Staying at an Airbnb is a popular lodging alternative to hotels for some travelers.

Whether you’re looking to rent an entire house, apartment or even a treehouse, Airbnb has many different options to choose from. But unlike some hotel chains, Airbnb doesn’t offer its own branded credit card. But there are still some credit cards that can help you maximize your next Airbnb stay.

Let’s take a closer look at our top Airbnb credit card picks.

How we picked these cards

We looked at a wide range of credit cards — including several rewards, cash back and travel credit cards — to find the best credit cards that can help you earn or redeem points for Airbnb stays. We then identified several categories of perks many types of Airbnb users may be interested in when choosing a credit card.

How to make the most of credit cards for Airbnb

It’s a good idea to make sure you understand exactly how your card rewards and benefits work before trying to use them to earn or redeem points for Airbnb stays. Some rewards programs may exclude Airbnb from your benefits or rewards, so it’s best to call your credit card company to double check if you’re unsure.

Remember, the best Airbnb credit card may not be the most obvious choice. A frequent traveler may find that high-annual-fee travel credit cards provide more ongoing value. Or you might prefer a straightforward cash back credit card for long-term value — especially if you don’t have a use for the travel perks and benefits a premium rewards card may offer.

Before adding one of these cards or any other card to your wallet, it’s important to consider your spending habits and lifestyle.

Almost every state requires you to carry car insurance if you want to drive a vehicle — but getting insurance isn’t always a simple process.

Each person has a unique combination of factors influencing their car insurance rates. On top of that, each insurer can evaluate each customer’s risk differently.

So finding the most affordable car insurance policy isn’t as straightforward as getting a single quote — especially if your driving history isn’t great. Drivers with accidents, speeding tickets, DUIs or other negatives on their driving records can face higher rates.

If you fall into this category, you’ll likely need to do more digging to find the most affordable car insurance option. To help you zero-in on some options, here’s a look at our picks for best high-risk car insurance companies.

• FAQs about high-risk auto insurance

FAQs about high-risk auto insurance

You may be able to find a deal buying a used rental car from Enterprise, but you’ll want to consider a number of factors before you make this choice.

New cars often depreciate heavily in the first years of ownership, so purchasing a used car can be a wise financial decision — and rental car company Enterprise sells its used rental vehicles, sometimes at prices lower than other used-car dealerships.

Buying a car from Enterprise may be attractive if you’re looking to save money, but used rental cars have some drawbacks. You don’t know who drove each rental car and how hard renters drove it. This could affect a car’s future longevity and value. As you can imagine, evaluating a used rental car is tricky.

You’ll have to line up auto financing even if the car is a good fit. Enterprise works with lending partners to offer loans, but you should compare any dealership’s offer to private loan quotes you’ve received to find the best deal.

If you think buying a used car from Enterprise may be a good fit, here’s what you should know before getting started.

• Is buying a car from Enterprise a good idea?
• Pros and cons of buying a used car from Enterprise
• How to buy an Enterprise used car
• Which other rental car companies sell their used cars?
• Enterprise auto loans

Is buying a car from Enterprise a good idea?

Used cars are often cheaper than new cars because of the depreciation that occurs over time. Enterprise’s used cars may seem like a good deal on the surface, but pricing may not always be the best around.

CarMax or other used-car dealerships sometimes offer lower prices than Enterprise on comparable models. Like any significant purchase, you should shop around to ensure you’re getting the best price.

Each driver who rents a car may drive it differently, which could result in aggressive use. On the other hand, many rental drivers don’t want to risk rental damage charges and drive vehicles as they would drive their own.

Buying one of Enterprise’s used cars may make sense if you’re looking to save money on a newer vehicle with higher mileage. Someone who drives very little around town may be able to use the car for their needs.

Over time, the high mileage from Enterprise’s rental activity may even out with your low usage. This could bring the car’s mileage in line with other similarly aged vehicles in a few years when you’re ready to sell the car.

Pros and cons of buying a used car from Enterprise

Buying a used car from Enterprise could save money, but there are some drawbacks.

