The Clever Apprentice

FL Insurance Requirements

• Bodily Injury Liability: $10,000/$20,000 Limit
• Property Damage Liability: $10,000 Limit

The no-fault system is followed in Florida. The rules of a no-fault insurance system specify that the auto insurance firm pays for damages resulting from an accident irregardless of who caused the accident. These basic principles vary by state. In this kind of insurance system, drivers do lose some legal rights to litigate, but the system helps minimize altercations.

Personal Injury Protection helps cover the costs incurred for everyone involved in an accident. There are minimums for this auto insurance coverage in Florida that every Florida driver must keep. For everyone involved, the limit is $20,000 and $10,000 is the amount required for a single person involved. These limits are just the very minimum each Florida driver must have to legally drive on Florida roads. For additional protection, you can get higher limits - however, your insurance premiums will also be greater.

You can add Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury to your Florida auto insurance coverage in order to protect against bodily injury resulting from an uninsured motorist (depending on the state). Florida does not mandate that drivers to purchase this auto insurance coverage, but you should consider obtaining this noteworthy coverage.

In 2003, the mean auto insurance rate in the US was $914,while the average Floridian layed out $1,104. There are several of people that incorrectly take for granted that they have no ability in decreasing their rates.

In the real world, a large number of Florida residents can reduce their Florida auto insurance rates. To acquire the special auto insurance rates, you must review insurance rates on the web or meet with a licensed insurance agent. You also could be eligible for special auto insurance offers that can help lower your rates.

In 2007, there was an average decrease of .5%-1% from 2006. This was the first decrease in auto insurance since 1999. However, these declines were temporary as in 2008 and 2009, auto insurance costs once more started to raise. Unless you’re regularly seeking the special auto insurance rates, you’re likely laying out too much. Every year, you should be checking insurance rate quotes on the web or speak with a licensed auto insurance agent.. Using the net can help you verify if you’re paying too much for auto insurance and if you can obtain special offers.

State Minimums

• Bodily Injury Liability: $15,000/$30,000 Limit
• Property Damage Liability: $5,000 Limit

*For automobile assigned risk plan drivers, the requirements are $10,000/$20,000/$3,000 Limits

The state of CA follows a Tort system implying a person must be found to be responsible for causing the accident, and that individual and their insurance underwriter is responsible for all the damages resultings from the accident. You should be mindful that the details of a tort system vary from state to state.

California does not require it, but if you’d like to further protect yourself, you can choose to get uninsured driver coverage on your california auto insurance policy. This insurance coverage will protect you against bodily injury caused by an underinsured motorist.This can be very worthwhile coverage if you end up being involved in an accident with this type of person.

The average auto insurance premium for residents in California was $950 in 2003; The average nationwide rate was $914. Some people think the state and insurance companies fix the rates, so they never compare current insurance quotes for better rates.

Insurance companies segment their rates differently so everyone’s rate will be different with each company. You have to compare current insurance quotes to see if you are saving money. There are several sites available to compare rates and less epensive rates available in CA, so average Californians can get a lower rate on their auto insurance.

It took almost 10 years (1999-2007) to see the most recent decrease in insurance rates. That year saw a .5% to 1% reduction in average insurance rates from the previous year. Nevertheless, 2009 has already seen increases in average insurance costs and it will probably continue for the rest of the year. To find lower rates, it’s best to visit insurance comparison sites and compare multiple rates.

Insurance premiums can change over the years and especially in a state like California, if you are not careful you could wind up paying too much for your insurance coverage. Looking back, the average insurance rate in 2000 was about $767; it increased almost 24% in just 3 years! Since then auto insurance costs have consistantly changed.

You may not have any experience in changing tyres, so knowing when to do so could be difficult without a proper inspection. If you don’t feel comfortable diagnosing the problem prior to changing tyres, then a professional can help. However, determining how to change a tyre can be quite easy.

One sign that can tell you it’s time to change your tyres is by how well they are performing. One example could be that your car, which usually handles well in poor weather conditions, is suddenly not handling as well. Another is that it takes longer to stop when you brake.

A tyre’s tread should not be worn beyond the legal limit, which is a minimum limit of 1.6 millimeters. Most tyre manufacturers mould T.W.I, or tread wear indicators, right into the tyres tread pattern, usually at 1.6 millimeters. When the tyre is worn to the T.W.I, then it should be replaced.

Tyre wear can be caused by several factors, not just through age and use. Emergency braking, under- or over-inflation, and migalignment can cause them to wear. Once a tyre is worn to, or even past its legal limit, changing tyres is a must.

