Month: December 2016

Auto Insurance 101 Explained

by

For majority of consumers, auto insurance can cause confusion; there is an extremely wide range of insurance and it can be hard to recognize the kind of coverage you need to carry versus the kinds of coverage which you truly need to carry so as to shield yourself, but are not necessary.

How to Select Vehicle Insurance

When thinking of the amount of car insurance you need, it is ideal to carry out some study and discover what kind of insurance is needed by the state where you live.

Not each state needs similar rates of insurance. Some states need more kinds of insurance compared to others and states are different also, in regard to the quantity of coverage which is needed.

person holding pencil near laptop computerTherefore, be certain that you are aware of precisely what minimums are present in the state you reside. Also, you need to comprehend what varied kinds of insurance cover are present, so as to comprehend whether you require insurance coverage over and beyond the required minimum of the state you live.

Injuries are covered by bodily injury liability which you inflict on another person as you drive your car. In general, where this kind of coverage is concerned, it is normal to buy more than one; this is state minimums requirement (where you live), so as to shield your personal goods from being sued in case you cause harm to someone.

Personal injury protection popularly referred to as PIP or medical payments covers treatment of harm for the passengers and driver of the car. This kind of policy shall recompense lost wages and medical payments; this is determined by the rate of coverage.

Collision covers whatever destruction happens to your car in case of an accident, regardless of whether you are at fault. Obviously, a deductible shall be applicable. Your lender shall in overall, need this kind of coverage while you still have an outstanding loan on the car.

Comprehensive coverage caters for the loss of your car because of destruction by something, apart from a collision; for instance fire, theft, vandalism, natural disaster, etc.

Once more, your lender shall possibly need this coverage for a financial car. After your loan is repaid, you are the one to decide whether you desire to go on operating comprehensive and collision coverage.

Motorist coverage (uninsured and underinsured) can be useful in case you are involved in a hit and run or if someone hits you and they lack insurance or are underinsured.

When debating on the amount of insurance to take out, begin with the minimum quantity required by your state then ask yourself whether it is a requirement for you to take out any extra coverage because of lender requirements.

Keep in mind that however much we all wish we did not require insurance, in case we do, it can save on finances

Lastly, remember to weigh your options in regard to deductibles. Increasing your deductible can assist you to reduce your premiums and that can facilitate you taking out more insurance which is cheaper.

Simply ensure that you are able to fairly manage to pay the deductible in case you require utilizing it.

If you want to know more about car insurances you should give these sites a visit:

DMV.org – Very informative site. US Focused.

California Department of Insurance

Bilforsikring –  This site is Danish. But none the less it has a  number of interesting articles on car insurance. Use Google Translate if your Danish is not up to date 🙂

HDI.de – Another European site that you may find interesting.

Skidding countermeasures for winter driving

by

When it comes to a snowy road, not even tank tracks ensure 100% stability when driving at high speed, nor when swerving into a corner. There is a sensible increase in the number of accidents when the cold season sets in, and for good reason. Snow offers just a part of the traction gained on a dry road.

Combine this with speed and heavy braking and there you have it: your car slides out of control, eventually stopping into a snow bank, or worse, right into the rear bumper of another vehicle. Check out these countermeasures that will allow you to prevent, and ultimately regain control of a skidding vehicle when driving on snowy and icy roads.

Oversteer vs Understeer

asphalt road in between trees covered with snowThere is almost impossible to attain perfect steering in dry conditions, not even mentioning low-grip roads. As a result, one of the two phenomena occurs when changing direction: your car will either understeer (turn less than required) or oversteer (turn in more than you desire, with the rear kicking out of the curb).

Between the two, understeer tends to happen more often and be harder to counteract. Usually, your car understeers on a slippery road when too much input is provided in a short span of time. Otherwise said, if you turn your steering wheel too quickly, the tyres will lose grip and start moving on a straight trajectory. To overcome understeering, point your view towards the direction you want to travel and then slowly steer towards the outside of the curb. Once the car is parallel with the desired trajectory, straighten the wheel and slowly apply throttle.

If you notice your car moving way too fast towards the center of the curb and the rear wheels start sliding towards the outside in an arch, you are oversteering. Fortunately, there is an easy fix for this. Slowly steer into the curb until all four wheels are facing the same direction. This will increase grip and reduce peripheral spin of the rear axle. Once you’ve regained control, gradually steer towards the outside of the curb to regain a proper position on the road.

Whether your car is understeering or oversteering, there’s one particular issue you should really consider: don’t touch the brake pedal! Since your car is already sliding, wheels will lock instantly and cause complete loss of control.

Braking

In an ideal scenario, you shall be able to drive on winter roads without ever touching the brakes. But since we live in the real world, braking is inevitable at some point. Most modern cars feature at least an ABS (anti-lock braking system) that will prevent wheel locking upon braking. This way, you will be able to steer even when applying full brake power. Remember though to take turn the wheel slowly and steadily to avoid understeer or oversteer. Otherwise, your car will go sideways and ABS won’t help too much.

If you are driving a manual, learn how to use the motor brake. It’s highly effective on slippery roads and doesn’t lock your wheels. If you do however need to apply emergency braking, make sure you keep a straight trajectory and let the ABS computer do the rest for you.