Insurance is affected by many things, but there are some current myths and false beliefs that all drivers should know about before they insure a car.
1. The color of a car affects insurance rates.
Absolute myth! Somewhere along the way people got this crazy idea that cars of specific colors were targeted more often for speeding tickets and the like, which thus raised insurance rates on those colored cars. That is not true at all. The myth probably got started because sports cars are typically seen in red and yellow and thus people assumed those colors were more at risk and thus had hire rate. The fact of the matter is sports cars have higher insurance rates, but the color has nothing to do with it.
2. All new cars are automatically added to the insurance that is already in a person’s name.
Absolutely a myth! Car insurance companies do not have a crystal ball so you will need to inform them when you purchase a new car. In some states, like Recent York, a car can not be registered without insurance, but the owner of the car and insurance must still call the company to get the car insured.
3. Males under 25 pay more for car insurance, no matter what!
Technically this is a myth with some truth behind it. Males in the under 25 bracket have a tendency to be more dangerous drivers, so insurance rates can be higher; however, the group as a whole does not penalize an individual driver. A driver with insurance for several years and a dapper represent will pay less than someone without an insurance describe or with a blemished driving record, period. It depends on the person, not only on the age. But, there is some truth to this, but it’s not an insurers rule to charge more, each person is considered on an individual basis.
4. Minimum coverage is good enough and will cover theft or other issues.
This is absolutely a myth and a costly one at that. Minimum coverage only covers accidents while driving. It does not cover theft, vandalism or acts of god. In order to be safeguarded against theft, vandalism or a random falling tree chubby coverage is necessary. Even then it is necessary to read through the contract to see what is and is not covered.
5. No-fault insurance means my rates won’t go up, because the accident has been deemed some else’s fault.
The jargon is confusing, but this is a myth. No fault insurance is a type of insurance in which the company will pay out on a claim regardless of whose fault it is. No-fault insurance can help to cover repairs and issues if the other party is not insured, or will veil harm to the car that is at fault. New York, for example, is a no-fault situation which means that the insurance will cover claims that are the insured fault or not.
6. Credit scores affect insurance rates.
This sadly is a fact. An insurance company will check credit scores when insuring and renewing a person’s auto insurance. Someone with a terrible credit catch may be considered at risk for not paying their insurance premiums and thus their rate may be higher. The credit score of a person does not weigh as heavily in the equation as a driving characterize but it collected matters.
7. The definition of a sports car depends on the company that is insuring the car.
This is a fact. Each company defines “sports car” different. One company may think any little, two-door car, to be a sports car while others will only assume a car with a turbo engine or powerful horsepower a sports car. When trying to insure a sports car it is best to shop around. Rates can vary widely.
8. The moment a teen is insured, insurance rates will go up.
This is true in many states. Some companies are informed the moment a teen living in the residents is insured as it is assumed they will be driving the family car. The newly licensed teen is considered in the equation when insurance is renewed and often results in the insurance rate rising to cover those risky parties.
9. Defensive driving courses and driver’s education lower insurance rates.
Yes, this is true. A defensive driving course can lower insurance rates up to 10% and driver’s education for teens who will be insured on the insurance policy can withhold rates from skyrocketing. States that do not require driver’s education for teens see larger breaks in insurance than those that do.
10. Speeding tickets and spicy violations will affect insurance rates.
Yes, this is true. Someone who receives a speeding imprint or a moving violation is automatically considered a bigger risk to the population as a whole and thus will incur higher rates when insurance is renewed. The insurance company will gaze any new tickets or violations when they check the driving relate of the insured upon renewal and can adjust rates accordingly. Tickets that are not considered moving violations, or those that do not result in “points” on a license do not affect insurance, typically.
Filed under Vehicle Registration Insurance by on Jan 24th, 2011. Comment. 
Give your car away? You’ve got to be crazy!
That is the first response I got to my suggestion that I give my used car to Make-A-Wish. My wife, my daughter, even my brothers opinion I had gone loopy. One brother asked what had knocked my brains loose. Fortunately another brother is a financial planner who assured everyone that what I wanted to do was not crazy. According to him, in our tax bracket it was a great way to reduce the government’s share while giving a charity more than we would likely give in pure cash.
Another point that was a selling point in the family is the relatively low trade-in values that dealers provide. To give the charity the same value in cash and do a standard trade-in would cost more than buying without a trade-in and gifting the car to Make-A-Wish.
Why Make-A-Wish you might be asking. It’s personal with me. I volunteer at a hospital in a children’s ward one day a week. I have met many wonderful children who will experience very short lives or lives that will be a constant challenge as their sight, hearing and ability to control their limbs become increasingly useless.
Cindy Williams, whom I met through the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, is the local director. She had some astounding tales to suppose about the kids they give a chance to. Several of these stories can be found on the website. (http://www.eastncwish.org/ )
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina
3803 B Computer Drive, Suite 108
Raleigh, NC 27609
Phone: 919-821-7111
Make-A-Wish works with an outside organization that accepts your automobile donation and converts into a contribution to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Please call 877-635-0663 for details.
(Please be sure to price your donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern North Carolina).
