car carma - incomeactivator.combe to maneuver around the potholes of life. astrological road signs...

Car Carma When bad things happen to good drivers

blame your "Astrological Sign"

Car Carma Examines the Influence Your

Astrological Sign has Over Your Driving

Car Carma is an information-packed book that

describes which astrological signs represent the

best and worst drivers.

It also gives "insider information" on what you need

to know about tickets, accidents, insurance and the

law before it's too late.

Car Carma, the book is available in hard cover or by e-book and can be purchased by going to:

www.CarCarma.com

What Drove Me To Write About

“Car Carma”

I founded the insurance rate comparison guide in

North America, in 1994, InsuranceHotline.com.

After comparing driver’s insurance rates for years,

I began wondering why some drivers always had accidents, and others always received tickets.

So I compared 100,000 driving records to the

driver’s astrological sign and the results were overwhelming.

It showed drivers of certain astrological signs are

more prone to getting tickets, while others seemed destined to have accidents.

Driving A Little Good Karma Towards You

Regardless of your driving record or astrological sign

www.CarCarma.com provides a free and unbiased

search for the lowest car insurance rate for you.

This could save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars of the cost of your car insurance.

http://www.carcarma.com/

Car Carma can happen anywhere, anytime . . .

even on the hit TV show . . .

My Name Is Earl

Earl, upon discovering that he held a winning lottery

ticket, was hit by a car and the ticket blows out of

his hand as he lays unconscious on the street.

Earl's life has been full of poor choices and

mistakes, but after winning a small lottery jackpot,

he has an epiphany and vows to change his ways.

While recovering in the hospital and watching

television, Earl discovers karma, thanks to talk-

show host Carson Daly, who attributes his success to doing good for others.

A light bulb goes off in Earl's head and he sets out

to right every wrong he has done.

Car Carma is here for you, for Earl, and even for the

driver who ran Earl down, so everyone can improve their driving karma.

Hope you enjoy my book!

Law of Karma

Karma is a sum of all that an individual has done

and is currently doing. The effects create your

present and future experiences, thus making you

responsible for your own drive.

Law of Car Carma

If life is a highway, Car Carma is your roadmap.

The more you know about tickets, accidents,

insurance and the law of the road, the easier it will

be to maneuver around the potholes of life.

Astrological Road Signs

Car Carma is your roadmap through the zodiac. It's

a tool of enlightenment that reveals the best to the

worst drivers under the sun, moon and stars.

http://www.insurancehotline.com/

Introduction

Car Carma reveals your Karmic driving lesson.

- Your Karmic Driving Lesson – page 9

Chapter 1: - Tickets – page 17 Discover which astrological signs get ticketed the

most to least. Plus, ticket tips, and tricks.

- Zodiac Signs & Tickets: Worst to Best

- Tickets, Tickets, Tickets

- License Ramifications

- Insurance Ramifications

- Tickets Outside Your Area

- Radar

- Pulled Over

- Fighting A Ticket

Chapter 2: -Accidents – page 40

Here we look at accidents, and how each

astrological sign collides with the stars, plus,

smashing insights, and the black hole of accidents.

- Zodiac Signs & Accidents: Worst to Best

- When to Report an Accident

- In an Accident

- To Tow or Not To Tow

- Determining Fault

- Suffering from Injury

- Accident Forgiveness

- Claims Protection

- Repair Shops

- Claims & Your Insurance Rate

Chapter - 3: Insurance – page 70

We reveal the “overall” best to worst astrological

signs for drivers getting tickets and accidents. Plus,

learn the myths and mysteries behind car insurance.

- Zodiac Signs: Overall Worst to Best Drivers

- What Your Insurance Policy Covers

- Paying Too Much

– Car Rentals & Tricks

- They Know Where You Live

- Lending Your Car

- I Don’t Want Them Driving My Car

- Changing Insurance Companies

- Storm Damage & Your Car

- Acts Of God

- Young Drivers & Insurance Shock

- You’re Cancelled

- Star Drivers

- Does Your Insurance Company Love You?

- What@*%, They’re Not Insured?

- Oops, I Missed a Payment

- Lapse in Your Insurance History

- God, My Car’s Hot!

- Less to Insure a New Car

- Behind the Insurance Curtain

- Myths & Insurance Realities

Chapter 4: The Law & Vehicle

Stuff – page 106

Here’s a bit about the law, what cars are the most

and least likely to be stolen and best vehicle

awards.

Plus, if you get into trouble we’ll tell you who to call.

- Theft of Your Vehicle: A Checklist

- Police & Your License Plate

mailto:What@*%25

- Car Rentals & Tricks

- Drinking & Driving

- Dangers of Insurance Fraud

- Impaired Driving Charge

- Best Vehicle Awards

- Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles

- Top 10 Least Stolen Vehicles

- Resources

- Acknowledgements

Introduction

“Four out of the five voices in my head

say it’s okay to read this book.”

The influence of your astrological sign can have a

tremendous “impact” on your driving ability.

Of course, to have good driving karma, you need to

know a thing or two about how tickets, accidents

and the law can affect your driver’s license and

insurance rate.

What Drove Me to Write “Car Carma”

My car was stolen and it got me to thinking, when

bad things can happen to good drivers, is it karma?

Could your astrological sign be to blame?

Was my car stolen because of karma? Were the

“Insurance Gods” upset? Maybe it was because I

had created an online insurance guide,

InsuranceHotline.com, which directed thousands of

drivers to the companies with the lowest rates.

Or, could my astrological sign have an impact on my

driving experience?

These deep thoughts led me to compare 100,000

driving records to the driver’s astrological sign.

What I Found Was Astonishing

The driving records, matched up perfectly to each

person’s astrological profile. Read on!

Your Karmic Driving Lesson

You can’t ignore what karma has to say about your

driving skills; that would be like driving blindfolded.

But whatever your Car Carma is, be assured that

you can save money by going online to

www.CarCarma.com to find which insurance

company has the lowest insurance rate for you.

If you’re new to the astrological highway of life, and

unsure of your “driving sign”, it’s determined by the

date of your birth:

Aries……….…21 March-19 April

Taurus….……20 April-20 May

Gemini….……21 May-20 June

Cancer….……21 June-22 July

Leo…….……..23 July-22 August

Virgo….……..23 August-22 September

Libra….………23 September-22 October

Scorpio………23 October-21 November

Sagittarius.…22 November-21 December

Capricorn……22 December-19 January

Aquarius…….20 January-18 February

Pisces………..19 February-20 March


Sun in Aries

Ruled by Mars - Planet of Survival

Element: Fire. Color: Red. Lucky Gem: Diamond.

Metal: Copper. March 21 to April 19.

Karmic Driving Lesson: Aries is the first sign of

the zodiac and they want to be number one. This

"me first" nature is what steers Aries into trouble.

Aries is fiery, fearless and brazen. The old saying,

"Look before you leap", describes the influence of

this Ram's astrological sign, and pretty much sums

up its karmic driving lesson.

Sun in Taurus Ruled by Venus- Planet of Love and Money

Element: Earth. Color: Pale Blue. Lucky Gem:

Sapphire, Metal: Copper. April 20 to May 20.

Karmic Driving Lesson: Taurus, the bull, can be

stubborn, even combative, when its passion for

driving is aroused. The Taurus driver is very

physical, and enjoys every curve in the road.

Taurus must learn that you can't steer other drivers,

only yourself.

Sun in Gemini Ruled by Mercury - Planet of Communication

Element: Air. Color: Yellow. Lucky Gem: Agate,

Metal: Mercury. May 21 to June 20.

Karmic Driving Lesson: Geminis are the original

multi-taskers.

Eating, drinking coffee, reading the newspaper and

text messaging your friends is easy for a Gemini to

do while driving. But this doesn’t make it okay.

Gemini needs to put down that cell phone and drive.

Sun in Cancer Ruled by the Moon - Planet of Emotions

Element: Water. Color: Grays & Green.

Lucky Gem: Pearl. Metal: Silver. June 21 to July 22.

Karmic Driving Lesson: Cancer’s astrological

symbol is the crab. They are driven by their

emotional nature, and can quickly claw their way

into the path of road rage.

Cancerians are tenacious and driven. They must

learn to accept the occasional traffic jam on the

highway of life.

Sun in Leo Ruled by the Sun - Planet of Leadership

Element: Fire. Color: Golden Yellow & Orange.

Lucky Gem: Ruby. Metal: Gold. July 23 to Aug. 22.

Karmic Driving Lesson: Leo must consider why it

needs to be the center of attention. Squealing tires

can be fun until the police arrive.

As karmic astrology teaches us, all we have is

ourselves, and that should be plenty. Leo would do

well to adopt the motto, "I drive, therefore I exist"

and leave the theatrics to the stunt drivers.

Sun in Virgo

Ruled by Mercury - Planet of Communication

Element: Earth. Color: Blue, Gray, Brown. Lucky Gem:

Sardonyx. Metal: Mercury. Aug. 23 to Sept. 22.

Karmic Diving Lesson: Virgo's obsession with

perfection needs balancing. Virgo must learn to

relax and let go, but not of the wheel!

Virgos must learn to distinguish what merits close

scrutiny from what doesn't. While casually observing

the dust on your dashboard, don’t worry about it.

The oncoming car will take care of that for you.

Sun in Libra Ruled by Venus - Planet of Love and Money

Element: Air. Color: Pale Blue & Pink. Lucky Gem:

Sapphire. Metal: Copper. Sept. 23 to Oct. 22.

Karmic Driving Lesson: Libra's greatest concerns,

as the "Sign of the Scales", are justice and

harmony.

Everything should be negotiated and a fair decision

for all must be reached before proceeding.

Libra must learn that rush hour traffic is not a time

for seeking driver approval.

Sun in Scorpio

Ruled by Pluto - Planet of Regeneration

Element: Water. Color: Dark Red & Maroon.

Lucky Gem: Opal. Metal: Iron. Oct. 23 to Nov. 21.

Karmic Driving Lesson: It's the Scorpion instinct

to get revenge, and driving is the perfect avenue to

vent a little Scorpion road rage. Scorpio's karmic

task is to learn to trust other drivers.

A difficult lesson, as Scorpions can't even trust

themselves behind a wheel.

Sun in Sagittarius Ruled by Jupiter - Planet of Expansion

Element: Fire. Color: Purple. Lucky Gem: Topaz.

Metal: Iron. Nov. 22 to Dec. 21.

Karmic Driving Lesson: Fiery Sagittarians are

risk-takers. Sagittarians must learn which risks are

worth taking and which are better avoided while

driving.

This kind of caution and self-restraint will positively

affect the bottom line on a Sagittarian's car repair

and insurance costs.

Sun in Capricorn

Ruled by Saturn - Planet of Authority

Element: Earth. Color: Gray, Green, Brown. Lucky

Gem: Turquoise. Metal: Lead. Dec. 22 to Jan. 19.

Karmic Driving Lesson: Controlling urges that

lead Capricorns to strive for perfection make them

expect no less from other drivers.

This is their first mistake.

Their second mistake is thinking that the rules of

the road are for other drivers to follow so the

Capricorn can get there faster.

Sun in Aquarius Ruled by Uranus - Planet of Speed & Rebellion

Element: Air. Colors: Electric Blue. Lucky Gems:

Amazonite, Turquoise. Metal: Aluminum. Jan. 20 to

Feb. 18.

Karmic Driving Lesson: This sign finds it difficult

to remain grounded. This contributes to Aquarian's

uncertain grasp of the wheel.

Aquarius must develop an acceptance level with its

own ambiguity in order to be comfortable depending

on the turn signals of other drivers.

Sun in Pisces

Ruled by Neptune - Planet of Inspiration

Element: Water. Color: Soft Sea Green. Lucky Gem:

Moonstone. Metal: Tin. Feb. 19 to March 20.

Karmic Driving Lesson: Pisces' astrological sign is

of two fish swimming in opposite directions, much

like cars passing each other on the highway of life.

Pisces doesn't function on a linear roadway of traffic

signs and intersections. This sign is far more fluid.

Pisces needs to learn to swim within the stream of

traffic.

Car Carma

Chapter 1 - Tickets

- Zodiac Signs & Tickets: Worst to Best

- Tickets, Tickets, Tickets

- License Ramifications

- Insurance Ramifications

- Tickets Outside Your Area

- Radar

- Pulled Over

- Fighting a Ticket

Chapter 1 - Tickets

"If everything is coming your way,

you’re probably in the wrong lane."

Zodiac Signs & Tickets: Worst To Best

Car Carma is your roadmap through the zodiac.

It's a tool of enlightenment that identifies the worst

and best drivers, under the sun, moon and stars.

Comparing 100,000 drivers’ records to their

astrological signs, here’s how the signs ranked, from

most to least tickets received:

1 – Pisces –Ticketed The Most

2 - Aries

3 - Aquarius

4 - Capricorn

5 - Libra

6 - Taurus

7 - Scorpio

8 - Leo

9 - Cancer

10- Virgo

11- Sagittarius

12- Gemini – Ticketed the Least

Sun in PISCES



Moonstone. Metal: Tin. Feb. 19 to March 20. # 1 In Tickets: Pisces - Risk-Taker, Daydreamer,

Theatrical, Vulnerable, Shy & Compassionate.

Fish are the astrological symbol for Pisces. This sign

has netted the most drivers with the highest

number of traffic tickets.

The Pisces fish may be a little “directionally

challenged”, swimming opposite of each other.

Perhaps their fishtailing catches up to them.

Whatever the reason may be, thank goodness

they’re blessed with great peripheral vision, as they

are swift at avoiding collisions.

Living in their own underwater world, they spend

many hours floating around in a daydream. It is

important for Pisces to realize that “driving in the

real world” requires their complete attention.

Pisces drivers will leave you in their wake. They’re

not afraid to bend the rules of the road when it

comes to speed limits. As this sign has many good

qualities, its positive influence over drivers is a little

fishy. And when Pisces see their insurance rate

jump, they flip.

Sun in ARIES




# 2 In Tickets: Aries - Daring, Risk-Taker,

Energetic, Friendly, Impulsive & Childlike.

It’s the karmic responsibility of Aries drivers to

accept that they are not the center of the universe,

but rather part of a “larger social order” on the

highway of life.

When behind the wheel, Aries feel they own the

road.

This is a driving concern, and possibly the reason

that Aries is the sign that receives the 2nd highest

number of traffic tickets.

It would not be unlike a 40-year-old Aries to race

you off the line when the light turns green.

They want what they want, when they want it. And

if they have to drive there to get it, they’ll probably

be speeding.

Aries are “doers”. This is why they are in "such a big

hurry, officer”.

They must pay more attention to the wisdom of the

"Traffic Gods".

Sun in AQUARIUS

Ruled by Uranus - Planet of Speed & Rebellion



Feb. 18.

# 3 In Tickets: Aquarius - Rebellious,

Opinionated, Unconventional & Stubborn.

Aquarians are influenced by the unpredictable

nature of the planet Uranus and the stability of

Saturn. These two conflicting influences create a

cosmic eruption.

