You're reversing your car into a parking spot when you all of a sudden hear a bang. You just backed into the car parked behind you! You really dented the parked car, where your car just has a scratch on it. The driver of the parked car isn't there and no one is around. You think to yourself, "I'll just leave and no one will be any the wiser."

When it comes to insurance, it's hard to miss the following phrase in the media today — "car insurance rate approval." No doubt you've heard about this, but what does it mean, exactly, and what is car insurance rate approval all about? And, more importantly, how does it impact your auto insurance?

In the upcoming months, our monthly newsletter will cover various common insurance situations that you, as a driver, may face and how to handle them in the most effective way. To get started, let's look at a very common scenario: another driver has hit your car in a parking lot, denting your car.

It's a situation no one wants to live through: you come home from work and the front door is ajar. Inside, you discover your personal items missing, a big mess and it dawns on you — you've been robbed. This is exactly what InsuranceHotline.com account manager Samuel David experienced this past June. In this article, he'll answer the most common questions you'll face if you find yourself in this situation.

No one wants higher insurance rates, which is why making a deal with another driver to not report an accident to your insurance company seems so appealing — but that doesn't mean it's a good move.

Keeping your insurance rate low starts with keeping a clean driving record, which is free of tickets and accidents, and one of the best ways to do that is to practice safe driving habits. With summer finally here, it's especially important to stay smart and aware while on the road. School's out, kids are taking to the streets to play, and it's your duty as a driver to follow good driving practices.