If you are in an accident or your car breaks down, safety should be your first concern. Getting out of the car at a busy intersection or on a highway to change a tire or check damage from a fender bender is probably one of the worst things you can do. The Insurance Information Institute recommends the following precautions when your car breaks down:

The more safely built the car you buy, the better the chances of your surviving an accident. Protect yourself and your passengers by understanding the factors that make a car safe and making your purchase accordingly.

After an automobile accident, you want to make sure that you are adequately paid for the repair or for the value of your totaled car. Here's how.

Your driving record is taken into account when you get your auto policy—the more driving risk you've demonstrated in the past, the more you might have to pay for your auto insurance premiums. So it makes sense that your insurer might re-evaluate your rates after claims or other driving incidents (such as moving violations) that are primarily your fault.

Accidents and auto insurance premiums

When it comes to evaluating your driving record for the purposes of reassessing your insurance rates, practices vary from company to company.

If you've filed an insurance claim filed an auto insurance claim but are not satisfied with the result, there are a number of actions you can take towards getting a resolution.

If you rely on your car, rental reimbursement is an inexpensive and invaluable option that you'll want to consider adding to your auto insurance policy.

On average, a car is in the repair shop for two weeks after an accident and renting a replacement vehicle for that amount of time can be costly. Many insured drivers are surprised to find out that their auto insurance does not automatically cover the cost of their rental because they've overlooked the policy option known as rental reimbursement.

1. Call your insurance professional as soon as possible — even from the scene of the accident—regardless of who is at fault. Even if the accident appears minor, it’s important to let your insurance company know about the incident and to find out whether your auto insurance policy covers you for the particular loss.

What is umbrella insurance?

Often referred to as excess liability coverage, umbrella insurance is a type of personal liability insurance that provides an additional layer of coverage beyond what standard homeowners, auto, or other vehicle coverage might provide.

An umbrella policy kicks in when you reach the limit on the underlying liability coverage for these policies. It may also cover risks that those policies often do not, such as libel or slander.

Auto insurance is mandated nearly everywhere in the United States. But it can be hard to get a policy if you have a poor driving record or are seen as a high risk for other reasons. This information will help you find coverage.

In order to obtain a price for an auto policy you'll need to provide your insurance professional with the following information.

About the car

For each car you want to insure, know: