• Bodily Injury Liability: $10,000/$20,000 Limit
• Property Damage Liability (PDL): $10,000 Limit

Florida is a no-fault state. The laws of a no-fault system stipulate that the auto insurance firm covers damages resulting from an auto accident no matter who would normally be at fault. These regulations change by state. Conflicts over who is responsible are diminished with this insurance system, but simultaneously, motorists lose some of their rights to sue the other drivers involved.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) helps cover the costs created for everyone involved in an auto accident. The state of Florida has legally required minimums that each driver is mandated to have under state law. These requisites are $10,000 for one person and $20,000 for everyone involved. These auto insurance limits are plainly the absolute minimum each driver must have to legally drive in the state of Florida. For additional piece of mind, you can sustain higher limits – however, your insurance costs will also be higher.

To protect yourself on the chance that you are in an auto accident with somebody who either does not currently maintain auto insurance coverage or doesn’t have adequate insurance to cover related damages, you should consider adding Underinsured Driver auto insurance policy to your Florida auto insurance policy coverage. You’re not asked by law to have this specific type of insurance, but it is urged in order to stay financially protected in the event that you are involved in an auto accident with an uninsured and/or underinsured driver.

Drivers in Florida paid an usual of $1,104 for their auto insurance in 2003. That same year, the U.S. mean was nearly $200 lower. Some people incorrectly think Florida and auto insurance firms fix the rates they pay, so they never shop around for decreased rates. Every Last insurance underwriter has a slighly different fashion of calculating a customer’s premium so costs will vary from person to person. Shopping online can aid you find more affordable insurance rates. Auto insurance websites help you acquire the competitive rates available in Florida, so mean Floridians can get a lower-than-mean low rate on their coverage.

Compared to 2006, 2007 saw insurance costs descend by .5% to 1%. The first half of 2008 persisted to exhibit drops, but then the auto insurance started to increase once more through the beginning of 2009. The single way to always have the best auto insurance rates is to compare different rates. rates. You may be able to acquire lower auto insurance quotes at another insurance firm and/or find that you’re eligible for distinct insurance discounts.

Individual-Associated Discounts

These price reductions are usually given based on your performance as a driver and policy owner. The other discounts are given based on your present status in life.

Car-Related Discounts

Your car is a huge factor in defining how much you’ll be paying for auto insurance. Depending on the overall safety and other features of your car, you can receive certain discounts on insurance.

1. Car Air Bags. There are several types of airbags: front, rear, side-curtain, etc. The greater you’re protected, the cheaper your automobile insurance could be.
2. Anti-Lock Brakes System (ABS). Many automobiles on the road today are equipped with ABS. Many car insurance firms offer deductions if your car is equipped with this type of braking system and many states even require the insurance agent to do so.

Car Alarms and Anti-Theft Devices. Any type of add-on to discourage a person from breaking into or stealing your car can also provide you with better insurance rates.

Here are some things you should take into consideration when inspecting any used car:

Exterior Inspection

The first thing to take into consideration when inspecting the exterior of a used car is the condition of the paint. The paint should be even over the entire body of the car. Any areas that show visibly newer paint might be an indication of repair work from an accident, which could mean trouble. There also shouldn’t be any rust visible on the exterior of the car.

You should also make certain that the car is level during the exterior inspection. If the car appears to sag to one side, this could be an indication of frame or spring damage. Also check to see that the tires are in good condition and well inflated.

Next, you should check that all the lights are in working order and have no damage. Don’t forget to check the blinkers and tail lights as well.

Finally, don’t neglect to inspect the condition of other exterior parts, such as the disc brakes, mirrors, glass, wheel rims, etc.

Interior Inspection

When you start your inspection of the interior of the car, first take notice of any odors in the car. As unpleasant odors can be difficult to remove, make sure the smell of the car is something you can live with.

Next, take into consideration how well the interior of the car has been kept up. If the previous owner took pride in keeping a clean car, chances are they kept up with any mechanical problems the car may have had. Take notice of any tears or stains in the upholstery, leather, or carpet. Don’t forget to check the condition of the pedal rubber as well.

Finally, you should check all mechanical controls as part of your interior inspection. Make sure that all the seat, window, mirror, radio, windshield wiper, and seatbelt controls are in working order. Don’t forget to turn on the air conditioner and heat to make sure they are working as well.

Inspecting The Trunk
The trunk is usually the most neglected part of any car. Therefore, it is very important that you inspect the condition of the trunk of any used car you are considering for purchase. There should be no signs of rust or water accumulation due to holes or cracks.

Checking Under The Hood

Even if you have no idea how the wiring, fluids, belts, hoses, battery, or radiator of a car works, you should still be able to check for any signs of damage, rust, or dents. If you have any reservations, you can always have a mechanic give you a thorough mechanical inspection.

