Why is this a concern? November is the peak time for car-vs.-deer collisions, and Virginia is one of the top ten states for such accidents. Virginia Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company handled more than 3,000 such claims last year, and the average loss per claim was over $2,100.

October and December are also high-traffic times of year for deer crossing, the Farm Bureau says.

Across the country, deer-related collisions result in about 150 (human) deaths and about $4.6 billion in auto insurance claims every year.

As a measure of protection, Allstate Insurance Company is offering its customers in California coverage to help mitigate the expense of identity theft, and reduce the time spent recovering their identities, as well.

The program, which is referred to as “identity theft expenses coverage” went into affect in late August, and is available to new and renewing Allstate auto insurance policyholders in California. With a starting premium of $30/year, the coverage will give customers access to “professional identity restoration assistance.”

It also provides a maximum of $25,000 in reimbursement coverage for attorney fees, loan reapplication fees, credit fees, police report fees, lost wages, and any other reasonable expenses associated with the restoration of identity.

When getting your college student ready to go, don’t overlook the insurance. This video gives you an idea of the insurance considerations for college students. Enjoy!

In Cheyenne, WY, the tennis ball-sized hail that pelted the city on July 11th caused an estimated $120 million in insured losses, including 4,600 homeowners insurance claims and 15,200 auto insurance claims, though that number is still preliminary.

Much of the damage to vehicles was related to the fact that the hailstorm struck during rush hour, the Association’s executive director, Carole Walker, told the press.

In Colorado, there were 12,600 homeowners claims and 17,200 auto insurance claims for an estimated total of $164.8 million in insured losses, due to a severe hailstorm in the Denver metropolitan area on July 13th.

Walker explained that the hail season in the Mile High State runs from mid-April through mid-August, though July is the peak month.

She also said that Colorado has seen more than $3 billion in insured damage due to hail in the last decade, with the most expensive season occurring in 2009 when there were three major storms causing $1 billion in damage.

Hail coverage is generally part of comprehensive coverage for auto insurance, and may be an additional rider for homeowners insurance.

It should come as no surprise, then, that insurance regulators in coastal states like Virginia are strongly suggesting that homeowners – especially those with coastal property – spend some time this week reviewing their homeowners insurance policies.

Representatives from Virginia’s State Corporation Commission want to remind policyholders that some insurers include a deductible for hurricane or wind losses in their policies, but with other insurance companies such coverage is optional. The deductibles also can be written in two ways: either to be applied as a percentage of the coverage on the dwelling, or as a flat amount.

As well, insurance regulators want people to be reminded that since a lot of the damage from a hurricane is actually caused by flooding, separate flood insurance, which can be obtained through the National Flood Insurance Program, may be required.

Automobile insurance, the Virginia commission says, should also be reviewed to see whether wind or hurricane damage is covered.

As well, Virginians – and all coastal homeowners – should make copies of their vital records such as passports, driver’s licenses, social security cards, and birth certificates, and place them, and copies of their insurance policies, in safe, waterproof locations. A foil-wrapped package, inside a zip-top bag, in the freezer, is generally safe.

• Driving History: Generally, in order to get get the best rates, you’ll need to have no points on your license in the last two years, though some insurance companies require that you have a perfect record for three years, and some even go back five.
• Mileage: Even if you aren’t purchasing a PAYD (pay-as-you-drive) policy, you can reduce what you pay for auto insurance if you drive fewer than 14,000 miles in a year. You’ll be asked to provide two certified odometer readings a few months apart to verify this, however. Note: some insurers only give this discount if your annual mileage doesn’t exceed 10,000 miles.
• Experience: Especially if you are shopping for specialty car insurance, your experience behind the wheel will save you money. In most cases, if you’ve been driving more than ten years, you’ll get lower insurance rates. In some cases, if you’ve had fifteen or more years of licensed driving experience, you’ll get an even better break. If you’re young, or haven’t been driving that long, you can take a defensive driving class to earn a discount.
• Gender: Because women are perceived as being safer drivers than men, they usually get better auto insurance rates, though this trend is changing.
• Marital Status: Again, a married person will pay less than an unmarried person for car insurance, if all else is equal, because marriage lends an air of stability, and reduces perceived risk.

These are just a few of the factors that help determine what your auto insurance premium will be. Others include the make and model of your car, whether it has any safety features or anti-theft devices, your zip code and your credit score. All insurance companies use slightly different calculations and give more or less weight to different factors, so it’s important that you always get multiple insurance quotes before committing to one company.

Specifically, rates in Alberta increased by 0.4 percent, which may seem stable but was actually a reaction to the percentage of customers with less than five years of driving experience having risen by 7.1 percent.

Car insurance rates in Ontario increased by 6.7 percent, this on top of an increase of 9.5 percent in the last quarter of 2010, but analysts think this may mean that prices are actually stabilizing from an artificial low.

In Quebec, the increase in auto insurance premiums was only 1.8 percent and is attributed to an increase in multiple driver and multiple vehicle policies.

To find the best deals on auto insurance in these trying economic times, we recommend comparison shopping, bundling auto and homeowners coverage with the same company, and asking for every available discount.

GEICO is the second largest insurer of automobiles in Virginia, and is offering a wide array of job opportunities, including customer service and claims representatives and sales agents.

Many different schedules are available.

The limo product will be underwritten by ProTrans, Inc., and will include commercial automobile liability with maximum coverage limits of $1,500,000 and physical damage coverage with the lowest deductible being $1,000. This product is being targeted toward experienced limo drivers whose vehicles seat up to eight passengers, and who require reservations before providing transportation.

Independent insurance companies throughout California will be able to offer the coverage. It’s also available in parts of Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

In a statement to the press, Andrew Bender, director of National Business Development for Liberty Agency Underwriters said, “We’re excited to work with ProTrans to offer fleets the very best in limousine underwriting and coverages. Our organization is actively pursuing further national program opportunities to bring additional industries the level of expertise and service our Limousine Program delivers.”

Coverage for Insurance Agents Errors & Omissions, Nonprofit, Self-Storage, and Sports & Fitness products are available through Liberty Agency Underwriters, as well.

In the words of Representative Armando Walle (Houston), House Bills 2723 and 2724 would, “…help consumers fully understand the premium increases imposed by insurance companies and will give consumers information on how they can shop around.”

According to the website for the Texas House of Representatives, HB 2723 addresses accident and health insurance policies. The measure stipulates that insurers must give policyholders sixty days’ notice of rate increases, and the notification has to include the amount of the increase, and how consumers can file complaints. The measure also requires that rate increase information be post to the web, and consumers notified of where it can be found, what the justifications for the increase are, and what alternative coverage options may exist.

HB 2724, according to the same website, includes similar stipulations addressing residential property and personal automobile insurance. At the time of policy renewal, the policyholder’s existing insurer would be required to provide a side-by-side comparison of new and old rates, provide information on any changes in coverage, and offer resources on how consumers can shop around for different coverage. In addition, deductibles must be stated as a dollar amount, and not as a percentage of the policy’s total value.