Pros

• Potential lower cost at no haggle pricing — The sticker price you see online is the price you pay, not counting any applicable fees, taxes and other charges.
• Limited powertrain warranty — Get a 12-month/12,000-mile warranty (whichever comes first) on powertrain components.
• Enterprise certified — All vehicles are certified by Enterprise’s ASE-certified technicians before being put up for sale.
• Seven-day return policy — Return the car for any reason within seven days or 1,000 miles, whichever comes first, and receive a full-priced refund minus a $200 restocking fee.

Cons

• Driven by several unknown drivers — You don’t know how each person who rented the car drove it. Someone may have exceeded recommended usage during the break-in period, causing unknown damage.
• Lower resale value due to fleet history — A car owned by a rental company will show up as a fleet vehicle on a Carfax report. This can lower the car’s resale value down the road.
• Selection of cars — The used cars Enterprise sells are the same vehicles used in its fleet. This isn’t a wide range of vehicles from all manufacturers but is instead concentrated within certain brands and models.

How to buy an Enterprise used car

The process of buying an Enterprise used car is relatively straightforward. You can view inventory online or visit a local Enterprise used-car dealership to browse inventory in person. You can look at cars and even schedule a test drive of any vehicle you’re interested in.

Once you’ve decided on a vehicle, you can pay the price in cash, apply for financing through Enterprise or provide your own financing. Enterprise uses no-haggle pricing, so the price you see is the price you pay, plus any applicable fees and taxes. This is like buying a used car at other no-haggle car dealerships.

Which other rental car companies sell their used cars?

While each company has its own methods for disposing of its rental cars after use, there are other rental car companies that sell cars from their fleets.

Hertz

Hertz sells its used rental vehicles with no-haggle pricing and even offers home delivery. Cars come with a seven-day, 250-mile (whichever comes first) buy-back guarantee. Like Enterprise sales, Hertz’s used cars come with a 12-month/12,000-mile limited powertrain warranty.

Avis

Avis sells some of its rental vehicles as Avis-certified preowned cars. Like Enterprise, Avis’s vehicles come with a 12-month/12,000-mile powertrain component warranty and a full year of 24-hour emergency roadside assistance. You can test drive the car for two hours or keep it for two days for as little as $70 per day to see if it’s a good fit before buying.

Enterprise auto loans

Enterprise doesn’t offer direct financing, but it works with Chase to provide Enterprise auto finance loans. Chase owns the loans created through Enterprise transactions.

Enterprise may also work with other lenders but doesn’t disclose this information on its website.

If you’re buying a car from Enterprise, you don’t have to use a loan through an Enterprise partner. You can line up financing before heading to the dealership to make sure you get the best loan terms possible. It’s a good idea to shop around with multiple lenders to find the best rates you can qualify for.

What’s next?

Start looking for cars on the Enterprise website if you’ve decided to buy a rental car through the company. Before you head to the dealership to test drive and purchase a vehicle, get financing quotes and see what loans you’re eligible for.

This offer is no longer available on our site: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Pros

• Solid sign-up bonus
• Travel benefits and perks
• Can redeem points for 20% savings on airfare

Cons

• High annual fee
• Lackluster base rewards rate
• Limited redemption options

What you should know about the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card

Offering a number of upscale perks, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card is a luxury travel rewards card from Bank of America that comes with a hefty $550 annual fee. If you’re considering adding this card to your wallet, here are a few important things to consider.

Decent sign-up bonus

For starters, the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card offers a 75,000-point sign-up bonus after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. Depending on how you redeem your points, this bonus can have a $750 value.

The sign-up bonus could more than make up for the cost of the card’s annual fee in the first year. But remember this bonus is only a one-time offer and you’ll have to spend quite a bit to qualify.

Rewards rates are lackluster

You might expect a credit card with a high annual fee to offer outstanding rewards rates for purchases. But that’s not the case with the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card. It offers just two points per $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points per $1 on all other purchases.

There’s no cap on the number of points you can earn, and points don’t expire. But compared to some other premium travel cards, these rates aren’t that great.

Bonus rewards for Bank of America Preferred Rewards members

If you want to boost your rewards-earning potential by up to 75%, you might want to consider joining Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program. While the program is free to join, you’ll have to have an active Bank of America checking account and retain a combined daily balance of at least $20,000 in a mix of qualifying Bank of America accounts and/or Merrill investment accounts.