To avoid wearing out your tyres too early, check to see if your tyres are properly inflated. To do so you will need a few simple tools.

You will need a tyre pressure gauge to check the tyre’s pressure. This can be either mechanical or electronic, or can even use a pump with a gauge built right in. You can also opt to by a small compressor that powers through your car’s cigarette lighter. They are great for saving time and effort, but make sure to avoid buying a cheap one. They don’t work as well, and often break very quickly.

If you’ve done all your checks, but your tyres are still in bad shape, then changing tyres is inevitable. But don’t worry, the process can be done easily and quickly with just a few tips.

Before you begin changing tyres, you should check to see that your car’s jack is there, you have a properly inflated spare tyre, you have a lug wrench that properly fits your wheel, and you also have the correct lug bolts.

Once you have safely parked your car, make sure you put a couple of bricks or large stones beneath the tyres to ensure that it doesn’t roll or move. Bring the jack, spare tyre, and lug wrench to where you will be changing tyres.

Begin byremoving the hubcap/plate and loosening the nuts prior to jacking up the car to prevent the wheels spinning on you. Turn them counterclockwise to loosen until it comes off. Once this is done, you can jack up the car.

Remove the old tyre. Since you have already taken out the lug nuts, pull it with your weight forward in order to prevent you from falling backward.

Now you are ready to put the new tyre on. Adjust the tyre in the threaded shafts so they fit. Then you can replace the lug nuts, tightening them in the proper order.

Once this is done you can lower the jack so that they tyres are once again resting on the ground. Lastly you can replace the hubcap or plate.

Changing tyres can be hard the first time you try, but once you get the hang of it, it will be easier and easier each time you do it.

Tyres: Resources and Information about it

If you own a pickup truck or SUV chances are your vehicle looks quite a bit different than from the day that you bought it home from the dealership. I’m not talking about wear and tear, scratches or dings, or any other thing that may have happened to it over the course of time. Rather, I am suggesting that you have customized it to look the way you want it to look. Let’s take a peek at some popular accessories on the market for pickups as well as for SUVs.

There are literally hundreds of after market parts and accessories available for trucks and SUVs. The following list is an alphabetical example [well, almost] of add-ons for your consideration:

Air Filter - Reusable air filters are growing in popularity as motorists see both the performance and environmental benefits of using one.

Bed Mats - Scratches and stains are a thing of the past with a properly installed bed mat on any pickup truck.

Car Bras - Also known as hood protectors, many truck and SUV owners are opting for this important accessory to keep their vehicles free from flying debris as well as to give their vehicle a custom look.

Dog Box - Even poochie needs his place. Especially a great idea for protecting your GMC Yukon from pet hair and dander.

Engine Module - Looking for more power? An engine module will allow your truck or SUV to obtain higher horsepower and acceleration.

Fender Flares - Going for a custom look? If so, fender flares are the way to go and they offer additional coverage for the fender area too.

Grille Guard - Especially helpful if you have to round up cattle or want to offer extra special protection to your front end.

Hitch - Great for towing!

Intake Tube - More air for your engine, means more power.

Jumper Cables - You never know…

Knock Sensor - Not really an accessory, but listed because I needed a “K” to complete the example.

Liquid Tank - When you just have to keep it all cool…

Mud Flaps - A cool as well as useful accessory to keep your wheels looking great.

Nerf Bars - Tubular free form bumpers beat out stock bumpers every time.

Overhead Storage - Hey, you have to store your firearms somewhere, don’t you?

Performance Chip - A great way to crank out more horsepower and thrust.

Q - Not much use for this letter, is there?

Running Boards - Sometimes you need something more than a pole vault to enter your 4 x 4.

Seat Covers - Custom fitted seat covers can protect your seats from rips, tears, and stains.

Tailgate Door - Remove the door and go with the net. Keeps everything in its place.

Umbrella - You’ll need one to get from your truck to your home.

Vent Visor - Keeps the water from drenching you while exiting your GMC Suburban.

Winch - You just never know when you’ll get stuck…

X+Y+Z - Okay, close enough. They don’t name hurricanes with these letters, so why should accessories be any different?

If you were to fully accessorize your truck or SUV with all of these parts you would pay thousands of dollars for the privilege. Your vehicle would also look overdone too! Of course, it would be better for you to be selective and choose those accessories that mean the most to you. Shop an online wholesaler of automobile parts and accessories for the best prices too.

Copyright 2005 — Matt Keegan is a contributing writer for the Auto Parts Warehouse, a wholesaler of fine GMC accessories and GMC parts.