If everything looks good, you should then take the car for a test drive. This is the most important inspection you will make of the used car. Pay close attention to how the car handles the road and how it sounds. You should feel safe and comfortable in the car. If the car is making any unusual noises that have you concerned, go with your instinct and start looking for another used car. There are thousands of options out there, be persistent and you will find the one that is right for you and your budget.

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Claim Reports: You know about credit reports, you should also know about claim reports. C.L.U.E.® (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange), is a claim report service provided by ChoicePoint, Inc. ChoicePoint, Inc. states on their web site “C.L.U.E. is a claim history information exchange that enables insurance companies to access prior claim information in the underwriting and rating process. C.L.U.E. Personal Property reports contain up to five years of personal property claims matching the search criteria submitted by the inquiring insurance company. Data provided in C.L.U.E. reports includes policy information such as name, date of birth and policy number, and claim information such as date of loss, type of loss and amounts paid.”

Tip: C.L.U.E. reports contain information on claims history by a residence address. Just like credit reports, a C.L.U.E. report may have errors. It is advisable to obtain a copy of your C.L.U.E. report at ChoiceTrust.com to check your report for errors.

Credit reports: Insurance companies are now looking at credit reports to determine future premiums. They have determined that people with better credit scores have fewer claims. Consequently, if you have a poor credit report you may find yourself paying more for car insurance.

Tip: Always make at least the minimum payment for your bills on time, particularly your insurance bill.

Glass Coverage: Most auto insurance salespeople recommend “full” glass coverage for an additional premium, when you purchase collision coverage for your car. They remind you how much it costs to replace all your windows if broken by a vandal. What they do not tell you, and it is unlikely that they would even know (I would only trust the answer from an underwriter, not a sales representative), is whether your insurance company will use a previous glass claim to increase your future premium and whether they will report your glass claims to C.L.U.E.

Some insurance companies will report glass claims to C.L.U.E. and then use these claims to raise your premium or even worse, cancel your car insurance policy making you assigned risk with a substantial premium increase. Allstate notified me that after four claims in less than five years, they terminated my auto insurance policy and then offered to sell me coverage in their Indemnity Company with a shocking premium increase. These claims consisted of two claims for a broken windshield, one for a stolen and recovered car and one accident.

I had a sports car and had to endure a total premium increase over a period of four years of approximately $12,000 and remain claim free before I became eligible for coverage outside of the assigned risk pool. I wrote a letter to the president of Allstate complaining that they should not have considered my glass claims when canceling my car insurance because the glass claims were made under a separate part of the policy for which I paid a separate and additional premium. Allstate responded in a letter stating “Although this claim activity does not indicate that you were directly at fault in each loss, the frequency and severity of the above losses was not within our range of acceptability. After careful review, I regret to inform you that we cannot reverse our original decision regarding the above policy. We have however continued to offer coverage in our Indemnity Company.”

Tip: Check with the underwriting department of your insurance company to see if they will consider glass claims when assessing premiums or if they report glass claims to C.L.U.E. If yes, do not make a glass claim. The two windshields which Allstate provided me with were aftermarket windshields which would have cost me less than $300 each. During the last 30 years of my driving history, I have experienced two broken front windshields, one broken rear windshield and two broken side windows. While the financial risk of totaling a car can be substantial, the financial risk of replacing a windshield is comparatively insignificant. It does not make sense to file a glass claim if it will increase your premium. You may even want to decline this coverage altogether and save the premium.

Tip for leased vehicles: Some lease agreements require that the car be returned with an OEM windshield. If you lease a car and replace a front windshield using your “full” glass coverage, insist that the insurance company provide you with an OEM windshield from the manufacturer. If you pay for the windshield yourself, check your lease agreement carefully to see if you must use an OEM windshield from the manufacturer or if you can use an aftermarket windshield. Some people with leased cars who have replaced a windshield with an aftermarket windshield are shocked, when they return their car, to find that the leasing company is charging them $800 for a new OEM windshield, even though the aftermarket windshield is in perfect condition.

Car Rental & Towing Coverage: While it may be a good idea to have this coverage, it is not always a good idea to use it. Some people have realized that this coverage is not just available when an accident has occurred. For instance, some people have used the car rental coverage when their car was in a repair shop or the towing coverage when their car broke down on the road. As with glass coverage, using this coverage may be the same as filing a claim.

Tip: Check with the underwriting department of your insurance company to see if they will consider rental or towing claims when assessing premiums or if they report these claims to C.L.U.E. If yes, do not use car rental or towing coverage unless you have had an accident, in which case it will be part of the accident claim. If you are concerned about towing costs when your car breaks down, you can buy one of the roadside assistance memberships such as the one available from AAA which provides additional benefits not provided by your automobile insurance policy.

Philip Franckel manages HURT911® at www.HURT911.org an Accident and Injury Research web site.