According to the Axalta Global Automotive 2017 Color Popularity Report, for the seventh year in a row white leads the world as the most popular car color. Thirty-nine percent of the world’s cars are white, followed far behind by second place black at sixteen percent.

However, bolder colors are on the rise. Blue is gaining popularity, as well as gold and green. And then there is the infamous red car. Red cars account for about six percent of the total but hold one of the most widespread car myths of all time: that red cars cost more to insure.

So, is it true?

Red Cars Cost More to Insure: Myth or Fact?

While there is data to support the fact that red cars can be more expensive to buy, the data around insurance costs for red cars is a little less definitive.

Drivers seem to love red cars. Red can evoke a dynamic and exciting feeling that can simply make people feel good. This love affair with red, especially for fast cars, keeps the sticker price a bit higher than the more popular white and black cars.

But, this higher pricing does not seem to extend to insurance policies for red cars. There are many factors that go into determining your car insurance premiums, and color is not one of them. Even though color doesn’t affect your rate, these factors do:

Your driving record – A history of accidents or incidents, such as tickets, will have you paying higher rates. A clean record is one of the best ways to keep your rate low.

Your age – Younger, inexperienced drivers will pay more. More experienced drivers who keep a clean record can get the best rates.

Your credit score – Many people do not realize that in most states their credit score affects their insurance rates. Insurers want to make sure you will be able to pay your premiums

Your car – While color is not one of the factors that auto insurance companies consider when determining your rates, the year, make and model of your car are.

Where Does this Myth Come From?

The myth that red cars cost more to insure may come from that feeling mentioned earlier, that red cars are exciting. This excitement can lead to a heavy foot on the accelerator, especially in a faster than normal sports car, and this of course can lead to speeding tickets.

It is a fact that speeding tickets will definitely lead to an increase in insurance rates, regardless of the color of your car. If you have a fast, new red sports car and get yourself a couple of speeding tickets, it may take a rise in your rates to slow you down.

If you want to compare rates for your new red car, to be sure you are getting the best deal, use the InsuranceWins form. We’ll shop around using your location and match you with the best agents and carriers for your needs.

Car insurance is one of those things that most people hate paying for. It can feel like you are paying a lot of money and getting nothing in return. Then one day you go out to your car and you see it’s been broken into and your stuff has been stolen. Or even worse, your car is gone, stolen by thieves.

Since most states require drivers to have auto insurance, it’s something you have to pay for no matter what. But to protect yourself and your finances, you should make sure you have the right type of coverage. The right coverage will protect you and your property and takes into account your unique situation.

If you live in an area that is known for vandalism or car theft, you will definitely want to be sure you are covered should it happen to you.  Auto Insurance can be confusing, so let’s take a look at the coverage that protects you in case of theft or vandalism: comprehensive insurance coverage.

What Does Comprehensive Insurance Cover?

Comprehensive car insurance is known as supplementary or optional insurance. This means that it is not required but can be added to your insurance policy for extra protection against loss.

You use your comprehensive coverage when something happens to your vehicle that is not a collision with another vehicle. So, if your car is vandalized or stolen this is the coverage that you must have to recover any money.

Vandalism can take many forms, such as:

• Broken windows
• Broken locks
• Stolen equipment

In order to avoid paying for these types of damage out-of-pocket, you will need to be carrying comprehensive insurance coverage.

If your car is stolen, comprehensive coverage can help you recover money for the value of your vehicle. Be aware, that there can be a long wait for any kind of compensation. You should report the theft right away to the police, and you will have to work your way through the legal and insurance claim processes before you see any money.

The auto insurance company determines the market value of your car, so it’s important that you let them know of any special equipment you had on the vehicle and be able to back it up with receipts, or even better, pictures.

Once a market value is determined for your vehicle, your insurance company will then take out the amount of your deductible before they pay you.

What Is the Deductible?

When you purchase comprehensive coverage, you will choose a deductible amount. This is the amount of money you will have to pay if you have to use this coverage before the insurance company will take on costs. So, if you have a $1000 deductible, you will need to deduct $1000 from the amount you may be owed due to theft or vandalism of your vehicle.

