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How To Decide Whether It Is Worth Claiming On Your Car Insurance

2007-07-07T05:02:00.003-07:00

Car insurance is an essential part of motoring - it's a legal requirement for any driver in the UK. At the very least every driver is expected to have third party insurance that covers injuries to others (including passengers) and damage to other people's property. A claim situation would only arise as a claim against you by a third party.

While this is the minimum amount of cover the law expects of you, it doesn't cover very much – for example, if your car is in an accident and gets written off, you would lose the value of your car.

The next step up is third party, fire and theft - essentially the same as third party but with additional cover if your vehicle is set on fire or stolen. This cover would not cover you for the any personal possessions or extras that you have added to the car.

The most popular cover is fully comprehensive cover – which covers the owner in the event of causing damage to a third party, in the event of fire and theft as well as damage to one's car and the damage, and also the loss or theft of any goods from within the car.

The first step to consider when making any kind of claim on your car insurance is what's covered? Not only does the type of policy dictate the nature of your claim but also the specific details of the policy.

For example, does your insurance include replacement locks? Can you claim for personal possessions and if so what items are covered and to what value?

It's worth noting that many people these days have home contents insurance which covers items carried in your car – check the difference in policy to see which insurance policy is more cost effective to claim with.

There are two primary factors to consider when making a claim – your excess charge and your no-claims bonus.

- Excess

The excess charge is how much you are willing to pay in the event of an accident. Your insurance provider may set a compulsory excess charge or the excess charge may be voluntary – whichever the case, the golden rule is the more excess you are willing to pay the lower your premium.

The excess charge can be a major deciding factor in whether to make a claim or not.

For example, if you agree to paying an excess of £200 that means that if you have an accident that costs £400 to repair your vehicle, you pay £200 and the insurance company pays £200. If your claim is less than £200 then the insurance company will not pay anything.

So, as long as the claim is more than the excess you should make a claim, right?

Not necessarily – that brings us on to our next major factor:

- No claims bonus

To some people the thought of losing their no-claims bonus is the stuff of nightmares. It's no surprise – some no claims bonus policies can save you 65% on your premium if you have five years or more of no claims.

The particular details of your no-claims bonus vary from policy to policy – with some there is no quarter: if you make a claim, you lose your bonus. With others there is a system of "three strikes and you're out" whereby you are allowed to make two claims within a certain time period but a third would result in your losing your bonus.

There are also protected no claims bonus policies where you can pay an extra premium to protect your no claims bonus so even if you have to make a claim you save money.

Far from being straightforward, making a claim can become a careful balancing act of costs. To make the right decision you need to weigh up, not just the cost of the claim but the effect that claim will have on your premium.

Car Insurance Quotes Online - Making Huge Savings While Using Your Time Creatively

2007-07-07T05:02:00.001-07:00

If you shop well, you'll realize huge savings in your car insurance. However, if you master the act, you'll both save much and still use your time in other creative activities. I've had the privilege of getting a difference of over $2,000 on a comparable car insurance policy (That's not a typo error!). And, the best part is that it took less than five minutes. Here's how you too can do it...

First know exactly what you need, not what you want. It's not as if doing the contrary will keep you from making savings. But since car insurance is about getting quality coverage from risk, that purpose will be defeated if you just go for whatever sounds good. Furthermore, you could be opting for a policy you really don't need.

Once you've decided on the policy that's best for you. Take out just a few minutes to visit online car insurance quotes sites. They offer you a great research option. And best of all, they'll only cost you 5 minutes. For these five minutes, you'll get up to five car insurance quotes from "A" rated companies. The rating of these companies is really important as you do not want to get involved with an insurance company that won't be there when you need it most.

If you want to push the envelop, take your time to visit at least 3 of these car insurance quotes sites. All it will take you is a total of less than 15 minutes. Thereafter, compare all the quotes you have for the best price/value. Remember, the cheapest may not simply be the best for you. The best price/value is what you should go for.

If you consider that this little exercise has saved someone over $2,000, you'll understand why I'm so excited about this and why you should too. Yes, you may not make anything close to that amount in savings. But, tell me, isn't $200 savings enough motivation to get your car insurance quotes now?

5 Important Tips for Insuring Your Luxury Sports Car

2007-07-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

You've done it! You bought your dream car. But did you consider insurance before you bought it? That beauty has a roaring engine. The finish gleams. The tires squeal. It's a real eye catcher. But its also likely to catch the eye of a thief, too. That's why you need insurance. Not just any insurance. Insurance that’s specific to the kind of luxury or sports car you now own. Here are 5 of the most important tips you need to know to properly insure your luxury car.

1. Find the right insurer. Not every insurance company will sell you insurance for your luxury car. Finding an insurer for a 2007 BMW 335i Coupe, Maserati or a Rolls Royce isn’t as easy as finding one for that Ford Echo. The dealer who sold you the car can recommend insurance agents or you can look in publications like Hemming's Motor News, Car and Driver or search online for specialty brokers. Expect rates run 15-20% above non-sports or luxury models. Remember, much of your insurance is calculated on replacement value and repair costs.

2. Decide whether you’re a daily driver or a “Saturday Nighter.” You must tell potential insurers an accurate estimate of their annual mileage. If you just take your baby out on sunny summer Sundays for a drive in the country or to cruise one Saturday nights, you can save big on insurance because of the low miles driven. Under 5,000 miles is usually the limit.

3. Join the club! Consider becoming a member of the owner’s club for your model or auto maker. Club members are always willing to share tips about such things as upkeep, special problems and maintenance as well as sources of parts and even insurers.

4. Ask For discount auto insurance. Beyond anything else, ask the insurance company what memberships you could belong to or what you could add to the car (a security system generally helps) to get the best coverage at the lowest price. Package insurance products for your home or other cars together with your sports car. You could see the costs fall in total.

5. Don’t forget to tell your insurer about that $5000 audio system or other expensive after market accessories that you’ve added on. They might not like that nitrous oxide super charger, but if you don’t disclose it, it may not be covered in a claim. Getting the best coverage for your luxury or sports car is a must. Use these tips to help you to protect that beauty so you can feel the wind in your face and just enjoy the scenery.

Car Insurance Rates - What Can A Teenager Do To Lower Rates?

2007-07-07T04:59:00.000-07:00

Teenagers are more likely to have a car accident more than all other age groups combined. Several things have combined to make this so. First, they are inexperienced drivers and so are not likely to have the best response in a given situation. Furthermore, there's a certain level of recklessness that's part of youthfulness. All these make their insurance premiums higher than every other age group. Is there anything they can do to lower their insurance premiums? Yes, here they are...

1) Register their car in their parents' name and be on their policy. However, since this will mean less "independence' most teenagers may not really like this.

2) Take lessons in defensive driving from a school approved by the state. Defensive driving equips a driver to respond better to situations on the road. Defensive drivers are far less likely to be involved in an accident. This is so because they are not only trained to drive their own cars, they are also trained to "drive" the cars around them. By this I mean they are trained to anticipate the worst from drivers around them and make room for themselves.

3) Use specialized insurance companies. Yes, there are insurance companies that will bill a teenager less provided they adhere to certain provisions stipulated by the insurance company.

4) Buy cars that don't fall into the "expensive to insure" category of cars. This is very important: Nothing could be worse than having a teenager get a car insurance policy for a sports car.

5) Use car insurance quotes and comparison sites to locate insurance companies that are most favorably disposed to your profile. Insurance companies that are specialized in providing car insurance coverage to teenagers will likely offer you reduced rates. Certain terms usually apply.

Auto Insurance - The Age Factor

2007-07-07T04:52:00.000-07:00

Your age can be a big problem in auto insurance. It could also be a great advantage. Whichever group you fall into, there's a way for you to make the most remarkable savings in your auto insurance premium. Unless you've taken time to research and study this subject, you will certainly pick one or two tips that will help you reduce your auto insurance premium.

If you're above fifty-five, thank your stars. You've entered the hallowed zone in auto insurance. If you don't get pampered by an auto insurance provider now, you never will. This is because you belong to an age group that has a high reputation of road safety. Just think of it -- Would you expect a man with a college age kid to go making reckless turns on the road? He has way too much at stake to joke behind wheels. Furthermore, unlike his much more older compatriots (those above 65), the effects of old age on driving hasn't yet caught up with him. However, a poor driving history wipes out all such benefits that should have accrued to you. So keeping a clean slate still counts despite your age group.

How about those who find themselves at the other end of the spectrum -- The highest risk age group? There are several options open to you. You can get married if you are old enough and it makes sense in your circumstance. I'm not kidding here. Marriage does reduce the perception of risk auto insurance providers have of you.

Let me get a little deeper into this. If you're under-25, you're considered a very high risk as far as auto insurance is concerned. Yes, if you're in your early twenties you'll be better off than a teenager. However, you still are a high risk group. But once you get married, a lot of auto insurance providers begin to see you in a whole new light. They consider you less reckless and more responsible. This reflects on your auto insurance premium.

Come to think of it yourself. It certainly takes a lot for a guy to settle down when he could be playing around. That shows a lot of stability. Such stability affects your driving. This makes you less likely to have an accident and thus reduces the likelihood of a claim. And you know that the lower the chances that you'll make a claim, the lower your auto insurance premium.

Another thing you can do as an under-25 is to be on your parent's auto insurance policy.

This isn't certainly going to go down well with many young folks. They'll have to give up a lot of their independence as they have to be resident with their parents and have their car registered in their names to take advantage of this option.

Age is just one of many factors used in calculating your auto insurance rate. And, add to that the fact that different insurance companies albeit using the same factors, score them differently. This means that given the same profile, you'll get different quotes from different auto insurance companies (I've seen a difference of over $2000). So how do you use this to your advantage? Go to as many auto insurance quotes sites as you can. For just five minutes of your time, you'll get quotes from around five A rated auto insurance providers.

Car Insurance - How to Compare Rates From Multiple Companies Instantly

2007-07-02T05:11:00.001-07:00

The reason we compare car insurance quotes from multiple car insurance companies is to make sure we‘re getting the best rates possible. Of course nobody wants to pay more money than they have to, but in the other hand we also want to make sure that our car insurance company is going to respond quickly and fairly in case of an accident.

What is unknown to many is that there is not one single car insurance company that is cheaper than others. One particular car insurance company can be the cheapest for one person but the most expensive for another. Each car insurance company has a certain category of drivers they want to insure. If you fit their category they will offer you a cheap rate, if you don’t, they will offer you an expensive rate. That is their way of filtering the people they want and do not want to insure. That is the reason we need to compare insurance rates from multiple car insurance companies, to find out which company will offer us the cheapest rate. The key is to find the company that offers the cheapest rate for you, but of course, it is important to compare rates from quality companies only.

There are many quality car insurance companies out there; however, some of those quality companies also have a high price to go along with them. How do we find a quality company for a cheap price? That, my friend, is the key question.

The traditional method of shopping for car insurance is to call around which we all know can be a long process. Another drawback of shopping for car insurance by phone is the probability of getting caught with the old “bait and hook” trick. That is when someone gives you a low quote by phone and hikes it up on you when you go into their office to purchase the car insurance policy.

In today’s world, luckily, we have the internet. The internet makes life a lot easier for all of us. Using the internet, we can shop for many types of things we may need which include shopping for car insurance.

The Benefits of Comprehensive Car Insurance

2007-07-02T05:10:00.000-07:00

In the United States, every car that is driven on public roads, highways or freeways need to have car insurance. There are countless car insurance options available to drivers. Each insurance coverage offers something that adds benefit and protection to the car driving public. One such motor vehicle insurance policy is Physical Damage Coverage otherwise known as comprehensive car insurance. There are many benefits in purchasing a comprehensive car insurance policy for your motor vehicle and we will examine some of the better benefits to owning comprehensive car insurance.

Imagine you park your brand new BMW and head off to a restaurant to enjoy a nice dinner. When you come outside you notice your car is not in the same place that you left it. This is a scenario that happens to countless people daily in the United States. In a case like this, if you have comprehensive insurance you can set your mind at ease as your car would be covered in the event of theft. This allows you to replace on of your prized possessions without having to purchase a brand new car. Many people have insurance coverage’s that do not cover theft. In their case, they have to replace the car with their own out of pocket expense.

