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Best Boat Insurance 2021 – Forbes Advisor

Best Boat Insurance 2021 – Forbes Advisor


Geico Boat Insurance Options

Trailer Assist Roadside Coverage

By adding this endorsement you’ll get coverage for your towing vehicle and insured trailer for expenses such as towing the trailer to the nearest repair facility, flat-tire roadside assistance, battery jumpstarts, fuel delivery and more.

Towing and Assistance Coverage

This country to tow your boat or trailer from the water or a road to the nearest safe location. Assistance can include delivering gas, oil, tires or replacement parts and the labor at the site. But note that the cost of the gas, oil, tires or parts aren’t covered.

Coverage for Hired Crew

This endorsement extends your Geico boat liability insurance to liability arising from the Jones Act, Death on the High Seas Act or General Maritime Law.

Mechanical Breakdown

If your boat is less than 11 years old and you’re buying hull and towing coverage, you may be eligible to add Geico’s mechanical breakdown coverage for boats.

Ice and Freeze Coverage

This add-on coverage pays you the boat’s actual cash value if it’s damaged by ice and freezing. Without it, ice and freezing is generally excluded.

Charter Guide

You can add insurance if you use your boat as a charter guide service, such as taking customers out on fishing or sightseeing excursions.

Cruising Limit Extensions for the Bahamas or Bahamas and Caribbean

Geico boat insurance generally covers you in US and Canadian coastal and inland waters. You can buy add-on coverage that extends your insurance when you’re boating within certain latitudes and longitudes that are excluded by the main policy, such as the Caribbean, Turks and Caicos, Mexico, Belize and other locations.

Private Dock Liability

This endorsement adds liability coverage for your private dock to your main boat liability insurance.

Captain’s Liability

Do you employ a captain or other paid crew? This endorsement would make them a named insured on the boat insurance policy.

Geico’s Platinum Plus Boat Insurance

Geico’s Platinum Plus is a boat insurance package that offers increased coverage amounts for emergency services, medical payments, personal effects and additional marine environmental damage.

It also adds hurricane preparation coverage that will pay 50% (up to a set dollar limit) to have your boat professional moved when there’s a Tropical Storm or Hurricane watch or warning. It also pays for lashing into ground anchors. It has some post-storm benefits as well for power washing and relaunch.

The Platinum Plus package also lowers your deductible for your dinghy, outboard and navigational electronics.

Geico Boat Insurance Discounts

Look for these possible discounts if you’re buying Geico boat insurance.

Boat safety course or training discount if you’ve completed an approved boating safety course.

Multiple policy discount if you have more than one boat insurance policy or another Geico policy.

Years loss-free discount based on the number of years you’ve been insured and had no claims (excluding claims for hurricane, lightning and towing).

You may have the option to add a “diminishing deductible” for your hull and equipment coverage. For every year you don’t have a hull and equipment claim, your deductible for that coverage will be reduced by 25%.

Is Your Boat Eligible for Geico Boat Insurance?

Here are some of the rules typically used by Geico to determine whether a boat is eligible for coverage:

  • Hull length overall is less than or equal to 70 feet.
  • Boat must be less than 50 years old.
  • The boat can’t have more than four engines.



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How Long After Car Accident Can You Claim Car Insurance?

Car accident claim time limit



There is no specific claims deadline for comprehensive car insurance claims. But there are deadlines for CTP insurance claims, which vary by state and territory.




Image: StockStudio/Shutterstock.com.








Compulsory third party (CTP) insurance is usually included in your car registration cost (except in New South Wales where it is purchased separately and known as Green Slip insurance). CTP insurance generally provides cover for people who have been injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident. This may include drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycles.




When can you make a comprehensive car insurance claim?




There is usually no specific time limit for comprehensive car insurance claims. But generally it is recommended that you get in touch with your insurance provider as soon as possible following an accident and file a claim.




You will need to give your insurance provider information about the accident, including details of the other driver (or drivers) involved, photos and videos, any witnesses, and any police report filed.




When can you make a CTP insurance claim?




The time limit for making a CTP insurance claim for personal injury depends on your state or territory. Generally, it ranges from as little as 28 days to receive maximum entitlements.




To make a CTP insurance claim, you will generally need to lodge a claim form with the at fault vehicle’s CTP insurer. This will be different if your state or territory has only one CTP insurer or operates under a no fault scheme.