Here’s how the requirements and bonus rewards break down for each tier.

• Gold (25% bonus rewards) — $20,000 minimum 3-month combined average daily balance
• Platinum (50% bonus rewards) — $50,000 minimum 3-month combined average daily balance
• Platinum Honors (75% bonus rewards) — $100,000 minimum 3-month combined average daily balance

At first glance, this seems like a potentially lucrative benefit. But keep in mind that qualifying for membership in the Preferred Rewards program may not be easy.

You can earn automatic statement credits

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card offers automatic statement credits that can help offset its high annual fee. Every year, you can receive up to $300 in credits for airline incidentals like seat upgrades, baggage fees, lounge fees and in-flight services.

You’ll also get up to $150 in annual lifestyle convenience credits for things like streaming services, food delivery, fitness subscriptions and rideshare services. You can also get up to $100 in statement credits every four years to help cover application fees for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

There are some travel benefits and perks

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card offers several benefits that can pay off for frequent travelers. With this card, you’ll receive a complimentary Priority Pass Select membership that you can use at participating airport lounges around the globe.

The card also gives you access to a concierge service that can help you find tickets, book travel or make dinner reservations.

The card’s travel protection benefits include …

• Trip delay reimbursement
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
• Reimbursement for delayed bags
• Lost luggage reimbursement
• Emergency evacuation coverage
• Common carrier travel accident insurance
• Primary auto rental collision damage waiver coverage

Other items to note with the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card

Here are a few more things you may want to consider if you’re thinking about applying for this card.

• No points-transfer partners — Points earned can’t be transferred to airline or hotel partner programs.
• No foreign transaction fees — If you plan to use the card to make purchases abroad, it won’t cost you anything extra.
• Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection benefits — Get access to late checkouts, free breakfast daily for two, automatic upgrades and other benefits based on availability.
• Visa Infinite car rental benefits — Enjoy VIP amenities, complimentary status upgrades and discounts with participating car rental companies.

Understanding your points and redemption

You can redeem your points a variety of ways, including statement credits, cash back, travel, experiences or gift cards.

If you redeem your points for airfare booked through the Bank of America Travel Center, they have a value of 1.2 cents.

Who this card is good for

The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Elite credit card may be a good fit people who are Bank of America enthusiasts and are already members of the Premium Rewards program. It might also be a solid choice for frequent travelers who plan to take advantage of some of the card’s travel perks or those who don’t mind booking airfare through the Bank of America Travel Center.

Depending on the perks and rewards you use, other premium travel credit cards could offer more value — especially for such a high annual fee.

Not sure this is the card for you? Consider these alternatives.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: This may be the right card for people who want a premium rewards card that offers flexibility to use points with several travel partner programs.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: This card may better fit the needs of frequent travelers who prefer to use a travel credit on items other than airline incidentals.
• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card: People looking for similar rewards rates without the hefty annual fee may prefer this card.

Electric vehicles (EVs) have been rising in popularity as people look for an alternative to gas-fueled cars.

If you’re considering buying your first electric car, you may be wondering if car insurance works the same for EV cars and gas-fueled cars. While coverage typically works the same way, insurance tends to cost more and isn’t as widely available for EV cars.

In general, insuring an electric car costs more than a traditionally fueled vehicle. Not all car insurance companies offer coverage for electric cars. Here’s more of what you should know about car insurance for EVs before you buy your first electric car.

• Electric car insurance vs. conventional car insurance
• Which companies provide electric vehicle insurance?
• How to save on electric car insurance and other costs
• Benefits of driving EVs
• Next steps

Electric car insurance vs. conventional car insurance

You’d think insuring an electric car would cost about the same as insuring a conventional vehicle. You may be surprised to find out that isn’t usually the case. Typically, insuring an electric car costs more than insuring its traditional counterpart. 

Insurance companies aim to profit from the policies they write. To do so, they must evaluate the costs of insuring a vehicle to price those policies properly. When a newer type of car arrives on the market, insurance companies must account for uncertainties or potentially higher costs. 

For instance, electric cars may have more expensive replacement parts and fewer certified repair facilities. When you add in the fact that EVs usually cost more to buy than a traditional car, it makes sense that EV insurance would likely cost more than typical car insurance. Even though you might save money avoiding the gas station, the increased car insurance cost could eat into your savings.