Acts of God can strike at anytime and comprehensive insurance is the best form of insurance to have in the case these acts so happen to come and damage or destroy your motor vehicle. You can have your car parked at your house and depending on your geographic region, a storm, flood or hurricane could come and destroy your car. With comprehensive insurance coverage you can have peace of mind that the insurance company will repair or replace your car, as you are insured. Without this insurance you would be on your own, if the car needed to be repaired.

Comprehensive insurance covers your car if it hits or is hit by another vehicle. This is very helpful as you do not have to worry about huge out of pocket expenses in the event that someone hits or damages your car or vice versa. With driving in today’s society you have to be looking out for not only you, but other drivers on the road. The odds are there that the more time you spend on the road, the higher the chances of being in accident. With comprehensive insurance you need not worry if you meet in an accident as both parties are covered and the thought of paying for damage to your or another persons car need not cross your mind.

Out of the many car insurance coverage’s available, the comprehensive choice offers one of the best in terms of benefits. If you treasure your car and it is stolen, comprehensive coverage will cover the cost to replacing your stolen vehicle. At any time an Act of God can strike and leave you helpless, if you are covered you need not worry as the insurance will replace or repair your damaged vehicle. This is one of the best insurance coverage’s to own and its benefit far outweighs its cost.

Car Insurance and Your Insurance Score - Or Is It Your Credit Score?

2007-07-02T05:09:00.000-07:00

Insurance companies are just like any other business in that they are out to make a profit. In any business, a company must correctly price its products in order to make a profit and many different methods are used to come up with a fair price.

The process of underwriting is simply the insurance company’s way of “evaluating” a risk so that it can set a reasonable price and make a profit from selling a policy. The days of using an applicant’s driving record, accident history, age and geographic location as the only underwriting tools are gone. They have been replaced by extremely complicated tiered rating plans that base your rate on a variety of factors that make up your insurance score. This is a complicated algorithm that takes into account many factors but typically your credit rating closely parallels your insurance score. This means that if you have a good credit score, you are very likely to have good insurance score and therefore a lower insurance rate. The theory is that groups with good credit will have fewer claims than similar groups with bad credit. The good credit group is considered to act more responsible and that behavior should translate to their driving habits. The insurers have credible data to back this up and insurance departments across the country now generally accept insurance scoring as a viable rating tool. All of the factors that go into your insurance score are generally a closely held trade secret. It is difficult at best to get an insurer to tell you exactly how this score is calculated as even the company’s own insurance agents don’t typically have this knowledge. Here is the formula that you need to know: a good credit score = a good insurance score = a lower car insurance rate.

For example: two different risks that are next door neighbors of the exact same age, living on the same street, driving the exact same cars, and having the exact same driving records….would expect to pay a similar, if not the same, rate. However, this is highly unlikely with the new tiered rating plans, where often, a hundred or more rates could apply for what seems like the same risk. This is primarily because of their insurance score. If one of the neighbors has a bad credit score, they would likely to pay a significantly higher rate, possibly even double, as the credit score will often parallel the insurance score. Remember the formula shown above. In fact, today, to get an accurate car insurance quote, at some point you generally must give your social security number so an insurance score/credit check can be done. Then and only then do you get the true rate.

Using credit as a rating tool is a hot topic in the industry and many insurers are facing opposition from various groups across the country. These groups view this practice as unfair to the lower income populations because they typically have lower credit scores or no credit at all. Bad credit translates to a bad insurance score for this group, thus a higher rate for this population. Is this fair? The legality of using credit or an insurance score as a rating tool is currently being challenged in many states and the outcome will play out in courtrooms across the country. Stay tuned…..

For now and the near future, it looks like insurance scoring is here to stay. In order to get the best possible advice on these very complicated tiered rating schemes used by most of the major car insurance companies, I would recommend calling and insurance agent to get a rate quote. There are many things about these new rating plans that can be explained in simple language that you can understand. An agent has a vested interest in you, the client, and would like to get to know you by name.

Auto Insurance Brokerages Expand Online

2007-06-19T00:06:00.002-07:00

Most direct insurance companies have already adopted the internet which allows consumers to obtain insurance rates and even purchase policies online where permitted by state laws. Some direct insurance companies have even evolved from the internet. One example is Insurance Company which evolved online and compared to the traditional brick and mortar locations, it markets its website for the consumers’ insurance needs.

Insurance Brokerages are following the footsteps of direct insurance companies by expanding their products online. One such brokerage is Auto Solutions Insurance Services in the state of California.

In an interview with Cesar Diaz, the broker of Auto Solutions Insurance Services he states: “We feel that the future of auto insurance will be based 99% online! Consumers are finding the convenience of comparing rates online from multiple insurance companies and the benefits of having unlimited information at their fingertips.”

Statistics show a tremendous growth in consumers obtaining auto insurance quotes online. From 2005 through 2006, an estimated 70 million auto insurance quotes have been given online, and increasingly, people are finding the confidence and security to not only to receive quotes online, but to purchase the auto insurance policy online.

In the first few months of 2007, statistics show a major increase in consumer online shopping. Just in the first quarter, there has been an increase of 27% in the number of auto insurance quotes obtained online; furthermore, since 2006, there has been an estimated 45% increase in online policy purchases. Consumers are increasingly becoming more comfortable making financial purchases online, which indicates a steady growth for the future.

How Does An Insurer Determine That A Vehicle Is To Be Written Off ?

2007-06-19T00:06:00.001-07:00

What do we mean by a total loss or write off? It arises when the vehicle repair cost is more than the value of the vehicle, taking into account the salvage value of the damaged car.

Let's assume that your vehicle has been severely damaged. It might have arisen from a fire, or damage following a theft. Let's assume that the estimate for the repair is £5,000. If the current value of your vehicle is say £5,500 and the salvage is worth £600 then it makes financial sense for your insurance company to write off the vehicle rather than repair it.

Suppose the salvage valuation is only £400. It's very likely that the insurance company will still write off the vehicle. The repair cost estimate of £5,000 is based on a visual inspection and assessment of the damage. There is every likelihood that there would be more damage discovered once the repair was started. So even though it looks cheaper to repair the vehicle it would be treated as a border line write off.

As soon as the vehicle has been identified as a write-off the insurers will want to move the damaged vehicle into 'free and safe storage'. This is usually at a salvage dealer. The reason is simple. The vehicle repairers have cottoned on that there is a fast buck to be made. They won't get the repair job but they will charge your insurer just for holding your vehicle in their workshop. They will sometimes charge incredible daily rates that might make car clamping fees seem like peanuts! Even the lowest charges are similar to car parking fees in Central London. Insurers pay out millions of pounds each year for car storage charges so they prefer to move your vehicle FAST!.

Because they lost sums of money dealing with certain customers they might even tell you that they are planning to move it in 48 hours rather than asking your permission. What has happened on occasion is that the salvage people move so quickly that the car is being picked up by the salvage truck before you've been told that it is a write off!. Naturally this can be upsetting to some customers.

But thinking about the reason, please be understanding! The insurance company aren't disposing of your vehicle, just moving it to lower costs. You could ask why you should worry about saving money for your insurer? The answer is very straightforward. The more they pay out on claims, the more you pay out on premiums. It is in our best interest to keep their costs down. My advice is - do as they ask. Always agree to have your damaged car moved from a vehicle repairer. If you don't, they can require you to pay the storage charges from the point of your refusal.

Sometimes when dealing with an older car, it can be a write off yet remain safe and legal to drive. It might have a low value and only some minor cosmetic damage. Frequently insurers will allow you to keep the car at your house whilst the next steps in the procedure take place, provided it is not incurring any storage charges.

How to Find Cheap Auto Insurance in Florida

2007-06-19T00:05:00.002-07:00

Trying to find cheap auto insurance in Florida? Cheap insurance is available in Florida - you just have to know where to look. Here's where to find it.

Visit an Insurance Comparison Website

Think you don’t have time to shop around for cheap auto insurance, so you might just as well renew with your same company? Think again!

The internet makes shopping for cheap auto insurance in Florida fast and easy. All you have to do is visit an auto insurance comparison website and fill out one easy form. You'll soon have quotes from multiple A-rated auto insurance companies. You can compare the quotes and choose the best auto insurance at the cheapest price.

If you have questions about your auto insurance, the best insurance comparison websites even have an online chat feature, allowing you to get quick and accurate answers from insurance professionals. (See link below.)

Keep Your Insurance Costs Down

As you comparison shop for cheap auto insurance in Florida, follow these tips to keep your costs down:

* Decide what coverage amounts you want. Go to the Florida Department of Insurance website (fldfs.com) to find out what the current minimum requirements are for Florida.

* If your car is over five years old, consider dropping your comprehensive and collision coverage. If you do want comprehensive and collision coverage, set your deductible as high as you can afford. The higher you set your deductible, the lower your premium will be.

You'll also want to be sure you get any discounts you qualify for. Most insurance companies offer discounts for

* Anti-theft devices on your car.

* Safety devices on your car, such as automatic seat belts and airbags.

* Multi-policy, when you have life or home insurance with the same company.

Ask the insurance professionals at the insurance comparison website if there are other discounts you might qualify for.

Insurance Write Off's - The Inside Story Of The Full Process

2007-06-19T00:05:00.001-07:00

A vehicle is declared a total loss when the estimated repair cost is more than the present market value of a similar vehicle. Once the insurer decides that the vehicle is a write off then they take the steps detailed here.

1) The wreck will have been moved from the car repairers to a salvage yard. This is done to lessen storage costs imposed by vehicle repair shops for cars in their yards.

2) They will ask you for the vehicle documents. That is the MOT certificate if your car requires one, purchase receipts,V5 registration document, service records, keys and details of any outstanding finance. They will ask for your Certificate of Insurance to be returned. They will need the original paperwork before they settle your claim. Photocopies will be ok to start with but will slow down the process.

If you ask the insurers why they require these documents, they will probably tell you they want to check they have the right model of the car, that it possessed a valid MOT and proof of service record to make sure that is has been maintained. These are all appropriate reasons. However the insurers also need to check out your claim for fraud. Government documents have a number of anti-fraud measures designed by the issuing Government agency. A careful check on the originals will enable the claims official to establish quickly that these are indeed genuine documents and not fake. If there is doubt, they will use forensic science equipment to prove that the documents are fake or genuine. You would have to be a very clever crook to successfully forge this whole collection of documents. My advice is - let the company have the original paperwork as soon as they request them. Just sending copies delays your claim.

3) Whilst you are waiting for your settlement details, your insurers will be doing other things as well. They will enter the claim on the 'motor insurance anti fraud and theft register'. (MIAFTR) This is a UK data base that has recorded all insurance total loss cars and stolen cars since the start of the 1980's. It checks your vehicle against all the information in the database to see if it has ever been the subject of an insurance total loss before, or whether it has ever been stolen and not recovered. It checks against your name and address; post code; your car's registration number and VIN (vehicle identification number). If there is a match further questions will be directed towards you, and your insurance company might enter 'fraud investigation' mode.

MIAFTR also as a matter of course checks your car against the Hire Purchase Information (HPI) database. If you borrowed money to purchase the vehicle and you still owe money, it will be on this database. Have no doubt your insurance company will discover it. So be honest and tell them about your outstanding balance. The loan company is the rightful owner of your car. Any settlement will be made to them whilst there is an outstanding balance. Anything left over is paid to you. Similarly, your claim will be recorded on CUE (Claims and Underwriting Exchange). This happens as a matter of course on all motor and household claims. Not all insurers subscribe but the vast majority do.

Problems can arise where the outstanding loan is greater than the worth of the vehicle. In this situation the insurance policy does not completely pay off the loan. I remember a purchase plan for motor bikes. Teenagers went into a shop, bought a new motor cycle plus all the helmets, leathers etc with finance against the value of the vehicle. The interest on the loan was outrageously high. Some time later there would be an accident and they would total loss it (or it was stolen). The value of the motor cycle was much less than the combined purchase price plus the interest. It caused a furor which was blamed on the insurance company rather than the stupidity of the youngster for getting involved in such a bad deal with the shop.