It causes the Aquarian to suddenly change course,

usually to the shock of the other driver.

Spontaneous U-turns are the trademark of the

Aquarian driver.

Aquarians receive the 3rd highest number of tickets

of the entire zodiac. Aquarian driving techniques

make useful examples for driving instructors when

demonstrating what not to do. Proof of this is in

their skyrocketing insurance rates.

Uranus is the planet of speed and rebellion.

Combine this with the Aquarian stubbornness and it

can be a challenge to suppress that inner road

warrior.

When driving with an Aquarian, buckle up. They can

be impatient, even temperamental. This leaves

them prone to rolling stops and racing through

lights. Their eccentricity is on display for all to see.

An Aquarian would be the driver with the bumper

sticker that reads "I Stop For Aliens."

Sun in CAPRICORN




# 4 In Tickets: Capricorn - Ambitious, Goal

Getter, Mature, Designing, Patient & Traditional.

Capricorns believe that their way is the right way on

the highway of life. Caps feel that the other zodiac signs would be

better off yielding to them, and that road signs are

for the drivers that need direction.

Capricorns adopt the philosophy that the end

justifies the means. However, this positioning

doesn’t play well in traffic court.

They are goal seeking and ambitious. Capricorns are

much more concerned about getting to their

destination than they are with the journey. Speed

limits and traffic signs are incidental to their goal.

This may be why Capricorn drivers receive the 4th

highest number of tickets.

Capricorns can be guilty of making or enforcing

rules they themselves don’t follow. Yet, knowing all

the written and unwritten rules of the road qualifies

the Cap as one of the best back seat drivers in the

universe.

Sun in LIBRA

Ruled by Venus - Planet of Love and Money



# 5 In Tickets: Libra - Indecisive, Tactful,

Objective, Avoids Conflict & Strategic.

It's Libra’s job to restore balance, create harmony,

cooperate and respect all traffic signs equally.

Yet, a Libra can suddenly snap when confronted

with mixed “traffic” signals. Information overload is

a recipe for the Libra’s road rage to emerge.

Libras’ need for seeking consensus goes out the

window at 5 pm as they struggle to make sound

decisions based on the insanity of rush hour traffic.

It's the “Scales of Justice”, which symbolize Libra,

that help this sign strike the right balance.

Libra’s indecisiveness attracts attention. Libras are

the drivers that you, and the police, can never

figure out, as they react to every little bump on the

road.

That’s why this sign’s influence lands drivers in 5th

place for receiving the most traffic tickets.

On the upside, if it were not for the Librans' charm

and wit they may have scored much higher in this

category. Their outrageous flirtatiousness comes in

handy for talking their way out of a ticket.

Sun in TAURUS



Sapphire. Metal: Copper. April 20 to May 20.

# 6 In Tickets: Taurus - Stubborn, Stable,

Cautious, Comfort Seeking & Deliberate.

The bull is the mascot for this sign. A Taurus driver

must resist the urge to charge at red lights.

This sign indulges in delicious excess; it’s all about

the reward. The influence of the bull takes center

ring when it comes to drivers receiving tickets,

placing Taurus in 6th position overall.

A Taurus driver can be stubborn, obstinate and

inflexible, much like the police officer that pulls

them over for not yielding.

They are the most introverted and self-absorbed of

all the signs. If a Taurus does not let you cut in

front of them, it’s not personal; it’s just their bullish

nature.

The practical and reliable influence of Taurus finds

these zodiac drivers happy to plod along on the

highway of life.

The good news is that these bulls always get to their

destination, and would proudly display a bumper

sticker saying, “I May Be Slow - But I’m Ahead Of

You”.

Sun in SCORPIO


Element: Water. Color: Dark Red & Maroon. Lucky

Gem: Opal. Metal: Iron. Oct. 23 to Nov. 21.

# 7 In Tickets: Scorpio - Strong-Willed, Secretive,

Possessive, Vengeful & Passionate.

The Scorpion, on the surface, may seem like an

easygoing, congenial, and gregarious driver.

But under the influence of their astrological sign,

they can become extremely tenacious with a

tendency to manipulate and control other drivers.

When Scorpions get behind the wheel they can turn

on you. They want what they want, and are

persistent until they get it. It’s the highway of life

on the Scorpio's terms.

Drivers born under this sign are intense and

passionate, and must be careful not to promote

their driving agenda around an unmarked police car.

They travel in a world that’s black and white, and

have little use for the gray areas of insurance.

However, Scorpios will zero in on the essential

question: “What is this ticket going to do to my

insurance rate?”

This is the influence that may be what’s helping to

keep the Scorpion road warrior in control, as they

are in 7th position for receiving the most tickets.

Sun in LEO

Ruled by the Sun - Planet of Leadership


Lucky Gem: Coral. Metal: Gold. July 23 to Aug. 22.

# 8 In Tickets: Leo - Flamboyant, Creative,

Generous, Egotistical & Optimistic.

Leo’s astrological sign is the lion. Leo’s biggest fault

is being egocentric, and sometimes forgetting that

the highway of life includes all drivers.

Leos are supremely talented drivers and have a flair

for the dramatic. Prideful Leos crave the spotlight,

but they must be careful not to get it confused with

the flashing spotlights of a cop car.

The jungle of changing speed limits and stop-and-go

traffic is within this lion king’s control and comfort

zone.

As a result, this sign has a good influence over

drivers. Leo can, and will, boast of being in 5th

position for receiving the least number of traffic

tickets.

Leo loves to play the hero, so if you ever blow out a

tire and need help, pray that a Leo drives by.

Their fun-loving nature affects those around them.

You can spot a Leo driver grooving to the music in

their car knowing that they’re not going to be

paying a king’s ransom for their car insurance.

Sun in CANCER

Ruled by the Moon - Planet of Emotions

Element: Water. Color: Grays & Green.

Lucky Gem: Pearl. Metal: Silver. June 21 to July 22.

# 9 In Tickets: Cancer - Moody, Nurturing,

Sensitive, Shy, Possessive & Family-Oriented.

The Crab is Cancer’s astrological symbol. Its side-

to-side crab-like gestures are demonstrated through

its quick lane changes, giving them an advantage in

stop and go traffic.

The crab’s indirect approach influences these drivers

to scramble through the back streets, believing they

will get to their destination faster. Best of all, there

are very few speed traps in the alleyways.

Cancer drivers are not usually ones to suffer in

silence, and the horns of their moodiness can often

be heard throughout the flow of traffic. Warning:

This causes unnecessary attention from the police.

Cancer’s nurturing influence sees the roadway of

drivers as one big family. That may be the reason

that keeps this temperamental crab in 4th position

when it comes to receiving the least number of

tickets.

Cancers resort to emotional appeals. These drivers

typically try to make eye contact, or wave, while

they’re cutting you off. Yet, Cancers wear their

hearts on their sleeves, and are the sign most likely

to give you a lift if you need it.

Sun In VIRGO


Element: Earth. Color: Blues, Grays, Browns. Lucky Gem:

Sardonyx. Metal: Mercury. Aug. 23 to Sept. 22.

# 10 In Tickets: Virgo - Helpful, Practical,

Analytical, Timid, Sceptical, Finicky & Hypocritical.

A Virgo's brain is in overdrive all of the time. This is

why these drivers get so much done so quickly, but

must be sensitive not to transfer this energy to the

gas pedal.

Virgos tend to criticize and focus on minor, often

unimportant, details. This can make them annoying

passengers, but experts at spotting speed traps.

Virgos’ high driving standards apply to their friends

and loved ones, driving everyone crazy in the

process.

Virgos have an overwhelming need for perfection.

Combine this with their analytical grasp of the rules

of the road, and it’s clear why Virgo ranks in 3rd

position for drivers who receive the least number of

tickets.

Like a Virgin, their driver’s record is pure. However,

it drives Virgos crazy to know that they are not the

best sign overall.

Of course, their skepticism leads them to believe

that an error must have been made, and that when

corrected, Virgos will be proven the best drivers

under the sun.

Sun in SAGITTARIUS

Ruled by Jupiter - Planet of Expansion

Element: Fire. Color: Purple.

Lucky Gem: Topaz. Metal: Iron. Nov. 22 to Dec. 21.

# 11 In Tickets: Sagittarius - Independent, Truth

Seeker, Traveler, Talkative & Theatrical.

Sagittarians have a “drive” for information. Their

inner road map leads them to experts who are

knowledgeable about tickets and their effect on

insurance rates.

This thirst for knowledge fuels the Sag’s broad-

minded approach to the highway of life. As a result,

this sign’s influence places the Sagittarian in 2nd

position, overall, for receiving the least number of

tickets.

The Archer represents Sagittarians. The arrow is

symbolic of direction, making Sagittarians

comfortable with the flow of traffic and rules of the

road. The Centaur is also half animal, galloping

swiftly through traffic like a racehorse, but not as

fast as a radar gun, so be careful.

If pulled over, the Sag needs to exercise tact, and

caution, and resist the urge for a good argument.

There’s no such thing as a good argument with a

cop.

The Sagittarians are also a lucky bunch thanks to

Jupiter's golden glow, which comes in handy when

in need of some good parking karma.

Sun in GEMINI


Element: Air. Color: Yellow. Lucky Gem: Agate.


# 12 In Tickets Gemini: Alert, Adaptable,

Friendly, Superficial, Curious, Restless & Talkative.

The Twins are the astrological symbol of Gemini.

This sign is a great influence for the Gemini driver.

While one twin is driving, the other is the wingman

keeping a lookout.

If you’re going on a road trip with a Gemini, it’s a

good time to kick back and relax. Geminis love to

talk, so you won’t have to.

Their flirtatious ability and creative use of language

skills must have helped talk their way out of many

traffic tickets, as Gemini is the number 1 sign of

the zodiac for receiving the fewest tickets.

The driving force behind Gemini’s success is their

mind. Gemini-born drivers are intellectually inclined.

They will find out as much as possible about tickets,

accidents, insurance and the law. Use it wisely.

If you’re a Gemini, consider yourself a Car Carma

ambassador. Go out and share all the driving tips

you learn about in this book.


Tickets, Tickets, Tickets

"Forget About World Peace...

Visualize Using Your Turn Signal."

Though every state is different, one universal truth

is that all tickets remain on your record for five

years and affect your insurance rates for three.

Ticket Classifications: These tickets are divided

into 3 classifications: minor, major and serious

convictions, including criminal acts. All ticket

classifications, regardless of demerit points, have

the potential to affect your insurance rate.

Parking Tickets: Parking tickets do not affect your

driving license, insurance record, and do not appear

on your driver record.

The consequence of not paying a parking ticket

means that your license plate will not be renewed.

In other words, you will not be able to get your

renewal "sticker".

Minor, Major & Serious Tickets: though laws

differ from state to state, here’s a list of ticket

classifications that affect your insurance rate for

minor, major, serious, and criminal convictions:

Minor Tickets

Crowding Driver’s Seat

Defective Brakes

Drivers License Violations

Failing To Share The Road

Failing To Signal

Failure To Use Seatbelts

Failing To Yield

Failing To Yield To A Pedestrian

Failure To Surrender Your License

Failure To Produce Evidence Of Insurance

Failure To Produce Or Carry Insurance Card

Following Too Closely

Headlight Offences

Improper Driving In A Bus Lane

Improper Lane Change

Improper Opening Of Door

Improper Passing

Improper Towing

Improper Turn

Improper Use Of Divided Highway

Insecure Load

Obstructing Traffic

Overloading

Use Of Radar Warning Device

Improper Railway Crossing

Speeding

Stop Sign Infraction

Stunting / Drag Racing (Though many states

are taking this more seriously of late,

resulting in more serious consequences)

Traffic Light Infraction

Trailer Passenger

Unnecessary Noise

Unnecessary Slow Driving

Unsafe Move

Unsafe Or Prohibited Turn

Unsafe Vehicle

View Obstructed

Wrong Way On One Way

Obstruction Of View

Obstruction Of License Plate

Driving without an up to date Inspection

Sticker

Major Tickets

Speeding 6 MPH or more over posted speed

limit

Failing To Report An Accident

Failure to Report Damage to Highway

Property if you caused the damage.

All Insurance Offenses

Operating Your Own Motor Vehicle With No

Insurance

Driving With No Insurance

Produce False Evidence

Driving In Contravention Of Restrictions

School Zone, Improper Passing Zone

School Bus, Improper Passing, Fail To Stop

G1 (Beginner’s License) Accompanying

Driver's Fail/Refuse To Provide Breathalyser

G1 Driver Unaccompanied By Qualified Driver

G1 Accompanied Driver Excess Blood Alcohol

G1 Driver With Out Front Seat Passenger

G1/G2 Drive With Excess Passengers

G1 Driver On Prohibited Highway

G1/M1 (M1: Beginner’s Motorcycle License)

Driving At Unlawful Hour

M1 Driving A Motorcycle With A Passenger

M1 Driving A Motorcycle On A Prohibited

Highway

Speeding in a construction zone is double the

fines and points

False Statements of Insurance

Serious & Criminal Convictions

Driving While Intoxicated (DWI); Typically

characterized as a Blood Alcohol Level

over .8. Also, Driving Under the Influence

(DUI) is typically a Blood Alcohol of .7 or

higher. All of these, however, vary from

state to state.

Careless Driving; Undue Care Or Attention

(varies by degree)

Criminal Negligence

Dangerous Driving

Driving While Under Suspension

Failing To Obey Police (Some companies will

not see this as chargeable)

Failing To Remain At An Accident Scene

Motor Manslaughter

Racing

Refuse Breathalyser

G1/G2 drive with alcohol in blood

M1/M2 drive with alcohol in blood

All Serious Convictions; Can Be Unspecified

License Ramifications

Driver’s Record . . . What Is It? It’s a document issued

by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in the state you reside that reports on the status of your license, the type of license you have, and lists all the tickets you’ve been convicted of in the last 5 years.

It lists your renewal date, date first licensed and any license suspensions and reinstatements. It also lists your points and any reported accidents in the past 5 years. Driver’s Record, Where do I get it? The DMV or

corresponding office in your state provides a printed report at a cost of around $5

Demerit Points: Drivers convicted of driving-related offenses begin with zero demerit points and accumulate points for convictions. Demerit points stay on your record for 5 years from the offense date. Too many points can cause a suspension of your license. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) assigns demerit points.

Demerit points only determine if your driver’s license is

going to be renewed or if the driver needs to be retested. Here's how demerit points work. For a speeding ticket: * 1 to 1 mph over the limit = 3 points

* 11 to 20 mph over the limit = 4 Points.

* 21 to 30 mph over the limit = 6 Points.

* 31 to 40 mph = 8 Points

* More than 40 mph = 11 points (varies from state to state)

If a driver accumulates 11 points in 18 months, the DMV suspends your license. Insurance companies typically

have their own point systems as well, since state rules often differ.

Insurance Ramifications

Tickets for speeding can all cause your insurance

rate to increase. Multiple tickets can cause your

insurance company to cancel you.