Which companies provide electric vehicle insurance?

Many major insurers offer EV insurance, including:

• Allstate
• Geico
• Liberty Mutual
• Nationwide
• Progressive
• USAA

Tesla insurance

If you live in a state where Tesla offers Tesla insurance, you can insure your Tesla EV with the company. Tesla owners in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada, Texas and Virginia may qualify through the Tesla app. 

Tesla says its insurance is competitively priced because the company intimately understand its cars and their technology, repair costs and safety record.

Check with Tesla insurance to see if it provides the standard types of auto insurance coverage you’ll need, from liability to collision and comprehensive coverage (Tesla doesn’t list options on its site). Tesla may also offer specialty coverages related to owning an electric car, such as coverage for wall chargers.

How to save on electric car insurance and other costs

When buying a new electric car, look for federal, state and local tax incentives for purchasing an EV. Verify whether your specific car qualifies for a tax incentive, as some manufacturers may no longer qualify after producing a certain number of vehicles.

Saving money on EV car insurance works much the same as saving money on traditional car insurance. By avoiding accidents, claims and driving violations, you’ll help keep your insurance rates down. Keeping your credit on track also can help your credit-based insurance score, which insurers use to help predict how likely you are to file a claim. 

When getting new insurance or considering switching carriers, always get multiple car insurance quotes. Each company may rate the risk of having you as a customer differently, resulting in varying premiums. Make sure to ask for any discounts you may qualify for, including any driver education course or electric vehicle discounts.

Benefits of driving EVs

Electric vehicles may provide many benefits depending on your circumstances. Some people focus on the environmental impact of reduced emissions because these cars don’t burn gasoline to fuel their engines. The electric motors also offer a unique driving experience that could be more fun for some car owners, too.

Drivers may appreciate the cheaper cost to recharge a car’s battery versus refilling a traditional car’s gas tank. These costs vary by area and may change if gas or electricity prices change.

When looking at expense, though, it’s a good idea to get a feel for the cost of gas cars versus electric cars generally.

Next steps

Now that you have a better idea about the cost of EV insurance, if you still want to move forward with an electric vehicle purchase you might want to learn about how to possibly offset some of that expense with electric vehicle tax credits. That could help you save on the purchase cost of your EV. 

Getting your first car is a rite of passage, but it’s one that likely requires you to also get car insurance.

Most states require insurance when owning a car, so getting a policy isn’t something you can put off.  But it’s a relatively straightforward process, once you understand how it works.

Here’s what you need to know about getting your first auto insurance policy.

• Types of car insurance
• Information you’ll need to get an auto insurance quote
• How to get the best auto insurance quotes
• Buying auto insurance for the first time
• Next steps

Types of car insurance

When purchasing car insurance, insurers sometimes give you the option to buy every type of auto insurance they offer, often referred to as “full coverage” — even though there’s no such thing as a standard full coverage auto policy. 

Some of the coverage offered by insurance companies may be required by local laws, while others are optional. Here are the significant types of auto insurance most insurers offer:

• Liability insurance — Liability coverage can pay others to cover the cost of damages you cause to others. This is often broken down into bodily injury and property liability.
• Collision insurance — Collision pays to repair your vehicle if you get in an accident with another car or object.
• Comprehensive insurance — Comprehensive policies pays to repair your car due to causes outside of your control, such as hitting an animal, a hailstorm, fire or theft.
• Personal injury protection insurance — In some states, this coverage pays for your injury costs no matter who is at fault in an accident. This is usually found in no-fault insurance states.
• Uninsured motorist coverage insurance — If another driver is at fault in an accident but does not carry enough insurance to pay your costs, uninsured motorist coverage will cover your costs.

While these are the major types of coverage, you may see others. Insurers often offer roadside assistance, rental coverage, gap insurance and other additional coverages.

Information you’ll need to get an auto insurance quote

To help make getting an insurance quote as painless as possible, it helps to come prepared. Auto insurers may look at many factors that can affect car insurance rates. These may include:

• Location
• Car type
• Credit
• Marital status
• Age
• Gender
• Occupation
• Education
• Driving habits and history
• Coverage types, amounts, and deductibles
• Discounts you qualify for

Insurance companies need information to give you an accurate quote. When getting car insurance quotes, be prepared with the following details to speed up the process.

• Name
• Date of birth
• Social Security Number
• Driver’s license number
• Contact information
• Occupation
• Marital status
• Education history, including grades if still in school
• Driving history, including any information about recent accidents or driving violations
• Auto insurance history
• Make, model, year and vehicle identification number (VIN) of the car you’re insuring
• Date of purchase and registered owner of the vehicle
• Driver education courses completed
• A rough idea of the coverage limits and deductibles you want

How to get the best auto insurance quotes

Once you’ve gathered the necessary information, you’ll likely want to know how to get the best car insurance quotes. Each company may calculate premiums differently. Some specialize in insuring certain types of cars, too.

You may be able to get quotes directly from insurers through an agent in-person, over the phone or online. Or you can work with third parties, such as comparison sites or brokers, which may give you several quotes at once. 

Some insurance companies give discounts if you get quotes directly from the company’s website instead of with a local agent or by calling a phone center. This makes sense because a website quote doesn’t involve human work that companies need to pay for. 

Here are some tips to help you find the best quote for your situation.

Don’t settle for just one quote

Plenty of car insurance companies exist, so getting a handful of quotes shouldn’t be an issue. When you get multiple quotes, you’ll get an idea of different insurance options and the range of costs that might be available to you.

Don’t automatically assume you should stick with your parents’ auto insurer. You likely have a very different risk profile than your parents, which may mean another insurer could offer better rates. If you want help speeding up this process, using an auto insurance comparison tool could help.

Find out how much coverage is right for you

Making sure the insurance you purchase meets the minimum requirements for your state is a must. And people with a car loan may be required to purchase full coverage.

Car insurers should verify what’s required for your situation, but double-checking on your own is a good idea, too.

Most states require liability insurance to cover damage to others’ bodies or property. In some states, personal injury protection coverage may take the place of bodily injury liability coverage. These minimum requirements may allow you to legally drive in your state.

Still, a severe accident could leave you liable for much more than what a minimum policy would cover.

If you want your insurance company to pay to repair your car if you get in an accident, for example, collision coverage is essential. Similarly, you want comprehensive coverage if you want your insurer to reimburse you if your vehicle is stolen.  

Take advantage of discounts

When shopping for insurance, always ask what discounts are available and what you may qualify for. Discounts lower the price of your policy, sometimes significantly, and may include:

• Safe driver discount
• Student discount
• New car discount
• Bundling discount for combining several policies with one insurer
• Driver education discount
• Affiliated organization discounts

Maintain good credit

Insurers may use information from your credit history to develop a credit-based insurance score. 

In general, insurers interpret positive credit activity as a sign of lower risk. Your insurer may offer lower rates to people who have better credit-based insurance scores — If you’re in a state that allows this practice.

Buying auto insurance for the first time

Let’s recap some tips that can help make the first-time auto insurance purchasing process go smoothly.

• Compare quotes: Look at quotes from different companies that offer the same types of coverage, comparing coverage amounts, deductibles and other details.
• Get a legal policy: Verify that the insurance meets your state’s minimum insurance requirements.
• Fits your situation: For example, you might want an insurer that discounts student drivers with good grades.
• Identify wants and needs: To help you stick to your budget, define what insurance you must have and what you’d like on top of that before shopping.
• Look at the entire policy: An insurer may excel in one area and not another. Make sure you’re not sacrificing anything important. 

Next steps

If you’re moving forward with getting car insurance for the first time, you can start by getting quotes from multiple insurers, a broker or a comparison website based on the car you plan to purchase. 
Comparing policies will help you choose the policy that makes the most sense for your situation. Check out these cheap car insurance tips if you need help finding an affordable option.

This offer is no longer available on our site: Upgrade Cash Rewards Elite Visa®

What you need to know about the unconventional Upgrade Cash Rewards Elite Visa®

The Upgrade Cash Rewards Elite Visa® card isn’t a traditional credit card. Instead, it functions like a revolving line of credit. You’ll be billed in equal installments with a fixed APR. Plus, you can earn cash back every time you make a payment.

