with severe damage, you are much better off not repairing the vehicle and taking the total loss settlement from your insurer, as long as you're covered by your insurance policy. In this article, you’ll learn more about what goes into determining whether a vehicle is a total loss and whet...
When you buy a new car, insurance is required to legally drive it. You can get a car insurance policy before you buy a car, as long as you know the make and model of your future vehicle. If you already have a car insurance policy, it can be updated to cover your new car. Keep ...
A vehicle history report will give you some need-to-know info that’ll help you decide whether this car is for you—including accidents, open recalls, service history and the car’s previous owners. All of that can give you the upper hand when it comes to getting a better price too. Y...
This information is helpful in determining a vehicle's history, and it can also help you identify those cars you wouldn't want to touch with a 10-foot pole: salvaged vehicles. For instance, if a vehicle was acquired by an insurance company after being totaled, but was later sold at aucti...
Collision coverage is the kind you want to have if your vehicle is totaled, either because of an accident or due to an act of nature. But it will bump your auto insurance premiums up a bit, so drivers are often eager to drop it as soon as they reasonably can. Knowing when it's the...
insurance protects you if your new car is in an accident and is totaled. The insurance covers that gap between the market value and the car's actual value. If you need to, there are ways to cancel gap insurance and get a refund for the policy after you have traded in your vehicle. ...
If your daughter's vehicle gets repossessed because she cannot pay, it will only hurt her credit. This type of lesson is important. If you protect your children from these lessons, they will never learn how money works, and they will continue to lean on you for help. Case in point: My...
right now, it is jealousy, unbelievably so. People have received insurance checks, financial compensation for their destroyed lives, their “totaled” homes. Many have paid off mortgages and moved away already or plan to soon. Th...
If you notice any of these problems, find out how much the repair will cost by calling around town to automotive shops before making an offer. CHECK THE BATTERIES One of the quickest ways to assess whether a vehicle has had good maintenance is a visual inspection of the battery. If it ...
Gap insurance is a type of auto insurance that you can purchase to protect yourself in case you total your car and the amount of compensation you receive does not fully cover the amount you owe on your financing or lease agreement. If the balance of your car loan is greater than the veh...