Here’s an overview of the current time limits in each state and territory, according to the relevant CTP regulator. If you are intending to make a claim, it’s a good idea to check the requirements with your CTP regulator directly. You could also consider consulting a lawyer.




NSW – 3 months




You can submit a claim up to three months after the accident. If you submit a claim within 28 days of the accident, you may be entitled to receive back pay from the date of the accident. If you submit later than this, some of your entitlements may only begin from the date the claim is made.




In NSW, Green Slip insurance is provided by AAMI, Allianz, GIO, NRMA, QBE and Youi. If you don’t know who provides insurance for the at fault driver, the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) says it can find out for you. You can use its CTP Connect tool or call or email CTP assist.




Vic – 12 months




You have 12 months to lodge a claim from the date of your accident, or the date an injury from the accident first becomes evident. Some exceptions apply. For example, the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) says it may consider claims made within three years if there are reasonable grounds for the delay.




In Victoria, CTP insurance is provided by the TAC. The TAC is a no fault insurance scheme, meaning you can make a claim if you are injured in a transport accident, even if it was your fault.




Qld – 9 months




You generally have nine months after the motor vehicle crash, or the date of the first appearance of symptoms if they are not immediately apparent, to make a claim. If you have a solicitor managing your claim, you have to make a claim within one month of first consulting with the solicitor.




In Queensland, CTP insurance is provided by Allianz, QBE, RACQ and Suncorp. It is regulated by the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC). You can find the CTP insurer of the at fault driver online if you have the vehicle’s registration number and the date of the crash.




If you cannot identify the vehicle that caused the crash, you may still be able to claim. You can lodge your claim against the Nominal Defendant and you have three months to do so.




AS – 6 months




You have six months from the date of the accident to make a claim, or as soon as reasonably practicable if the at-fault vehicle was unable to be identified or was unregistered at the time of the accident.




In South Australia, CTP insurance is provided by AAMI, Allianz, QBE Insurance and SGIC. It is regulated by the CTP Insurance Regulator. You can find out the CTP insurer of the at fault vehicle using EzyReg.




WA – 3 years




You are required to make a claim as soon as practicable following a crash. But generally, you can make a motor vehicle accident claim within three years of the date of the accident.




In Western Australia, CTP Insurance is provided by the Insurance Commission of Western Australia as part of motor injury insurance.




Tas – 12 months




You must complete an ‘Application for Benefits’ (Form B) and return it within 12 months of the date of the accident.




In Tasmania, CTP Insurance is provided by the Motor Accidents Insurance Board (MAIB). It pays for a range of treatment and support services for eligible people who have been injured, regardless of fault.




NT – 6 months




You should make a claim as soon as practicable after the accident, and no later than six months after the date of the accident.




In the Northern Territory, CTP insurance is managed by the Motor Accidents Compensation Commission (MACC) and administered by TIO. It is a no-fault scheme, meaning you are covered regardless of who caused the accident.




ACT – 13 weeks




You have 13 weeks from the date of the motor accident to send your completed application documents to the insurance provider for the owner of the vehicle most at fault for the accident. If you make a late application, you may not receive all the benefits back to the date of the accident. You will also need to provide a clear explanation about why you couldn’t make the application within the 13 weeks.




In the ACT, motor accident injuries (MAI) insurance is provided by AAMI, Apia, GIO and NRMA. It is regulated by the MAI Commission. If another vehicle was at fault, you can look up the vehicle owner’s MAI insurer on the Access Canberra website or by calling Access Canberra. For NSW-plated vehicles, the MAI Commission says their CTP insurer is treated as the MAI insurer for an ACT motor accident and you can look up the insurer on the Service NSW website.




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Auto insurance reform has decimated long-term health care for crash survivors, families say

Auto insurance reform has decimated long-term health care for crash survivors, families say


Families of auto crash survivors needing long term care see hopes dashed after state auto insurance reform

A major overhaul designed to reduce state auto insurance premiums has left critics saying that severely injured crash survivors are now paying the price. The Michigan Speaker of the House — says that won’t happen anytime soon.

FOX2 – A major overhaul designed to reduce state auto insurance premiums has left critics saying that severely injured crash survivors are now paying the price. The Michigan Speaker of the House — says that won’t happen anytime soon.

“I said we are not leaving, this is an emergency. People are dying. Someone has to listen to us,” said Maureen Howell, whose son needs 24-hour care.