4) Your insurance company will be obtaining bids for the wreckage. The higher the salvage value the less the final cost of your claim. There has been a lot of publicity about cars which have been written off reappearing on the road, or being purchased by criminal gangs to aid their disguise of a stolen vehicle. The Association of British Insurers (ABI) have come up with a code relating to the disposal of vehicle salvage. All member companies comply with these rules. The result is that most salvage is sold by the companies to established salvage merchants. If the vehicle is damaged to an extent that meets listed criteria, it will be issued with a code that requires the vehicle to be scrapped or broken up. Vehicles with less damage can still be fixed and put back on the highway.

5) Once all of the above processes have taken place your insurers will make a settlement proposal to you.

Their engineer will have consulted the trade publications to value the vehicle, adjusting these figures to take into account the age, condition and mileage of your car, and his knowledge of the current car market. The final total that he arrives at forms the starting point of the settlement value given to you. Any policy excess will have to be deducted along with any finance still outstanding on the vehicle.

Your insurance company will make it very clear precisely how much you will get and explain any adjustments to you. If you pay your car insurance by Direct Debit, the chances are that any remaining premium will also be deducted from the settlement amount.

6) When you have accepted the offer (some insurers might need your signature to a document called a 'form of discharge') you will receive a cheque.

7) Your insurers then own the remains of your car and, subject to legislation and those ABI codes, can do whatever they want with it. This will undoubtedly mean that they will sell the salvage.

Car Insurance - Summer Driving Safety

2007-06-19T00:04:00.004-07:00

With summer almost upon us, many of us will be looking forward to enjoying trips to the beach, the countryside and many other popular British past times and destinations. The question I ask is; “just how safe are you this summer?” The majority of us prepare for winter with vigour, buying in copious quantities of de-icer spray and antifreeze. But just how much do we prepare for summer, the seasonal opposite of extremes?

Indeed many of us don’t even begin to think about how we should prepare for summer and the dangers therein. “Just what are these dangers?” you ask. Well that is the purpose of my article, to enlighten you in this very area.

In research carried out by several leading car insurance companies, it was shown that 40% of car claims are generated in summer. This is not just pure coincidence, it shows us that there must be an extra risk factor associated with summer.

The primary problem in summer driving conditions is heat, plain and simply. Taking your car on a long journey in sweltering heat invariably carries the risk of the car breaking down. True this is more a problem with the slightly more “mature” car, but that could range from just a few years old. Even a new car can fall victim to mechanical failure if it not maintained correctly. Before leaving for a long journey it is imperative that you check the following on your car; tyre pressure and tread (badly inflated tyres increase road wear and affect fuel consumption), engine oil level, engine coolant level (low levels could lead to your car overheating and breaking down), check all indicator/brake lights are working and finally check your windscreen washer level (trying to wipe a windscreen full of flies with dry wipers can be “such fun” not to mention dangerous).

Another good tip is to take out a breakdown and recovery policy with a reputable company. Indeed this is something many car insurance companies now offer and you can check this at the time of getting a car insurance quote. This may prove invaluable at a later date and for the small amount it will cost on a yearly premium it is well worth it.

Another factor rarely considered, even by myself before carrying out research for this article, is rural driving. During summer, many of us venture out of the towns and head for the countryside. In doing so we use the many country/rural roads that are more ill suited to fast driving. It may be fun putting your foot down and whizzing around a country lane but it is very risky indeed. In fact a recent government campaign stated that you are three times more likely to die in a crash on a rural road.

Well, on that note all that is left to say is; “have a brilliant and safe summer!”

5 Factors that Affect - Influence Auto Insurance Rates

2007-06-19T00:04:00.003-07:00

The world of auto insurance is complicated and premiums payable for a given policy vary from person to person. Simply put who you are determines how much you will pay as car insurance premium. Automobile insurers use a large number of risk factors to compute how much premium is payable by any individual.

Basic factors that determine how much you need to pay for auto insurance are:

1. The age of the driver. Young and old drivers need to pay more insurance premiums as they are more likely to have accidents than middle aged drivers. In addition premium payable is determined by the car you drive. If you drive a sports car or any mean machine then your premium will hit the sky as compared to a sedan or compact car.

2. The gender of the driver. Insurance companies have determined that women drivers are not affected by hormone surges or machoness and are so better drivers than men. Statistically women are proven to be safer drivers so a woman driver will pay lower auto insurance than a male.

3. Where you live can change your car insurance rate. Auto insurance companies compute risk by where a car owner resides. Those living in rural areas or suburbs pay lower insurance premiums than those who live in a city.

4. Safe Driving is a factor that influences your premiums. Most insurers lower premiums payable for persons who have a safe driving record for three years and more. So speeding tickets, accidents, parking violations, and running red lights are all factors that can save you money.

5. Your credit history. Most insurance companies consider an individual with a good credit history and score as a lower risk and offer lower premiums on auto insurance. The credit report reflects the fact that you are a responsible individual and are dependable.

Other factors that can lower auto insurance premiums are: safety features in a car; anti-theft devices; eco-friendly fuel use; use of car pools and public transport; exclusive use of vehicle only for personal use and so on.

Insurance companies set premium rates based on factors like make of car, cost of parts, and sticker price of car. In case an individual updates his driving skills regularly and follows all safety norms and rules laid by the highway and road patrols then the insurers offer lowered premium rates.

If you have a membership at the AAA or any other professional body then you may be automatically eligible for a discount on auto insurance rates. Lately if auto insurance is bought online the rates are much lower than when bought through an agent or office. And, different insurers base the premiums on auto insurance based on their experience so while one may consider the occupation of the individual a risk another may give more emphasis on whether the vehicle is used for commercial purposes. The module for calculating risk factors varies from company to company as also the premium rates on auto insurance.

The Basics of Car Insurance

2007-06-19T00:04:00.001-07:00

The Insurance is taken to defend ourselves against any unforeseen calamities. In law and economics, it is defined as a form of a risk management which is used to hedge against the risk of a contingent loss. Today, you can find insurance policies for almost everything. It can be for your life, health or for any appliance protection.

The insurance policies are offered by the insurance companies to an organisation or to an individual in return of the premiums paid. As far as the car insurance is concerned, the insurance companies can give coverage to your car against any accidents or the breakdowns. The policy which is offered to insure a vehicle depends upon different factors like, make, cost, age, type of vehicle, viable statistics, individual habits and history.

The premiums depend upon the risks factors, e.g. a young driver who drives a sports car will have to pay more premium as compared to a person who is a senior citizen and drives a family sedan.

The different insurance companies in the market offer various coverage and plans. To avail the best car insurance, you should follow these steps:

Do an online survey and then compare the quotes offered by the different car insurance providers. Compile all the relevant information which would help the car insurance provider to give you a competitive quote. They may require your personal details, the number of persons who will drive the vehicle, make and age of the vehicle etc.

Read the policy document carefully and should ask for the clarifications, if you are unable to comprehend any terms or conditions. Use the online insurance computation with quote comparison tools, which will help you to know which insurance coverage would be best for you. Consult an insurance broker who may assist you to get a suitable insurance coverage.

Though, you can buy insurance from an insurance company or a broker but by buying an online insurance can give you many advantages. You are required to fill up an online application form which can help you to get the quotes from different car insurance providers. The quotes are absolutely free and you can take your time for selecting a suitable car insurance provider. If you buy insurance online you may avail discount as the company doesn’t have to spend on the data compilation and meeting you for discussing the possibilities. The Internet has certainly changed the world of insurance industry and now you can purchase an insurance policy online as an informed buyer.

Online Auto Insurance - The Benefits Of Buying Car Insurance Online

2007-06-19T00:03:00.003-07:00

In the late 1990’s, as the internet gained popularity, consumers realized the convenience of shopping online for many different things including car insurance. The internet offers endless information about any subject you need to know more about and it even allows you to complete important purchases such as buying auto insurance online.

Buying auto insurance online not only saves you money, but also carries many benefits which make your life easier. Plenty of auto insurance companies offer discounts for purchasing auto insurance online. The reason companies offer discounts is because when you purchase auto insurance online, the costs associated with issuing the auto insurance policy is significantly less costly for the insurance company compared to issuing an auto policy the traditional way.

When purchasing car insurance online, you are saving the insurance company money, therefore, the savings can be transferred to you. Other reasons for saving money by buying car insurance online is that you do not need to waste time and money, such as gas, driving to the agents office. Also some of the fees that are included in buying car insurance the traditional method are often not charged. Some examples are:

* An agent’s Commission

* Broker’s Fees

* Endorsement Fees

* Renewal Fees

Not only are you saving money by buying auto insurance online, you are also getting the benefit of being able to manage your auto insurance online. If you buy auto insurance online, most companies will offer you the convenience of finding answers to your questions online and making changes to your policy online. That makes life easier for the most of us. Finding important information such as legal information can also be easily researched before buying auto insurance online.

One of the best reasons for purchasing car insurance online is that you can compare insurance rates from many quality companies in order to make sure you are receiving the cheapest car insurance rates. Many websites offer the ability to compare car insurance online from many quality auto insurance companies such as Progressive, AIG, GMAC, Infinity and more. One such website is OnlineAutoInsurance.com which offers you free quotes from many quality auto insurance companies with one single process. You can even buy you car insurance online and make changes, payments and find answers online and even speak to a licensed agent if you wish.

SAVE More of Your Hard-Earned Money By Picking The Right Auto Insurance Companies

2007-06-19T00:03:00.001-07:00

Even tho you do not always have a choice about having auto insurance, you do have a choice about which auto insurance company you pay for your automobile coverage. Is it important to know something about the various companies that will offer you their services? Yes, of course it is.

Here is some information that may help you in deciding which company may be better for you than another and who can reduce your premiums and at the same time provide excellent customer service, excellent auto insurance coverage and be there when you need them. And I don't mean just answering the phone. I mean the financial security in knowing they can pay you when you need them to handle a claim for your vehicle.

Here are a few things to consider:

What is the track record of the insurance company you are considering using? Do they pay you in a timely manner or do they have a track record of denying claims unfairly and not paying at all?

Do they provide a phone number, website and email to provide you with alternative ways to contact them easily and quickly?

How is their customer service?

What discounts do they offer and how many?

Do they specialize in the vehicle your insuring such as a motorcycle or antique car? Many of them do and you should be aware of that because this service can be especially tailored to fit your needs and they will understand your passions and needs in these specialized areas. It makes it a lot more fun to talk with someone who knows what you are talking about when it comes to your motorcycle driving habits and the coverage you will need, if you only ride in the summers.

Do they offer the good driving record discounts?

Does the auto insurance company you are looking into offer special programs and coverage for multiple vehicle households with teen drivers?

Are you 50 years of age or older? Do you know there are auto insurance companies that will provide excellent auto insurance discounts to the baby boomers? Yup, AARP offers many, many discounts above and beyond auto insurance to it's members. Can you afford $12.95/yr? If so, you can be a member and get a discount on your insurance as well as many other offers to save you money.

Spend some time and check out some of the companies listed here to see if they can help you save money and get excellent customer service and be there when you need them most.

Compare Car Insurance Rates the Easy Way

2007-06-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

The best way to get the cheapest car insurance rate is to compare car insurance rates from a number of companies. Here's the quickest and easiest way to do that.

Compare Car Insurance Rates

In the days prior to the Internet, you had to call a number of insurance agents and answer a ton of questions in order to get enough quotes to get a cheap rate. Now, thanks to the Internet, comparing car insurance rates is a piece of cake.

Because rates can vary by $1,000 or more from one company to another, you need to go to an insurance comparison website where you can get quotes from a number of car insurance companies.

Not only can you get multiple rate quotes from these sites, some of these sites offer money-saving tips in their "Articles" section, and provide an online chat feature and toll-free telephone service so you can get answers to your questions from an insurance expert. (See link below.)

