An extended car warranty is a service contract that drivers can purchase in order to pay for repairs to a vehicle’s major systems, including the transmission and engine. The best extended car warranty companies are Carchex and autopom!, but drivers can also purchase warranties directly from vehicle manufacturers. Extended warranty providers often offer multiple levels of coverage that include benefits such as towing services, rental car coverage, and travel insurance.

Extended Car Warranty Key Takeaways

• The average cost of an extended car warranty is $1,500, but the price can be as high as $3,000.
• Extended car warranties are only worth the money if your car is unreliable and you don’t have the financial resources to pay for mechanical repairs.
• The best extended car warranty companies are Carchex, autopom!, and Endurance.
• You cannot use an extended car warranty until the original manufacturer’s warranty expires.
• Extended car warranties do not cover regular maintenance, damage caused by normal wear and tear, or damage caused by a lack of maintenance.

The difference between liability and full coverage insurance is that liability insurance only covers other people’s injuries and vehicle damage, while full coverage also covers your own vehicle. Liability insurance is required in most states, while full coverage is only required if you lease or finance a car.

Key Things to Know About Liability vs. Full Coverage Car Insurance

• Full coverage car insurance costs an average of $1,997 per year.
• Liability car insurance costs an average of $720 per year.
• Full coverage includes collision and comprehensive insurance, while liability coverage does not.
• With liability-only insurance, you’ll be on the hook for your own expenses after an accident.
• You should purchase full coverage insurance if you can afford it.

“Full coverage” insurance is a car insurance term used to describe a policy that includes collision and comprehensive coverage, in addition to the bodily injury and property damage liability coverage required by law. Full-coverage car insurance covers the policyholder’s injuries and vehicle damage, not just the other driver.

The term full coverage is commonly used by consumers. However, it does not have an official definition within the insurance industry. That’s why you may come across a few different variations of what it includes.

The most important things to do after a car accident are to stay calm, call 911 if anyone is seriously injured and keep everyone away from oncoming traffic. Once everyone is safe, you should gather information for an insurance claim, including the other driver’s insurance information, witness contact details, and photos and notes related to the accident.

Key Things to Do After a Car Accident 

1. Call the police if there are injuries or property damage beyond a certain value.
2. Don’t immediately admit fault or agree not to file an insurance claim.
3. Exchange insurance information with any other drivers involved, even if it’s just a minor fender bender.
4. Contact your insurance company.

EDITOR’S RATING

2.9 / 5

PROS

• Nationwide network of independent insurance agents.
• Online claims process.
• Discount for teen drivers.

CONS

• High number of customer complaints.
• Must purchase policies/make changes through an independent agent.
• Rideshare coverage not nationwide.

Safeco is an above-average insurance company overall, earning a rating of 2.9/5 from WalletHub and solid scores from organizations such as J.D. Power and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Safeco scores well when it comes to the types of insurance options it offers as well as its claims process, financial stability and transparency. But it compares poorly to the competition when it comes to discounts offered, customer service and cost.

Most credit card terms are subject to change.  That includes interest rates for various types of account balances, which fluctuate due to the economic climate, issuer profit margins, customer performance, and a host of other factors.

It’s important to note, however, that interest rate changes are a two-way street:  rates can rise under certain circumstances, but they can fall as well.  So whether your debt is becoming more expensive or you simply believe that you deserve a lower rate than you were originally approved for, you do indeed have options for garnering a rate reduction at your disposal.

Subrogation is the process that allows a car insurance company to collect money from the at-fault driver’s insurer for expenses paid after an accident. Subrogation makes it possible for drivers to receive claims payouts before the insurance companies agree on who was at-fault, which can take months. The at-fault driver’s insurance will ultimately cover the cost.

Key Takeaways About Subrogation

• The definition of “subrogation” is the legal right of one party to collect damages or debt originally owed to another entity by a third party.
• Car insurance subrogation allows the at-fault driver’s insurance company to compensate the other driver’s insurance company for any claims they paid.
• Policyholders benefit from subrogation, since it keeps premiums low for good drivers and helps insurance companies pay claims quickly.
• A waiver of subrogation is an agreement not to collect funds from the at-fault party. Drivers should always consult their insurance company before signing one.

The U.S. is making significant progress in the fight against COVID-19 with the distribution of the vaccine, and this has been reflected in the job market, with new unemployment claims decreasing week-over-week on April 12. There are currently 9.7 million Americans unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in total, though, so it’s important to look at some key stats for the latest week to get the full picture:

• There were 547,000 new unemployment claims nationwide, which is a lot fewer than the 6.1 million during the peak of the pandemic (a 91% reduction).
• The good news is that every state had unemployment claims last week that were better than the same week last year.
• The following states had unemployment claims last week that were lower than before the pandemic: New Jersey and Connecticut.

To identify which states’ workforces are experiencing the quickest recovery from COVID-19, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on changes in unemployment claims for several key benchmark weeks.

Yes, you need a credit card. You may need a credit card to complete certain transactions, such as booking hotel rooms and rental cars at some locations, and credit cards are an essential part of building a good credit score. You don’t even need to make any purchases with a credit card to benefit, as simply keeping an open credit card account in good standing is enough to build credit. In addition, you need a credit card if you want to have the best protection against fraud and theft.

Despite the fact that fraudulent losses amount to only $0.05 per $100 in credit and debit card transactions, consumers have an obvious and increasing fear of fraud – particularly the digital variety. Identity theft and hacking are actually Americans’ two biggest fears, according to a recent Gallup poll, reflecting the toll recent data breaches have taken on our cultural psyche.

Fear of fraud has unfortunately been known to influence consumer banking and spending habits, often dictating which payment vehicles we use and, in extreme cases, fostering a debilitating level of paranoia that makes operating within the modern banking system impossible. But is it really something we need to worry about? And, if so, how worried should we be?