Buying a Car

There you are, out car shopping on a sunny Saturday morning.  Whether it’s your first car or your fifth, you can’t help feeling the bubbles of excitement as you stroll across the lot, coffee in hand, looking at all the different cars.

Of course you know what you want.  Kind of.  You’ve done your research!   You have an idea what type of vehicle you need, looked into your financing options, made up your mind on whether you’ll buy a new or used car, and read up on gas mileage, crash test and safety ratings. You even know what color you’d like.
Today is the day.  You are ready to make a move and drive the new ride home.

But did you call your insurance broker to make sure you and your new car are covered as you drive off the lot? 

There are actually quite a few aspects to consider when you purchase a new or used car.  Some of them are to ensure that you have insurance protection, others can save you quite a bit of money.

A quick phone call to us at Alpine Insurance before you go out to buy can give you the head start you need to stay in control.

• Car Dealer says you have 14 days insure your new car? Beware! It’s not always true!
• Car Loan Upside Down? Get the proper endorsement on your insurance for new vehicles.
• Buying a used car? If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
• Buying a car for your teen? Read this.

Car Dealer says you have 14 days to insure your new car?  Beware! It’s not always true!

So you’ve found the car that you like and you are sitting down to do the paperwork.  As you pick up the pen, it occurs to you that you forgot to call your broker to get insurance for your new car.  No!  It’s Saturday afternoon, you are exhausted and tired and you just want to drive it home.  But along comes your car dealer with some fabulous news:  “You have 14 days to add it to your insurance plan,” he says.

So there’s no need to fret…Right?

Unfortunately, that’s not quite true.  There are indeed situations when you have 14 days to add the new car to your policy.  But there are far too many variables to give a simple rule explaining when the 14-day cushion applies and when it does not. For example, it might work when you trade a vehicle but it won’t be applicable when you buy an additional vehicle.

Your safest bet:  Don’t rely on the 14-day advice.  Get your insurance now!

If you are beginning to think about buying a new car, give your insurance team at Alpine Insurance a quick call right away and we’ll set you up right.  We’ll make sure that when you finally go to buy your new car, you don’t have to worry.  It’s as easy as that.

Car loan “upside down”?  Get the proper endorsement on your insurance for new vehicles.

As you purchase you new car and transfer or add insurance you will be presented with the option to buy a special endorsement which is a waiver of depreciation. Whether you own outright, finance or lease this will protect you against heavy depreciation that new vehicles are subject to.

Cars depreciate incredibly fast, and as a result, the amount that you owe on the car may quickly be far greater than its fair market value.

This can become a problem if your car is totaled after an accident or theft.  If your car is a ‘total loss’, your insurance company is only obligated to pay for its fair market value.  If the amount you owe on the vehicle is more than the market value, you might find that you need to pay additional money (sometimes thousands of dollars) just to pay off the car loan (even though you can’t even drive the car anymore!)

That’s what “Waiver of Depreciation” coverage is for.  It pays for the difference between the market value of your car and the amount you have left on your loan.  This isn’t a replacement cost endorsement but depending on the carrier guarantee’s purchase price (minus applicable taxes) for the first 24 to 30 months you own the vehicle.  We absolutely believe that you should purchase “Waiver of Depreciation Endorsement” on all new vehicles purchased outright, financed or leased.

We recommend that you purchase this coverage through your car insurance company.

Complicated?  No worries.  Call your team at Alpine Insurance and we will set it all up for you.  As soon as you are ready to buy…call us before you sign the contract!

Buying a used car?  If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Maybe you did your car-shopping online, and you found a great deal on a used car.  Low mileage, good condition, and after the test-drive you find it runs like a charm.  The price is good, too.  In fact, it’s great!  They could get much more for this if they wanted to…

Wait.  Why don’t they?

The caveat with used cars is often that you can never be really sure what has happened to them. In the auto industry these are referred to as stories…  So you rely on the honesty of the previous owner or dealership…or you get a vehicle history report.  Various providers offer these reports online for a fee.  Even better, make the purchase subject to an inspection through a reputable third party! Typically reputable automobile dealerships can be trusted as they value their reputation very much…

Be smart.  Call Alpine Insurance before you buy your car. If it’s an older used car 10+ years of age your insurer will require a safety inspection anyways.

Buying a car for your teen?  Read this.

Your son just turned 16 and, of course, he passed his driver’s license test on his birthday.  So, down memory lane you go…Remembering how you drove the old beat-up blue pick-up truck to school (Pick-up?  They should have named it Hick-up!) and were dreaming about that sleek convertible…

Now your son’s 16, and you want nothing more than make his dreams come true.  What parent doesn’t?  Since both of you are into cars, you agree on a sporty model.  It stretches the budget but it’s affordable.

The surprise comes Monday when you call your broker to add the new car to your insurance plan.

HOW MUCH?

Young drivers in combination with new, sporty vehicles make for an expensive mix when it comes to your car insurance.  This is not a personal offense against your teen (who might be a very good driver).  But studies have proven again and again that young drivers are the highest risk on the road.  And insurance companies will rate young drivers as high-risk drivers, because they simply have not yet gained the experience of older drivers.  Additionally, sports cars by their very nature tend to encourage speeding which makes for increased insurance rates.  Brand new models and types like SUVs and Trucks may also trigger higher rates.

If you are looking to buy a car for your teen, we recommend that you opt for a midsize, slightly older and reliable car with safety features such as airbags or anti-lock brakes.  Older cars are generally less expensive to insure because they are less expensive to repair.

And remember, you can always give us a call for more advice or sample rate quotes!

One-Stop Insurance Shopping

Buying a new car is very exciting!  Get yourself cruising right by giving our team at Alpine Insurance a call before you head out to the dealer.  We can make sure you get adequate protection at the best rates, plus all the discounts you deserve.  One quick phone call – much less hassle.  Isn’t that the way to do it?

Contact us today.  We’re here to help!