Get Car Insurance Discounts

In order to get your car insurance quotes, you'll need to fill out a simple questionnaire where you can list the all discounts and deductibles you want. Here's how to save the most money on your insurance:

Raise your deductible - Depending on how high you raise it this can save you 30% to 50% on your car insurance premium.

Consolidate your insurance - Buying your car and homeowners insurance with the same company will save you up to 15% on your premium.

Install security devices - Outfitting your car with a burglar alarm or other theft-prevention devices can get you a good-sized discount.

Eliminate unneeded coverage - Consider eliminating your comprehensive and collision coverage if your car is more than five years old, or if the cost of your annual premium is the same as the value of your car.

Compare Car Insurance Companies

Once you've chosen the best quote, you'll want to make sure the company is reliable and will pay your claims. Here are three websites that will help you decide:

1. Your state’s department of insurance website will show you how many complaints have been lodged against an insurance company.

2. J.D. Power and Associate's website (jdpower.com) will give you consumer ratings.

3. The A.M. Best (ambest.com) website will give you a company's financial and credit ratings.

By taking these extra steps, you'll know that you're not only getting the best rate, but that you're getting a reliable company.

Auto Insurance - Do This If You Really Want To Make Huge Savings

2007-06-16T05:17:00.002-07:00

There are many things you can do to save much in your auto insurance. Some give wonderful results; others give so so results. However, if you're really serious about making massive savings in auto insurance you can't afford to leave this out...

But first things first. You must understand why you are getting auto insurance coverage. Are you only interested in fulfilling the minimum required by your state law? Do you want something that truly gives you total coverage as far as your use of the road is concerned? These should be first established in your mind before you begin your quest for savings. I say this because some people who really want the most extensive coverage begin to compromise their coverage all in the name of making savings.

Savings must be without losing what you really want. And, you will make savings if you follow my next advice wholeheartedly. This is irrespective of whether you want bare-bones minimum auto insurance or the most extensive insurance. Please, do bear in my, however, that I am not endorsing any position (extensive or minimum coverage) here. That issue is dealt with in other articles. So now to the meat...

You might have heard of auto insurance quotes sites. Yes, you might even have used them. However, you might not have maximized your profits because you left something out. You only visited one car insurance quotes site and felt you had it covered. No, you didn't have it covered.

Make sure you get quotes from at least three auto insurance quotes sites. This guarantees that you nullify the effects of sponsors' interests on some sites and, furthermore, you have a broader basis for your comparison.

Automobile Insurance - Savings Due To Superior Understanding

2007-06-16T05:17:00.001-07:00

That you can save up to and above $2,000 on your automobile insurance is a fact. However, the important thing is whether you too can make even a fraction of such massive savings. You can if you take out time to understand the little things that really help you make massive savings. I'll share two with you here...

There are different levels of insurance coverage in auto insurance. You can take a comprehensive package or even include several special add-ons. At the other end of the spectrum, you can just go for a third party only cover where the law allows that. But you must be very careful. The minimum required by law sometimes is certainly not good enough for you. The key is knowing when the minimum is the best and when you need as much coverage as you can get.

If you have an old car (I'm not talking about classics here -- Those ones really do belong to a special class) then you will really do well to get the very minimum required by law. If the minimum is third party only coverage, fine. Take it. Getting more won't really do you any good on the long run.

Here's why I maintain this position: Let's say you have a collision policy on an old car and then have to make a claim. The insurance company will make pay outs based on the current value of your car. That's not good considering that your old car won't be worth much then. To make a bad thing even worse, you'll be expected to pay your deductible first before getting whatever the insurance company will give. If you add up all this you'll see that you're really better off keeping all the hard-earned money you'd spend on premiums for superior coverage.

If your auto insurance doesn't serve you on the long run, then you really shouldn't get it. Well, that's my position on auto insurance for old cars.

Another thing you have to do to increase your chances of realizing massive savings in your car insurance is to get as many auto insurance quotes as you can. No, getting a set of quotes from one quotes site isn't enough. You could be missing some insurance companies that are not covered by the first quotes site. Get auto insurance quotes from at least three sites and you would be setting yourself up for massive savings.

Bad Credit Can Affect Your Car Insurance Rate

2007-06-16T05:16:00.000-07:00

You consider yourself to be one of the safest drivers on the road. You watch the speed limit, always use your turn signal even when changing lanes, and the only tickets you have ever gotten were from expired parking meters. You have the cleanest of clean driving records, so one would think that you would be a top candidate for lower car insurance rates, especially lower than that jerk who whizzed past you this morning in a school zone, right?

Wrong, or at least not necessarily.

If your credit report has some blemishes on it, chances are good that you might not get the lowest car insurance rates, even despite the fact that your driving record is spotless. And thanks to a recent Supreme Court ruling, your car insurance company does not have to inform you that you are not getting the best rates. As ridiculous as that sounds, the Supreme Court recently overturned a Circuit Court ruling that said the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) requires insurers to notify customer whenever their credit rating prevents them from getting the best available car insurance rate.

Auto insurance companies argue that a customer's credit rating is just one of many criteria they use to establish car insurance rates for the customer. They said that if the ruling had stood, it would have required them to send out millions of notices to customers in order to avoid class-action lawsuits.

For about the last 10 years or so, most car insurance companies have used the customer's credit rating when establishing car insurance rates for the customer. They claim that various studies have indicated that customers with bad credit are much more likely to file claims.

The car insurance companies claim that a credit report "is a solid predictor of risk", and after all, car insurance rates are all about risk. They further claim that a person with bad credit would tend to be more irresponsible, since they have demonstrated irresponsibility with their credit and would likely also be irresponsible with their driving habits.

Obviously, consumer groups disagree whole-heartedly and says that this assumption on the part of the auto insurance companies is a "disturbing moral hypothesis". Many people have bad credit because of divorce, being laid off from a job, serious illness, and is absolutely no reflection on their level of responsibility.

In addition, credit reports are known to be notorious for errors. Studies have shown that an alarmingly high percentage of consumer credit reports contain errors. The credit bureaus claim that they only report the news and take almost no responsibility for the accuracy of the information reported. The sad outcome of that reality is the vast majority of consumers do not regularly check their credit reports, and if they do, they have no idea of how to get inaccurate data corrected. For information about how to get inaccurate data removed from your credit report so that your credit rating is higher, you may wish to visit Raising Your Credit Score for more information.

When you are applying for auto insurance, ask the insurance company what specific factors will be considered when they determine your rates. If they tell you that your credit history is one of the factors and you know that your credit history has blemishes on it, you may want to keep on shopping with another carrier.

Teen Auto Insurance - Here's How You Can Make The Highest Savings

2007-06-15T06:14:00.001-07:00

The cost of teen auto insurance is at least twice that of an adult above 25 years. That's a problem if you have one or two teens. If you're worried about the cost of insuring your teenager, here's good news. The following tips should help you save a lot...

1) This one works before buying a car. Make sure you find out the car's grouping. There are cars that cost a lot more to insure. Generally, sports cars and cars with big engines cost a lot more to insure. If you buy such a car for your teen, you'll be raising what you pay on auto insurance by a great deal.

2) Check the crash and safety rating of the car. Apart from the fact that it will also lower your teen's auto insurance premium, it will also keep your beloved child safer.

3) Encourage your teen to take lessons in defensive driving. This will reduce the risk associated with insuring him/her. Furthermore, they become better drivers too.

4) If your teen has good grades it will do you some good. Some insurance companies will lower their teen auto insurance for kids who have A's and B's.

5) Place your teen as the primary driver on the least expensive and/or the oldest car you have.

6) Get auto insurance quotes from at least three auto insurance quotes sites. I recommend getting your quotes from at least three sites because if you get quotes from only one site, you may miss out on offers they don't present.

Auto Insurance Providers - How to Find the Best

2007-06-15T06:13:00.000-07:00

Looking for an auto insurance provider? Want to find one that's cheap, reliable, and will give you good service. Here's how ...

Check Your State's Department of Insurance Website

Every state in the U.S. maintains an insurance website, and most states publish the consumer complaints that have been filed against insurance companies. This tells you how many complaints an insurance company has received compared to the number of policies they've issued.

If your state's department of insurance doesn't list complaints, you can go to California's insurance website (insurance.ca.gov), or New York's insurance website (ins.state.ny.us) to get this information.

Every insurance company has complaints filed against them, but if a company has a lot of complaints compared to other companies, you should avoid doing business with them.

Visit Epinions Website (epinions.com)

Epinions gives you a behind-the-scenes look at various insurance companies by their customers. Customers rate companies by customer service, website experience, response to claims, and price confidence.

Customers also give their unsolicited reviews. These reviews range from "The best insurance we've ever had!" and "Cheap and they're there when you need them," to "Very disappointed," and "The WORST customer service you could imagine."

Check J.D. Power and Associate's Website (jdpower.com)

J.D. Power and Associates rates insurance companies according to coverage options, price, claims handling, satisfaction with company representatives, and overall experience. This site gives you a general idea of how consumers like or dislike a company's insurance policies, claims handling, and customer service.

Visit A.M. Best's Website (ambest.com)

A.M. Best publishes financial ratings for insurance companies which measures an insurance company's ability to pay claims. Ratings go from A++ (the highest) to D (the lowest). You should choose a company that has a B+ rating or higher.

How to Get Cheap Auto and Renters Insurance Quotes

2007-06-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

If you don’t own a home you may think you don’t need insurance. But you still need to insure your auto and your personal property - auto insurance to protect you in case of an auto accident, and renters insurance to protect your personal property from fire, theft, vandalism, and other losses.

Find Discount Insurance Quotes on the Internet

To help you save money on insurance use the Internet to search for discount auto and renters insurance quotes. You can find discount auto and renters insurance quotes online by visiting an insurance comparison website. At the website you'll complete a form with your personal information, such as your name, address, and age.

For auto insurance, you'll also need to enter information about your:

* Vehicle, such as the year, make, model, VIN number, and safety features.

* Driving habits, such as the number of miles you drive each year and any tickets or accidents you've had.

* Coverage amounts and you want and deductibles you want for comprehensive and collision coverage.

For renters insurance, you'll need to enter information such as:

* Construction type

* Number of connected units

* Whether you have any pets

* Coverage amounts and the deductible you want

The best insurance comparison websites also offer an online chat feature. If you have any questions as you complete your form, you can talk online with insurance professionals and get fast, accurate answers. (See link below.)

Keep in mind that you'll usually receive a multi-policy discount if you purchase your auto and renters insurance with the same company. This can save you up to 15% on your yearly premium.

Choose an Insurance Company

After you enter this information, you'll receive fast, accurate quotes from multiple A-rated insurance companies. Then you can simply compare the quotes and choose the company with the best quote.

Texas Car Insurance Requirements

2007-05-17T06:13:00.001-07:00

In regards to car insurance requirements in Texas, you must have a minimum of $15,000 to cover damages an accident causes other property; $20,000 to cover any bodily injury or death of one person per accident; and $40,000 to cover any bodily injury or death of two or more persons per accident. You can meet the Texas car insurance requirements by purchasing a policy from a car insurance company licensed to do insurance business in Texas, or you may want to post a self-bond – set aside enough money to meet the car insurance requirements in Texas.

Self-bonding, or self-insuring, to meet the Texas car insurance requirements does have its advantages. First, you do not have to worry about whether or not it is going to be difficult to get insurance – if you are providing it, it is already there! You also do not have to concern yourself with premiums, making payments on time, or renewal and cancellation in the matter of being self-insured.

When you meet the Texas car insurance requirements with a self-bond or self-insurance, you are also free to purchase additional car insurance coverage from a traditional car insurance company. By keeping your self-insurance stash in mind, you can pick and choose what car insurance coverage you want to purchase.

Self-bonding, or self-insuring, is not actually the most efficient way to meet the car insurance requirements in Texas, but it is an option – an option that many people choose. The most common reason people choose the option of self-bonding to satisfy the Texas car insurance requirements is because they feel they are uninsurable. A bad driving record, a flawed credit report, and a sketchy history of making payments are all factors Texans believe make them uninsurable; however, these are factors that can and do improve in time, and the self-bonded individual may want to switch to a traditional car insurance policy in Texas once these factors have improved.

