AUTO INSURANCE ARTICLE

The Hurricane Season and Your Auto Insurance Policy

By: coppeneur

The hurricane season is between June and November, with its peak recorded to occur in September. Hurricanes often bring severe damage to homes, to vehicles and with Hurricane Katrina, even to a whole city. Perhaps, checking on your auto insurance is the last thing to occur in your mind. But you have to be aware that during the hurricane season, taking the chance to familiarize yourself with your car insurance policy before a disaster strikes can do you good and save you from trouble later.

Spending more than just a cursory view on your policy to know more about the damages and amounts you are covered with by your insurance company, would bid you well and shows a lot of foresight at your end. Better double check how much you understand with what is and what is not covered by your policy, even before risk comes to your vehicle. Perhaps you don’t know, but during the hurricane season, a lot of auto insurance providers introduce some changes to their auto insurance policy. If there is anything in your policy that is unclear to you, call your auto insurance representative or agent as soon as you can to get more details.

During hurricanes, comprehensive, gap and rental reimbursement coverage, are the types of insurance that you need. Comprehensive coverage compensates for damages from floods, fires, rain and other natural disasters or off-road accidents. Gap insurance can pay the difference between what you owe on your loan and what your car is actually worth. Meanwhile, if your car is only damaged and can be repaired, rental reimbursement coverage covers the costs of car rental, while your own vehicle is being fixed.

If you just search for auto insurance or additional types of coverage right after a disaster forecast has been made, don’t expect to get good rates. Besides, getting exorbitant auto insurance rates is even a brighter possibility. The worst-case scenario is that insurance companies might even turn you down if they know there'll be a natural disaster anytime soon. This is with good reason, after all insurance doesn't only work in the event of a potential risk, but should be considered and is made active even without immanent risk or disaster. Also, if you don't have additional types of insurance coverage while residing in a frequently disaster-stricken area, your insurance company may not be in a position to offer you any insurance or allow modifications in your existing policy until the hurricane is over.

So if you’re one who often procrastinates on your commitments, don’t do it with your auto insurance. If you wait until the last minute, you might find yourself not covered with anything at all.

Then of course, you should also consider practical things that would make your car hurricane-protected. You can start by parking your vehicle in a covered garage rather than leaving it outside with the elements or near any trees and poles that might collapse right smack into your car. To get more information on how to prepare for a hurricane and protect yourself and your car, read as much materials on this topic in the web or request manuals from your auto insurance provider. It pays to be prepared. Besides, prevention, as they say, is double the cure, which applies to getting insurance coverage before a disaster hits you.