One of the best features that most credit card companies offer is car insurance coverage for rental cars. The rental coverage is free for most cardholders, and it covers you for almost any problem you might have while you are driving a rental car. While the credit card car insurance coverage is a great deal, there are some loopholes you need to be aware of before you rent your next vehicle.

Areas Not Covered by Your Policy

Most credit card insurance policies cover you in all 50 states and most foreign countries. There are some exceptions, however. Many typical rental policies do not offer coverage if you drive in Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, New Zealand, and Australia. Every company is different, however, so check with your credit card to find out where you are covered and where you aren’t.

Certain Vehicles not Covered

Credit card rental car insurance is limited when it comes to what kind of car you are renting. Pickup trucks, sports cars, and large vans are typically not included in most policies. Your best bet is to rent a standard passenger vehicle. If you get to the rental agency and they ask you to upgrade to an SUV, van, or pickup truck, check with your credit card company to be sure the upgrade is covered.

Limited Rental Period

Although the rental company will have no problem with you making an extended rental agreement, your credit card company might not offer the same flexibility. Many credit card rental car insurance policies stipulate that they only cover the car for a limited amount of time. If you keep the car longer than the insurance policy covers, you will be liable for any damages that might occur while you are driving the rental. Be aware of time limits and plan accordingly so that you are not left with a big bill at the end of the rental.

Unexpected Exclusions

It makes sense that rental insurance coverage does not cover damages that happen if a car is being used for illegal purposes or as a commercial vehicle while it is rented. Other exclusions are not so obvious, however. Some rental insurance will not cover damages that occur when you drive on roads that are not paved. If you plan to rent a car in a rural area, you should make sure the insurance would take care of you on dirt or gravel roads as well as city streets. Other unexpected exclusions may apply depending on your credit card company. It is important to be aware of these exclusions before you begin to drive your rental car.

Using Free Points or Special Offers

Some credit card rental insurance will only provide coverage if the card is used as the primary payment method for the rental. That means that you could go uncovered if you use special discounts or other promotional payment types when you rent the car. You need to make sure that the credit card pays the entire base rate of the rental so that it can be used for rental insurance. If the card is only paying for taxes and fees, you are probably not covered by the rental insurance.

If you’re about to buy a used car, be sure to know what you’re doing when you insure it. The mileage that it has on it will affect what kind of insurance you want to get, and so will the value of the car. If it’s financed, no matter what the price of the vehicle, you’ll have to get full coverage. The finance company or bank that you’re using will require it.

However, if you don’t owe anyone for the car and it’s free and clear on the title, you can only get the minimum coverage required by state law if you want to. For a very inexpensive, older car, that’s usually a great idea. Otherwise, it’s a better idea to get more insurance so that your car will be covered in an accident.

Insurance can also cover fire, theft, and glass breakage, so you’ll have to consider the value of the used car that you purchased and whether it’s a better idea to have that kind of coverage. If the car is at all expensive or it would be a serious hardship to get it fixed or replaced if something should happen to it, more coverage is a good idea. You’ll be much safer that way, and you won’t have to worry so much about what you’d do if there was a problem or how much it would cost.

If you’re a woman, you should know that you’re already eligible for cheaper insurance on your vehicle than a man would be. Women are believed to be safer and more reliable drivers. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll be handed a great rate if your driving record is terrible. A lot of companies also check your credit rating, and if it’s bad they’ll offer you a higher rate – or simply refuse to insure you at all.

The main thing that women need to be careful with when it comes to auto insurance, though, is not to get swindled by some fast talking agent. There are plenty of men on the planet who still think that ‘woman’ equals ‘stupid,’ but well-informed women can keep themselves safe from these kinds of predators.

Know your rights, and do some research on your own when it comes to what insurance options you have. Know what your state requires that you have for insurance, and know what the different kinds of insurance are for. That way, when someone tries to sell you insurance that you don’t need, you’ll know you can refuse it. If the agent tells you that you can’t turn it down or it has to be included, move on. Find an agent that’s honest and upfront. There are many of them out there, but sometimes it requires a little bit of searching to locate one.

Do you enjoy shopping? Maybe for clothing or a new tv. However, rarely does anyone enjoy shopping around for car insurance. Yet, it is important to take the time to shop around for car insurance to ensure that you get the best price and find a reputable company to work with. Someone living in Los Angles will have different insurance needs than someone living in Albuquerque. When talking to prospective companies, make sure you ask your insurance agent the following five questions:

1. Am I getting every discount the car insurance company offers? You should not have to pay more for your car insurance than is necessary, so make sure you get your discounts.

2. What type of coverage do I have (comprehensive/collision) and is it worth it? It is imperative that you understand your coverage so you know what to expect in case of a future claim.

3. Does my policy include uninsured motorist coverage? You want to protect yourself in case you get in an accident with someone that has no insurance.

4. What happens if my car is totaled and how much will the insurance pay?

5. If I need parts for my car, does the insurance company pay for original manufacturer parts? Some companies do not. If you have a newer car, you will want good parts.