5 Lazy Tips To Get Cheaper Car Insurance

2007-05-17T06:12:00.001-07:00

Cheap car insurance are all over the place these days but sometime it's just too good to be true. Finding cheap car insurance is just a matter of logging in on the internet and you can compare quotes in as little as 5 minutes, but is cheaper always means that it is better? Getting cheap car insurance no longer takes much effort on your side.

Paying for the car insurance and making claims form the car insurance company are not the same and this is where most pitfalls are with car insurance company. When it comes to getting the greens out of your pocket, cheap car insurance company may be the way to go.

There are ways to reduce the cost of your car insurance even with the best of companies. Here are some tips for those looking for cheap car insurance to help reduce the cost of car insurance without compromising other things.

Cheaper car insurance tips just for you!:

The higher the risk your car is, the more premiums you have to pay for. Be sure to inform your insurance company of any additional safety devices, anti-theft devices on your car as this is a sure way of reducing your insurance cost. The cost of your insurance can sometime be lowered when you installed safety devices that are not standard in your vehicle.

The cost of your policy is directly related to this amount. People who has been paying the amount year after year sometimes forget to vary the deductible amount and yet they complaint of high cost of car insurance policy. If you are sure that you drive responsibly than you should not worry about reducing the deductible amount as it is only use in the event of an accident. Getting a cheaper car insurance can be as easy as varying the deductible amount.

Drive carefully. Although it sounds a little trite to say it, your car insurance cost is a factor of your risk profile. The more traffic offense you make, the more you insurance is going to cost you. These things are all taken into account and you should take care with how you drive. It all adds up onto your bill. There are big safe driver discounts available.

Some people may already have another type of insurance form other company. Many insurers offer a discount for multiple policies. If you insure your house with a certain company then ring them up and find out if they do car insurance. Since you already have an account with them, it is highly likely that you’ll get a discounted offer. If they don’t, just ask for it!

Find a good online discount car insurance broker before renewing. The internet is a fabulous resource. All sorts of discount insurance companies are available on the internet. Get the fastest quote from these companies. Getting online car insurance quotes can’t be much simpler nowadays. Often companies offer free quotes and you can get it from as much companies as possible.

Feeling that your car insurance is getting too much to handle? Use the tips above and you'll get better deal and better value for your money.

How to Get Cheap Car Insurance Quotes and Save Up to 500 Dollars!

2007-05-17T04:29:00.001-07:00

You could be spending $300, $400, even $500 too much for your auto insurance every year. Want to know how get cheap car insurance quotes in just a couple of minutes and put that money back in your pocket? Here's how ...

Examine Your Policy

Most of us never take the time to read our car insurance policies, much less understand them. Yet making a few changes in your coverage can save you hundreds of dollars on your insurance premium. Here are three things you can do to save a bundle your auto insurance premiums.

Increase Your Deductible Your deductible is the amount of money you have to pay before your insurance company pays a claim. Simply raising your deductible by a few hundred dollars can save you hundreds of dollars on your car insurance every year.

Install A Security System Most insurance companies will give you a discount if you install a security system on your car. Installing an alarm or an anti-theft device will not only save you money, it will give you peace of mind.

Decrease Your Mileage The number of miles you drive has a direct bearing on the amount of money you'll pay for insurance. To cut down on the amount of miles you drive, try carpooling to work or even taking the bus a few times a week. You might also cut down on your weekly shopping trips.

Shop Online

The best way to get cheap car insurance quotes is to comparison shop online. It's fast, it's easy, and it's free.

It only takes a few minutes online in the privacy of your home to get a number of quotes so you can compare rates from top-rated companies and get a cheap car insurance quote.

Explore Your Options for Types of Auto Insurance

2007-05-17T04:28:00.001-07:00

Auto insurance is at its heart financial protection. You purchase insurance in order to prevent paying thousands of dollars in the event of a collision or other loss. Many different types of insurance are available, covering almost every conceivable means of loss or damage to your vehicle as well as others to which you may cause damage. Very few drivers need to purchase every single type of insurance, so it is helpful to understand each type in order to decide which ones you require.

Property Damage
Depending on jurisdiction, property damage insurance may also be called liability insurance or similar. This insurance covers damage that your vehicle may cause to someone else’s vehicle. Each state sets its own minimum requirement for how much property damage insurance you must carry, but the state minimum may not be enough in the event of an accident. If you cause damage that exceeds the limits of your insurance you may be sued for the difference. Always purchase as much property damage insurance as you can comfortably afford.

Personal Injury
This type of auto insurance is also generally required by law. Personal injury insurance pays a portion (usually 80 percent) of your medical bills and a different portion (often 60 percent) of your lost wages if you are injured in an accident. A small death benefit is often attached in case you are killed in the accident. This protection might extend to relatives, household members or even anyone who happens to be in the car, depending on state requirements and the individual insurance company’s policies.

Bodily Injury
Although bodily injury protection is not required by all jurisdictions it is highly recommended that this insurance be purchased. Bodily injury insurance protects you in the event that you are at fault in an accident. If the other driver is injured beyond the limits of his personal injury coverage, your bodily injury insurance will take effect. Otherwise, you could be sued for his medical expenses.

If you are injured in an accident that is someone else’s fault and your medical bills exceed your personal injury protection but the other driver does not have bodily injury coverage, your uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage will protect you. Your other option is to sue the other driver but lawsuits take both time and money. This insurance is reasonably priced and will pay relatively quickly. Purchase this insurance if you can.

Collision
Collision coverage is designed to reimburse you up to the actual cash value of your vehicle, less your deductible, if you are at fault in an accident. Collision insurance is usually required if your vehicle is financed. Premiums are high and the insurance is generally not worthwhile for older vehicles with a low cash value.

Comprehensive
Comprehensive insurance covers the loss of your vehicle to theft or acts of God. As with Collision insurance, Comprehensive pays the actual cash value of the vehicle less your deductible. Comprehensive is usually required on financed vehicles but not worthwhile on older low-value cars.

Other auto insurance products will cover everything from a rental car to medical payments beyond your personal injury protection. Most of these products are worthwhile but not strictly necessary. If you have any questions regarding your coverage options be sure to speak to your insurance agent.

Reasons To Change Your Car Insurance Company

2007-05-17T04:27:00.002-07:00

1. Paying too much for Car Insurance, its time to seek change.
2. When you must think of a new car insurance company.

Auto insurance is not a luxury but a necessity. And in order to get the maximum advantage experts recommend that you should shop around for auto insurance every 2-3 years. As policies change and newer players enter the market there are so many new attractive auto insurance schemes that you could benefit from. You should consider changing your auto insurance when:

• You are availing a huge mortgage to buy property and the bank or institution offers you a lower interest rate on home and auto insurance through their tie –ups.

• You have moved to another state where the auto insurance rules are different and you will make a saving by transferring your insurance to a new car insurance company. Or when your old car insurance company does not offer service in your new state.

• You want to cut costs and are trying to run your life on a budget. Shop around online for competitive auto insurance rates and change the car insurance company to one who offers the best deal.

• You have purchased a new car and the dealer is offering free insurance for three years. New cars have lower insurance rates so it is best for you to do a comparative study and find a car insurance company that offers a great deal. Car insurance rates vary greatly between car brands and types; find out which car insurance company offers the maximum coverage for the lowest rate.

• You are getting married and now will have two cars. Think about cancelling your individual car insurance policies and getting a joint one for both cars. Similarly if your family is growing and you have many cars used by adults as well as kids, ask auto insurance companies about group insurance schemes that will cover all the cars and drivers in your home. Most companies offer great discounted rates for combining car insurance policies.

• You are retired and now a senior citizen. Car insurance companies offer discounts to those who are 55 and above. There are a great many discounts available for a car that has a good insurance claim record, a car that is not driven every day, and a car that is single driver driven and well maintained.

• You are eligible for coverage through your new job. Many large companies have facilities like auto insurance schemes at premium rates lower than the market. If you are working in such a firm then you must consider cancelling your old policy and taking a new one with the car insurance company chosen by your workplace.

• When the rates being paid by you are high and your car insurance company shows no inclination to offer you a competitive rate. If you are paying too much for car insurance its time you changed your car insurance company to one that is offering you great facilities and rates.

Whatever the reason to change your car insurance company, the World Wide Web has sites where you can compare offers as well as quotes. Sites like LowerMyBills.com give quote comparisons in a click. So, read all you can about car insurance and the companies and determine which car insurance company offer will suit you best.

How to Get Cheap Auto Insurance for Teens

2007-05-17T04:27:00.001-07:00

Because teenagers have the worst driving record of any age group - they accounted for more than 6,500 driving fatalities in the U.S. last year - teenage car insurance premiums are the highest. So how can you get cheap car insurance for your teen son or daughter? Read on ...

Cheap Auto Insurance for Teens Tips

Here are some tips on how to get cheap auto insurance for your teen son or daughter ...

* Raise their deductible - raising your teenager's deductible from $100 to $500 can lower their insurance premium by 10% to 20%.

* Change cars - the difference between insuring a souped-up sports car and a conservative sedan can be as much as $1,000 or more.

* Put your teen on your policy - by insuring your teenage son or daughter on your car insurance policy, you can get up to a 15% discount on their premium.

* Have your teenager take driver's training - getting your teenager to take a driver's ed course will save you 10% to 15% on their insurance and will give you a little peace of mind to boot.

* Encourage your teen to get good grades - you can get a 10% discount in some states if your son or daughter gets good grades in school.

* Get them to chip in - having your teenage son or daughter pay for a portion of their auto insurance premium will not only save you money, it will teach them responsibility.

* Get multiple quotes - the exact same car insurance with different companies can vary as much as $1,000 a year. That's $10,000 over a ten-year period that you could save by spending a few minutes online comparing quotes.

* Shop online - shopping online to get quotes from different insurance companies is the quickest and easiest way to compare rates and get cheap auto insurance for your teen.

West Palm Beach, Florida, Auto Accident Attorney of 15-Year-Old Illegal Driver

2007-05-17T04:26:00.002-07:00

You assume full liability for your under age children, so keep your wallet open. Or, you can avoid unpleasant events with a precise bulletproof asset protection system.

To quote a local paper regarding a West Palm Beach, Florida accident “The car was being driven by a 15-year-old sister who had only a learner’s permit and was at the wheel illegally.”

Do you have a problem child who is bent on seeking an unhealthy identity? The negligent action of your minor son or daughter could affect your own personal liability. You could be held accountable for the reckless actions of your minor children. I am not an attorney, nor am I dispensing legal advice, as a parent I’ve been there and done that; and I am sure that a Florida accident attorney finds these types of cases all the time.

I personally went around with my wallet open while my two sons were learning how to drive. Because I considered these to be minor infractions due to a learning experience and not willful negligence, it was easier for me to pay for the damage (usually under $500) than report it to the insurance company.

But consider this, if you have a renegade child under the age of 18 who takes matters into his/her own hands, has the tendency to be reckless, and willful, and decides to drive illegally, without permission, without your knowledge, you are held “primarily accountable” for the misconduct and damages they cause, in some cases even beyond the age of 18 because they live at home and “you own” the car and your son or daughter is insured under your policy.

If you sign your minor children’s applications for drivers license, permits, then you have “assumed the full responsibility” for your child’s negligence. For example in the state of Florida, the driver’s license of any person under the age of 18 must be signed and verified by a parent or guardian or other responsible adult willing to assume the obligation imposed under statute 322.09.

15-YEAR-OLD'S AUTO ACCIDENT IN WEST PALM BEACH, FL NOT COVERED BY AUTO INSURANCE UMBRELLA POLICY

But, you say…that’s why you have insurance, and that’s why you have an umbrella policy, just for this event, right? Well, you would be wrong. And, you would not like to find this hard fact of life, after a car accident where your child is held responsible.

Let’s consider the typical auto insurance policy. Do you know what’s covered?

- Bodily injury liability. Generally covers other people’s bodily injuries or death for which you are responsible. Generally, it covers the cost of a legal defense up to the amount specified in your insurance contract. IT DOES NOT COVER PUNITIVE DAMAGES. This coverage does not cover you, … or other people named in your insurance policy.