That was Howell’s desperate plea as she and dozens of other families of catastrophic crash survivors took their final push to change the new no-fault insurance law to the State Capitol. They specifically tried to make their case at the office of House Speaker Jason Wentworth – but he never showed.

Instead, police demanded the group leave. And soon after they were forced to leave – members of the group “We Can’t Wait” learned they lost their fight.

Speaker Wentworth announced “It’s time to move on.” and no longer plans to alter the auto reform law.

“People were sobbing in the hallway,” Howell said. “You are so frustrated at this point, so exhausted, trying to fight to save people and we are losing them.”

Her son Sam was injured in a car accident in 2005 and has needed specialized 24-hour care ever since.

But soon she says even more families won’t be able to afford it – with unqualified nursing homes as their only option.

The new no-fault medical fee schedule cut insurance payment rates for home health care, nurses and caregivers by 45 percent.

Reportedly since the law took effect in July – 1,500 crash victims have been discharged from medical facilities, 3,000 thousand jobs have been eliminated, and we are told insurance won’t even pay for the most necessities.

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“People are not able to get catheters to catheterize – and one of the primary reasons we lose people that are paralyzed, is urinary tract infections,” Howell said.

Speaker Wentworth, who said he reviewed every proposed idea over the last year – felt a change would ultimately bring back higher car insurance rates and put the $400 refund checks at risk.

“Future survivors are going to be affected as well, because no one is going to find care,” she said.

For those who have already decided to give up their $400 refund check – the 8,000 member group “We can’t wait” set up a GoFundMe page. Dollars donated will help intensify their fight for crash survivors – which will start with a protest at the Capitol next Wednesday.

If you would like to donate, click the GoFundMe link above.

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How to beat rising prices

How to beat rising prices


Drivers have seen their average annual car running costs increase to £1,860 thanks to rising insurance and fuel bills, new research shows.

Typical car running costs have risen by £291 year-on-year, as motorists are predicted to spend an average of £955 on petrol this year, according to Compare the Market.

Fuel prices have reached record highs in recent times with a liter of diesel now costing over £1.77 for the first time.

Average car insurance premiums also rose by £60 year-on-year in February, reaching £673.

The cost of driving is particularly high for young drivers at the moment.

Motorists between the ages of 17 and 24 pay on average £1,154 on their car insurance, taking their typical total running cost to £2,341.

However, vehicle tax costs and MOT bills have remained flat over the year, with breakdown cover being the only element to see a reduction, dropping from an average cost of £24 in 2021 to £22.

Alex Hasty, director at Compare the Market, said: “Motorists will understandably be worried that the cost of driving is increasing rapidly.

“Soaring petrol prices and rising insurance premiums are hitting household finances when budgets are being squeezed by rising inflation and surging energy costs.

“If these increases continue, there is a risk that driving will become prohibitively expensive for lots of people.”

More from bills

To try and combat these rising costs, drivers could shop around for a cheaper deal on their car insurance ahead of their renewal.

Mr Hasty said many people leave it until the last minute to switch, but they could save a significant amount of money by switching earlier.

He added: “Our figures show that the cost of motor insurance can be £306 cheaper by switching 20 days before the end of a policy compared to the day of renewal.”

Getting ahead of insurance costs before renewal deadlines could prove to be crucial for many, with additional research from MoneySuperMarket estimating auto-renewals cost 17 million drivers over £830million in 2021.

Just over half of motorists let their car insurance renew automatically in 2021, up 27 per cent from 2020.

Despite FCA rules intended to ensure providers highlight a customer’s previous year’s premium price against their renewal price, 48 per cent of drivers do not recall seeing these notifications.

Of those that did remember seeing the notices, 72 per cent said they did not encourage them to shop around.

Do you have a reader query, concern or a financial issue you want addressed? Contact: C.Coombe-Whitlock@inews.co.uk



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Diamond Car Insurance Review – Forbes Advisor UK

Diamond Car Insurance Review – Forbes Advisor UK


Who are Diamond?

Diamond is a part of the Admiral Group, alongside the likes of Elephant, Bell and, of course, Admiral. It was founded in 1997 as an insurer catering for female drivers.

It still gears its products towards women but can’t offer women cheaper cover than men, since insurers have been prohibited since 2012 from taking a driver’s gender into account when setting premiums.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes

Choose from a range of policy options for affordable cover, that suits you and your car.

Why should I consider Diamond?