If you want to know how much comprehensive will cost and determine the right deductible for your situation, InsuranceWins can help. Use our simple form to get matched with the perfect solution for your insurance needs.

Being in a car accident comes with all kinds of problems even if you or anyone else hasn’t been injured. And, injuries and property damage often lead to lawsuits as insurance companies try to recover money for claims.

Any kind of lawsuit can be intimidating, but you should know that one of the advantages of having car insurance is that you will have some legal protection as part of your coverage should your insurance company be sued.

There are a few things you should know if you are involved in a car accident lawsuit.

No Fault Auto Insurance States

According to the Insurance Information Institute, there are 12 states that have no-fault laws. These laws limit the right to sue and protect drivers by allowing recovery of damages regardless of fault. In addition, these laws restrict when a lawsuit can be brought, usually to only the most serious cases.

You Will Have a Lawyer

The first think to remember is that most car insurance companies are already geared up to represent you in a car insurance lawsuit. This means they will hire and pay for a lawyer, and they will often cover certain approved expenses related to the case.

Work with Your Lawyer

The insurance company’s lawyers are there to help you through the process of a lawsuit after an auto accident. It’s important that you work with your appointed lawyer. You should be prepared to work with them to resolve the case and not try to do it on your own. However, these appointed lawyers actually work for the insurance company, not you personally. So, if you are at all unhappy with your legal situation during a claim, you can also hire your own car accident attorney.

Check Your Policy

If you want to be sure about the type of legal protection you have, you can review your policy documents. Generally, legal coverage is automatically included but in some cases,  you may be able to buy supplemental coverage for extra protection.

You should also check your policy to understand your liability limits. This is the maximum amount of money your car insurance company will pay if you are found liable for the accident and the damages it caused. In addition, the court may find you are liable for damages above your policy limits. So, make sure you know your limits and are comfortable with the amount of coverage you have.

InsuranceWins is here to help you find the best price for the type of policy you want. Higher liability limits mean higher premiums. If you prefer higher limits, InsuranceWins can help you find the best price for this higher level of protection.

Just fill out the InsuranceWins easy form and we’ll match you with the perfect solution for your car insurance needs.

If you’ve decided to switch car insurance companies or drop your car insurance all together, make sure you do it the right way. Simply stopping payments to your previous auto insurance provider will result in cancellation of your auto insurance, and this can mean major hassles for you down the road.

When You Might Cancel Your Car Insurance

There are a few reasons you might be wanting to cancel your car insurance, including:

• You no longer need to own a car
• You’ve donated your car to charity
• Your car is not for street driving
• Your car is off the road for an extended period of time

It may seem like a good idea to cancel your car insurance if you aren’t going to be using your car. But, before you do, read on. If you foresee that you will need to buy car insurance again in the future, you may not want to cancel your coverage completely.

How to Cancel Your Car Insurance

If you do want to proceed with cancellation there are several ways to do it. Sometimes your new insurance company will take care of cancelling your old insurance for you.

If not, you can provide a written notice of cancellation or call the company directly. You generally can’t cancel your insurance online. This is mostly to protect you from fraud and ensure that it is really you wanting to cancel a policy.

You could also visit a local agent, if you use an insurance company that has local offices.

Why You Shouldn’t Completely Drop Your Car Insurance

As we said before, you may want to consider not completely dropping your car insurance, especially if you think you will need it again in the future. This is because insurance companies don’t like to see a gap in auto insurance and may increase your rates when you apply for insurance again

In addition, if you do drive your car and get caught, you will be facing steep fines and penalties for driving without insurance. And if you cause an accident, even in someone else’s car, you may find yourself liable for property damage and personal injuries to others.

Instead of cancelling your car insurance, you might consider dropping your coverage to the absolute minimums. A small amount each month in premiums may save you lots of money down the road.

Don’t Forget Your Refund

If you do cancel your auto insurance and it is before your policy period is up, you will probably have a refund coming your way. Make sure you ask about the final amount due to you and how you will receive it.

Don’t Forget to Tell Your Lienholder that You’ve Switched Companies

If you lease your car or are making payments, your financial servicer probably requires a minimum amount of coverage. Usually this includes carrying comprehensive and collision coverage. While you can’t cancel your insurance altogether in this situation, you can switch insurance companies. Just be sure to let your loan or lease company know that you have switched and not simply cancelled your coverage.