Look at the rate difference between 30 insurance

company quotes. This shows the lowest to highest

rates quoted for a driver with a clean driving record,

then for 2 tickets.

Record Lowest Highest Difference

Clean $1,121 $2,852 $1,731

2 tickets $1,671 $5,424 $3,753

A couple of tickets can have a huge impact on your

wallet. If you get a ticket make sure you use

InsuranceHotline.com to direct you to which

insurance company offers the lowest rate.

Tickets stay on your driver’s record for 5 long years.

Additionally, driver license suspensions count

against your insurance rate for 5 years.

Traffic Court Is No Small Deal: One ticket can

increase your insurance rate by 20%, two tickets by

50% and three tickets can cause an insurance

company to cancel your policy when your renewal

comes due.

One innocent traffic ticket, for a driver with a

combination of tickets and an accident can increase

their rate by over $7,000.

Fighting a Ticket: A ticket does not affect your

insurance until you’ve been convicted of it.

Insurance companies look at the date you are

convicted of the ticket in court, not the date the

ticket was written.

If you get a few tickets back to back, fighting a

ticket through the courts will allow you to postpone

the date the ticket will show up on your driver’s

record if you lose.

In most cases, counties and townships hear the

cases within three weeks (they want the money

fast) and, upon conviction, the violation will appear

on your record within one week.

This is important to Pisces drivers who are gifted at

getting tickets. Their great math skills will allow

them to figure out the timing needed between

convictions so it doesn’t become a problem on their

driver’s record.

Tickets Outside Your Area

There are "reciprocity agreements" between the US

and Canada, meaning that some states and

provinces share ticket information.

These tickets will show up on your driver’s record

and affect your insurance rate, just as though you

received the ticket in your own province or state.

Interestingly, if you get a ticket in a state or

province for an act that’s legal where you live, it will

show up on your driver’s Record and count against

you.

Some examples of that are "cell phone use while

driving" and right turns on red lights where

prohibited.

Tickets outside Canada or the US will not show up

on your driver's Record. However, tickets given in

states other than where you reside will appear on

your record.

Radar Detector

The Police use Omni-Directional radar devices, so

they can shoot ahead, behind, to the side, actually,

in any direction. If the radar device catches you,

you are not automatically guilty.

If you are planning to fight the ticket, it’s good to

know that the radar device is used to corroborate

what the officer saw.

Did the police officer see you speeding? Further,

you don’t want to make the police officer’s

documentation that thorough as a result of your

cross examination. Save it for court.

Red Light Cameras

Red light cameras are used to catch drivers who run

red lights. The negative consequences are that

drivers use poor judgment of whether or not to go

through a yellow light.

Knowing that there is a red light camera can result

in violent braking, which can cause an accident

instead of avoiding one.

Though there are some exceptions, the ticket does

not affect your insurance because it’s assigned to

the vehicle, as the driver’s identity cannot be

confirmed. Again there are some exceptions which

vary from state to state, e.g. Philadelphia.

Pulled Over

Do you beg, cry or lie when you’re pulled over by

the police?

Don't do any of these things, and especially don't

conduct a curbside trial. The officer has already

decided you did something wrong, or he wouldn't

have pulled you over. And he's heard it all.

A survey conducted by InsuranceHotline.com found

the best strategy to use in talking your way out of a

ticket is to humble yourself. Some astrological signs

need to practice this more than others.

Be polite, admit your guilt, and ask for forgiveness.

Getting the police officer to crack a smile doesn’t

hurt.

If you're planning to fight the ticket in court, it's not

in your interest to tip off the police officer by saying

“I’ll see you in court”. All that will do is ensure he

has his notes clear and in order.

If you’re offensive towards the officer, this triggers

his suspicion you might be hiding something,

prolonging the encounter, and you may end up with

multiple tickets. Be brief and professional.

A common question for the officer to ask is, "Do you

know why you were pulled over?" Many drivers

offer a reason saying, "Was it because I was

speeding?" or “I wasn’t wearing my seatbelt.”

The officer could have pulled you over to tell you

your brake light was out. Through the “power of

suggestion” you might find yourself receiving

multiple tickets.

Say "NO" if you're asked this question. Trust me,

the officer knows why he pulled you over; so let

them do their job and tell you.

Fighting A Ticket

When you get a ticket you can plead guilty, guilty

with an explanation, or not guilty. Most drivers

plead guilty with an explanation.

If you are fighting a ticket, you must plead NOT

GUILTY. Guilty with an explanation is still guilty and

you will be convicted. Even if the fine is reduced,

you're still guilty, and the conviction will appear on

your driving record.

Your insurance rate will increase, regardless if any

demerit points were dropped from the ticket.

Many drivers feel that if they were speeding and get

caught, pleading NOT guilty is like calling the police

officer a liar. You're NOT; so get over it. You are

innocent until proven guilty, so let the police prove

their case.

Fighting a ticket on the basis that your name has

been misspelled or your license plate number is

incorrect are not reasons that the judge will dismiss

the ticket.

A ticket conviction remains on your driver’s record

for 5 years and, a license suspension affects your

insurance for 5 years as well.

Many insurance companies do not provide preferred

rates for drivers where there has been an

interruption in their driver license history as a result

of a license suspension. In most states, for each

year that goes by without you incurring a violation,

points will come off and you will pay less.

Car Carma

Chapter 2 - Accidents

- Zodiac Road Signs: Accidents & the Driver

- When to Report an Accident

- In an Accident

- To Tow or Not To Tow

- Determining Fault

- Serious Injury

- Accident Forgiveness

- Claims Protection

- Repair Shops

- Claims & Your Insurance Rate

Chapter 2 - Accidents

Zodiac Signs & Accidents: Worst To Best


an astrological insight, a tool of enlightenment, for

the worst to the best drivers under the sun, moon

and stars.

Comparing 100,000 driver’s records, to their

astrological signs, here are the signs that

experienced the greatest number of accidents from

the highest to lowest:

1 – Libra – Highest Number of Accidents

2 - Scorpio

3 - Capricorn

4 - Aries

5 - Aquarius

6 - Sagittarius

7 - Pisces

8 - Taurus

9 - Virgo

10- Gemini

11- Cancer

12- Leo – Lowest Number of Accidents

Sun in LIBRA

Ruled by Venus - Planet of Love & Money



# 1 In Accidents: Libra - Indecisive, Tactful,

Objective, Avoids Conflict & Strategic.

The astrological sign for Libra is the “Scales of

Justice.” Considerable energy goes into keeping

their outlook balanced.

Libras would prefer to get counsel and feedback

from other drivers before they proceed.

Libras must accept that, when behind the wheel,

they’re in the “driver’s seat”, and the time to

negotiate isn’t in the middle of an intersection.

Libra would like to make all “road warriors” into

happy drivers. Libra needs to understand that some

astrological signs, like the Ram and Scorpio, don’t

negotiate.

Waving one driver through while another driver has

the right-of-way causes “courtesy crashes.” This

courteous gesture is never rewarded by a reduction

of your insurance rate.

Libra drivers have the greatest number of accidents

of all the zodiac signs, placing them in the number 1

position overall.

Sun in SCORPIO




# 2 In Accidents: Scorpio - Strong-Willed,

Secretive, Possessive, Vengeful & Passionate.

The Scorpio’s life tends to be at the mercy of their

emotions. Emotions cause road rage, and road rage

causes accidents.

A Scorpion must learn to self-regulate and control

their urge to lash out before their insurance

company does.

Scorpios are possessive of their territory. You don’t

want to cut in front of a Scorpion. If you do, plan on

being chased. A Scorpion can lose its tail and

promptly grow a new one, but growing a new front

grill is harder.

Scorpios are secretive in their attack. Scorpios don’t

let other drivers know what they’re doing until

impact.

Scorpios may want to consider investing in an auto

body shop, as they hold the 2nd highest position for

the sign having the most accidents.

Scorpions can take an insignificant matter and turn

it into a huge slight, but that’s nothing compared to

the insurance company's retaliation.

Sun in CAPRICORN




# 3 In Accidents: Capricorn - Ambitious, Goal

Getter, Mature, Designing, Patient & Traditional.

The Goat symbolizes Capricorns. Butting in is

expected. On the highway of life, this means

“Move over, I’m about to eat your grass.”

That’s why it’s not surprising that this goat may

dent a few fenders along the way, placing

Capricorns in 3rd position, overall, for drivers who

get into the greatest number of accidents.

For Capricorn, it’s all about long hours at work.

It’s their dedication to work that keeps Caps off the

road during rush hour; a good thing for other

drivers, and for everyone’s insurance rate.

Caps should not put themselves under so much

pressure to succeed. They need to relax and enjoy

their drive along life’s highway.

Sun in ARIES




# 4 in Accidents: Aries: Daring, Risk Taker,

Energetic, Friendly, Impulsive & Childlike.

The symbol of Aries is the Ram, which is not so

good a sign when it comes to driving.

Impulsive Aries are tempted to take a run at the car

in front of them, and some do.

When Aries receives their insurance renewal, they’d

wish their symbol were a more subdued one, like a

lamb rather than a ram. And what comes with the

sheer force of the Aries nature is being 4th in line for drivers causing the most accidents.

Aries are ruled by the Planet Mars. According to

Roman mythology, Mars is the “God of the Road

Warrior.” If it weren’t for the Aries “Winning Edge” they’d most certainly have more accidents.

Aries is spontaneous, impulsive, direct, enthusiastic,

and assertive. Driving is boring and tedious.

While near misses can get the adrenaline going,

accidents get the insurance companies going.

Sun in AQUARIUS




Feb. 18.

# 5 In Accidents: Aquarius - Rebellious,

Opinionated, Unconventional & Stubborn.

The Aquarian thought process is inventive and

creative. Aquarians are happy to bestow their

thoughts on how intersections should be handled.

But if the other driver doesn’t agree, the insurance

company will inevitably become judge and jury.

Aquarians are visionaries; progressive drivers who

love to spend time thinking about their own road

map.

The relationship between accidents and insurance

rates should also be pondered, as Aquarians are in

5th position for having the highest number of

accidents.

Even though Aquarians are happy to give another

driver a break, it's often on their own terms. If you

cut in front of an Aquarian, their inflexibility and

insensitivity may cost you your fender.

An Aquarian’s bumper sticker would read, “I have

good brakes, hope you have good insurance.”

Sun in SAGITTARIUS


Element: Fire. Color: Purple.

Lucky Gem: Topaz. Metal: Iron. Nov. 22 to Dec. 21.

# 6 In Accidents: Sagittarius - Independent,

Truth Seeker, Traveler, Talkative & Theatrical.

Sagittarians have a taste for theatrics, but daredevil

driving should be left to the cabbies.

Sagittarians are lifetime risk takers and have a

highly developed sense of risk and reward. They’re

armed with the knowledge that fewer accidents are

rewarded with a better insurance rate.

Sagittarian’s influence ranks them in 6th place for

drivers having the most accidents.

They wonder, “Is the highway of life an accident?”

The Centaur is the symbol for Sagittarius. This

unique creature with an animal body should use its

human half to carefully aim its arrow at the distant

horizon of a better insurance rate.

Sun in PISCES



Moonstone Metal: Tin. Feb. 19 to March 20.

# 7 In Accidents - Pisces – Risk Taker, Theatrical,

Daydreamer, Vulnerable, Shy & Compassionate.

A pair of fish symbolizes Pisces. This symbol enjoys

the smoother waterways, preferring to stay away

from the “crashing” waves of other drivers.

Although Pisces is reported to be the sign that

receives the greatest number of tickets, they’re in

7th position, the lower of half, in terms of accidents.

This may be because Pisces is a compassionate

sign: more like Nemo than a Great White. Their

voyage between consciousness and

unconsciousness, however, can be costly when

driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Pisces swim through the roadways at great speeds,

often getting netted by the police. But while they’re

comfortable putting themselves at risk, their

compassion will not allow them to put other drivers

at risk.

Sun in TAURUS




# 8 In Accidents: Taurus - Stubborn, Stable,

Cautious, Comfort Seeking & Deliberate.

Once the Taurus sets a course, it is pursued

tenaciously until completed, without incident,

putting Taurus in 5th position for having the least

number of accidents. The Taurus personality can be extremely formidable

if you happen to drive into it. Drivers who attempt to get in the way of this

charging “bull” could put themselves in a whole new

arena of insurance rates.

A Taurus driver is strong, stubborn and deliberate.

While a Taurus craves physical closeness, you don’t

want this “impacting” on your car.

Sun In VIRGO


Element: Earth. Color: Blues, Grays, Browns. Lucky Gem: Sardonyx. Metal: Mercury. Aug. 23 to Sept. 22.

# 9 In Accidents: Virgo - Helpful, Practical,

Analytical, Timid, Sceptical, Finicky & Hypocritical

Virgo's attention to every detail can pull them away

from more important matters, like driving.

It would not be unlike Virgos to slam on their brakes

to avoid hitting a squirrel, causing a 10-car pile-up

(see book cover).

Fortunately, Virgos indulge in their practical and

logical side and know that accidents and good

insurance rates don’t mix.

This may be why Virgo is in 4th position in the zodiac

for having the least number of accidents.

Like a virgin waiting to give herself to the perfect

lover, Virgos are idealistic, and get rattled by road rage.

Combine this with their nervous attention to detail,

and the Virgo driver often feels harried.

This is good to know if you’re carpooling with a

Virgo.

Sun in GEMINI


Element: Air. Color: Yellow. Lucky Gem: Agate.


# 10 In Accidents: Gemini - Alert, Adaptable,

Friendly, Superficial, Curious, Restless & Talkative.

A Gemini has a unique ability to understand what

others are thinking, even before they know.

Gemini’s reign superior . . . when it comes to

maneuvering their car quickly to avoid an accident.

This puts Gemini in the position of having the 3rd

least number of accidents.

Gemini’s need for mental stimulation makes them

alert to changing traffic patterns faster than other

drivers.

However, when a Gemini gets caught in a traffic

jam, they must fight their boredom and their

subconscious urge to hit the driver in front of them

just to have a conversation.

Sun in CANCER


Element: Water. Color: Grays & Green. Lucky Gem:

Pearl. Metal: Silver. June 21 to July 22.

# 11 In Accidents: Cancer - Moody, Nurturing,

Sensitive, Shy, Possessive & Family Oriented.

The mascot for Cancers is the Crab. To a Cancer,

the car provides the comfort and protection as a

crab’s shell.

Similar to the speed of a sand crab scurrying for

cover from seagulls, maneuvering a car quickly to

avoid an accident is second nature to a Cancer.

This may be is why Cancers have the 2nd least

number of accidents of the entire zodiac.

Cancers are also tenacious, strong-willed and like to

get their own way.

If this manifests itself during a “moody” phase while

behind the wheel, they may find themselves having

to claw their way back to better insurance rates.

Sun in LEO




# 12 In Accidents: Leo - Flamboyant, Creative,


The lion symbolizes Leo. That’s why this sign is the

“King of the Road” having the fewest number of

accidents.

