California Auto Insurance
California Auto Insurance is required by law, but not always something we take a lot of time to research and consider. In some cases, we find clients grumbling that they have to insure their car in the first place, without realizing the true value in this kind of policy. In Bobby Uppal’s book, the first chapter is dedicated just to explaining this coverage: Why it’s a GOOD thing, why you need it, and how to make informed decisions while purchasing it. Check out this short excerpt:
“Why don’t we rewind a couple of years? You’re 16, 17 years old again. Right now all you can think about is the excitement and the freedom you feel from finally having your license, and perhaps your first car. Even as your parents repeatedly inform you again and again that driving a car is a big responsibility in so many ways you’re still just a kid. Like they always have before, your parents will deal with all the important stuff. In this case that means insurance. They’ll call up their insurance provider, whoever that is, and deal with all the details while you focus on when the next time will be that you can take your car out for a spin. Since you assume that your parents will cover it, you don’t take the time to learn about your insurance yourself.
The issue for most people is that at a young age they don’t even understand the point of insurance. Or more specifically they don’t understand what is it, or what any of those fancy terms specified in their coverage means. As a result insurance begins to feels to abstract to you, it becomes some big incomprehensible, intimidating force. Insurance is just somebody across the phone line trying to sell you something. Insurance is that little green gecko on the TV, or the check that you mail every month. It is not until you find yourself in a situation where you need it that you realize you still don’t know what it is.
So maybe your stereo was on too loud and you were distracted singing along to your favorite lyrics, or maybe even though you don’t want to admit it you glanced down at your phone to see whom that text message was from. Either way, that split second was all it took for you to miss seeing the car in front of you hit their break lights as your front bumper makes contact with the other cars back bumper. It wasn’t a serious accident, nobody got hurt. It’s more of a fender bender than anything else, but it’s enough to slightly dent the other car, and the owner doesn’t seem too happy about it. You’ve only just got your license, and you don’t know how to answer any of the questions the other driver has. They keep asking you for your insurance information, and what coverage you have. It’s not that you don’t want to tell him; it’s just that you honestly don’t know. “
- An excerpt from “We’ve Got You Covered: A guide to Common Questions and Answers” By Bobby Uppal, CLU, ChfC
Don’t be stuck wondering what your insurance coverage is, what it means, and what you are/are not protected for. We are happy to explain the different coverages you are required to have in California, as well as what you really need- and don’t need. That is part of our mission: to not only be your personal, knowledgeable and responsive approach to your insurance needs, but to also help you learn and understand what insurance coverage you have and why. Call us today at 916-966-2143 for a FREE 30 minute consultation to answer any questions you have about your current insurance policy: whether it is with us or not!