The process of giving to all the local charities is done via the phone. Whether you call the local office or their designated intermediatory (the person you have to talk to), most of the work will be done over the phone. Some of the work can be done on the Web (Internet).
If you call the local number, they will give you a number to call.
(1) To be prepared for this call have your car registration with when you make the call.
(2) Make the call to the number given.
(3) Write “Exactly” what they narrate you on the transfer of title portion of the registration.
This is important to make obvious your charity receives the benefit.
(4) Schedule a pickup date with the person you are talking to. It is a marvelous idea to have in mind dates convenient to you before you call. They will schedule with a local towing company so trusty times are difficult to arrange. More often than not they will tell you to leave the keys in the car and leave it unlocked.If your car is a junker, no dilemma. I gave away a rather nice car (of course all our cars are nice) and leaving the keys in made me a bit nervous. Particularly when the tow company did not remove it up on the day scheduled.
(5) You should receive a call to confirm everything, prior to actual pickup.
(6) Hold the plates from the car, at least in North Carolina you need to return these to the place or pay the renewal fee every year for the rest of your natural life. (I don’t think they can go after your estate should you die)
(7) Remove any personal items as you will never see the car again.
(8) Leave your car where you agreed to leave it, on the date you agreed to leave it. With the signed registration giving ownership to the charity or their agent in the car. With the keys in the car and the car unlocked.
(9) Check to execute sure the towing agent picked up the car.
(10) You will receive, usually by mail) a receipt that you need to keep for tax purposes.
(11) Relax and know that you helped someone that needed it. (I was a wreck during the process, I had never given away a car before; you would have thought they were taking away my first child).
That’s all there is to the process.
A second great organization to give a vehicle donation to is the American Lung Association of NC. They provide more direct aid in working on the cure to the diseases that cause the lungs to be impacted.
I had the chance in my volunteer work to glance the results of their work in person. I met weekly for four months with a young lad of 16 who was in desperate need of a lung transplant. He was one of a boat load of children, which made it very difficult on his parents. The work of the Lung Associate was there through the results of research that make lung transplants possible and through the services side for the child and his family.
Lung Health Education, Resource, and Outreach Center
3801 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 190
Raleigh, NC 27611
1-800-LUNG-USA (toll free in North Carolina)
919-832-8326
Their website (www.lungnc.org/)
The American Lung Association also uses an outside agency manage the donation of your car:
Phone: 1-888-300-LUNG
Website: (donateyourcar.com)
Habitat for Humanity is another local/national charity which would be glad to have your donation of a car. They provide housing for people who cannot afford to enter the housing market, yet have some resources to pay for shelter. They build new houses on donated land. The houses are sold, usually before the construction begins, to people who must be willing to put some sweat equity into the actual building process. They exhaust a lot of resources from local groups and churches for a large section of the construction.
Within the last year I worked on a house in a portion of new houses in Raleigh. I was surprised to meet not only the new owner working on the house, but a friend of mine who lives in the same neighborhood. I had not even known her house had been built by Habitat. I think that is the whole idea! People who are willing to put some worry into reaching their dreams of home ownership; are people whose pride makes them suitable homeowners and neighbors. This is a great way to support the American Dream.
Habitat for Humanity
2400 Alwin Ct
Raleigh, NC 27604
(919) 833-6768
Website (www.habitatwake.org/)
To donate vehicles exercise the Donation Line number at the end of this article. Habitat uses this organization for car donations.
The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation is the fourth organization I would recommend. I had an uncle who greatly benefited from his relationship to this organization. One of the most vital issues for people with MS and related diseases are the issues of mobility and access. For many of the people with this disease just getting from one side of a room to another is a chore.
In my uncle’s case the organization helped him locate an outfit a van that for a period of years allowed him to regain around without an aide. He could get out on his own, even though he was bound to a wheel chair. For him it meant he could go to the store one his own; run personal errands; take himself to the doctor and visit friends and relatives.
As his health declined, as it does with these diseases, MSF helped him make adjustments to his home and locate good aides. They helped him find an organization that remodels living spaces to make them accessible. For decades they were there with benefit and advice. As a result, he lived a much better quality life.
If you find you want to help this plot, they accept car donations through the same organization as Habitat, and a couple of thousand other groups.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society of Eastern North Carolina
3101 Industrial Drive, Suite 210
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 834-0678
Donation Line, LLC, is a national organization that accepts donations for a variety of charities, both local and national in nature.
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It takes care of all the administrative work associated with non-cash gifts.
In exchange it takes 80% of the first $100.00 and 20% of the remainder over $100.00.
If you have an $800.00 dollar vehicle the example on their website shows that the charity will receive $580.00 and Donation Line will receive $220.00. Given the cost of administration, towing charges, cleaning charges, auction fees, etc., this seems like a reasonable fee. That is probably why they have been able to sign what appears to be hundreds of charities. You get the value of your donation based on the tax law at the time of the donation.
It is important that you mention the specific charity you wish your gift to go to.
(877) 227-7487.
(www.donationline.com/donateacar.htm)
Filed under Vehicle Registration Insurance by on Dec 19th, 2010. Comment.