Diamond offers third party, third party fire and theft and fully comprehensive car insurance. Its comprehensive policies come with European cover as standard, and electric vehicle drivers get battery and charging equipment cover too.

If you need it and you’re willing to pay extra, you can add breakdown cover, personal injury cover, hire car cover and legal expenses protection.

Diamond’s car insurance is rated five-stars by independent analysts Defaqto.

How to contact Diamond

You can call Diamond on 0333 220 2004 between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm on a Saturday and between 9.30am and 4pm on Sunday. If you’re calling to make changes to your policy, you’ll be charged a £25 fee. Do it online via MyAccount and you’ll only be charged £9.50.

For accident recovery, Diamond has a 24-hour helpline that can be reached on 0800 600 840. If you need emergency glass repair, call 0333 220 2026.

How to find the best cover for you

Hopefully, you’ll never need to make a claim on your car insurance but if you do, you’ll want an insurer that handles claims quickly, efficiently and fairly.

The best way to get a feel for how an insurer treats its customers is to check independent review sites such as Defaqto and TrustPilot.

Cost is also important, but only in relation to how much cover you get in return. A cheap policy can be appealing, but if it lacks features that you later need and are forced to pay for yourself – it isn’t as cheap as it seemed.

Similarly, a price policy with lots of features that you never use might not be the best use of your money. Striking a balance between cost and coverage is key, and a price comparison service like ours can help.

Why it makes sense to compare policies and providers

The rising cost of living makes it more important than ever to make sure you’re not overpaying for your car insurance.

Car insurance companies are no longer able to offer better prices to new customers because of regulations brought in this year, but it’s still worth looking around for better deals.

You can’t assume that your current provider is going to offer you the best price at renewal, so checking makes sense.

Compare Car Insurance Quotes

Choose from a range of policy options for affordable cover, that suits you and your car.



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Turning Pickups, SUVs More Likely to Hit Pedestrians Than Cars: Study

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March 18, 2022 — Pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, and minivans, when compared to cars, are more likely to strike a pedestrian while their drivers are making turns, a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says.

The design of the larger vehicles may be a factor, according to the study.

“It’s possible that the size, shape or location of the A-pillars that support the roof on either side of the windshield could make it harder for drivers of these larger vehicles to see crossing pedestrians when they are turning,” Wen Hu, PhD, senior research transportation engineer for the institute, said in a news release.

But an in-depth study of A-pillars has not been done, the institute said, noting that other design elements of larger vehicles may be a factor, such as “high ride heights and long front ends.”

The growing popularity of SUVs and pickups may also affect the pedestrian strike rates, the institute said.

Larger vehicles account for a bigger share of vehicle sales, according to the new research. Pickups, SUVs, and vans made up 47% of all new vehicle sales in 2009, The Associated Press said, citing Motorintelligence.com. But in 2021, light trucks made up more than three-quarters of all new vehicle sales.

Previous studies had shown larger vehicles caused more severe injuries than cars when they struck pedestrians, the institute said. The latest study focused on different kinds of crashes.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a nonprofit group funded by auto insurance companies, looked at federal statistics about pedestrian deaths caused by different vehicles making left and right turns at intersections, then compared them to deaths caused by vehicles not making turns.

For left turns, SUVs were about twice as likely as a car to cause a pedestrian death, vans and minivans were three times as likely as a car, and pickup trucks four times as likely as a car.

For right turns, pickups were 89% more likely to be involved in a pedestrian death than a car, the study said, while SUVs were 63% more likely to be involved.

For non-turning situations, “SUVs and pickups were associated with 51% and 25% greater odds than cars of killing a pedestrian walking or running along the road versus a fatal straight-on crash with a crossing pedestrian,” the report said.

The institute also cited information about pedestrian deaths in North Carolina from 2010 to 2018 that showed SUVs and pickups were more likely to hit pedestrians while making left turns than left-turning cars. But the North Carolina information showed no major difference between cars and the larger vehicles when it came to injuring pedestrians during right-hand turns.

“We already know that larger vehicles cause more severe injuries when they strike pedestrians,” said Jessica Cicchino, PhD, the institute’s vice president of research. “The link between these vehicle types and certain common pedestrian crashes points to another way that the increase in SUVs on the roads might be changing the crash picture.”

About 6,500 pedestrians were killed by vehicles in 2020, a 59% increase over 2009, the study said. Almost 55,000 pedestrians were injured by vehicles in 2020.

Automakers Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis declined to comment on the study, according to the AP.

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