Leo is known for being egocentric. Over 100,000

driving records prove that they rule the driving

universe. Their goal of being the “star” driver has

been achieved.

Driving well, and being respected for it, is extremely

important for Leos. And insurance companies do

their part in providing great rates to show their

appreciation.

Given Leo’s generosity streak, it may be a good

time to go out and celebrate their great Car Carma

with them!

When To Report An Accident

You’re required to report a car accident to the police if:

1. Anyone is injured.

2. There is damage to property.

3. The combined damage for both vehicles is

over a specific amount. In many states, for example, the amount is $200 to $500.

The dollar limit for reporting an accident varies

between provinces and states, so know the limit where you live.

Police will come to the scene when collisions involve

the following:

1. Injury or death.

2. Criminal activity (impaired driving, stolen

vehicle, assault).

3. Damage to federal, provincial, state or

municipal vehicles (like buses and trains).

4. A person who is uninsured or a suspended

driver.

5. Vehicles transporting dangerous contents.

6. Damage to private, municipal or highway

property.

Beware: If there’s an accident where another driver

is involved, you may think there’s not much to

report and innocently drive away.

But if the other driver reports it to the police, you

could be charged with leaving the scene of an

accident.

To protect yourself, call the police and let them

know of the accident. Then you cannot be charged.

If you don’t, this could lead to a serious conviction

and send your insurance rates skyrocketing. It’s

good to know that the police will not contact your

insurance company if you call in to report an

accident.

Policy holders are expected to contact their

insurance companies or risk the company’s

withholding payment for bad faith practice.

Also, many DMV’s also keep records of accidents

(for example, California requires every operator of a

vehicle involved in an accident to file a "SR-1"

whenever there is an accident with personal injury

or property damage in excess of $500).

Typically this report must be filed within 5 or 10

days of the accident. Failure to file such a required

report could lead to suspension of your driving

privilege.

http://injury-law.freeadvice.com/

Reporting An Accident To Your Insurance

Company: Your insurance policy states that you are

required to report all accidents, regardless of the

amount of damage, even if it’s under $1,000.

Insurance companies base their rates on "risk",

regardless of who pays for the accident. If there was

an “incident”, they want to know about it regardless

of who was at-fault.

With many insurance companies, even if they don’t

pay a penny, and you pay for all repairs, it will still

count against you. Your insurance rate will increase

even if you were only partially at-fault for the

accident.

In Practice, All Bets Are Off: Most people report

accidents only when they want the insurance

company to pay for the damages.

In reality, many drivers do not report accidents

because they fear that their insurance rate will

increase. Instead, they cover the cost of repair

themselves.

Here drivers run the risk of their insurance company

finding out about the accident and cancelling their

insurance policy.

If the accident involved another driver, and they

report the accident to their insurance company,

then your insurance company will be notified.

What's worse is that the only report your insurance

company will have is the other driver’s account of it.

This will not do you any favors when determining

which driver is at fault.

If you are not at-fault for the accident, then it will

not count against you and your insurance rate will

not increase.

If the fear of your insurance rate skyrocketing is

clouding your judgment of whether or not to report

the accident, go to InsuranceHotline.com and see

how much your rate will increase with the accident

added.

Accidents on Private Property or Parking Lots:

If you have an accident on private property, then

the police will not come to the scene unless there

are injuries or property damage.

Most of these types of accidents are considered by

insurance companies to be 50/50, meaning each

driver is considered to be partially at-fault.

This holds the same weight as being completely at-

fault when it comes to your insurance renewal.

Nobody wins.

In An Accident

If you’re in an accident, remain calm. It sounds

easy, but it’s hard to do. Accidents, even fender

benders, are stressful. And it gets harder if the

other driver is freaked out, enraged or “deranged.”

Seriously, if that’s the case, remain in your vehicle

until the situation calms down or the police come.

Let the officer know if you feel threatened.

Helping Out: You must assist an injured person in

any possible way. Call 911 if there’s an injury. Be

careful not to aggravate any injuries. Many people

with good intentions have tried to help by moving

an accident victim, which actually led to more

severe injuries.

Give Info: If you’re involved in the accident, you

must remain at the scene of the accident. You are

required to give your name, address, driver's license

number, insurance policy number and vehicle

ownership in writing; if you are asked do so by the

other driver, witnesses, or the police. This is the law.

Get Info: An accident draws a lot of people's

attention, but witnesses leave quickly. You need to

act fast and get names, phone numbers and license

plate numbers.

You need this information in case you or your

insurance company needs to contact these people

as witnesses.

Collect as much information as possible. Was there

clear fault? Are there any witnesses? Draw a sketch. Exchange your information with the other driver.

Make sure you see what they write down to assure

yourself that their information is correct. Don't let

them write it down for you. If they don't have the correct documents, call the police.

By law, they have to provide this information. If

they try to flee the scene, get their license plate number and call 911.

Most agents will give handouts to their insured

clients to keep in their glove compartments that include what to do and what questions to ask.

What to say to the police: If the police are

notified, think carefully about what you say. The

police define the word "accident" as a "caused

occurrence".

his means that the officer will document evidence at

the scene, and determine if a law has been broken.

The insurance adjuster will later determine who was

at-fault, based on that evidence.

Given the distractions at an accident scene, it is

unlikely that everyone’s explanation of the

“occurrence” will be complete or even accurate.

Be Careful: Whatever is said will be a major factor

in the insurance company's ruling as to who is

responsible.

The officer has to make a decision as to whether a

“highway traffic offence” was committed, and lay

charges accordingly. Not being charged doesn’t

mean that your insurance company will not find you

to be at-fault or partially at-fault.

Always get a copy of the police report and make

sure the facts are accurate. The report can be

changed if you visit the police station and review the

report with the officer who filled it out.

Saying, "I didn't see the other car," could be

misconstrued as careless driving, as opposed to "I

didn't see the other car until it was too late."

A conviction of careless driving can cause your

insurance rates to increase by $3,000 or more.

From watching television, drivers may think that

they have the right to remain silent, but that’s not

true when it comes to an accident.

You have to report the circumstances of the

accident so the Department of Motor Vehicles can

look into potential road problems, bad intersections,

need for road repairs and so forth.

To Tow Or Not To Tow

After an accident, if your vehicle can’t

be driven safely, you’ll need to get it

towed. Even if the car’s engine is intact,

broken headlights, brake lights, tire

damage, alignment and miscellaneous

hanging parts are obvious reasons to get a

tow.

The last thing you need is to get into or cause

another accident. Remember, it’s not your lucky

day.

The tow truck operator may decide to take your car

to the police impound. You can say NO. Find out the

cost of towing and tell the tow truck driver where

you want your car taken.

One option is to have your car towed to a repair

shop that you’ve dealt with before, or to a reputable

chain of body shops. You can also get your car

towed back to your residence and decide later what

to do.

Some body shops will come out to your place to

provide estimates and have their own tow truck to

bring your car to their shop.

You may want to ask the police to recommend a tow

truck company. All tow companies recommended by

police are licensed by the township or city where

you had the accident. The best solution is to buy a

roadside membership with a national firm.

Under no circumstance should you blindly accept a

tow truck driver's recommendations of where to

take your car. There are tow truck operators who

receive a commission.

Then you’re stuck in that body shop’s compound.

Once your car gets there, you can be billed storage

fees of $600 to $700 for a couple of days. If you

don't pay the storage fees, your car will not be

released.

Some tow truck operators have been known to give

the driver money to take their car to a particular

shop. It's illegal to do that, and getting your car

repaired properly is probably not going to be in your

favor.

The bottom line is to have a garage in mind before

you get into an accident. Before you read any

further, take a moment right now to figure out

where you would want your car towed.

What About Other Drivers On My Policy: If a

driver covered under your insurance policy has an

at-fault or partially at-fault accident, then your rate

is going to increase.

Even if the driver is removed from your policy, their

accident affects your insurance rate for 5 years.

You can exclude them from your policy, forcing

them to get their own. Then, when you show a copy

of this policy to your carrier, you will get a credit to

your policy.

Lend Your Car, You Lend Your Insurance: If you

lend your vehicle to another driver and they have an

accident, your insurance rate will increase, not

theirs. Luckily, if they get a ticket, it’s their problem, not yours.

Your Accident History: Accidents stay on your

claims history forever. They do not get "deleted"

like traffic convictions. However, most insurance

companies only consider accidents in the last 5 years when offering you a rate.

Determining Fault

Insurance companies use the Fault Determination

Rules established by the DMV to determine which

driver is at-fault in an accident.

To review the Fault Determination Rules go to

InsuranceHotline.com. The rules are in the “Tickets

& Accidents” section of the website.

At-Fault: In a collision, fault is always assigned or

shared by drivers. Where only one vehicle is

involved in an accident, fault is assigned to that

driver, and the insurance rate will increase on

renewal.

As far as Insurance companies are concerned, the

car didn’t drive into the guardrail, you did. You are

expected to be in complete control of your car at all

times.

It doesn’t matter if you swerve to avoid hitting a

dog, deer or another vehicle. If you hit something

else in the process, then it’s your fault.

Weather and road conditions can’t be blamed for an

accident when it comes to your insurance.

Even if the police determined you did nothing wrong

and were not ticketed, your insurance company has

the final say in determining fault for the accident.

Not At-Fault: If you are considered to be not at-

fault by your insurance company, your rate will not

increase.

Partially At-Fault: If your insurance company

considers you "partially" at-fault, this may sound

okay, but it's not. It holds the same weight as being

completely at-fault, and your insurance rate will

increase.

So, get your facts right and clarify your degree of

fault with your adjuster, right away. This is much

easier to do at the time the accident is being

investigated, rather than afterwards. If you are

being classified as partially at-fault, fight it if you

can.

Don’t Be Tricked: If an insurance company

contacts you to find out details of the accident,

make sure that it is YOUR insurance company

asking the questions.

Sometimes, the other driver’s insurance company

will call to get more details, and you may be found

at-fault for the accident because of some twist of

information you gave.

Let the other driver's insurance company contact

your insurance company. They don’t need to speak

to you.

Serious Injury

If injured in an auto accident your insurance policy

entitles you to a number of benefits. These benefits

are:

1. Income Replacement

2. Caregiver Benefit

3. Medical and Rehabilitation Benefits

Here are the amounts applied to the Canadian auto

insurance policy in Ontario. Coverages vary from

province to province and state to state.

You can use these as a guide to ask your insurance

rep about what’s covered and what’s not.

Income Replacement: If you are unable to work,

your policy covers 80% of your income up to a

maximum $1,000 per week.

You can purchase a higher limit if needed. For

example, you can purchase limits up to $1,000 a

week if that, in fact, is what you make. If you are

not working, and you are unable to carry on a

"normal life", the policy also provides financial

assistance.

Caregiver Benefits: If you take care of your

children and are unable to do so, the policy provides

financial assistance of $250 per week. Higher limits

can be purchased.

Medical And Rehabilitation Benefits: The

standard maximum amount for items such as

physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment, and dental

expenses is $100,000, unless your injuries meet the

definition of catastrophic, where the limit is

$1 million.

You can also purchase a higher limit: up to $1

million for non-catastrophic and $2 million for

catastrophic injuries.

If you need someone to look after you, for non-

catastrophic injuries, the cap is $72,000. For a

catastrophic loss, it’s $1 million.

Power Of Attorney: If you are in a car accident

and severely injured, perhaps in a coma, your

doctor is obligated to determine if you have

"sufficient mental capacity" to manage your financial

affairs. If not, he is duty-bound to send a notice to

the government.

This notice permits the government to automatically

take over control of your assets, regardless of

whether you have a spouse or children capable of

managing your finances.

This is also the case where a mental disorder, such

as Alzheimer’s befalls either you or your spouse.

The government would not get involved unless there

is no next of kin to step in on the patient's behalf.

You need to assign a Power Of Attorney for your

"Financial Affairs" and "Personal Care" that you are

to receive if injured or sick, when you are not able

to make those decisions for yourself.

If you don’t do this, the government automatically

steps in and your family members will have NO

control.

The Power Of Attorney information can be found on

the InsuranceHotline.com website in the Resource

section.

No-Fault Insurance: No-fault insurance is a

misleading term. No-fault insurance does not mean

the accident is no one's fault. Fault is determined in

every accident, by insurance companies.

No-fault insurance means that if you get into an

accident, regardless of whether or not it's "your

fault", your own insurance will pay for the repairs to

your damaged vehicle and for your injuries.

No-fault insurance was created to improve

consumer satisfaction when handling claims. You

get to deal with your own insurance company, not

somebody else's company when paying for your

damages. That’s it.

Accident Forgiveness

Many insurance companies throughout Canada and

the US use the term “Accident Forgiveness” to

attract new business. Be careful, as it does not

necessarily mean that your insurance company will

forgive you for having an accident.

Many insurance companies that offer accident

forgiveness drop the driver’s “preferred” rating, and

increase their insurance rate.

To determine what your company means when they

say that they offer accident forgiveness, ask your

insurance rep these questions:

1. Will the accident go on my claims record?

2. Will my rate increase on renewal?

3. Will my preferred rating drop?

If “yes” is the answer to these questions, get your

rep to point out where the forgiveness is.

Rate Alert: Insurance companies can change their

rates up to twice a year. www.CarCarma.com offers

a Rate Alert service that calculates your insurance

rate every few months, keeping you informed of

better pricing when it becomes available.

Claims Protection

Claims protection keeps your insurance rate from

increasing on renewal, after an at-fault accident.

The accident will, however, be recorded on your

driver claims history. The claims protection is

removed after a claim. A second accident would not

have this protection.

Further accidents or a combination of claims and

tickets for driving infractions could result in the non-

renewal of your policy. In some cases, claims

protection will entitle the policyholder to an extra

at-fault claim before the insurer will refuse to renew

the policy.

If you qualify, buy it. It is like buying insurance to

keep your insurance rate low. The cost is usually

around $35 to $50 dollars a year. But before you do

that, make sure you’re with the insurance company

that has the best rate. Otherwise, all you’ll be doing

is paying more money to protect a lousy rate.

Repair Shops

After your accident, your insurance company may

recommend a garage to do the repairs. The

advantage of using one of your insurance company’s

preferred repair shops is that they guarantee the

repairs.

Your Rights: Regardless of which shop your

insurance company suggests, you have the right to

choose where you wish to get your vehicle repaired.

This is the law.

The advantage of using a repair shop of your choice

is that they can act as a mediator if you're unhappy

with the adjuster's assessment of which repairs

need to be done.

Repair Job: Before you authorize any repairs, be

sure to show your insurance company the estimate.

Insurance companies will restore your vehicle to the

same condition that it was in prior to the accident.

Previous damage is not covered.

A fraudulent attempt to get the insurance company

to pay for damage unrelated to the accident could

cause them to deny payment of your claim.

Adjusters have high tech ways of determining

previous damage not caused by the accident, and

you could be charged with fraud.

