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Nov 26, 2024 | 
bankrate.com | Brian Robson |Maggie Kempken
The first floor of Susan Rall’s home in St. Petersburg, Florida, was flooded with two feet of water from the storm surge caused by Hurricane Helene in late September, even though she’s two streets away from the ocean. Everything she couldn’t carry to the second floor was destroyed, she says. It’s now piled on the side of the street in front of her townhouse condominium, including antique furniture and a $3,000 leather couch, along with the waterlogged belongings of her neighbors.
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Nov 6, 2024 | 
bankrate.com | R.E. Hawley |Maggie Kempken
For generations of American teens, getting a driver’s license has been an important rite of passage. But for Gen Z, the thrill may be wearing off. Amy K. lives in metro Atlanta with her husband and two sons, aged 19 and 24. Both of her sons put off getting their driver’s license well past age 16, the earliest age at which teens in Georgia can move from a learner’s permit to an intermediate license. “When I asked around,” she says, “it didn’t seem to be as weird as I would have thought it was.
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Oct 9, 2024 | 
bankrate.com | Joshua Cox-Steib |Maggie Kempken |Mark Friedlander
A car insurance premium is money you pay to your insurance company in exchange for an active insurance policy. Car insurance providers calculate personalized premiums based on your risk of filing a claim, considering factors like your driving profile, vehicle, location and more. Shopping for quotes, applying for discounts and adjusting your coverage are some of the ways you can reduce your car insurance premium.
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Oct 7, 2024 | 
bankrate.com | AJ Dellinger |Maggie Kempken |Mark Friedlander
Self-insurance is not allowed for all types of liability insurance. While self-insurance could save you money in the short term, it may be an expensive long-term plan if you cause an accident. This type of insurance plan is only viable for someone with a lot of available liquid assets. Most people rely on an insurance company to protect their finances in the event of damage to their property.
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Oct 2, 2024 | 
bankrate.com | Elizabeth Rivelli |Maggie Kempken
With insurance costs increasing almost everywhere, more drivers than ever are looking for budget car insurance. Although insurance premiums vary by company, most insurers look at personal factors to set your rates. Bankrate’s insurance editorial team explains these factors and offers strategies that could help you improve factors you have control over so you can get the right insurance policy at a price that won’t break the bank.
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Sep 25, 2024 | 
bankrate.com | Natalie Todoroff |Maggie Kempken |Mark Friedlander
Your home insurance claim payout may be either a full or a partial payout, depending on the nature of the damage and your carrier’s policies. Filing a property insurance claim may increase your annual premium, but returning an unused partial claims payout won’t help return your homeowners insurance premium to its original rate. If you receive an overpayment from your insurance company, it’s likely best to contact them to determine the best course of action.
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Sep 19, 2024 | 
bankrate.com | Jessica Gibson |Maggie Kempken |Mark Friedlander
Written by Edited by Reviewed by How is this page expert verified? At Bankrate, we take the accuracy of our content seriously. “Expert verified” means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Their reviews hold us accountable for publishing high-quality and trustworthy content.
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Sep 13, 2024 | 
bankrate.com | Joshua Cox-Steib |Maggie Kempken
If you live in the state of New York and have a history of traffic violations or accidents, you may be considered a high-risk driver. Bankrate defines a high-risk driver as someone with at least one speeding ticket conviction, at-fault accident or DUI conviction on their motor vehicle record. Drivers with poor driving records are more likely to file claims. To compensate for the added risk, insurers tend to charge these drivers higher car insurance premiums.
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Sep 10, 2024 | 
bankrate.com | Mary Van Keuren |Maggie Kempken
While it’s not technically illegal to drive barefoot in a car, the practice can be unsafe. In some states, drivers may be fined if driving barefoot contributes to an accident. Open-toed shoes like flip-flops are often considered less safe than flat, close-toed shoes when driving. Why is it illegal to drive barefoot? Well, despite what your parents told you when you were a teenager, it’s not. No state in the U.S. has a law that explicitly outlaws driving with your shoes off.
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Sep 5, 2024 | 
bankrate.com | Shannon Martin |Maggie Kempken |Mark Friedlander
Our writers and editors used an in-house natural language generation platform to assist with portions of this article, allowing them to focus on adding information that is uniquely helpful. The article was reviewed, fact-checked and edited by our editorial staff prior to publication. Comprehensive insurance is an optional coverage that will generally help cover vandalism claims.