- Property damage liability. This covers you, if your car damages someone else’s property, car, fence, house, etc. caused by your accident. It too, covers for a legal defense up to the limits of your policy. IT DOES NOT COVER PUNITIVE DAMAGES.

- Comprehensive, other than collision. This covers your vehicle for incidences other than collision, for example if your car is stolen, damaged by fire, vandalism, etc. Your coverage is limited to your policy.

- Collision. This covers damage to your car when your car hits, or is hit by another vehicle, or other object. It pays for the amount of damage in your policy less your deductible.

- Uninsured Motorist, Uninsured property damage, Uninsured motorist bodily injury, … etc. I’m lumping these all in one category to get to the meat and potatoes, since it’s for covering yourself in case the other guy is not insured or under insured, or these days you have to consider illegal aliens hitting the road, illegally and without insurance.

- Umbrella Policy. In addition to an auto insurance policy and home insurance, most insurance people will recommend that you buy a “Personal Liability Umbrella Policy.” This is a “Supplemental Coverage” added to your auto and home insurance, that you already have in place. Some people refer this to as a “wealth preservation policy, for the rich.” This is a factual misconception of what an umbrella policy covers.

Depending on the nature of the claim, damages are first applied against the car insurance or home insurance, then to the Umbrella Policy. The umbrella policy is not the first line of defense against legal liability. If you buy an umbrella policy, you need to make sure what it covers, not all policies are the same.

Typically, umbrella policies cover personal injuries, injuries to others while on your property, and some forms of property damage in excess of your auto and home policy. IT DOES NOT COVER PUNITIVE DAMAGES NOR DOES IT COVER INTENTIONAL DAMAGE, OR NEGLIGENCE.

COULD THE 15-YEAR-OLD'S FLORIDIAN OLDER SIBLING BUY MORE INSURANCE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM AUTO LAWSUITS?

Can you buy enough insurance? NO.

All insurance policies cover the actual damages (up to the limits of your policy), and provide for a first line of legal defense. In cases where the judgment is in excess of what’s covered, you are on your own. No insurance company will cover for more than you agreed to cover. An example: your underage driver, drinks and drives, and causes an accident. The damage is $1,500,000. Your auto insurance covers the first $400,000 (the amount of coverage in your policy) the umbrella policy covers the next $600,000 if you have a $1million dollar umbrella policy and you are on your own for the next $500,000.

Please note: I am assuming that your auto and umbrella policies do not take a position against you where the level of negligence was more than civil litigation, you could be faced with a criminal case which may not be covered. Is this a lot more than you bargained for? (Please note that I’m not a lawyer or an insurance agent, and state laws vary from state to state; consult with a motor vehicle, truck, boating, or motorcycle accident attorney in your area).

WHAT COULD THE OLDER SIBLING FROM WEST PALM BEACH DO TO PREVENT LAWSUITS AS A RESULT OF HIS/HER SISTER'S ILLEGAL AUTO ACCIDENT?

Can you do anything now, to avoid these unpleasant results if you have under age drivers? YES.

By repositioning (transferring) your assets to an irrevocable trust, you will no longer legally “own” a residence, you will no longer “own” a car, you will no longer “have” investment accounts, etc. Title to your assets will be transferred (repositioned) from you to the name of an independent trust with an independent trustee. You will no longer own assets. You can only be sued for what you own or have a direct control.

SIBLING'S FLORIDA AUTO INSURANCE COSTS COULD BE REDUCED AS WELL

With a proper system in some states, the cost of the insurance policy is substantially reduced, because the car is owned by a legal entity qualifying as a commercial motor vehicle, and the insurance is less than insuring under age drivers. Consult with your local insurance agent in most cases you should be able to secure a less expensive insurance premium because under a commercial policy, typically the car is insured, not the driver(s).

The sibling in West Palm Beach in this real-life scenario could have not just reduced his/her auto insurance costs but he/she could have protected him/herself from any further lawsuits as a result of his/her younger sister's illegal accident.

Cheap Car Insurance for Teens – How to Keep the Rates Down

2007-05-17T04:26:00.001-07:00

One of the best ways to keep the rates down and obtain cheap car insurance for teens is by having your teen enroll in a driver education course. Not only do most car insurance companies offer discounts to teens who have taken driver education courses, but a driver education course will also help better prepare your teen for the road. Driver education courses are offered in most American high schools, and can be obtained by private companies.

Most driver education courses include classroom instruction, driving practice, and maintenance tips, as well as provide experience.

Classroom Instruction. Driver education courses include classroom instruction. Although most teens are anxious to get behind the wheel, the classroom instruction is necessary to begin teaching them about street signs, traffic lights, and basic rules of the road.

Driving Practice. During driving practice, not only will teens benefit from driving with and getting feedback from an experienced driver, but they’ll also get to see their classmates in action. Therefore, the students will learn from their classmates’ errors and successes.

Maintenance Tips. Some driver education courses teach teens basic car maintenance and repairs. For example, your teen’s driver education course may teach students how to change a flat tire. This is an emergency that can occur for drivers of any age.

Experience. Although a driver education course will not make your teen as experienced at driving as you are, it will give your teen experience that he or she did not previously have. Getting behind the wheel of a car with a driving instructor will give your teen a “heads up” when it comes to actually taking his or her driver license examination.

When the time comes for your teen to take the driver license exam and ultimately purchase car insurance – or be added to your car insurance policy – you can help keep the rates down by making sure your teen has taken a driver education course.

How to Get Cheap Car Insurance for Teens - Some Tips and Advice

2007-05-17T04:25:00.000-07:00

A good piece of advice for helping your teen get cheap car insurance is to make sure your teen becomes a safe and experienced driver. Car insurance companies offer the cheapest rates to those drivers who have stellar driving records, i.e., minimal or no traffic tickets and accidents.

You may be surprised to read that one of the main steps you can take to ensure your teen becomes a safe and experienced driver is to allow your teen to drive often. Think about it: if your teen does not get any driving practice, how is he supposed to become experienced? And without driving experience, how is your teen supposed to know how to handle certain driving situations?

You can not just hand your teen the keys when it is time to leave for college. You must help your teen become a safe and experienced driver before he leaves the nest. Below are some tips to get started.

Save yourself the effort. One way to help your teen become an experienced driver is to let him run your errands – even if it is just a quick trip to the grocery store. Wouldn’t you rather kick off your shoes before starting dinner than stand in line for bread and milk?

Take advantage of the weather. Do not refuse to let your teen drive if it is snowing or raining. The seasons won’t stop changing when you’re no longer around to shelter your teen, so you may as well prepare him for all driving conditions.

Go cruising. Let your teen take you for a Saturday spin once in a while. He will benefit from the relaxed driving atmosphere.

Watch your teen’s driving habits. Each time you and your teen are in the car together, pay close attention to your teen’s driving habits. Do not scrutinize or criticize your teen – that will only make him nervous. Praise the good moves, and correct the errors.

How to Get Cheap Car Insurance in Michigan

2007-05-17T04:01:00.000-07:00

Finding cheap car insurance in Michigan isn’t similar to conducting brain surgery, though at times it may feel like it. You just have to know what you need, what you could use, and what is out there being offered to you.

Purchase Michigan’s minimum car insurance requirements. Michigan requires three kinds of car insurance coverage: personal injury protection (PIP), bodily and property damage (BI/PD) and property protection insurance (PPI). None of these kinds of car insurance coverage protect against damage and theft, though; for those kinds of protection, you must purchase comprehensive and collision car insurance policies.

Purchase a multi-line policy. A multi-line policy means you have more than one kind of insurance policy from the same insurance company. For example, some people purchase both their health insurance policies and their life insurance policies from the same insurance company. Talk with one of your current insurance companies about the different kinds of insurance they offer. You may end up purchasing a cheap car insurance policy from your homeowner insurance company, or vice versa.

Consider a multi-car policy. A multi-car policy – when you have added more than one car to your current car insurance policy – provides a discount on your car insurance in Michigan. This doesn’t mean you should run out and purchase a new car to get a multi-car policy; however, if your spouse or teenager has his or her own car and insurance policy, join up and get a discount.

Ask about other special discounts. Other special discounts include those intended for good drivers, good students, senior citizen discounts, and discounts based on the location in which you live as well as the car you drive and its safety features. Some car insurance companies in Michigan offer discounts specific to their insurance company. For example, one Michigan car insurance company may offer discounts to drivers who drive for a certain period of time with no accidents or traffic infractions.

How to Get Cheap Car Insurance in NC

2007-05-01T03:56:00.001-07:00

Is it possible to get cheap car insurance in NC if your driving record is less than perfect and your car’s included on this year’s list of cars most at threat for being stolen? Actually, it is possible. While your North Carolina car insurance company may not be throwing discounts at you left and right, you can still find a way to get cheap car insurance.

Aside from taking advantage of discounts offered by car insurance companies, the simplest way to get cheap car insurance is by purchasing only the minimum requirements. North Carolina’s minimum car insurance requirements are $25,000 for coverage of property damage; $30,000 for coverage of the bodily injury of one person; and $60,000 for coverage of the bodily injury of two or more persons.

So, how do you know if purchasing the state’s minimum car insurance requirements is the right option for you to obtain cheap car insurance in NC?

If your car is completely paid for, you may consider purchasing the minimum car insurance requirements in NC. If you borrowed money to purchase your car, your lender will most likely require you to purchase full coverage car insurance in NC; however, once your car is completely paid for and only in your name, you are free to put any kind of car insurance on it you want. This means you can purchase the minimum car insurance requirements for the state.

Another instance in which you may want to purchase the minimum car insurance requirements in NC is if you are a student, or you are just entering the workforce. Students spend most of their time in class or studying, so finding a job that will pay high car insurance premiums is difficult. People who have just entered the workforce are trying to get on their feet and settled. Once students graduate and once new employees get on their feet, more car insurance can be purchased.

How to Get Really Cheap Car Insurance in New Jersey

2007-05-01T03:55:00.002-07:00

One reason car insurance prices continue to rise in New Jersey as well as the rest of America is insurance fraud. Insurance fraud makes it necessary for car insurance companies – and all insurance companies, for that matter – to raise their rates in order to compensate for the money being paid for illegal insurance claims.

You can help yourself, and your fellow New Jersey drivers, to keep car insurance prices down and help maintain cheap car insurance in New Jersey by educating yourself about insurance fraud.

What is insurance fraud?

A person commits insurance fraud when he or she gives his or her car insurance company false information while filing an insurance claim. For example, if you crashed into a telephone poll, and claimed you had a friend in the vehicle with you who sustained injuries, your friend could collect money from your insurance company to compensate for the injuries. You two could split the money and have a fun night. However, that friend was never in the car, so it’s fraud.

How does insurance fraud affect me?

As a New Jersey driver, insurance fraud affects you when car insurance companies have to keep hiking up their premiums. You end up paying more money to compensate for the crimes committed by others.

Do those who commit insurance fraud walk away wealthier?

Well, the sad truth is that if they don’t get caught, they do walk away with some extra money in their pockets. However, if the do get caught committing insurance fraud in New Jersey, they face losing their driver’s licenses, paying fines of up to $15,000 per incident, and jail time.

What should I do if I know of an insurance fraud incident? To help keep cheap car insurance in New Jersey, you can report any incidents of insurance fraud by calling (877) 55-FRAUD. All information about yourself is kept anonymous and the fraud information you provide is kept confidential

How to Get Really Cheap Car Insurance in New York

2007-05-01T03:55:00.001-07:00

New York State is a no-fault state in terms of car insurance coverage. Simply put, this means your car insurance policy will cover you, and the other guy’s car insurance policy will cover him, regardless of who was at fault for the damages.

You can purchase New York’s minimum car insurance requirements just the same as you would in any other state in America; however, New York’s minimum car insurance coverage requirements are a bit more in-depth as far as coverage goes, and pricier as far as costs go.