Original Equipment: As a rule, if the vehicle is less

than 2 years old, you should get the Original

Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) part. Older vehicles

will be repaired using after-market parts or used

parts. The OEM part comes from the original

manufacturer; the after-market part is produced by

a separate company.

It's like getting a brand name verses a no name

product. Once the vehicle is fixed, by law you will

get a minimum warranty of 3 months, or 5,000 km,

whichever comes first.

Generally though, you should receive a 2-year

warranty on parts. You should investigate this when

you are calling around for estimates.

Before driving away, check the appearance of the

repaired area close-up and at a distance. Examine

the paint for color match, texture and over-spray,

take a test drive to check mechanical repairs, and

check that the vehicle is clean. If you are not

satisfied, mention your concerns immediately.

In most vehicles, the paint will not be an issue

unless it is an older vehicle, as the original color

may have faded over time.

Value Of Your Car After An Accident: Many

people feel that the vehicle will never drive the

same if it sustains heavy damage. This is now a

myth. It may have been true ten years ago, but

with the technology today; frames and so forth can

be repaired to their original condition.

However, most insurance companies do not

reimburse you for the "loss of the value" to your

vehicle because of an accident. Insurance

companies pay for repairs only.

If you decide to sell or trade in your car, there may

be a depreciated value because it had been in an

accident. Some dealerships take off $1,500 to

$2,000 from the value because this.

In the US, some insurance companies do take the

resale value of the vehicle into account when

settling a claim. The best solution is to have the

garage where you are most likely to sell the vehicle

do the repair work.

Let them negotiate with the insurance adjuster to

make the point that the car they repaired is not

worth as much as the car before their repairs.

Insurance Adjuster: Not all claims adjusters are

created equal. If you’re unhappy with your adjuster,

there are options available to you.

You can speak with different levels in the insurance

company's claims department, especially the

supervisor. If you still are unhappy with the way

your claim is being handled, you can contact your

state’s regulatory body on insurance and speak with

their supervisor.

Rental Vehicle: While your car is in the shop, you'll

probably need a rental vehicle. This is covered

under an insurance endorsement called "Loss Of

Use".

The price of the endorsement is around $30 and if

you do not already have it, get it. If you're at-fault

for the accident, your rental car cost will be

covered, subject to limits.

If you are 100% not at-fault, and do not have this

endorsement, you may still receive it under the

"Direct Compensation" section of your policy,

subject to the policy restrictions and limits.

Insurance Rates: The fear of skyrocketing

insurance has many people paying for the damages

out of their own pocket.

Many body shops now ask whether the repairs are

going to be covered through insurance or out of

your own pocket, as some repair shops now offer

payment plans.

Also, due to misconduct on the part of numerous

repair shops, many states now regulate repair rates.

These regulated repair shops receive special license

to ensure credibility.

The purpose of insurance is to put you back to the

place you were in before the loss. Unfortunately,

that doesn’t include your insurance rate.

Paying insurance rates for one accident for 2 years

can cost more than your car is worth. So be careful

and do the math. Maybe you don’t need collision

coverage, and removing the coverage can save on

insurance dollars.

Here’s an rate example for a 1997 Chrysler Intrepid,

driven in a metropolitan area, showing a spread of

30 insurance company rates, from lowest to highest.

Profile Lowest Highest__

Clean $1,463 $2,629

1 accident $2,634 $8,212

2 accidents $5,627 $8,427

To purchase this car would cost around $3,000. The

amount for insurance after one accident, affecting

your rate for 6 years, more than doubles the cost of

purchasing the car.

Claims & Your Insurance Rate

The amount the insurance company pays in claims

does NOT affect the amount by which the insurance

company will increase your rate.

You could have a $1,500 fender bender or you could

write off a Bentley, it doesn't matter.

Either way, if you're considered to be at-fault, or

partially at-fault, your rate increase will be based on

the fact that you had an accident, not on the

amount of the claim.

Many drivers have made small claims of under

$1,500 and ended up paying thousands of dollars

for it in insurance premiums. So do the math.

Any reported accident, even if there was no damage

at all, stays on your insurance record for 6 long

years, seriously impacting your insurance rates.

Does A Lower Rate Mean "Worse Coverage" &

A "Bad Claims Experience?" NO. Auto insurance

policies are identical, word for word, throughout your state or province.

Drivers who pay hundreds of dollars more than

necessary DO NOT receive any extra coverages or

value. Most insurance companies report their claims satisfaction levels at around 75% to 85%.

You'll never know if you're going to have a claims

problem, until you have it, regardless which

insurance company you're with or how much you paid for your insurance.

Claims History Report: Regardless of your claims

history, InsuranceHotline.com finds you the lowest

rate. When you do an online quote, you are given

access to your Claims History Report, too.

This report shows all the claims you have had since

you were first licensed. Like your credit history

report, it’s good to get it to be sure it’s accurate.

Your insurance rate depends on it.


Car Carma

Chapter 3 - Insurance - Zodiac Road Signs: Overall Worst Drivers

- What Your Insurance Policy Covers

- Paying Too Much

– Car Rentals & Tricks

- They Know Where You Live

- Lending Your Car

- I Don’t Want Them Driving My Car

- Changing Insurance Companies

- Storm Damage & Your Car

- Acts Of God

- Young Drivers & Car Insurance

- You're Cancelled

- Star Drivers

- Does Your Insurance Company Love You?

- What@*%, They’re Not Insured?

- Oops, I Missed A Payment

- Lapse In Your Insurance History

- God, My Car’s Hot

- Less To Insure A New Car

- Insuring An Expensive Or Cheap Car

- Behind The Insurance Curtain

- Myths & Insurance Rates

mailto:What@*%25

Chapter 3 – Insurance

“ Don’t believe everything you think.”

Zodiac Road Signs


a tool of enlightenment, revealing the worst to best

drivers, under the sun, moon and stars.

Overall Worst to Best Drivers

Here are the astrological signs that have the worst

to best overall influence over drivers. 100,000

drivers were ranked by the combination of their

tickets and accidents, and matched to their

astrological sign.

1 – Libra – Worst Overall Drivers

2 - Aquarius

3 - Aries

4 - Pisces

5 - Scorpio

6 - Taurus

7 - Sagittarius

8 - Capricorn

9 - Virgo

10- Cancer

11- Gemini

12- Leo – Best Overall Drivers

Sun in LIBRA




# 1 Overall: Libra - Indecisive, Tactful, Objective,

Avoids Conflict & Strategic.

Libra’s “Scales of Justice” try to strike the right

balance for everyone. The scales call for a study of

every possible angle before a final consensus.

Without consensus there’s indecision, indecision

causes accidents.

The problem comes from Libra's inability to make

those split second manoeuvres needed to avoid

accidents. As a double astrological whammy,

accidents come with tickets.

Avoiding an accident often calls for a snap decision.

Libra does not make snap decisions.

Libras appear to get more than their fair share of

tickets and accidents. This is why Libra ranks as the

worst overall astrological sign for its influence over

drivers.

Libra’s balance, harmony and a sense of fair play is

shattered when they are non-renewed by their

insurance company.

Other drivers born under this sign are:

Julie Andrews, Chuck Berry, Lenny Bruce, Truman

Capote, E. E. Cummings, Michael Douglas, Dwight

David Eisenhower, Mohatma Mohandes Gandhi,

George Gershwin, Linda Hamilton, Rita Hayworth,

Charlton Heston, Jesse Jackson, Olivia Newton John,

Timothy Leary, John Lennon, John Lithgow, Carole

Lombard, Groucho Marx, Marcello Mastroiani, Walter

Matthau, Arthur Miller, Luciano Pavarotti,

Christopher Reeve, Mickey Rooney, Eleanor

Roosevelt, Susan Sarandon, George C. Scott, Paul

Simon, Sting (Gordon Matthew Sumner), Ed

Sullivan, Gore Vidal, Barbara Walters, Oscar Wilde

and Kate Winslet.

Sun in AQUARIUS




Feb. 18.

# 2 Overall: Aquarius – Rebellious, Opinionated,

Unconventional & Stubborn.

Aquarian drivers are about freedom, independence

and self-sufficiency. They don’t function well under

the rules and regulations of the road.

Their Planet Uranus, shocks, rocks and rolls the

Aquarian driver, giving them the ride of their life.

Their rebellious nature spins their driving karma out

of control.

All this has greatly impacted the road traveled by

the Aquarian driver. Their astrological sign is in 2nd

place for drivers with the worst combination of

tickets and accidents.

Aquarians are strong willed and independent minded

drivers who travel on the highway of life as if they

own it. Ignoring the conventional rules of the road

will cause many head-on collisions with their

insurance company.


Alan Alda, John Belushi, Jack Benny, Humphrey

Bogart, Sony Bono, Richard Burton, Lewis Carroll,

Carol Channing, Phil Collins, Charles Darwin, Geena

Davis, Neil Diamond, Jimmy Durante, Thomas

Edison, Mia Farrow, Farrah Fawcett, W. C. Fields,

Roberta Flack, Clark Gable, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Wayne

Gretzky, Gene Hackman, Arsenio Hall, Michael

Jordan, James Joyce, Carole King, Ted Koppel, Jack

Lemmon, Abraham Lincoln, Charles Lindburgh,

Norman Mailer, John McEnroe, Mozart, Paul

Newman, Joe Pesci, Ayn Rand, Ronald Reagan,

Vanessa Redgrave, Burt Reynolds, Christina Ricci,

Molly Ringwald, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Babe Ruth,

Telly Savalas, Tom Selleck, Gertrude Stein, Adlai

Stevenson, Wendell Wilkie, and Oprah Winfrey.

Sun in ARIES




# 3 Overall: Aries – Daring, Risk Taker, Energetic,

Friendly, Impulsive & Childlike.

Aries is the most impatient sign of the zodiac, and

would benefit from reigning in this trait.

Impatience causes trouble on both large and small

scales for the Aries drivers.

This is probably why Aries is the 3rd overall worst

sign, under the sun, moon and stars, for its

influence over drivers.

Certain things in life, especially when it comes to

driving, require a slower, more guided approach.

This is what the Aries driver needs to develop.

Aries has lots of energy to start something new;

perhaps a body shop would be a good idea.

Aries needs to learn to pull over from time to time

and allow other drivers to have their place on the

road.


Alan Arkin, J. S. Bach, Pearl Bailey, Warren Beatty,

Baudelaire, Marlon Brando, Matthew Broderick,

James Caan, Charlie Chaplin, Julie Christie, Howard

Cosell, Joan Crawford, Ram Dass, Bette Davis, Doris

Day, Robert Downey Jr., Aretha Franklin, Hugh

Hefner, Elton John, David Letterman, Jayne

Mansfield, Leonard Nimoy, Gregory Peck, Colin

Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Rod Steiger, Spencer

Tracy, Vincent Van Gogh, Tennessee Williams,

Walter Winchell, and James Woods.

Sun in PISCES



Moonstone. Metal: Tin. Feb. 19 to March 20.

#4 Overall: Pisces – Risk Taker, Daydreamer,

Theatrical, Vulnerable, Shy & Compassionate.

Pisces drivers are more focused on their “inner

journey”, rather than the actual journey on the

highway.

While accidents aren’t their “can of worms”, police

traps all too often “net” the Pisces driver. This is the

reason Pisces ranks 4th overall as having the worst

astrological influence over drivers.

Although these fish are generally unflappable, they

must be cautious of their flip side: road rage. It can

surface at any time. When it comes to their car

insurance, many Pisces drivers end up to paying

through the “gills”.


W. H. Auden, Harry Belafonte, Alexander Graham

Bell, Sir Richard Burton, Johnny Cash, Edgar Cayce,

Chopin, Nat "King" Cole, Albert Einstein, Bobby

Fischer, Jackie Gleason, Mikhail Gorbachev, Alan

Greenspan, George Harrison, Rex Harrison, Glenda

Jackson, Ted Kennedy, Osama bin Laden, Jerry

Lewis, Liza Minnelli, Ralph Nader, Nijinsky, Anais

Nin, David Niven, Nureyev, Shaquille O'Neal, Linus

Pauling, Bernadette Peters, Sidney Poitier, Lynn

Redgrave, Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner, Dinah Shore,

Elizabeth Taylor, Lawrence Welk, Tom Wolfe, and

Joanne Woodward.

Sun in SCORPIO




# 5 Overall: Scorpio – Strong Willed, Secretive,

Possessive, Vengeful & Passionate.

It's the Scorpion that symbolizes Scorpios, and

that’s no accident. Scorpio drivers should not be

taken lightly, as their sign’s influence places them in

5th position for "drivers to watch out for."

Scorpios react emotionally on the highway of life,

and must resist the desire to conduct curbside trials

with the police when pulled over.

Scorpio drivers concern themselves with beginnings

and endings, and are not afraid of either result,

regardless of the sting this causes to their insurance

rate.

Scorpios dominate their relationships and the

roadways. A Scorpio’s bumper sticker would read:

“I may be vengeful, but I’m good at it.”

Being born under this sign makes Scorpios in

ultimate control of their destiny and yours too. So

drive carefully around the fearless Scorpion driver.


Bryan Adams, Charles Bronson, Albert Camus, Art

Carney, Johnny Carson, Dick Cavett, Sean (P.Diddy)

Combs, Walter Cronkite, Marie Curie, Jamie Lee

Curtis, Rodney Dangerfield, Bo Derek, Danny

DeVito, Tie Domi, Larry Flint, Jody Foster, Art

Garfunkel, Bill Gates, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy

Graham, Goldie Hawn, Katherine Hepburn, Rock

Hudson, Robert Kennedy, Kevin Kline, Ralph Klein,

Bill Maulden, Burgess Meredith, Joni Mitchell, Demi

Moore, Mickey Mouse, Eugene Ormandy, Pablo

Picasso, Hillary Rodham-Clinton, Julia Roberts,

August Rodin, Roy Rogers, Will Rogers, Theodore

Roosevelt, Winona Ryder, Martin Scorsese, Grace

Slick, Dylan Thomas, Ted Turner, Kurt Vonnegut,

Jonathan Winters, and Henry Winkler.

Sun in TAURUS




# 6 Overall: Taurus - Stubborn, Stable, Cautious,

Comfort Seeking & Deliberate.

A Taurus is deliberate, not impulsive. If they cut you

off, it’s no accident. But their passion is usually

directed at important things, other than driving

people crazy on life’s highway.

Driving is only a utility for a Taurus, it’s not their

bullring. Taurus sits in the middle of the arena, in

6th overall position. So it’s a toss-up as to which way

a Taurus driver will turn.

We know the bull in Taurus can be obstinate and

inflexible, and so are the rules of the road, leaving

the police officer to be the one doing the “charging.”

The Taurus rarely seeks to make changes unless

forced to do so. If their insurance rates rear their

ugly head, this bull sees red and will find another

insurance company with which to do battle.


Fred Astaire, Annette Bening, Tony Blair, Gary

Cooper, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Henry Fonda,

Sigmund Freud, Adolph Hitler, Saddam Hussein,

Harvey Keitel, Lenin, Liberace, George Lucas,

Shirley MacLaine, Karl Marx, Jack Nicholson, Jack

Paar, Al Pacino, Anthony Quinn, Jimmy Stewart,

Barbara Streisand, Shirley Temple, Uma Thurman,

Harry Truman, Orson Welles, and Stevie Wonder.

Sun in SAGITTARIUS


Element: Fire. Color: Purple. Lucky Gem: Topaz,

Metal: Iron. Nov. 22 to Dec. 21.

# 7 Overall: Sagittarius - Independent, Truth

Seeker, Traveler, Talkative & Theatrical.

The Sag is rarely bored, constantly trying to find

new ways to express itself on the highway of life.

The Sagittarian loves to travel. But, if the urge

arises to take the path less traveled and you’re

behind the wheel, don’t take it.

In spite of the Sag’s risk taking nature, the risk of

skyrocketing insurance rates isn’t worth it, and

stunt driving is best left to the professionals.

Sagittarians love to talk, but may want to consider

putting down their cell phone and driving, as this

Archer only hit 7th position for its positive influence

over drivers.

Even though the Sag scores on the better half of the

astrological signs, their aim can improve and so will

their insurance rates.


Woody Allen, Kim Basinger, Beethoven, William

Blake, William F. Buckley, Andrew Carnegie, David

Carradine, Dick Clark, Winston Churchill, Sammy

Davis Jr., Emily Dickinson, Walt Disney, Kirk

Douglas, Dick Van Dyke, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Jane

Fonda, Terri Garr, Betty Grable, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce

Lee, Harpo Marx, Margaret Mead, Bette Midler, Brad

Pitt, Diego Rivera, Edward G. Robinson, Charles

Schulz, Frank Sinatra, Steven Spielberg, Tina

Turner, Mark Twain, and Flip Wilson.

Sun in CAPRICORN




#8 Overall: Capricorn - Ambitious, Goal Getter,

Mature, Designing, Patient & Traditional.

Capricorns are “doers”. So don’t cut into this goat’s

grass, or he’ll butt off their path so quickly that you

won’t know who hit you. A little fender bender or

ticket isn’t going to get in their way.

Caps set out to get things done, and are determined

to succeed one way or another. They want to get to

the top of the mountain, and as far as driving signs

go, they’re getting there. Capricorn stubbornly holds

8th place in the "who's who" of good drivers.

Caps are willing to make the necessary sacrifices,

obeying the rules of the road, if it gets them to their

destination of privileged drivers paying lower

insurance rates.


Muhammed Ali, Steve Allen, Joan Baez, David

Bowie, Tycho Brahe, Cab Calloway, Al Capone, John

Denver, Marlene Dietrich, Faye Dunaway, Frederico,

Fellini, Ava Gardner, Mel Gibson, Barry Goldwater,

Cary Grant, J. Edgar Hoover, Anthony Hopkins,

Howard Hughes, James Earl Jones, Janis Joplin,

Diane Keaton, Martin Luther King Jr., Rudyard

Kipling, Rush Limbaugh, Ethel Merman, Henry

Miller, Richard Nixon, Dolly Parton, Louis Pasteur,

Elvis Presley, Albert Schweitzer, Sissy Spacek,

Joseph Stalin, Danny Thomas, Tracy Ullman, Jon

Voight, Denzel Washington, Woodrow Wilson and

Tiger Woods.

Sun In VIRGO


Element: Earth. Color: Blues, Grays, Browns. Lucky Gem: Sardonyx. Metal: Mercury. Aug. 23 to Sept. 22.

# 9 Overall: Virgo - Helpful, Practical, Analytical,

Timid, Sceptical, Finicky & Hypocritical.

Virgo’s desire to improve, refine, and perfect their

driving skills causes them to analyze every bump on

the road. Virgo drivers can easily work themselves

into a self-critical, nervous frenzy, perfectly gearing

them up for an accident.

Unable to unwind this hyper-attention, Virgos see

every fender bender as a write-off.

Fortunately, Virgo drivers are modest and humble at

heart. These characteristics play a supportive role,

placing Virgos in the upper half of the best driving

signs of the zodiac. Virgos pride themselves on

being in 4th place, and one of the top driving

influences of the zodiac.


Lauren Bacall, Anne Bancroft, Ingrid Bergman,

Leonard Bernstein, Sid Caesar, Leonard Cohen,

Sean Connery, Peter Falk, Greta Garbo, Richard

Gere, Arthur Godfrey, Elliott Gould, Michael Jackson,

Jesse James, Lyndon Johnson, Walt Kelly, Joseph

Kennedy, Ken Kesey, D. H. Lawrence, Sophia Loren,

Paul Martin, Bill Murray, Bob Newhart, Otis Redding,

Peter Sellers, Charlie Sheen, Lily Tomlin, George

Wallace, and Raquel Welch.

Sun in CANCER


Element: Water. Color: Grays & Green. Lucky Gem:

Pearl. Metal: Silver. June 22 to July 22.

#10 Overall: Cancer - Moody, Nurturing,

Sensitive, Shy, Possessive & Family Oriented.

Cancer’s affinity for family makes them feel at home

on the road. Cancer sees other drivers as their

extended family. However, you can pick your

friends, but you can’t pick your “family of drivers”,

and caution must prevail.

Cancer is driven by its instincts. Safety and security

are ultimately the motivating factors influencing this

sign’s rise to being one of the safest and best

influences over drivers. Cancer’s astrological sign

places them in 3rd position, overall.

The moon rules Cancer, and they are famous for

their moodiness. Beware of night driving.


Dan Akroyd, Louis Armstrong, Kevin Bacon, Milton

Berle, David Brinkley, Yul Brunner, Pearl Buck, Gary

Busey, George W. Bush, James Cagney, Chagall,

Calvin Coolidge, Bill Cosby, Tom Cruise, John Cusak,

Degas, Harrison Ford, Stephen Foster, Buckminster

Fuller, Merv Griffin, Tom Hanks, Ernest Hemingway,

Hermann Hesse, Lena Horne, Kris Kristofferson,

Dalai Lama, Ann Landers, Charles Laughton, Art

Linkletter, George Orwell, Rembrandt, Geraldo

Rivera, Rockefeller, Red Skelton, Barbara Stanwyck,

Ringo Starr, Meryl Streep, Donald Sutherland, Robin

Williams, Princess Diana.

Sun in GEMINI


Element: Air. Color: Yellow, Lucky Gem: Agate.


# 11 Overall: Gemini - Alert, Adaptable, Friendly,

Superficial, Curious, Restless & Talkative.

Geminis are bright, quick-witted and the proverbial

life of the party, especially when it comes to

celebrating their great insurance rate.

Gemini is in 2nd place overall for its astrological

sign’s good influence over drivers.

Geminis are the original multi-taskers. This does not

mean that eating, drinking coffee and reading the

newspaper while driving is okay, even if you are a

Gemini.

You will notice the Gemini twins on the road by their

“twinning” nature with other drivers.

A Gemini will inadvertently travel at the same speed

as the driver beside them, making it impossible for

anyone to pass. But why would you? A Gemini is

one of the safest drivers to be around.


George Bush Sr., Tony Curtis, Johnny Depp, Bob

Dylan, Clint Eastwood, Ralph Waldo Emerson,

Douglas Fairbanks, Errol Flynn, Michael J. Fox, Judy

Garland, Paul Gauguin, Allen Ginsberg, Benny

Goodman, Bob Hope, John Fitzgerald (Jack)

Kennedy, Nichole Kidman, Henry Kissinger, Dean

Martin, Paul McCartney, Marilyn Monroe, Bill Moyer,

Joe Namath, Lawrence Olivier, Joan Rivers, Igor

Stravinsky, Immanuel Velikovsky, Richard Wagner,

John Wayne, Walt Whitman, Frank Lloyd Wright,

William Butler Yeats and Ayman Al-Zawahiri.

Sun in LEO




# 12 Overall: Leo - Flamboyant, Creative,


Leo and its lion-sized ego simply will not allow this

sign to be looked upon as having a bad driving

influence.

This may be why Leos are the “King Of The Road”.

The jungle of speed traps and wild driving patterns

is no match for this lion. Leo reigns supreme

throughout the zodiac. It’s the best astrological sign

for its influence over drivers.

A warning to all the Leo cubs, you have to earn your

way to the top. The roadways are filled with speed

traps and road warriors.

Leos are natural-born leaders. They demand to be

the very best drivers, and they have achieved it. Other drivers born under this sign are:

Loni Anderson, James Baldwin, Lucille Ball, Fidel

Castro, Wilt Chamberlain, Julia Child, Bill Clinton,

Amelia Earhart, Eddie Fisher, Peggie Fleming, Henry

Ford, George Hamilton, Alfred Hitchcock, Dustin

Hoffman, Hulk Hogan, John Huston, Mick Jagger,

Peter Jennings, Carl Jung, Jacqueline Kennedy,

Stanley Kubrick, Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Robert

Mitchum, Benito Mussolini, Peter O’Toole, Sean

Penn, Harry Potter, Arnold Schwarzenegger, George

Bernard Shaw, Martin Sheen, Wesley Snipes, Martha

Stewart, Patrick Swayze, Andy Warhol, Mae West,

and Shelly Winters.

What Your Insurance Policy Covers

Here's what your insurance policy covers, including

what’s mandatory, optional, and additional stuff

you’ll want to ask your insurance rep about.

Mandatory Coverage

Liability Insurance: Liability insurance provides

protection if you injure or kill someone, or damage

his or her property as a result of an auto accident.

The standard limit is $1 million, but there’s a $2

million option, too. You can lower your insurance

rate and select $500,000. And depending on which

state you live in, you could go even lower.

For example, in the state of New Jersey the

minimum Bodily Injury (BI) is $15,000 - $30,000.

Your Policy Automatically Covers: Accident

Benefits, Uninsured Automobile and Direct

Compensation Property Damage are automatically

covered. These, and liability, are the only coverages required by law.

Accident Benefits: This covers those injured as a

result of a motor vehicle accident. It provides

income replacement, and caregiver benefits if you

normally look after another person and cannot continue to do so.

It includes medical expenses, rehabilitation, and

pays someone to look after you if needed.

It covers a death benefit for which your spouse or

children would receive a payout, usually around $25,000, depending on the province or state.

And there’s a limit included for funeral expenses.

You can accept the standard limits for this coverage or you can purchase increased limits.

Uninsured Automobile: Your policy provides

coverage for bodily injury or death if an uninsured or unidentified automobile hits you.

It also covers damage to your car, car rental

coverage, and contents coverage if you are hit by an identified, uninsured automobile.

Direct Compensation Property Damage: This

covers the cost to repair your car after an accident if

you were not at-fault. There is usually no

deductible, although you can select a deductible to reduce your rate.

If you were partially at fault, you may be covered by

both your collision and your direct compensation property damage coverage.

Optional Coverages

If you're trying to save money, here's the stuff you

can cut:

Collision Coverage: Collision covers repairs to

your auto after a collision with another object. The

other object can be another vehicle, the surface of

the ground (those potholes) or any object in or on

the ground, like a guardrail. If your vehicle tips

over, that's covered too.

The standard deductible is $500, or there is a

$1,000 option, which is very popular and helps

lower the cost of insurance.

Check the savings at www.CarCarma.com by

choosing different deductibles and seeing what rate

fits your budget best.

Comprehensive Coverage: Comprehensive pays

for damage other than those covered by collision

including:

Fire, theft or attempted theft, lightning, windstorm,

hail, rising water, earthquake, explosion, riot or civil

disturbance, falling or forced landing of an aircraft

or parts of an aircraft, stranding, sinking, burning,

derailment or collision of any kind of transport by

which the auto is being carried on land or water,

falling or flying objects (usually windshield damage

here), missiles and vandalism.

The standard deductible is $500. Some policies still

have a $300 deductible, but that’s being slowly

phased out. Plus, there’s a $1,000 option that’s

being used more and more for lowering the cost of

insurance.

Coverages to Ask About

Accident Benefits: Your policy automatically

covers you for a percentage of your income. In

some provinces or states the limit is set at $400 a

week to replace your loss of income.

This may be too low if your weekly income is

greater and you don't have coverage elsewhere. You

can purchase increased limits.

Loss of Use: This usually pays for a rental car if

your car is laid up because of a “covered” loss. It

costs around $20 a year, and is well worth it.

Waiver of Depreciation: If you buy or lease a new

car, you can choose this coverage to be sure that

depreciation is not taken into account if your vehicle

has been stolen or is in an accident.

There’s a time limit on this, usually 24 months from

the date you take possession of the car.

Rental Car Endorsement: This is a great deal. For

around $30 you can get insurance coverage

whenever you rent a car. And it's better coverage,

too.

Most rental car companies, or credit cards, offer

very limited coverage. For example, they may cover

you if someone hits you, but NOT if you hit

someone. Your car insurance policy, hands down,

provides the best protection.

Claims Protection Coverage: Though it is not

common, if your insurance company offers claims

protection coverage, get it.

It will ensure your rate will not increase if you have

an at-fault accident. If your company offers

"Accident Forgiveness" this may NOT be the same

as claims protection, so ask.

Paying Too Much For Insurance

Insurance rates vary between insurance companies,

just as ticket prices do between airlines.

Throughout North America, insurance rates vary

between companies by hundreds, even thousands of

dollars, for the exact same policy. You can compare

it to buying a can of soda.

At a grocery store it may cost you $1, at a

restaurant $3. It’s the same can of soda, but at a

different price.

The internet has made it easier to compare the

rates of various insurance companies.

RomanovReport.com provides an unbiased search

for the best rated insurance company for you.

They Know Where You Live

Your insurance rate is partially based on the zip

code or postal code where you live. Other factors

include your age limit, how you use your car, your

past credit report, and your driving record.

It is a requirement under the statutory conditions of

your policy that you advise your insurance company

when you move. The penalties if you don’t notify

them can be stiff. The insurance company can deny

a claim or even can cancel your policy.

The address on your insurance card, your driver

license, and your vehicle registration should all be

the same.

If you’re stopped by police and asked for your

ownership, insurance and registration, and the

addresses are different or incorrect, the officer can

charge you with "presenting false documents".

This ticket will show up on your driver record and

affect your insurance rate, as much as a speeding

ticket. In almost all states, you are given 30 days to

notify the DMV of a change of address.

Lending Your Car

If you lend your car, you lend your insurance.

Another driver can seriously affect your insurance

rates. Their tickets are their problem, but their

accidents are your problem.

Here’s Who Can Drive Your Car: You can lend

your car to anyone who has a valid driver’s license,

as long as they are not an excluded driver on your

policy.

Ensure Their Driver’s License Is Valid: Many

drivers are unaware that their license has been

suspended. YOU might be one of them.

Here are 3 examples of situations that could cause a

driver's license suspension:

1. You missed renewing your driver's license.

(It usually renews on your birthday).

