The Last Signs Of Winter

By Author: Norris Rios
Total Articles: 572
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As we drive our way through the worst December and January can throw at us, it's easy to forget the risk of wind, frozen rain, snow and ice can continue through February and into what should be spring. It's surprising how often we relax on the maintenance schedule and get caught out when unseasonal cold returns. But there's a more subtle challenge. We all tend to focus on the immediate problems we can see and forget about the slow damage taking place underneath our wheels. As ice freezes and thaws, it expands and contracts, loosening the support to the road itself. The result? Potholes! No matter which part of the country you live, roads can turn into obstacle courses. Fail to pay attention and you can find yourself with deflated tires and broken axels. Except, of course, when it grows dark, or there's snow on the road, these hazards are harder to see. Hit a hole at speed and there's a risk you may flip over.

So, if you remembered to read through the terms before buying, you picked the policy offering cover against the type of damage caused by potholes. The lowest level of cover protects you for just damage to the tire. ...
... If your vehicle is more seriously damaged, it will all come down to the wording in your collision policy. Normally, a collision is assumed to be between vehicles. But, if you live in an area affected by winter conditions, you can find coverage to include damage from potholes. Then your problem is going to be the amount of the deductible. When you were looking for cheaper coverage, you might have opted for a higher deductible. If you are close to the $1,000 mark, this could exclude most of the claims for replacing bent parts of the suspension system. If you routinely meet potholes, you should think very carefully about the extent of the cover you buy and the amount of the deductible.

Then we get into the other types of damage that can come from an avalanche of snow slipping from a roof on to your vehicle or a branch falling from a tree under the weight of ice. This should be covered under your comprehensive policy as weather damage. Remember both collision and comprehensive cover is optional. You have to buy this cover. If you are more seriously worried about the value of your own vehicle or of any other vehicles you may crash into, you might consider buying an umbrella policy to protect yourself against higher claims. This leaves one other factor which is usually considered fair wear and tear and so excluded from cover. This is the damage caused by all the salt put on to the road to prevent freezing. Unless you routinely wash it off, it can cause serious rust problems and there's no insurance policy to cover your loss of value.

So, both going into and coming out of winter, check your auto insurance quotes to make sure you have all the cover you are going to need. If the spring sun is already shining in your state, remember this come Fall. Getting the right auto insurance quotes for the time of year is important if you are to stay financially safe.