The minimum car insurance coverage in New York is as follows:

$10,000: Property damage liability
$50,000: Basic, no-fault coverage

Bodily injury liability: For injury, $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. For death, $50,000 per person, and $100,000 per accident. Uninsured motorist’s coverage: For injury, $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident. For death, $50,000 per person, and $100,000 per accident.

Of course, if you don’t own your car out-right, i.e., you borrowed money from a lender to help pay for it, you may have to purchase more car insurance than the minimum.

Despite the high costs of the minimum car insurance requirements, it is possible to get cheap car insurance in New York. Shop around with a few NY car insurance companies (remember, drivers in New York must purchase car insurance from a company licensed to do business in New York) and ask about what kinds of discounts they offer. Some discounts are pretty standard, such as those for good students and multi-line policies; other discounts may be unique to that particular car insurance company.

You may also make changes on your own to your car. Make sure it is up-to-date with safety features such as anti-theft alarm systems and reinforced window. Child-proof locks aren’t only safe, but impressive to car insurance companies. And instead of leaving your car in the side of the street, store it in a garage.

How to Buy Cheap Auto Insurance Online and Save A Bundle

2007-04-19T04:19:00.001-07:00

Where to Buy Cheap Auto Insurance Online

The best way to get the best price for anything is to comparison shop, and it's especially true when you're trying to buy cheap auto insurance online.

In the good ol' days, before the Internet, you had to spend hours on the telephone answering hundreds of questions just to get a handful of car insurance quotes. And then you had to decipher those quotes to make sure you were comparing apples to apples.

Now, it only takes a few minutes online in the privacy of your home to get a number of quotes so you can compare rates and get a cheap auto insurance quote.

There are a number of comparison sites that will give you rate quotes from top-rated insurance companies (see links below). When you go to one of these sites you'll be asked some questions to determine what type of policy you need. Then you can decide which quote is best for you.

It's quick, it's easy, and best of all, it's free.

Other Money-Saving Tips

* Before you visit a car insurance comparison site, have your policy handy so you can refer to it for some of the questions you'll have to answer.

* Consider raising your deductible. This alone can save you up to 30% on your auto insurance premiums.

* If you drive an older model car, consider dropping your collision coverage. Collision coverage can cost upwards of $450 a year and may be more than the cost of repairing your car.

* Drop your coverage for medical payments if you already have medical insurance that covers you.

* Don't just compare rates, compare ratings. You want to get the cheapest rate with the highest-rated company.

Cheap Car Insurance for Teens – How to Keep the Rates Down

2007-04-19T04:18:00.002-07:00

We love them even though they are expensive – a fact that doesn’t change once they get older. They become extra costly once they become teens. Their taste in clothing becomes more expensive. Santa no longer brings stuffed animals; he’s hauling the newest Nintendo in his bag. They need money for proms, football camps, cheerleading uniforms, and band instruments.

What happened to the days when peek-a-boo was enough to make them smile?

Teens are also notorious for having more expensive car insurance rates than older drivers. This is mainly because car insurance companies view teens as less experienced drivers and more risky to insure. Since age is already working against them, teens must take extra care to make other factors car insurance companies look at work for them.

Despite the rising costs of raising teens, there is a way to get cheap car insurance for teens – actually, it could be the most important way to get cheap car insurance for your teen. Buy your teen a practical, affordable, and safe car.

Teens dream about the day they become old enough to drive, and many teens get their first car when that day comes; however, if it is a flashy, expensive, unsafe car the car insurance company will see it as likely to be stolen or robbed, costly to repair in the event it becomes damaged, and likely to not protect against accidents.

On the other hand, if the car is modest in appearance and price, as well as equipped with safety features, the car insurance company will be more likely to offer a cheap car insurance quote for the teen.

By purchasing your teen an affordable, practical car, not only are you helping to get cheap car insurance for your teen, you are also helping to keep your teen safe which makes buying your teen this kind of car the most important way to get cheap car insurance for your teen.

Compare Auto Insurance Prices The Quick and Easy Way

2007-04-19T04:18:00.001-07:00

Before the Internet came along the only way you could compare auto insurance prices was to spend half a day going to insurance offices, or calling insurance agents, to get enough quotes to get a good rate.

Now all it takes to get a cheap auto insurance rate is to spend a couple of minutes online in the comfort of your home. You don't even have to spend time surfing different insurance sites because there are insurance comparison sites that will allow you to get rates from different companies all under one roof.

All you do is fill out one online questionnaire to get multiple quotes from different top-rated auto insurance companies in your area. It's fast, it's easy, and it's free.

How to Compare Auto Insurance Prices Online

Here's how to compare auto insurance prices online quickly and easily ...

1. Be aware of the discounts you can get. The top three ways to save money on your policy are:

* Raising your deductible - this can save you $500 or more on your insurance.

* Dropping your collision coverage if you have an older car.

* Dropping medical coverage if you're covered by medical insurance.

2. If you have a policy, have it handy so you can refer to it to answer questions on the online questionnaire.

3. After you choose the best insurance rate, check the company's ratings at JDPower.com to make sure the company you choose is reliable and will give you good service.

4. When you get your policy read it over carefully to make sure you're getting all the deductions you can, and all the insurance you need.

Bottom Line

Is it worth spending a few minutes of your time to compare auto insurance prices online? Most definitely.

When I went comparison shopping a few years ago I was able to save more than $450 on my yearly premium.

Get The Cheapest Car Insurance Rate Quickly and Easily

2007-04-19T04:17:00.000-07:00

Finding the cheapest car insurance rate is simply a matter of comparison shopping. But how can you get the cheapest rate without spending hours on end talking to insurance agents? Here's how...

Make a List

The first thing you need to do when it comes to getting the cheapest car insurance rate is to make a list of all the discounts you can get. Here are some of the biggest money savers:

1.Deductibles - Raising your insurance deductible from $200 to $500 can save you 30% on your insurance premium. Raising it to $1,000 could cut your premium in half.

2. Cars - The type of automobile you drive determines the insurance rate you pay. The difference in insuring an expensive sports car and an inexpensive family sedan can be as much as $1,000 a year.

3. Safety features and ant-theft devices - Most insurance companies will give you discounts for air bags, anti lock brakes, and automatic seat belts. They will also give discounts if you have a burglar alarm or other anti-theft devices installed in your car.

Eliminate unnecessary coverage

Drop your medical coverage if you already have a medical insurance policy that covers you, and get rid of your towing coverage if you're an AAA member.

Eliminate your collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, or both if you drive an older model car and the cost of your annual premium is the same as the value of your car.

Go Shopping

Shopping online is a quick and convenient way to shop for most anything, and it's especially true when it comes to auto insurance. Rates for the same auto insurance coverage from different companies can vary as much as $1,000.

After you make your list of auto insurance discounts, fire up your computer and head to an online car insurance comparison site. Here you can get a number of quotes from top-rated insurance companies so you can compare quotes and choose the cheapest car insurance rate.

Discount Auto Insurance - Save $300 to $500 a Year!

2007-04-19T04:16:00.000-07:00

You can find everything online these days, even car insurance. Here I'll show you how to get discount auto insurance from top-rated companies quickly and easily.

Get Online Quotes

The only way to get the cheapest discount auto insurance is to comparison shop, and the easiest way to do that is to shop online.

All the top companies - American Family, State Farm, Allstate - maintain websites where you can get online quotes. But it can take all day going from site to site, filling out forms and talking to agents, in search of discount auto insurance.

Now, there's a better way. There are comparison auto insurance websites that have A-rated companies all under one roof. All you need to do is spend a few minutes filling out a simple online questionnaire and you'll receive a number of quotes from those companies.

Believe me, there's no better way to find cheap auto insurance. It's fast, it's easy, and it's free!

Get Maximum Discounts

Part of the form-filling process is to include the discounts you want so you can get your car insurance at the best possible price. Some of the discounts you may want to consider are:

* Combining your auto insurance with your homeowners insurance: 10% - 15% discount.

* Raising your deductible to $500 or $1,000: 10% - 50% discount.

* Insuring both your cars with the same company: 10% - 15% discount.

* Dropping your collision coverage if you drive an older car: 15% - 30% discount.

Bottom Line

A few minutes spent searching for discount auto insurance online can save you $300 to $500 or more on your car insurance premium. Why not give it a try and see how much you can save.

Exploring Options for Cheap Auto Insurance in California

2007-04-16T02:14:00.001-07:00

The state of California is known for its high prices. The cost of living in general is much higher than the cost of living in many other locations. California also requires relatively high levels of auto insurance coverage to be carried, resulting in extremely high insurance premiums. While car insurance rates will always be higher in California than in many other areas, a bit of persistence can result in a significant savings.

Drivers in California should follow every available general suggestion on ways to minimize their insurance premiums. They should also shop around carefully, as rates can vary dramatically from one company to another. One reason for this is that California law allows insurers to charge based on previous payouts. If for whatever reason your insurer has paid an unusual number of claims, then your rates may be affected.

If you are in the market for reasonably priced car insurance in California, begin by determining which coverages you actually need. Many insurance companies have their own in-house minimums, which may be significantly higher than the state-mandated requirements. Check with the state to determine exactly what is required and insist that the insurance company begin with those numbers. Additional coverage will be determined by many factors including the value of your car, whether you are making payments and your financial resources.

Maintaining a clean driving record is the single biggest factor in keeping your insurance rates low. Safe driver bonuses are plentiful but may require a perfect record. Other discounts are available for full time students, members of various organizations, retirees and others. Make sure that you are taking advantage of every possible discount or bonus.

Purchase your insurance online through a comparison network such as esurance.com. These sites list many different plans without bias, and generally offer lower rates than those available through a middleman who draws a commission. Make sure that you compare plans that are identical in terms of coverage, deductible and additional products.

Consider a higher deductible. If you are a good driver with a low risk of accidents then it may be better to pay a higher deductible should an accident occur, as opposed to a high monthly premium. Before making this decision examine your budget to determine whether the money would be available to pay the deductible if needed.

Check insurance rates before buying a new car. Vehicles are classified by group and certain groups such as sports cars cost significantly more to insure. Your driving record also plays a part, meaning that young drivers of sports cars will pay much more than both young drivers with other cars and older drivers with good records who own sports cars.

Truly cheap car insurance is difficult or impossible to find in California. However a bit of persistence can pay off in significant savings. Shop around, drop unnecessary coverages and be sure that you are getting all applicable discounts. You will be able to find insurance that will fit your budget while meeting your needs.The state of California is known for its high prices. The cost of living in general is much higher than the cost of living in many other locations. California also requires relatively high levels of auto insurance coverage to be carried, resulting in extremely high insurance premiums. While car insurance rates will always be higher in California than in many other areas, a bit of persistence can result in a significant savings.

Drivers in California should follow every available general suggestion on ways to minimize their insurance premiums. They should also shop around carefully, as rates can vary dramatically from one company to another. One reason for this is that California law allows insurers to charge based on previous payouts. If for whatever reason your insurer has paid an unusual number of claims, then your rates may be affected.

If you are in the market for reasonably priced car insurance in California, begin by determining which coverages you actually need. Many insurance companies have their own in-house minimums, which may be significantly higher than the state-mandated requirements. Check with the state to determine exactly what is required and insist that the insurance company begin with those numbers. Additional coverage will be determined by many factors including the value of your car, whether you are making payments and your financial resources.

Maintaining a clean driving record is the single biggest factor in keeping your insurance rates low. Safe driver bonuses are plentiful but may require a perfect record. Other discounts are available for full time students, members of various organizations, retirees and others. Make sure that you are taking advantage of every possible discount or bonus.

Purchase your insurance online through a comparison network such as esurance.com. These sites list many different plans without bias, and generally offer lower rates than those available through a middleman who draws a commission. Make sure that you compare plans that are identical in terms of coverage, deductible and additional products.

Consider a higher deductible. If you are a good driver with a low risk of accidents then it may be better to pay a higher deductible should an accident occur, as opposed to a high monthly premium. Before making this decision examine your budget to determine whether the money would be available to pay the deductible if needed.

Check insurance rates before buying a new car. Vehicles are classified by group and certain groups such as sports cars cost significantly more to insure. Your driving record also plays a part, meaning that young drivers of sports cars will pay much more than both young drivers with other cars and older drivers with good records who own sports cars.