2. You did not pay a traffic ticket.

3. You missed your child support payments.

(In this case, your driver's license can be

suspended without written notice. This is true

in many provinces and states, and many

drivers are unaware of this law).

If you lend your car to someone whose license is

suspended, and they have an accident, your

insurance company is not necessarily liable to pay

for the damages caused by an unlicensed driver.

Lending Your Car to a Driver in Your

Household: You can lend your car to anyone with a

valid driver’s license, and they would be covered. If

the driver lives in your household, typically an

insurance company would want them to be listed on

your policy. This lets the company know if there’s an

additional risk associated with insuring your car.

Adding a Driver to Your Policy: It’s good to know

that adding another driver to your policy should not

increase your rate if they’re over 25 years old and

have a clean driving record.

If the driver is a "young or new driver", then your

rate may go up. If the driver has multiple tickets or

an accident, your rate will go up.

The insurance company may do anything from

adding a small surcharge to wanting to cancel your

policy.

If Your Friend Has An Accident While Driving

Your Car, Here’s What Happens: If you lend

your car and that driver causes an accident, that

accident is charged to your policy.

It's as though you were driving the vehicle yourself.

However, if your friend has a valid insurance policy,

he will be charged under that policy.

Will My Insurance Company Try To Recover

The Cost Of Damages From My Friend? If you

lend your car and your friend has a valid driver’s

license the insurance company will not attempt to

recover the cost of the claim.

However, the accident affects your insurance rate,

not your friend's rate.

This is only true if you are in a "no-fault" province or

state. If you are not, the insurance company may

attempt to recover damages from the driver

responsible for the accident.

What If My Friend Gets A Ticket While Driving

My Car? Any tickets would be your friend’s

responsibility and will not affect your insurance.

What If My Friend Is Found Drinking & Driving

My Car? If the driver is impaired and you knowingly

let him drive your car, then your insurance will not

pay for the damages, and only limited coverage is

available for injuries.

If you lend your car to your friend who is “not”

impaired, but later becomes impaired and is

involved in an accident, the insurance company will

pay for all damages. But the insurance company

may sue your friend for their costs.

I Don’t Want Them Driving My Car

Excluded Driver Endorsement: The named

insured or policy owner may sign an endorsement,

which excludes a driver from their insurance policy.

This is usually done to protect the policy owner from

paying higher rates because of the driving record of

someone in the household.

If the excluded driver is caught driving the car, they

can be charged with driving without insurance.

By signing the endorsement, the insurance premium

is almost always reduced, as there has usually been

a cost involved for keeping this driver on the policy.

It is important to know that any accidents the

excluded driver had incurred previously will still

affect your insurance rate.

Changing Insurance Companies

Feel free to move to another insurance company for

a better rate. There’s NO risk in doing that. That’s

why insurance companies lower their rates, to

attract new business, so take advantage of it.

What If I Move To Another Company And Have

An Accident? There is no risk in changing

insurance companies because you’ve found a better

rate. You should, however, find out what your new

insurance company's cancellation rules are.

Hopefully, they will be better then those of your

previous company. For example, if your insurance

company’s cancellation rule is set to trigger for 3

tickets and 1 accident, you're out. It doesn’t matter

whether you’ve been with them 20 years or 20

minutes.

Quoted One Price, Billed Another: The only way

that your rate should change after you've been

quoted is if you had accidents or tickets that were

not disclosed.

You may want to order your driver’s record and

claims history report before you get quoted. You can

access this information in the Resource section of

InsuranceHotline.com.

For verification, you can obtain your records at the

DMV or order it online. Depending on your state, the

cost will range from $15 to $35.

On Renewal, Will My Rate Skyrocket? Unlikely.

Most increases occur because your insurance rep no

longer deals with the insurance company they put

you with, and had to switch you to another company

with higher rates.

This being the case, all you need to do is call your

previous insurance company and request the name

of another brokerage to renew your policy.

Have Renewal Discounts: Renewal discounts are

meaningless, if another insurance company has a

better rate for you.

But I’m A "Nine Star Driver!" So what. You might

be a nine star driver with one company paying a lot,

or a six star driver with another company paying a

little. The bottom line is the key.

Is There A Penalty If I Cancel My Current

Insurance Early? If you cancel your insurance

midterm, there is usually a cancellation penalty.

If you’re cancelling for a lower rate, the savings

may more than offset this cost. If you cancel your

policy at renewal, there’s no penalty as long as you

have notified the company in writing.

I Have A Multi-Policy Discount: The other

insurance companies offer multi-policy discounts

too. The question is, “How much are these discounts

costing you?”

I've Been With My Insurance Company For A

Long Time: "Loyalty" discounts are easily

overcome with a better rate from a new insurance

company. And if you are not changing because your

parents have dealt with this company forever, then

it's time to cut the cord.

My Insurance Rep Says I Have The Best Rate:

You may have the best rate “available” to your rep,

but their brokerage can only quote from companies

they represent.

There are a number of insurance companies that

may have rates hundreds, or thousands of dollars

lower for you. Find out for sure by going to

InsuranceHotline.com.

Storm Damage & Your Car

Most of the storm damage to vehicles will be from

"hail" or "rising water". Both of these are covered

under your auto insurance, subject to your

deductible, as long as you have purchased

comprehensive coverage. Tree branches or other

falling objects are also covered here.

Acts Of God

Most "Acts of God" are covered, such as wind, ice

storms, tornadoes, hurricanes, rain and hail, but

only if you have purchased comprehensive

coverage. Acts of terrorism are not covered.

Young Drivers & Car Insurance

Young drivers greatly affect the cost of insurance.

It’s critical for parents to compare other insurance

company rates when adding a young driver to their

policy.

Insurance company selection should be based on

the most expensive driver to insure. You can do this

type of rate search on InsuranceHotline.com. This

can instantly save hundreds or thousands of dollars.

If you’re the primary driver, trying to reduce your

insurance rate, you might want to consider a car

that does not need collision or comprehensive

coverage. This can reduce your rate by a third of

the cost.

The Stuff In My Car Got Stolen: Many students

use their car as a second home, leaving their

clothes, sports equipment and books on the seats

for all to view.

Theft is a concern. If the items in your car get

stolen, they are not covered under your car policy,

with the exception of a single CD or tape.

Items stolen from your car are covered either under

your parents’ home policy or your own tenant's

policy, less the deductible.

Driving With Friends: Accidents increase

exponentially when there are three or more people

in a car.

This, coupled with the driver being inexperienced,

increases the probability of an accident even more.

One at-fault accident could increase your rates by

$5,000 to $10,000, and the accident will stay on

your record for 6 years. So, plan on being without

wheels for a long time. Also, a typical formula will

see the policy increase by 30%, and then decrease

by 10% for the next three years.

How A Parent's Auto Insurance Extends To

Students: Review your auto policy when you have

a student heading off to college. Many companies

offer discounts when the student is away at college,

but the discount may depend on the distance

between your home and the university.

If your company does not offer this discount, it may

be a good time to go to InsuranceHotline.com to

check out prices with a company that does offer this

discount, as the savings can be enormous.

Should You Take Your Child Off Your Auto

Policy When They Go To College? Generally, it is

best to keep your child as a listed driver on your

policy.

This provides continuous insurance coverage and

will get them better rates when they go to get their

own insurance.

Your policy also protects them if they are injured as

a pedestrian or cyclist in an accident involving a

motorized vehicle.

You’re Cancelled

If your car insurance policy is being cancelled or

non-renewed, find out if it's being done by your

broker or by your insurance company.

Your Broker Is Cancelling Your Insurance

Policy: There are no insurance consequences if

your broker is cancelling your policy. Call your

insurance company and ask to be referred to

another broker.

Your insurance broker does not need a reason to

non-renew you. The reason may simply be that they

no longer do business with that insurance company.

Your Insurance Company Is Cancelling Your

Policy: A cancellation from an insurance company is

serious and can make it harder to find an insurance

company to take you at a good rate.

If your insurance company is cancelling your policy,

you will receive a letter by registered mail outlining

the reason.

All insurance companies must file their conditions

for cancellations with the government and the

government must approve them. Otherwise, they

can't cancel your policy.

Tip: If you know you’re policy is being cancelled,

start getting quotes right away, before the

cancellation appears on your record. And don’t be

surprised if you find a better rate with another

company.

Star Drivers

Insurance companies use "Star Ratings" to rank

your driving record when determining your

insurance rates.

Here's How The Stars Are Counted: This term

simply identifies the number of years that you have

driven with out having an accident. If you have

been driving 6 years accident free, you’re a 6 star

driver. If you have been driving 4 years accident

free, you’re a 4 star driver.

The star ratings between insurance companies do

not compare equally when it comes to your

insurance rate. You can be a 6 star driver with one

insurance company and pay more for your insurance

than a 4 star driver in another insurance company.

Star Drivers & Insurance Rates: Don’t be fooled

into believing that a good star rating means that

you’re getting a good insurance rate. Always check

to make sure you are getting the best rate through

www.CarCarma.com.

Does Your Insurance Company Love You?

If you feel you’re being taken advantage of in your

relationship with your insurance company, leave.

Many insurance companies try NOT to insure certain

drivers by quoting them a ridiculously high rate.

It’s called a “Go Away Rate”. This means your

insurance company is not right for you; but some

drivers never learn.

Every insurance company has its own personality.

They cater their rates to the type of driver they

want to attract. Some look for drivers with

beautifully clean records.

Others don’t mind drivers with a spotty or bad

record. Some like young drivers; others are

attracted to more mature drivers. If you’re a “new

driver” with a company whose rates cater to

“seniors”, you’ll probably be paying more.


If you’re mad about how much your insurance costs,

don’t fight, switch. To the surprise of many drivers,

when they find their insurance company “match”,

they find a better rate.

InsuranceHotline.com matches drivers to the right

insurance company with the best rate.

High Risk Insurance Companies: Many drivers

are in high rated insurance companies only because

their broker has a limited number of insurance

companies to sell from.

Note: Some insurance companies have a right risk

component within their company. You may be

placed in this “high rated” division and NOT even be

aware of it, unless you ask. SO ASK, then go online

to www.CarCarma.com and get quoted a lower rate.

Drivers Beware: Thousands of drivers in Canada

were placed into high risk, high cost insurance

companies because of restrictive market conditions.

The market has improved and more insurance

companies are now offering better rates. This

occurrence could happen anywhere and so, be sure

to be aware of the practice.

It’s shocking what happened to many drivers over

the last number of years. In 2002, in Ontario, there

were 65,000 drivers in the Facility market, which is

an insurance company for the worst drivers with the

highest rates.

In 2003, the number of drivers in the Facility

market escalated to 222,773, as brokers lost many

of their insurance company markets. At this time,

insurance companies stopped writing business until

the government gave them better controls over

issues such as fraud.

In 2004, Facility increased their rates by 53%! This

caused many drivers to drive without insurance, or

they were bumped into other high cost insurance

companies.

Throughout 2005 and 2006, thousands of drivers

have continued to pay higher insurance rates than

necessary. They can now find better rates from

other insurance companies by going to

www.CarCarma.com.

@*%, They’re Not Insured!

Many drivers are driving without insurance because

they can’t afford the cost of insurance.

Drivers caught driving without insurance are subject

to a $5,000 fine and may have their vehicle (and in

some states, their license plates) confiscated too.

If an uninsured motorist hits you, don't worry. Your

insurance company will pay your damages, and the

claim will NOT count against you.

Oops, I Missed A Payment

If you miss a payment on your insurance, it’s not

like missing a hydro payment. There are serious

consequences.

Your insurance rate will increase, or you may be

canceled. A cancellation for a non-payment will

affect your rate, and remain on your record, for 3

long years.

Some states have laws governing the conditions by

which the insurance company can proceed with the

cancellation of you policy.

Almost all states require a notice of cancellation to

be sent to your last known mailing address (another

mailto:What@*%25

reason to keep your information updated) and many

states also require that the insurance company

explain that you are allowed to appeal cancellation,

or apply for state insurance if you cannot afford

coverage (e.g. Illinois).

Also, for the first 60 days of a new policy,

companies can cancel you for pretty much any

reason. After 60 days, however, they must provide

a specific reason (e.g. failed to pay premium,

misrepresentation or fraud, violation of terms, as

well as a number of legal, criminal, and health

related changes).

Credit Checks: Many states do credit checks, which

may limit the availability of some markets to drivers

with a poor credit history. In Canada, it is illegal to

do credit checks for auto insurance. In the US

almost all states will do checks in the next 2 years.

Lapse In Your Insurance History

The only reasons for an insurance company to

penalize you for a gap in insurance are:

1. Your last policy was cancelled for non-

payment.

2. You had an accident or ticket, which would

have increased your rate, and you did not

tell your insurance company about it.

3. You were charged for driving without

insurance.

4. You were charged with driving while your

driver’s license was suspended.

God, My Car’s Hot!

Modified Vehicles: A modification to your vehicle

which increases the “value” of your car, like a new

paint job or stereo system, may or may not increase

your rate. And most insurance companies will still

insure you.

A vehicle modified to increase the “performance”

will drive you into the high risk, high cost insurance

companies.

A good practice to avoid surprises, like a notice of

cancellation, would be to call your insurance rep

before you do any modifications and ask if it will

affect your insurance rate.

Trailers: There’s no need to tell your insurance

company if you have a trailer hitch. Liability extends

from your car to the trailer, but you may want to

purchase a separate coverage to insure the trailer

for physical damage.

Less To Insure A New Car

Many drivers with older cars may be paying higher

lease and insurance rates than they would for a

newer car. Insurance rates are extremely

competitive for new cars.

The internet is a great way to source the best prices

for vehicles, and www.CarCarma.com sources the

lowest insurance rate.

Here’s a rate example comparing a 2006, 2002 and

1999 Pontiac Grand Prix GT 4DR, showing the

lowest to highest quotes from 30 insurance

companies:

Year Lowest Highest

2006 $1,472 $4,149

2002 $1,391 $3,712

1999 $1,206 $3,361

There are only a few hundred dollars between a

1999 and 2006 model when you find the insurance

company offering the lowest rate.

Unfortunately, many drivers with older cars are

paying rates that are a thousand dollars higher than

they should be.

Insuring An Expensive or Cheap Car

Regardless of the cost of the vehicle, insurance

rates are only a few hundred dollars apart if you find

the insurance company with the lowest rate.

Even when comparing a $15,000 car to a $60,000

car using 30 insurance company rates, the

difference in rates is nominal:

Vehicle Cost Lowest Highest

Jaguar S Type $61,950 $1,726 $4,710

Toyota Echo $14,600 $1,617 $4,587

Differences $47,350 $109 $123

Behind The Insurance Curtain

As insurers announce record profits, many feel the

companies have made this money from the

pocketbooks of drivers.

Rate Guides: Many governments put out rate

guides to let drivers know that they must shop

around for their car insurance.

The government in Ontario, Canada, is a good

example of this. Their "Rate Guide" shows the vast

difference between insurance companies' rates.

The link can be found on the Resource section of

www.CarCarma.com.

