Archive for the ‘Police Car Insurance’ Category

Car Insurance Fraud is a serious problem over here in the UK with people intentionally causing crashes with the aim of claiming damages on the car’s insurance and in some cases demanding compensation for fabricated injuries.

In New York people had been going one step further where they were hiring middlemen to “steal” their car and make it disappear so that the owner could get it replaced on their car insurance or get large settlements from the insurers.

New York Police set up a sting operation by putting undercover detectives in a repair shop in Queens where the fraudsters were taking the vehicles that were stolen for destroying.

You may have an image of a shifty looking character as the typical person to commit car insurance fraud but of the 61 people caught out in the sting some included a used car dealer and shockingly a New York Police Officer. The cost of the actions these people were trying to get away with was estimated at $1.7 million and 70 vehicles were brought to the shop in the period of time.

Car insurance Fraud is a big problem over here in the UK too with gangs of people driving with intent to surprise unsuspecting members of the public into getting into crashes. This kind of crime is being clamped down on by the Police liaising with Insurers to ensure that those who are stupid enough to make a habit of it are brought to justice. Car Insurance fraud has been directly linked to the high cost of insurance and dragging our car insurance quotes up in recent years.

Almost nothing feels more frustrating than being involved in an accident or having your car stolen, and then having to deal with a tedious claims process.

The procedure for claims after a car accident is supposed to be straightforward. After you make the claim, preferably on a comprehensible form , an adjuster estimates the costs to restore your car and the insurance company writes you a check for that amount. Regrettably, the process isn’t always so simple for millions of people who file claims each year.

Here are some things you can do to get claims settled as fast and as smoothly as possible:

Jot down the setting, time, weather and other aspects of the environment; you don’t know what will be significant later. Keeping a disposable camera in your auto, so you can take photos of the accident scene, is an excellent idea.

If a camera is not available, you can make a rough drawing of damage to vehicles and property, and describe any apparent injuries and other pertinent facts. Acquire and maintain a copy of the police report for yourself as well.

Promptly contact your insurer. The insurance company could negate your policy if you don’t. Be sure to also report in writing to make sure that your rights are protected under law. Verify your policy- identify what coverage you have and don’t have so you know what you can claim. Talk with your agent beforehand about the claims process and what information the company may need. Verify the deadlines as well. Some policies have time limits for each step of the claims’ process.

For stolen cars- report the theft immediately to the police in the city where it was stolen. Have your license plate number and VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) – located on your car registration ready, if available. You will need to file a stolen vehicle report. If the Registration is also lost along with the vehicle, obtain a duplicate from the Transport Authorities as soon as possible. Then notify your car insurance company immediately. Auto insurance claims for stolen vehicles always take longer to process , because the police are given a reasonable amount of time to locate the stolen car. Keep regular liaison with the police regarding the progress of the investigation. If the vehicle is not traced after a reasonable period, get a report from the police to that effect. If the vehicle is traced, inform the insurance company immediately.

Next monitor your claim: Get your claim number and call the company or claims adjuster for updates. Some insurers let you follow your claim’s status online. Sometimes writing a letter to the adjuster or a supervisor can get the wheels turning faster. Be persistent, but not obnoxious.

And remember, to avoid walking while your claim is being processed-Check rental coverage: If the accident wasn’t your fault, you can get a rental car while yours is in the shop, paid for by the other driver’s company. If the mishap was your fault, you have to have rental reimbursement coverage. If your car was stolen and you have comprehensive insurance, your insurer will probably pay a capped amount each day for a rental.

These tips can help you get through the claims process and back on the road faster.

By allowing an online car insurance broker to complete a car insurance search on your behalf throughout the entire car insurance marketplace, you can get the cheapest deal possible and the best quote, however by doing so you will not only save money and be driving your car legally on the roads, but you will also not be at risk of having your car seized through not having car insurance.

Seizing cars is the latest step to get uninsured card drivers off the road, police in certain areas of the UK have been cracking down by seizing cars if it is found that the driver has not got an insurance policy to drive the car. Since the operation came into force it has already met with great success and involves some of the latest technology, which is number plate recognition, this system can now show police instantly which cars have not got insurance and then they are immediately seized and taken off the road by officers.

The system has not only been used in and about town but also on Britain’s motorways too, just in Lancashire and within one 8 hour shift police stopped and seized a total of 12 uninsured vehicles, which the owner has to fork out great expense to get back including fixed penalty fines and towing fees and of course then having to concede and take out car insurance.

With car insurance being able to be got cheaply it is clearly not worth the risk of attempting to fool the police and of course the technology of today. A specialist broker will always be able to get the cheapest car insurance by allowing them to conduct a car insurance search on your behalf and then deliver the cheapest quotes in the shortest time possible.

While using the services of a specialist broker is the cheapest way to get your car insurance, the type of insurance you choose to take will reflect in the cost of the cover. If you want to take out fully comprehensive car insurance which gives the most complete cover and will cover your car and the other if you should be involved in an accident along with giving cover for passengers and other extras. Third party fire and theft will give you cover if your car should get stolen, if it should be damaged through fire and will cover damage to the other party if you are involved in an accident. Third party only will cover damage to the other party only and is the cheapest type of insurance available.

Other ways you can make savings when taking out car insurance is to make sure that you have the latest security measures installed on your car such as steering locks, etched windows, and alarms or tracking devices. The specialist will be able to not only conduct a car insurance search so you are able to make great savings but will also be able to give you all the advice, information, hints and tips needed to determine which type of cover is the most suitable for your needs before conducting the search.