Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Finding the Best Seattle Auto Insurance Rates

By Steve Miller

Many factors, besides state requirements, go into the calculation of premium rates for Seattle auto insurance. By informing yourself of these factors you can better protect yourself financially in the event of an accident and better find the best rates.

Car insurance can be very intricate and difficult to understand. Because there are so many different types of coverage options and there are differences in the requirements from state to state it is important to be informed the best you can. Many people don't know that premiums and rates can be based on credit ratings.

Research what insurance coverage options you have available to you and learn how you can save money by better understanding the auto industry. Insurance requirements vary from state to state, so make sure you know what is required in Washington. Surprisingly your driving record may affect your rate less than the type of vehicle you drive.

Drivers in Washington pay higher auto insurance premium rates than drivers in most of the other 49 states. One reason for this is the consequences of the harsh cold weather found in this region. Snow can cause cosmetic damage to vehicles, but it can also give you battery problems and freeze the engine.

The mandated coverage for drivers in Washington is called 25/50/10 coverage. This means a person driving on its roads must have $25,000 of bodily injury per person and $50,000 for bodily injury in total after an accident. Additionally drivers must have $10,000 property damage liability coverage to pay for damages.

Washington uses what is called a "tort system" which means that someone must always be found at fault in the accident. After blame is placed, then this person and his or her insurance company are held responsible for paying damages caused by the accident.

Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage or Personal Injury Protection is not required by Washington insurance regulations. Since these types of coverage will pay for damages to the driver's property, it is a good idea to ask your insurance provider about adding them to your policy. - 22375

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment