you locate the appropriate insurance that you need regardless of what insurance record you have had. California Certified Producer Agents are available to help you.
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Auto insurance high risk selection is the process by which vehicle insurers determine whether or not to insure an individual and what insurance premium to charge. Depending on the jurisdiction, the insurance premium can be either mandated by the government or determined by the insurance company in accordance to a framework of regulations set by the government. Often, the insurer will have more freedom to set the price on physical damage coverages than on mandatory liability coverages.
SUMMARY
SB 858 would require the California Auto Assigned High Risk Insurance Plans (CAARP)
to provide agents and insurers, upon request, with confidential policyholder
information for the
purpose of allowing the requesters to offer CAARP policyholders competing auto
insurance coverage.
What is the difference?
CAARP Existing law
1. Requires the Insurance Commissioner to approve an "assigned risk" plan for
auto insurance, known as CAARP (California Auto Assigned Risk Plan).
Drivers who are unable to obtain insurance coverage from the voluntary market
are "assigned" by CAARP to specific insurance companies on a
fair share basis.
2. The Insurance Information and Privacy Protection Act requires insurers,
agents and insurance-support organizations to protect the confidentiality of
policyholder information. According to the Department of Insurance (DOI),
information submitted to CAARP is
covered by this Act.
3. The Information Practices Act, and other state laws, generally require the
DOI and other state agencies to protect the confidentiality of information
provided to the government. In addition, the provisions of CAARP state that
specified information provided by the Plan
to DOI regarding applicants shall be kept confidential by DOI.
What is proposed and what will it change?
This bill
1. Includes legislative intent to require CAARP to make available to insurers,
agents and brokers, on request, information about CAARP policyholders in order
to allow these insurers, agents and brokers to offer CAARP policyholders
insurance coverage through a source other than CAARP.
2. Would require CAARP to provide policyholder information in both paper and
electronic form upon payment of a fee covering the cost of producing the
information. The requester shall have the option of receiving information on a
statewide basis or by geographic region. The information shall include all of
the following:
"(1)The name and address of each named insured who applied for a plan policy
within the previous 12-month period.
"(2)For each vehicle insured by the policy, the description, vehicle
identification number, and
garaging address.
"(3) For each driver listed on the policy, the name, age, gender, marital
status, and driver's license number, and whether the driver is required to file
proof of insurance with the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to Division 7
(commencing with Section 16000) of the Vehicle Code.
"(4)Coverages and limits requested."
3. Would require that this confidential information could only be used for the
purpose of offering auto insurance, excluding CAARP coverage. Any requester must
agree to indemnify CAARP with respect to any liability related to the use of the
information.
4. States that the insurance-related information provided under this bill is
subject to the restrictions set forth in the Insurance Information and Privacy
Protection Act.
Why would my California auto insurer cancel my policy?
Technically, in most states your insurer may cancel your policy only if:
you fail to pay your premium;
you lose your driver's license;
you are guilty of material misrepresentation during the application process
i.e., you fail to notify your insurer of a recorded violation, such as a drunken
driving, or possession of drugs or any illegal activity offense; or
you fail to report a substantial change of risk, such as buying a new high
performance sports car to replace an old high mileage family sedan.
However, your insurer can choose not to renew your policy for a variety of
reasons.
Do you have a bad driving record? Have you received a lot of speeding tickets?
Have you ever been caught driving drunk? Not only are these scenarios considered
unsafe and illegal, they are justifiable cause for your insurer to label you a
bad risk and refuse to renew your policy. Some underwriters may feel compelled
to cancel policies after only one accident.
Where do you live? Has the neighborhood changed in the last few years? Have the
accident or crime rates risen noticeably? As regions are reassessed
periodically, their status could change and you could suddenly find yourself
living in a higher risk area, where your insurer's rates may not be adequate to
cover losses.
What do I do if my California Insurance Company cancels or refuses to
renew my policy?
Even "good" drivers can find themselves in the position of being dropped by
their current carrier. Reasons range from a couple of moving violations, or
multiple accidents, or other serious violations that make you a high risk to
situations outside your control, such as when insurers in your state are
suffering severe business losses. Overall rises in claims or losses can cause
insurers to become highly selective in determining whom they can afford to offer
to insure.
That is why it is important to note that if you are licensed to drive, by law,
you are eligible for insurance. However, your options for new coverage may be
limited. Each state has created and regulates a market of last resort for those
who cannot otherwise obtain coverage. These groups have various names, depending
on the state you live in, such as assigned risk auto insurance plans or the
residual market, or the high risk pool. Your agent or insurance producer will
know more about the particulars in your state.