Take note: While Upgrade offers other cards on its website, you may not be to apply for this particular card outside of sites like Credit Karma.

Who this card is good for

The Upgrade Cash Rewards Elite Visa® card may be a good fit for people who want a potentially high credit line with the ability to earn a strong cash back rate and a predictable payment schedule.

But remember that this is not a traditional credit card. So if you’re looking to earn on purchases, not payments, or you want to earn other rewards like points and miles, you may want to consider a more traditional credit card.

This offer is no longer available on our site: Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa®

The Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa® is no longer available. For an alternative, check out our review of the Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa®.

Pros

• Earns bitcoin rewards
• Fixed monthly payments

Cons

• Not a traditional credit card
• Bitcoin rewards are restricted
• Rewards not earned at time of purchase

What you need to know about the Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa®

The Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa® is actually a revolving line of credit. Similar to a personal loan, with this card you’ll have a fixed interest rate and pay off your purchases with a predictable, fixed monthly payment over time.

Let’s take a closer look at some of this card’s important features.

Earns bitcoin rewards

With this card, you can earn unlimited 1.5% bitcoin rewards on purchases. Some rewards credit cards allow you to earn rewards at the time of purchase, but with the Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa® you’ll only earn your cryptocurrency rewards when you make a payment on your balance. If you apply for the card through Credit Karma, you might see different rewards offers.

While earning bitcoin rewards may be appealing to some people who are interested in investing in cryptocurrency, there are some restrictions around the bitcoin rewards you can earn:

• Bitcoin rewards are held by a third party, NYDIG, meaning you won’t be able to transfer your bitcoin into a separate wallet.
• You can sell the bitcoin and get a statement credit, but all sales are subject to a 1.5% transaction fee.

Potential for lower APR

Purchase APRs for the Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa® range from 14.99% - 29.99%, with the lowest rates requiring cardholders to sign up for autopay. The APR you’ll receive depends on several factors, including your credit history. Lines of credit range from $500 to $50,000, but most people have limits under $25,000.

And if you want to see what rate and limit you may qualify for before submitting a formal application, you can apply for prequalification without affecting your credit score.

Other things to consider about the Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa® card

• Potential sign-up bonus — You can earn a $200 bitcoin bonus if you open and fund an Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus account and make three debit card transactions within 60 days of account opening. You may see different offers on Credit Karma.
• Not available in all states — The Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa® card isn’t available for application in every state, so check your eligibility before you submit an application.

Who this card is good for

If you’re into cryptocurrency and looking for a way to earn bitcoin rewards with everyday credit card purchases, this card could be an interesting choice. And if the bitcoin you earn appreciates, you could benefit even more over time.

But in reality, the potential amount of bitcoin you can earn, though unlimited, may not amount to much thanks to a low rewards rate, plus the transaction fees you’ll get hit with. If you’re looking for a more reliable way to earn cash back — that you can even opt to invest in bitcoin on your own terms — you may want to consider a more traditional cash back rewards card.

Common question: How long has Wawanesa Insurance been in business?

Wawanesa Insurance was created in 1896 in Wawanesa, Manitoba, Canada, as a farmer’s mutual insurance carrier. Wawanesa started offering insurance in the United States in California in 1974.

Common question: How do I get in contact with Wawanesa Insurance?

You can reach Wawanesa’s customer service department by calling 1-800-640-2920. New customers can email insure.us@wawanesa.com. Existing customers can email service.us@wawanesa.com. If you need to make a claim, call 1-888-929-2252.

Editors’ take: AIS could work for those interested in comparing rates and coverages from top auto insurers. But if you’re looking to pursue an insurance company directly or want to take advantage of specific bundling opportunities, AIS might not be the best choice for you.

AIS auto insurance at a glance

Auto Insurance Specialists (or AIS) isn’t an auto insurance company. Instead, they help you get quotes from insurance companies to help you find the best option for your situation.

What you need to know about AIS auto insurance

AIS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mercury Casualty Company and was founded in 1968 in California.

Provides quotes from a range of companies

AIS provides quotes from companies that may fit your auto insurance needs.

Doesn’t provide quotes from all insurance companies

AIS doesn’t work with all auto insurers. You may find a better deal from an insurer that AIS doesn’t partner with.

