Thursday, August 6, 2009

Why 4x4 Insurance Varies From Car Insurance

By Susan Reynolds

4x4s are subject to special rates and different kinds of insurance that other cars don?t usually have. If you have a 4x4 you are probably already aware of these differences. The extra features of a 4x4 make it capable of more, and therefore need extra insurance to handle the extra hazards they may encounter. Purchasers of this type of insurance should worry about getting the right type of policy to cover all of their specific needs.

Basic car insurance will cover you for different aspect of an accident. A policy may cover the other driver and car, your car and injuries, and/or damage sustained from ?acts of God?. These would include natural disasters and theft, depending on what your policy states. 4x4 insurance policies will work in the exact same way as regular car insurance, although it may be more expensive. A higher profile vehicle will cause more damage in an accident and will have higher costing repairs.

4x4?s will also be subject to higher rates because of their popularity. If you live near the city rates will be higher than normal for vandalism, theft, and other damages. Drivers of 4x4?s in rural areas often do not need this type of coverage, but it will be less expensive if they do get it.

Fixing a 4x4 vehicle tends to be more expensive than fixing a regular vehicle. There are a few different reasons for this. The first reason is that 4x4 vehicles have parts that are specialized and harder to find and thus they are more expensive. Another reason is because many 4x4 owners will add extra parts to their vehicle. While these parts may make the vehicle perform better, as they do with sports cars, they are not covered by insurance and thus are more expensive to fix. Some companies will allow you to insure these parts however you will have to pay much higher premiums to do so.

Finally the biggest difference between 4x4 vehicles and cars is it?s off road capabilities. Your standard car insurance won?t cover your vehicle if you go off road. This means that you will have to either pay for the repair costs yourself or have to see if your car insurance company offers off road protection. If they do then you will have to pay a higher rate. Also if you?re an enthusiast that likes to race or enter other various competitions you may have to get those covered separately. In some instances it?s better to be covered for a single day then pay high interest rates every month.

Aside from the fact that 4x4 vehicles are more expensive to insure, the policies are not all that different from regular cars. Get your best quote by searching multiple car insurance companies online. Read through each policy offered by the companies before committing to one, since some include features that others don?t. Also take note of how much your insurance company is covering, since lower coverage may leave you with extra bills. Make sure that you coverage isn?t over or under what your vehicle and your budget require.

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