It always a good idea to shop around for car insurance to make sure you are getting the best deal. If you want to find out how much minimum insurance will cost, the InsuranceWins form can match with the best company for your insurance needs.

It seems you can do almost anything online now. And, it’s usually faster and more convenient. But when it comes to car insurance, many people still want to talk to an agent. So, should you buy your insurance online or should you go direct through an agent?

The answer likely lies somewhere in the middle. Let’s look at some of the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Types of Auto Insurance Agents

There are essentially two types of agents.

Independent agents work for themselves and are able to sell auto insurance from many different companies. These agents often offer a variety of insurance products, including life and health insurance. If you want all of your insurance needs covered by one person or company, you can hook up with a local agent.

Exclusive, or captive, agents are agents that work exclusively for one carrier. If you only want to buy insurance from one specific company and you prefer to have one point of contact for your insurance needs, you may want an exclusive agent.

Advantages of Auto Insurance Agents

Insurance can be complex and difficult to figure out what the best options are for your situation. Deciding between coverage options, deductibles, and state requirements can seem daunting. Agents can sit down with you and explain your policy in detail. However, there is a price to pay for this personalized service and advice.

Advantages of Online

The price of coverage is often the deciding factor when a consumer is shopping for car insurance. Online marketplaces are able to electronically shop the best rates from the top companies. And, the results are presented immediately. There is no waiting for an insurance agent to call back. Searching for auto insurance online can often reveal the same savings and discounts that an agent has access to and allows you to compare the companies you choose. And, you won’t have to pay a fee for using an agent.

Agents versus Online

Consumers may not have to make this choice at all. Today, consumers don’t have to choose between using an agent or going it alone online when buying auto insurance. The best choice, and one that an increasing number of people are using, is to first shop around online to understand pricing, and then contact an agent to talk through any specifics and questions.

A hybrid approach may yield the best policy for your personal situation.

And when you are ready to start shopping, InsuranceWins is here to help. We’ll shop around using your location and match you with the best agents and carriers for your personal insurance needs. Best of all, you can start right away with our fast and easy form.

One of the most embarrassing things that can happen to you when you are shopping for a new car is to have an auto accident during a test drive. It’s even worse if you are the one who causes the accident. While auto dealers to have their own car insurance for vehicles on their lot, you may be liable if you caused the accident.

Let’s look at a few situations to see who may be responsible for paying the costs of repairs or injuries due to an accident during a test drive.

If You Are at Fault

If you cause the accident, the auto dealer will likely hold you responsible. This means that it is your car insurance that will probably pay the associated costs, just as when you cause an accident in your own car. This is similar to getting into an accident with a rental car.

If Someone Else is At Fault

If another driver causes an accident while you are on a test drive, their insurance will be held responsible for covering the accident costs. This is the same way auto insurance works if someone causes an accident and damages a car you own.

Liability States versus No-Fault States

Every state has their own auto insurance laws. Essentially, there are two approaches to car insurance: liability states and no-fault states.

In liability states, blame for the accident is assigned and the insurance companies divvy up the cost of the repairs or payments for injuries. Often, one party is found to be at fault and their insurance pays. Sometimes, the costs can be shared by both (or multiple) parties’ insurance companies.

In a no-fault state, each driver’s insurance pays for their own damages. In this case, the dealership’s insurance would pay for the damages, but they might turn around and hold your insurance company liable if the accident was your fault. This doesn’t usually happen, but the dealership does have the right to try to recover the deductible they may have paid and other associated costs.

Use Common Sense

To protect yourself, just use common sense when you take a car out for a test drive. If you’re trying out a fancy new sports car, it’s best not to speed off the lot to see what the machine can do. The dealership will probably notice, and if you do cause an accident it will come back to haunt you. They may claim you were driving recklessly.

Drive defensively and carefully when you are on a test drive. If you are going to test a car’s limits, do so in a safe area where you will not cause an accident.

And once you buy that new car, use the InsuranceWins form to get the right insurance for your new ride. It’s fast and easy and will hook you up with all the major insurance carriers to find the best policy for your new situation.