Alternative forms of energy are a major concern in this energy-consuming society in which we live. Biodiesel energy has been researched and developed for may years, with high hopes of an inexpensive and easily producible form of fuel on the horizon. How will the availability of biodiesel fuel affect auto insurance rates, or will it affect them at all?

It seems that everything affects auto insurance rates nowadays, from your credit history to your driving record, even the color of car you drive and the area of the country in which you reside. Now the question arises as to whether those who support the environment by using biodiesel fuel deserve a reduction in their insurance rates as a sort of reward for being ecologically responsible.

The fact is, the data is inconclusive as to what can be expected as environmental impact of vehicles converting to biodiesel fuel. It is not clear whether there will be a discernible difference in pollution or fossil fuel conservation by switching a limited number of vehicles to the use of biodiesel fuel. It is unlikely that all vehicles will convert to biodiesel any time soon, so the actual impact will likely be minimal. With this being the case, insurance companies are also not likely to offer rate reductions just yet based solely on a vehicle using biodiesel fuel, though undoubtedly this could become a factor in coming years as more vehicles make the switch…IF more vehicles make the switch.

Automobile insurance has become a major expense in most American households, with rates dependent on everything from an individual’s driving history, their credit score, to their geographic location. Though it may be expensive, it is the law that every driver on the road have a minimum of liability insurance. So where is it the most expensive to obtain auto insurance?

Well, for the years 2004-2006 insurance expense remained consistently the highest in the same ten states. Most recently, Washington D.C. And New Jersey have traded off in first place as the most expensive, and Connecticut and Nevada took turns in ninth and tenth places. In between, in third through eighth places, were Louisiana, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Delaware. In 2004, Michigan brought up the rear as the tenth most expensive, but otherwise Michigan does not appear in the top ten.

What does this mean for the average consumer? Drivers are certainly not going to choose their state of residence based solely on auto insurance rates, but if you live on the borderline and don’t mind moving, there could be benefits for you. Will consumers be willing to relocate in order to save a few hundred dollars on their insurance rates every year? Probably not. But if you do NOT currently reside in one of the higher cost states, you might want to check your insurance budget before moving to one!

Everyone would like to pay less for auto insurance, right? No one wants to pay more for something than they have to. But understanding auto insurance is the key to knowing what you should pay for and what you should not, and there are several myths that should be cleared up for consumers who might be in the dark. Here are just a few.

First, you are responsible for your vehicle no mater who is driving it. If you loan your car to a friend and they have an accident while driving it, your insurance company ill be responsible for damages. Second, credit rating DOES affect your insurance rates. A low credit score translates into a higher risk for the insurance companies, who then charge you more for insurance. It may not be fair, but that’s how it is. Third, The color of your car really doesn’t have anything to do with your insurance rates, though the make and model certainly do. You will pay more to insure a brand-new Corvette than you will to insure a ten-year-old Toyota Corolla. Last, collision insurance covers simply that: collisions and damage resulting from them. Comprehensive coverage is needed to cover any other damage to your vehicle such as storm damage, theft, or blowing to smithereens while you replace a spark plug. Collision coverage only covers collisions, not any other incidental situations.

Knowing the facts should help you to decide on the best auto insurance for you

Everyone knows that the economy is rough right now. For many, the temptation is probably there to charge the credit card and pay later. And, sometimes, when the bills are due, the money to pay them is unfortunately just not available. If you feel like this, you probably are not alone. However, as your debt is rising and your credit score is dropping, one thing you might not have realized is that your car insurance rates are being affected.

How is this possible you ask? Debt, credit scores, and insurance? The tune to “one of these things is not like the other” is ringing in your head, but apparently that is not true. The three have a lot more in common than anyone could have foresaw. Today’s insurance companies are using your credit scores to determine how much they will charge you for your car insurance rates. So as your debt builds, so does your rate for car insurance. Because according to the insurance company, even though the economy is bad, a low credit score equals a risky driver on the road. This is definitely something to think about when the visa bill is due. So be wise when it comes to your finances and try to avoid bad debt.

Your credit score. It helps you buy a house and a car. And apparently, it can affect the rate of your car insurance. The economy is tough, and you might have missed a payment or two on one of your credit cards. Don’t be surprised if this is taken into consideration when determining the rates for your car insurance. Some people are saying that their rates have doubled due to low credit scores. Is this fair? Because, when it comes down to it as long as you are paying the insurance company on time that should be all that matters, right? Wrong.

Although, it may seem unfair, insurance companies argue that if you are not responsible with your money you may be unsafe when it comes to your driving on the road. And therefore, they feel this gives them a legitimate case for raising your rates if your credit score is low even if you have been with their company for a long time. Studies suggest that for the most part these situations effect blue collar workers who are struggling to make ends meet and will have an even more difficult time making the higher payment for the car insurance. People are wondering, is this fair?