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How To Avoid Overpaying On Your Virginia Auto Insurance

LowCostAutoInsuranceInVirginiaThe only way you can find out if you are overpaying your car insurance is if you know your rights and how the insurance companies work. This article can help you in both fields.

Virginia auto insurance, as in the other states is required by law and a necessity you have to pay in order to be able to drive legally on the roads and highways of this state. But at the same time it does not need to be something that you need to overpay, like is not expensive enough. Vast majority of the car owners are eager to find a way to save on their auto insurance, but either they don’t know how or they aren’t sure that they can get a better deal. Lowering your premiums is not that hard and can be easily achieved, all you need to do is to follow few recommendations and know your rights.

How to tell if you are overpaying on your auto insurance premiums?

Most of the people shopped around for auto insurance in Virginia before they purchased their first insurance coverage, after what they have a tendency to settle. They think that because they made such a great deal then, they have nothing to worry about and the good rates are to be expected in future by default. However, that is what most people expect which often is out of touch with the real situation. The truth is that rate change over time; companies change their fees, your circumstances change and a lot of other things that may affect your coverage. Therefore, if you haven’t seen what’s offered on the car insurance market you could be overpaying?  The best way to check that is if you arrange a meeting with your insurance agent and see what raises your premiums. The insurance agent has a legal obligation to tell you all he knows and what might affect your insurance premiums.

What to do in case you are overpaying?

First of all you need to understand whether you are overpaying because of your actions or behavior on the roads, or because your VA car insurance company raised its rates on a company level. The insurance agent can help you get a better and more concise picture on the matter. The best solution is to go and check other offers. Your insurance agent has no legal right to prevent you from doing so, all he can do is to tell your current situation and where you stand with your car insurance policy. Nowadays, all you need is some time, an internet connection and a computer to get free quotes for comparison. Once you see other quotes you will know what your next move should be.

How to get rid of your current coverage?

You can simply get a new one and cancel the old expensive coverage. The insurer is obligated by the state laws to refund you for the unused premiums.

If you are truly interested in checking whether you are overpaying your car insurance premiums enter your zip above and you will get free quotes from some of the cheapest insurers in Virginia. This is the safest, fastest and most effective way to make sure that you are not overpaying your auto insurance.

What You Need To Know About the Policyholder And The Insurer’s Rights in Virginia

The Virginia auto insurance laws are not as complex as one would think. They are there to protect any party from fraud and to make sure that contracts are respected and fulfilled. Both policy holders as well as insurer’s have certain rights but at the same time, have certain obligations as well. Here is a short overview on those rights and obligations given by the state of Virginia. Following them can bring from low premiums to sever fines and penalties.

– The first thing that you are obligated to do as a policyholder is to correctly fill your application form. Failing to do so and the insurance company have the right to revoke your policy and not pay you if you make a claim.

– In case your car coverage is canceled, the insurance company is obligated by law to send you a 15 day warning notice. That is if you fail to pay your premiums on time, otherwise the notice needs to be for 20 days.

– You are obligated to notify your insurer if some of your circumstances in your policy are changes such as you moved to a new address, you made some modifications on your car, etc. Failing to do so can cause the VA car insurance policy to be revoked.

– If you ask your insurer he needs to tell you about everything that affects your premiums, how they calculate your premiums, their discounts and any information about your coverage in general. You have the right to ask and they have the obligation to tell you everything they know.

– The insurance company is obligated by law to award you with a discount if you pass a defense driving course approved by the Virginia Motor Vehicles Commission.

– You are not obligated to tell your insurance agent about your old traffic violations and car accidents after a certain period. There is an act from 1974 that says that you can do so.

– No auto insurer that operates on the territory of Virginia can refuse selling you a car policy because of your ethnicity, gender or race.

– The policyholder has the right to change or cancel his policy at any given moment. Regardless your motivation to do so, you can do that only by providing proof of your new policy to your old insurer. The old insurer is obligated to refund you for your unused premium.

– The insurer is obligated to respond to your application or meeting request within five days.

– The policy holder has the right to ask if payments were made to other parties from his coverage. The insurer is obligated to respond to that and inform you correctly.

– The car owners in Virginia have the right to get free quotes for comparison. Even though that this is not regulated by any law but it does not mean that it should not be done. On the contrary, that is the best way to find affordable car insurance in Virginia.