Smart Auto Insurance Blog

You may have seen some recent commercials on TV or ads in the paper from Nationwide Auto Insurance discussing their Vanishing Deductible program.  A vanishing deductible sounds appealing but how does it exactly work and is it a good deal?

Basically this benefit will apply to good drivers only.  If you’ve never filed a claim with your auto insurance company you may feel that it’s unfair to pay the same deductible as someone who has filed claims in the past.  Nationwide believes you shouldn’t pay the same deductible if you have a clean record.  That is what motivated them to create this unique plan for good drivers where the deductible “vanishes” with good behavior.

The Vanishing Deductible program drops your deductible by $100 for each year you are a safe driver.  They even offer a $100 discount for signing up.  This optional feature does seem appealing and doesn’t have much of a downside.  According to their website, annual credits are subject to eligibility requirements with a maximum credit of $500.  It’s important to understand that details and availability of the plan vary from state to state so check with a local agent to see if this is an option for you.  Having an insurance company that offers little perks like this can make all the difference since the market is so competitive.

There are a few coverages included in most auto insurance policies across the nation that would surprise the average person.  According to the article “4 Things You Didn’t Know Your General Auto Insurance Covers” on TheAutoInsurance.com, you should always check with your insurer to ensure you have basic coverages, but there’s a good chance they offer the following great benefits:

1. Legal expenses are offered covered including a lawyer
2. Your car is probably covered in the case of a terrorist attack
3. Damage caused when someone else drives your car
4. Roadside Assistance

Again, it is possible that your coverage does not offer these 4 benefits, but if they don’t it may be time to shop around for better auto insurance rates with more benefits.  Many discount auto insurance companies are known for having lack luster benefits, so it’s worth getting a run down of the benefits your policy offers.  Do a side by side comparison of various policies to get a good understanding of what you may be missing.  Most auto insurance agents will happily sit down with you to explain the difference in policies to ensure you find a policy that best suits your needs.  If they don’t, then they might not be the insurer for you.

Not everyone realizes that AARP (formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons) has an auto and home insurance program through The Hartford.  They offer great coverage at competitive rates geared towards their members.

AARP Auto Insurance offers a unique blend of benefits for their retired members.  Availability of features and benefits varies from state to state but by getting a quote you can see what is offered.  They offer first accident forgiveness which is a great benefit for otherwise very safe drivers.  Lifetime renewability is available where you do not have to worry about losing your auto insurance protection.

Known as a disappearing deductible, AARP reduces your collision deductible by $150 if a clean driving record is maintained.  They even continue to drop your deductible by $50 for each additional year you keep a safe driving record until it reaches $0.  The auto insurance feature called RecoverCare helps pay for the cost of services in the home such as cleaning, shopping and transportation if you are hurt in a car accident.  It’s these types of unique benefits that makes AARP auto insurance a great buy.  They truly look out for their members and that is worth your time and money.