Here's the government's rate comparison, showing

the lowest to highest rates for 4 driver profiles, with

rate differences over $15,000*.

Driver’s Age & Profile Lowest Highest

19 Years Old, Clean Record $5,750 $15,551

Driver, 1 Ticket/1 Accident $3,089 $14,546

Driver, Clean Record $1,380 $16,948*

70 Years Old, Clean Record $621 $4,586

While this is a powerful tool that shows the amount

drivers could be overpaying for their car insurance,

it doesn't help individual drivers find which insurer

has the best rate for them.

InsuranceHotline.com is an interactive, unbiased

rate guide providing a personalized rate comparison,

directing each driver to the right insurer.

Myths & Insurance Rates

Don’t be fooled by myths. You can save hundreds of

dollars on your insurance rate by knowing the

following statements are myths:

1. One ticket won't affect my rate.

2. If I get two tickets, it's cheaper to stay with

my current insurance company.

3. If I cause an accident, I'll have less risk of

being cancelled if I stay with the same

insurance company. And it's cheaper too.

4. A minor accident won't affect my insurance

as much as a major one.

5. If I buy a new car, I'll get the best rate from

my current insurance company.

6. My broker can quote me the lowest rate.

7. An expensive car means expensive

insurance.

All you need to do is examine the spread of car

insurance rates between the Hummer and Civic to

see how completely mystifying insurance really is.

Hummer and a Honda Civic

This chart shows the spread of rates between 30

insurance companies from the lowest to the highest quote.

Most drivers end up never finding the best price,

and end up paying hundreds of dollars more.

Vehicle Clean Record Ticket & Accident

Type Lowest Highest Lowest Highest

Hummer $1,651 $3,138 $2,812 $8,769

Honda Civic $1,602 $3,125 $3,182 $11,271

To dispel most myths, do your own rate comparison

by going to www.CarCarma.com.


Car Carma – Chapter 4

The Law & Vehicle Information

- Theft Of Your Vehicle: A Checklist

- Police & Your License Plate

- Car Rentals & Tricks

- Drinking & Driving

- Dangers of Insurance Fraud

- Impaired Driving Charge

- Best Vehicle Awards

- Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles

- Top 10 Least Stolen Vehicles

- Resources

- Acknowledgements

The Law & Vehicle Information

“If it weren’t for physics and law enforcement I’d be unstoppable.”

Theft Of Your Vehicle: A Checklist

If your car is stolen, it can be very upsetting. Here’s

a checklist to use:

Call The Police: Immediately call the police. You

need to report it right away to protect yourself, as

your car may have been stolen for a robbery or

involved in a hit-and-run.

Call Your Insurance Rep: Report the theft to your

insurance rep or claims reporting center.

If you have paid for comprehensive, all perils, or

specified perils coverage, then you are covered for

the theft of the vehicle, subject to your deductible.

Get Some Temporary Wheels: If you purchased

“Loss of Use” coverage, you can rent a car right

away.

If you did not, you’ll need to wait 72 hours before

your insurance company will pay the expenses to

rent a vehicle or for the use of alternate

transportation.

The amount they’ll pay can vary between provinces

and states, but it’s approximately $900.

Look for a Backup: Your vehicle may never be

located. Or if found, it may be damaged beyond

repair, so start looking for a replacement just in

case.

Evaluate your vehicle for settlement purposes. Good

sources are the internet, newspapers, auto

magazines and dealers.

Keep evidence of all values collected, including

names and phone numbers. Get your service

records ready to prove that your car had low

mileage or was in good condition.

List all the options your car had, including stereo

equipment, which could increase the value, subject

to your policy limits.

Tip: Remember, auto insurance covers the car and

attached equipment only. Personal equipment

located in the car should be claimed under your

homeowner’s policy, except the auto insurer will pay

up to $25 for any tape or CD left in the stereo.

Evaluate Your Insurance Offer: If your vehicle is

not located or is located but damaged beyond

repair, your insurance company will make an offer

based on what it considers to be the Actual Cash

Value (ACV) of your car.

ACV considers age, model, mileage, equipment,

condition and other factors, unless your car was

new at the time of lease or purchase, or the theft

took place within 24 months of this and you have a

“Waiver Of Depreciation” endorsement.

If you agree with the value, they will send you a

proof of loss, which you will sign and return, at

which time you will be paid.

Although they have 60 days to pay your claim, if

there is no dispute, there is no reason for your

insurance company not to pay sooner.

If You Disagree: Present your case to the adjuster

for your higher value. You might also consider

paying for your own appraisal if the car was found.

Request a copy of the insurer’s appraisal to see if

something was overlooked.

If the adjuster will not consider your position, then

you should escalate the discussion to his supervisor

or the company ombudsman. If you can’t reach an

agreement, you could consider the arbitration route,

or sue.

Was Your Car Leased? If your stolen vehicle is

leased, and more than 24 months old at the time of

the theft, the residual value under your lease may

be higher than the actual cash value of your car.

This means that you might have to pay the

difference yourself. Before agreeing to any

settlement, ensure that your leasing company is

involved.

Hidden Damage: After the theft of any vehicle,

there may be hidden damage that was not evident

during the appraisal.

If this is the case, do not proceed to repair the

damage without having a second appraisal done by

your insurance company. The additional repairs may

make your car a total loss.

Rate Increases: After your claim is closed, the

good news is that theft is considered to be a not at-

fault claim and your rate will not increase.

Vehicle Registration: Don’t leave your original

vehicle registration in your car, because, if the car is

stolen, your registration will go with it and the police

will not accept a photocopy.

Instead, keep your registration in your wallet with

your driver’s license.

Police & Your License Plate

If you've ever wondered whether the police can do a

random check on your license plate number, they

can. Whether the officer is on foot or driving past

your car, it's a common practice to run license plate

numbers.

On foot, they'll call it in. If driving, they have a

mobile workstation. Here's what they do with the

information they get back:

The Registered Owner Of The License Plate: The license plate number is your ID and must match

you. The license plate travels with you, the

registered owner, from car to car. Even if your car is

leased or is a company car, you own the license

plate.

If the license plate says it's registered to a 44 year-

old male driver whose license has been suspended,

and that matches the description of the driver, that

driver will be pulled over.

If you’re a 30-year-old female, and some spaced-

out looking teenager is driving the car at 3 am, the

driver will be pulled over.

You can transfer your license plate only to your

spouse. If it's a personalized plate, it can also be

transferred to your children.

Car Rentals & Tricks

Can’t Afford A Car Or Insurance? A car can cost

around $500 per month and so can your insurance if

you happen to be a new driver or have had a couple

of tickets or an accident.

So, try renting. Many rental companies have

monthly deals, which include insurance. Drive their

car until the tickets and accidents fall off your

record.

In the meantime, see if you can add your name to a

family member or friend’s policy as an occasional

driver.

It may not cost any additional money, if your record

is clean, but when you’re ready to get your own car

and insurance, it will have given you an insurance

history and qualify you for the lower rates.

Rental Car Insurance: Your auto insurance policy

provides the best coverage for a car rental, if you

purchased the “Liability for Damage to Non-Owned

Automobiles” coverage.

The coverage should cost around $35 to $50 a year

and it covers you each time you rent a car.

The liability and collision coverage from your own

policy then applies to the car you rent. This means if

you get into an accident, and damage the rental car,

it's covered.

If you damage another car, it's covered. If you are

injured, or injure someone else, you're covered.

Be aware that your policy’s rental coverage does not

extend to someone else driving the rental car,

unless they are listed as being insured on your

insurance policy.

There are also limits to the amount of damage that

the insurance company assumes, and that coverage

is only available for personal use, not business use.

The limit will be in the currency of your home

country, so a Canadian driving in the US will receive

a limit in Canadian dollars.

Car Rental Insurance Or Credit Card Coverage:

Most coverage purchased through rental companies

or credit cards only offer collision coverage on the

car you're renting, and may not extend to cover the

car you hit.

That means if you cause an accident and damage

another vehicle, you're responsible. If you are

injured or injure someone else, you may be

responsible.

Some contracts do not offer the same protection if

you are at-fault in the accident or if you are charged

in the accident. Be careful of these limitations of

coverage.

Drinking & Driving

Just Sitting In Your Car? It would not occur to

most people that they could be charged with

impaired driving if they just happen to use their car

as a convenient place to sit while talking to

someone and having a drink, in their driveway, at

their cottage or campsite.

The law sees this as you being in "care, custody or

control" of a motor vehicle while drinking. It also

applies to a boat, where the boat is "underway" and

a snowmobile whether or not it's in motion.

If a police officer has "reasonable grounds" to

believe you are violating this law, the officer can

search you, your car or boat without a warrant.

Transporting Alcohol: If you are pulled over by

the police and happen to have an open bottle of

liquor in your car, you can be ticketed and slapped

with a heavy fine.

Though states varies in their laws, transporting an

“open container” is typically considered a

misdemeanour and the driver may have to stand

before a judge (e.g. Texas).

Impaired Driving Charge

As previously mentioned, DWIs (Driving While

Intoxicated) are usually characterized by having a

Blood Alcohol Level of .7 or higher; however, these

laws are constantly being revised in every state and

so you must be aware of possible variables.

Just as variable are the consequences for a DWI.

For example, a DWI in Texas results in up to 180

days in county jail, up to $2,000 in fines, and a

driver’s license suspension from 90 days to a full

year.

Your Insurance Rate: The conviction of a criminal

code offense, being alcohol related, stays on your

driver record for 5 years and also impacts your

insurance rates. The license suspension stays on

your record for 5 years.

Unfair, But True: Even if you’re found not guilty of

impaired driving, the license suspension will remain

on your driver record for the 5 year period, keeping

you in the high risk market.

Here’s a comparison of the rate spread among 30

insurance companies for a 20-year-old driver and a

40-year-old driver with a:

Clean driving record.

Impaired driving conviction.

Impaired driving conviction and accident.

20 Year-Old Male

Driving Record Lowest Highest

Clean Record $4,570 $10,240

DUI Conviction $11,955 $20,972

DUI & Accident $14,941 $19,169

____________________________

40 Year-Old Male

Driving Record Lowest Highest

Clean Record $1,434 $2,398

DUI Conviction $4,858 $10,513

DUI & Accident $7,539 $12,231

____________________________

Someone In Your Household Is Charged With

Impaired Driving: If someone who is listed on

your insurance policy has been charged with a DWI

or a DUI, your insurance company could cancel your

policy.

Regardless, your rate will skyrocket as this driver

has been charged under the criminal code. If they

had an accident, that accident will be on your claims

history, and will affect your rate for 5 years.

If a member of your household is not listed on your

policy, but has been charged with impaired driving,

your insurance company may still wish to cancel or

non-renew your policy.

In this case you may want to get that driver

excluded from driving your car through an

“Excluded Driver” endorsement.

Fraud - Easier Ways Of Making Money

Insurance fraud is a huge expense for insurance

companies and for all drivers. You can be charged

under the Criminal Code and end up in jail. There

are serious repercussions for those who dabble in

insurance fraud:

Charges have fines of up to $100,000.

If convicted, you could be refused entry to

other countries.

If you are not a Canadian or US citizen, you

could be deported.

You would not be eligible to apply for

citizenship if convicted under the criminal

code.

You may have difficulty buying insurance in

the future.

Best Vehicle Awards

In general The Automobile Journalists Association

“Car Of The Year” category winners are usually:

1. Best New Economy Car

Honda Civic Sedan

2. Best New Family Car (under $35,000)

Hyundai Sonata GLS

3. Best New Family Car (over $35,000)

Hyundai Azera

4. Best New Luxury / Prestige Car

BMW 5 Series Touring

5. Best New Sports Sedan

BMW 3 Series

6. Best New Sport Car

Honda Civic Si Coupe

7. Best New Sport Utility Vehicle

Mercedes-Benz M-Class

8. Best New Pick-up: Winner

Honda Ridgeline

9. Best New Multipurpose Family Vehicle

Mazda5

10. Best New Modern Muscle Car

Dodge Magnum SRT8

Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicles

In general, these are the top 10 most stolen

vehicles that appear on police records each year.

1. Honda Civic

2. Toyota Camry

3. Honda Accord

4. Dodge Caravan

5. Chev. C/K 1500 Pickup

6. Ford F150 Series

7. Dodge Ram Pickup

8. Acura Integra

9. Toyota Pickup

10. Nissan Sentra

Top 10 Least Stolen Vehicles

In general these are the 10 least stolen vehicles.

Don’t worry about remembering to lock your car if

you own one of these vehicles. Apparently no thief

would take them even if they came with a free DVD

player.

1. Toyota Corolla 4WD Wagon

2. Buick Park Avenue Sedan

3. Buick Roadmaster Sedan

4. Lincoln Continental Sedan

5. Pontiac Bonneville Sedan

6. Oldsmobile Silhouette

7. Oldsmobile Silhouette EXT

8. Buick La Sabre Sedan

9. Volvo 850 Wagon

10. Pontiac Bonneville

Insurance Rates: At InsuranceHotline.com you can

compare the insurance rates of any vehicle. Here’s a

comparison from 30 insurance companies showing

the difference in rates between the most and least

frequently stolen cars.

The cost of comprehensive coverage, which includes

theft coverage, is shown separately.

Vehicle Lowest Highest Theft

Most Stolen Honda $1,878 $6,707 $361

Least Stolen Toyota $1,292 $4,819 $131

Surprisingly, the rate quoted separately for theft

coverage is only a couple of hundred dollars

between the most to least stolen vehicles.

Resources

Your key to finding the right help:

“Car Carma” To purchase Car Carma, simply go to

www.CarCarma.com. It’s available both in an

“e-book” and paperback.

Car Guides: An excellent price guide and

information about vehicle defects can be found at

www.lemonaidcars.com.

Determining Fault: Fault is determined in every

accident by the Fault Determination Rules outlined

in the Insurance Act. You can view them at

www.RomanovReport.com.

Driving School: Young Drivers at www.YD.com.

http://www.car/

http://www.lemonaidcars.com/

http://www.romanovreport.com/

http://www.yd.com/

Guide To Saving Money: Two good sites for

money management are www.EllenRoseman.com

and www.PatForan.com.

Insurance Rates: www.CarCarma.com provides

instant access to the lowest insurance rates in

Canada, and the United States.

Tickets & Accidents: POINTTS Canada, the traffic

ticket specialists, provides a free consultation if you

have been ticketed and wish to fight the charge.

You can call them at 1-888-787-1000, or visit their

website at www.Pointts.ca.

Valid Driver's License Check: To find out if a

person has a valid driver's license, you can call

1-900-565-6555. A fee of $2.50 is charged to your

telephone bill.

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the people below who have put

their work, trust and patience into making Car

Carma available to you. And thanks to you, the

readers.

Don Bundock & Keyvan Mohajer

Lee Romanov

Author Car Carma

http://www.ellenroseman.com/

http://www.patforan.com/


http://www.pointts.ca/

Thank You,

Lee Romanov

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