Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/740763
MY THS 1. e color of your vehicle deter- mines what you pay for insurance. FACT: Not true. Have you ever been asked the color of your car when you've bought insurance? Most insurers want to know about the car model, your driving record, and the miles you drive each year. 2. Older drivers pay more. FACT: Many drivers over age 55 can qualify for a reduction in rates if they successfully complete a safe driving course or meet other requirements. Many insurance companies consider a healthy older driver who only uses the car sporadically and has a long, clean driving record a better risk than a driver in their teens or early 20s. 3. California's minimum liability auto insurance requirements are enough to protect your assets. FACT: If your insurance only meets Cali- fornia's minimum liability requirements and you are found at fault for an accident in which others were hurt, you could be paying out of pocket for lost wages, pain and suffering, and medical expenses that could easily add up to much more than your liability limits. Losing an injury law- suit could also mean having to sell your home and having your future income garnished to pay those bills. 4. Your auto insurance policy covers damage to your car resulting from a crash or from being stolen. FACT: If you haven't purchased compre- hensive and collision coverage, you'll pay out of pocket to repair or replace your vehicle if something happens. Such cov- erage is optional for most auto insurance Auto Insurance Myths and Realities A U T O I N S U R A N C E R AT E S have been going up. Insurance companies cite cheaper gas and an improving economy for putting more of us on the road driving more miles. at has resulted in an increase in crashes and the amount of money insurance companies are paying out. You may have heard of other factors that affect auto insurance costs — some true, some not. We bust some of the myths. Get Access Discount program means big savings for members The newest addition to CTA Member Benefits offerings is the Access to Savings discount program. Access's exclusive offers deliver discounts of up to 50 percent off restaurants, retailers, hotels, theme parks, entertainment, home and garden, health and beauty, auto service, and more. The Access savings network includes more than 350,000 merchants. The more you use the program, the more you save. To beging saving, log in to CTAMemberBenefits.org/Access. Visit the site during October to be entered for a chance to win two one- day passes to Universal Studios! You can also get your deals on the go by downloading the My Deals app, which can pull in deals based on your location, from the App Store or Google Play. Simply show your discounts on your smartphone and save. policies and pays when your vehicle is crunched in a crash that you caused, or is damaged by flood, fire, windstorm, vandalism or theft. 5. Your personal auto insurance cov- ers business use of your vehicle. FACT: Most personal auto insurance policies exclude business use of your vehicle. If you've signed on as an Uber or Lyft driver, for example, you may need a commercial auto insurance policy. Talk to an insurance adviser as soon as possible. REALITIES How you can reduce the amount you pay for auto insurance: • Check for good driver and good stu- dent discounts. • Combine your insurance (auto with your home owner 's or renter 's insur- ance, or if you and your spouse/ partner have individual policies). • Reduce your commute. • Increase your deductibles. • Research the insurance costs of a new vehicle before you buy one. • Get a policy review. Be sure to check out California Casualty, which offers exclusive benefits for CTA members: • Deductibles are waived or reduced for vandalism or accidents that occur to your vehicle parked where you work. • Personal property damaged or lost in a collision or fire, or taken from your car, is covered up to $500. • Rates are guaranteed for a full year. • Free identity theft protection. • Multiple payment options, including E-Z Pay and holiday or summer skips. California Casualty, which contributed this report, has been a trusted part- ner with CTA for more than 65 years, providing members auto and home insurance tailored to their needs. With headquarters in San Mateo, California Casualty has been led by four gener- ations of the Brown family. For details, or to request an auto insurance quote, visit CTAMemberBenefits.org/calcas or calcas.com/cta, or call 800-800-9410. Learn more about CTA Member Benefits' exclusive programs and discounts avail- able to assist you, your family, and your career at CTAMemberBenefits.org or call 650-552-5200. 48 cta.org CTA & You member benefits