Auto coverage offered by AIS

AIS doesn’t offer auto insurance policies directly but instead connects you with insurers that may provide coverage, including auto, motorcycle and classic car insurance coverage.

When you take out a mortgage on a home, the lender is legally required to give you a Closing Disclosure at least three business days before you close on the loan.

This document provides essential information about your home loan. If something in the document is incorrect, there could be delays in closing.

You may be wondering what information is on a Closing Disclosure and how you can check it for errors. Thankfully, the document is standardized, which makes it straightforward to understand. Here’s what you need to know.

1. What is the Closing Disclosure form?
2. Is a Closing Disclosure the same as a Loan Estimate?
3. Checking your Closing Disclosure for errors
4. What’s next? Does a Closing Disclosure mean you are clear to close?

1. What is the Closing Disclosure form?

The Closing Disclosure form replaced the Truth in Lending disclosure and HUD-1 Settlement Statement in 2015. The five-page Closing Disclosure form includes the final financial details about the mortgage you’re taking out to close on your home.

It includes a long list of information that you need to verify as quickly as possible to avoid delays in your closing date. If any information is incorrect, the document will need to be corrected. The Closing Disclosure must be provided to you at least three business days before closing. Last-minute changes to the form could result in a delay to your closing date.

2. Is a Closing Disclosure the same as a Loan Estimate?

A Closing Disclosure is not a Loan Estimate. Lenders provide a Loan Estimate after you apply for a mortgage to give you an estimated cost to close your mortgage loan. Some of the numbers in a Loan Estimate are likely to change before you close on your home.

You can compare the information on your Loan Estimate to your Closing Disclosure to see how close the estimate was and to see if certain costs exceeded the stated amounts. That said, some costs are out of the mortgage company’s control and may not match the amounts on the Loan Estimate.

3. Checking your Closing Disclosure for errors

Once you receive your Closing Disclosure, it’s vital to review the document line by line. Verify that all numbers and terms are exactly as you expected them to be. While every bit of information on the form is important, here are a few items you may want to pay special attention to.

• Your name: Check the spelling and make sure it appears exactly as you prefer.
• Loan information: Verify that your loan term, purpose, product type and loan type are correct.
• Loan terms: Verify that the loan terms — including the loan amount and interest rate — are what you agreed to.
• Prepayment penalties: Make sure this part of your Closing Disclosure properly states whether you have a prepayment penalty.
• Balloon payments: Make sure this part of your Closing Disclosure correctly states whether your loan has a balloon payment.
• Estimated total monthly payment: Your total monthly payment includes principal and interest payments and may also include mortgage insurance and escrow amounts. Make sure these amounts are what you expected.
• Costs at closing: Understand the total closing costs, detailed on Page 2, that you have to pay. Also verify that all amounts are what was agreed upon or are calculated correctly.
• Services you did not shop for: Compare these loan costs to your Loan Estimate to make sure no new fees were added and that the costs are similar to those detailed in the Loan Estimate.
• Seller credits: If a seller agreed to provide a credit, ensure the amount is what was agreed upon in the contract.
• Escrow account: Verify your loan has an escrow account if you agreed to have one and that the information listed matches the costs you expected to see.

It can help to compare the numbers on your Closing Disclosure to your Loan Estimate. This can help you ensure that your lender didn’t exceed any costs that cannot change.

Unfortunately, errors may occur on the Closing Disclosure form — that’s why you need to review it. If you do find an error, your lender should provide a new Closing Disclosure form that would restart the three-day period. This could delay your closing date.

4. What’s next: Does a Closing Disclosure mean you are clear to close?

A Closing Disclosure is not technically the same as being declared clear to close, but the disclosure typically comes after you have been cleared. After reviewing your Closing Disclosure, you can look forward to a final walkthrough of the home and closing day itself. Receiving your Closing Disclosure basically indicates you’re almost there, but not quite done with the mortgage process.

Your loan officer may check your credit again before the mortgage closes. Any drastic changes in your reports could result in a delay of your closing date or worse. Getting your Closing Disclosure does not mean you are “bulletproof” before closing. For example, you should probably avoid maxing out your credit cards or opening new lines of credit, which could damage your credit scores on the way to closing day.

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