Regardless of the reason you were dropped or canceled by your insurer, you need
to act immediately to get another policy. Under no circumstance should you drive
your vehicle without knowing one hundred percent that you have current
insurance. Call your local agent to help you find new coverage. If you do find
yourself in the assigned risk residual market pool, the price may be higher but
it may be your only alternative in maintaining your freedom to drive.
How do I keep my California car insurance company from canceling my
policy?
The most obvious way to maintain your low risk status is to keep a clean
California DMV driving record. If you've been in an accident, consider taking a
defensive driving course. Even those of us who have been driving for years
rarely know the simple tricks to preventing accidents through defensive driving.
Also, look into purchasing special safety and security features for your car,
such as anti-lock brakes and an alarm system, or try OnStar. Your CAARP
insurance agent can give you further tips on how to convince your insurer you're
a safe driver.
What steps can I take to reduce my CA Car Insurance rates?
California Insurers often discount their rates in order to encourage good
driving practices and the use of safety and security precautions. Depending on
the insurance company, you can often lower your rates from 5 to 55 percent.
Sometimes the investment you make in your vehicle is worth the discount, and
sometimes it's simply worth some peace of mind. For example, the purchase of
anti-lock brakes merits a discount from nearly every insurer, but the discount
probably will not pay for the brakes which cost several hundred dollars during
the normal life of your vehicle. Anti-lock brakes are touted, nonetheless, as a
life-saving feature and deserves serious consideration when safety is a top
priority. Insurers generally offer discounts for:
Safety Features Anti-lock brakes, air bags and passive restraint systems i.e.,
automatic seat belts.
Defensive Driving Clean violation record, driver's education courses for
teenagers and defensive driving or accident prevention courses for adults
insurance discounts for the latter are required in some states.
Security Systems Alarms, electronic locks, VIN etching and automotive disabling
devices.
Changing The Driving Habits Try commuting by public transit, using a company
vehicle for work-related travel and car-pooling.
Formal Agreements Not to Drink and Drive The availability of a discount for
signing such an agreement varies among insurers and states, however is a
powerful idea that works.
Buying Home Owners and Auto Policies from the Same Company If you own a home and
an auto and you are insured by two different companies, check into the cost of
carrying both policies by one insurer. Your agent can give you guidance as to
which insurers offer discounts. This will always offer your the best buy, so put
it in your corner when shopping for rates
You can also lower your insurance rates by requesting higher deductibles, which
is the amount of money you pay out of pocket before you make a claim. Increasing
your deductibles on collision and comprehensive coverage from $100 to $250, or
even $500, will bring your rates down. Moreover, you may not need collision and
comprehensive coverage if you drive an older car. Ask your agent which discounts
are available to you.
Finding the best coverage and lowest prices for Auto insurance is not that
difficult to shop for. High Risk Auto Insurance consumer help online. Discuss
coverage options, rate and buy your policy. To help make shopping, comparing
rates and saving money on your insurance easier, Assigned High Risk Insurance
Organization provides free auto insurance comparison rates 24 hours a day, seven
days a week. Get competitive non biased help with Receive a quote from our
consumer comparison rating service any time day or night, over the Internet.
Spend a couple of minutes answering a few questions about yourself, your driving
record, vehicle information and insurance needs. Local Assigned Risk Insurance
Agents will tell you how much their company would charge you for an annual
premium for your auto insurance, in addition to rate comparisons from other
major auto insurers including most household name brand insurance companies in
your specific zip code.
Getting yourself out of the high risk insurance or assigned risk driver pool
category is going to take a little time. You may need to consider the following,
cleaning up a bad driving record and paying your bills on time. And some factors
will fade with time. Most insurance companies rate a driver with no points for
three years as a good or preferred risk. But there are a few things you can do
to cut high risk auto insurance costs now! Consider driving an older car and
dropping collision and comprehensive coverages. Or, if you can accept the risk,
carry lower amounts of other standard coverages.
And don't forget that shopping online is a great way to access assigned risk
auto insurance PAIP certified producers and companies that serve Local Consumers
in our area. You may even be able to comparison shop between several offers. If
you get a FREE QUOTE from each of the national quoting services you will have
the best service from someone Local in your area.
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RESOURCES TO ASSIST IN THE PRICING, QUALIFICATIONS AND PURCHASE OF APPROPRIATE
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