Consumer Guide To Auto Insurance
Choosing an insurer,Auto insurance basics,Underwriting standards,Credit scoring,Rating categories,Types of coverage,Extra liability coverage,Your right to be treated fairly.,What to do if you can’t get coverage.,A safety net for consumers,Oregon requirement,Required coverages,Proof of insurance,Filing a claim,Dealing with total-loss claims,Saving money on auto insurance,Auto insurance questions & answers,Glossary.,Insurance publications.Choosing an insurer
Auto insurance helps protect you and your familyfrom losses resulting from motor vehicle accidents.Oregon law requires every car to be covered by automobile insurance.The cost for coverage varies widely among companies doing business in Oregon. That’s why it’s important to shop around when choosing an insurance company. This booklet can help you make an informed decision. It includes information about what kinds of coverage are required, how to shop for insurance, and tips to hold down your costs. Comparison shopping takes a little more time, but it can save you money! However, cost is just one factor to consider when choosing an insurance company. It’s also important to look at the company’s financial condition and how it treats its policyholders. A company’s financial information is available from the following organizations that rate insurance companies. The organizations may charge a fee for these servicesAuto insurance basics
Underwriting standards
Underwriting standards are rules insurance companies use to decide whether to insure you. A company reject your application for coverage if your circumstances do not meet the company’s underwriting standards or risk factors. Drivers with the lowest risk factors are least likely to have a claim, so they receive the lowestrates for insurance. Insurance companies typically review the following when deciding whether to insure you:• driving record
• car make and model
• prior insurance coverage
• consumer credit history
document that it helps them predict future claim costs and price their products fairly. At the same time, they must demonstrate that credit information is used as part of an evaluation system that also relies on other relevant factors. Oregon insurers and producers (agents) must tell consumers how the company uses credit information before running credit checks. If a company uses credit information to prescreen applicants, the company must notify you of this before running a credit check. If an insurer uses credit information to make an “adverse” decision, such as not to offer the best rate or not to offer a policy, the insurer must give you specific reasons for the adverse action. You have a right to a free copy of your credit report from the credit bureau. If you find an error in your credit report and arrange with the credit bureau to correct it, you can ask the insurer to reconsider.
Credit scoring
Many insurance companies look at a consumer’s credit history to decide whether to issue an auto or insurance policy or how much to charge. This practice is known as credit scoring or insurancescoring. Insurance scoring has been controversial, and a number of states, including Oregon, have placed
limits on its use. In Oregon, insurers can’t use a policyholder’s credit information to raise premiumsat renewal. Also, the law prohibits insurers from canceling or refusing to renew existing policies
because of credit history problems. Insurers can use credit information when deciding
whether to issue a new policy, but only if they can of tickets or accidents, drivers with poor premiumpayment
records, and drivers with convictions for driving recklessly or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
10 comments
Posted at 14:47 |  by
Unknown