Truly cheap car insurance is difficult or impossible to find in California. However a bit of persistence can pay off in significant savings. Shop around, drop unnecessary coverages and be sure that you are getting all applicable discounts. You will be able to find insurance that will fit your budget while meeting your needs.

Low Cost Auto Insurance - How to Get the Best Possible Price

2007-04-16T02:13:00.001-07:00

There are a ton of choices out there when it comes to low cost auto insurance. So how do you find the cheapest auto insurance with the best company? Here's how ...

Compare Quotes

Far and away the best way to get the cheapest low cost auto insurance is to comparison shop online. There are Internet sites where you can get a number of quotes from A-rated companies so you can compare quotes and get the best rate from the best company (see links below).

All you do is fill out a simple online form in order to determine what kind of coverage you want. It's quick, it's easy, and best of all, it's free.

Get Discounts

As you fill out the online form, make sure you include all the discounts you're entitled to. Here are the biggest money-savers when it comes to buying low cost auto insurance:

Deductibles - An insurance deductible is the amount of money you pay before your auto insurance company pays a claim. Raising your deductible from $100 to $500 can save you 10% to 15% on your insurance. Raising it to $1,000 can save you up to 50%.

Collision coverage - Collision coverage covers your repair costs when you're involved in an accident. It can cost you $500 or more depending on the type of car you drive and it's age. The cost of collision coverage for older cars may be more than the cost of repairing the car.

A rule of thumb is to drop your collision coverage if your insurance premium is 10% or more than your car's current value.

Bundled insurance - You can get a 15% discount with most companies by putting your auto insurance with your homeowners insurance. And you can save 15% if you own two autos and insure them both with the same company.

Buying a New Car? Pick the Safest and Save on Car Insurance

2007-04-16T02:12:00.000-07:00

If you're going to be purchasing a new car in the near future, you may want to think about how the car is going to affect your car insurance rates. Believe it or not, the car you choose will definitely affect how low or high your car insurance rates will be, but you can choose a safer car to ensure that you get low rate car insurance that is affordable. The following are some of the safest cars that you can buy and purchasing a safer vehicle will result in great savings on your car insurance.

1. Volkswagen Passat - In 2006, the number one rated family sedan for safety was the Volkswagen Passat GLX, which has a V6 engine. This car provided excellent safety features designed by Volkswagen and tested out to be the safest car in the family sedan category. If you want a nice family car that is fairly inexpensive and also very safe for your family, this is a great choice!

2. Toyota Camry - Still in the class of family sedans, the Toyota Camry came in second place in 2006, right behind the Volkswagen Passat. The Camry is a bit cheaper than the Passat, and also comes with great safety features that make it one of the best choices if you want a car that is safe for your family.

3. Volkswagen Golf - If you are looking for a smaller car, but you still want great safety, you may want to consider the Volkswagen Golf as your next choice. In smaller cars, the Golf won the number one spot for safety with the great safety features offered by the Volkswagen automaker.

4. Honda Civic EX - Another smaller car that was high on the safety list, scoring number two, is the Honda Civic EX. Once again, this car is a bit more cost friendly than the Volkswagen Golf, and it still comes with excellent safety features that will keep you safe and help you get lower car insurance rates. If you are purchasing a car on a budget but want to make sure it has great safety features as well, then this car is an excellent buy.

5. Honda CR-V - If you are looking for a small SUV with a great safety rating, you may want to consider purchasing the Honda CR-V. While usually you will pay more to insure a SUV, the Honda CR-V provides safety features and a great safety rating that will help you save.

6. Toyota Highlander - If you want a larger SUV but you want to make sure the vehicle is safe, the Toyota highlander is a great choice. The Highlander is one of the cheaper SUV’s available and comes with a great safety rating that will have you driving with confidence.

When you're going to purchase a new car, you want to look at the cost of the car, but you also want to check out how much it will cost to insure your car as well. Picking a car that has a high safety rating and great safety features can save you a great deal of money on car insurance rates each year. Take control of your car insurance rates and purchase a vehicle that will keep you safe and help you find low rate car insurance.

The 3 Steps To Cheap Car Insurance

2007-04-16T02:10:00.000-07:00

The biggest mistake drivers make when buying car insurance is just calling the first company that comes to mind, which is probably the one they last saw on television. You are sure to end up paying way too much for insurance if you do this.

Here is a flawless way to get the cheapest insurance without sacrificing good coverage.

Step 1 – Compose a List of 10 Car Insurance Companies

Start with the top nationwide companies like All-State, Geico and Esurance. Then, finish off the list with some local companies. It’s important to inquire from several companies for two reasons. First, you’ll find that the rates are quite different, in some cases one company may be $100s less than the others. The second reason building a list is good is that later on when you are talking to agents and getting quotes, they’ll quickly see that you are shopping around and therefore may offer an even lower rate right on the spot.

Step 2- Get Quotes

Get online quotes from all the companies that offer this service. Be sure you keep track of the kind of coverage you are getting a quote for. Don’t make the mistake of believing one company is cheaper than the other when in fact they are only cheaper because the quote was for less coverage. Then, call all the companies that don’t have online service and see what they will offer you. Make sure that you get every quote in writing. Email should be good enough. You need a paper trail. Finally, put your list in order from the cheapest to most expensive. Now you’re ready for the next step.

Step 3- Bargain

Call the company offering the 2nd cheapest rate. Ask them if they can do better than the cheapest offer you had. If they can, make sure you get the quote in writing. You can stop here if you want and purchase your car insurance. Or, you can rinse and repeat this step to see if any of the other companies are willing to beat lowest quote. When your satisfied that you found that lowest quote then buy your car insurance.

Mexican Auto Insurance Tips for Purchasing Online

2007-04-16T02:09:00.000-07:00

There are several companies in Mexico for general as well as auto and other goods. The policies are high-yielding, secure and reliable. The returns are high. The premium is also low. The Mexicans live peaceful lives after insuring themselves and their goods, for example houses, cars, home appliances and the like. The coverage ranges from daily to annual. Even driving licenses may be insured. The business growth of the insurance companies has been astounding. Almost all started their business in small capacity, but over the years those have turned into giants having branch offices throughout the length and breadth of Mexico.

The Insurance Companies collect personal information such as the name of the Internet service provider and the Internet Protocol (IP) address through which you access the Internet. The Companies are committed to protecting the security of your personal information. They use a variety of security technologies and procedures to help protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. For example, they store the personal information you provide on computer servers with limited access that are located in controlled facilities.

Additionally, when they transmit sensitive personal information (such as a credit card number) over the Internet, the companies protect it through the use of encryption, such as the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol. All credit card transactions that take place with Insurance companies are provided by special net security which has its own private policy. The measure has been chosen to secure all the customer’s transactions due to the number of years that they have been providing this first class service. They provide the SAFE gateway to thousands of companies and have implemented security measures that cannot be duplicated by other sites.

The insurance companies may occasionally update the privacy statement. When they do, they will also revise the "Updated" date at the top of the privacy statement. The companies encourage customers to periodically review the privacy statement to stay informed about how the companies are helping to protect the personal information.

All said and done, it is always advisable that the people purchase insurance from a financially stronger insurer. There are over fifty insurance companies in Mexico, of which some are good and some are bad. According to the 1997 report of the Mexican insurance Commission, only two Mexican Insurance companies write over $400 million US in non-life premium (life insurance excluded). These companies are Grupo Nacional Provincial and Seguros Commercial America.

The next three largest companies write between $100 million US and $200 million US in premium. Each of the remaining insurers writes less than$70 million in premium (with quite a few writing less than $10 million) including some companies quite familiar to purchasers of Mexico Insurance. Mexico law mandates that only insurance companies which are licensed and admitted in Mexico can provide ‘civil liberty’ coverage that is recognized by the judicial system of Mexico.

What Does A Car Insurance Policy Covers?

2007-04-10T04:07:00.001-07:00

Liability to bodily injuries Liability to property damages Collision Insurance Comprehensive Insurance Medical Expenses Insurance Coverage for uninsured motorists

It is important for you to understand what all these do for you when you get a car insurance policy. Each of these details covers different areas. Normally they are lumped together in a car insurance policy. But you can always separate them. If you do look for a car insurance policy, it is good to make sure you get it in any combination you want, but make sure to get it from the same company; to avoid any complications later, when and where as claims are involved.

In general car insurance falls in two categories. Namely, property coverage for damages to your car, and liability coverage to others' vehicles and properties involved. They type and level of liability car insurance you have to be insured is subjected to regulations imposed by the area authority you are in. Requirements varies from areas you

are in, but it always wise to insure more that the minimum required, so as to protect you sufficiently.

To get the best deal on the car insurance you will need you should get familiar with all the options available in the

coverage. Determine your local authority's requirements, and then specifies what is needed for you. Decide on the type of

deductibles you need and the premiums you are willing to pay. Check with the car insurance company or the agent you approached for

discounts you may have or entitled due to your good driving record (sometime termed as "no claim bonused"). Go about asking for quotes

from differennt car insurance companies and talk to as many agents as possible.

Auto Insurance Ratings - What Companies Are the Best?

2007-04-10T04:06:00.002-07:00

You can get auto insurance ratings from a number of services. But do these ratings really tell you what you need to know? Here's the inside scoop on how find the best rates with the best companies.

Auto Insurance Ratings

As a former insurance agent I'm often asked, "What's the best insurance company?" My answer is usually, "Best in terms of what? Biggest? Best known? Most solvent? Best rates? Best service?"

There are three major services that provide auto insurance ratings - A.M. Best, Standard and Poor's, and Moody's. However, their ratings focus primarily on a company's financial strength.

Nice to know if you're an investor or an insurance agent trying to impress potential client. But what you really want to know is how good a company's service is and how fast they pay their claims.

The best way to find out this information is not to check a company's ratings, the best way is to ask the company's customers.

But what if you don't know anyone who's dealt with a particular company?

There's an easy way to get the inside scoop on insurance companies. It's a little-known site where actual customers rate companies on such things as customer service, response to claims, and even website experience.

My favorite part is the review section where customers pass on their experiences with various companies. It is, to say the least, a real eye opener.

Be careful when you read the reviews because some of them look like they were done by insurance company employees ("These guys are the greatest!"), and some were done by their competitors ("These guys suck!"). As in the Olympics, toss out the highest and the lowest ratings, or at least take them with a grain of salt, and go with the majority.

Comparison Shop First

If your looking for the cheapest insurance rate with an A-rated company there are websites where you can get multiple quotes from top-rated companies. My advice is to check out one of these sites first to get the best quote, then check out the company.

How to Get the Cheapest Car Insurance Quote

2007-04-10T04:06:00.001-07:00

Looking to get the cheapest car insurance quote you can? Here's a step-by-step guide that will show you how.

Go Shopping

Rates for the same insurance coverage can vary from one insurance company to another by as much as $1,000, so the first thing you need to do to get the cheapest car insurance quote is go to an online insurance comparison site. There you can get quotes from various companies so you can compare them and get the cheapest rate. One of the best comparison sites is listed below.

Get Discounts

In order to get rate quotes from one of these sites you'll be asked to fill out a questionnaire where you can list the types of coverages and discounts you want.

Here's a list of the biggest money-savers:

1.You can save 10% to 15% on your insurance premium by increasing your deductible from $100 to $500. You'll save 25% to 30% by increasing it to $1,000.

2. If you have two cars you can save 10% to 15% by insuring them with the same company.

3. If you have an older car that's not worth a lot you can save 15% to 30% by eliminating collision and comprehensive coverage.

Other money-savers include:

- Eliminating medical coverage if you already have medical insurance.

- Requesting discounts for security and safety devices such as anti-theft devices, car alarms, and air bags.

- Eliminating towing and car rental coverages if you already have them or don't want them.

Check Companies

The cheapest car insurance may not be cheap at all if your insurance company refuses to pay a claim. So before you buy your insurance, I recommend going to epinions.com to see what actual customers have to say about the various companies and what their claims experience has been.

Auto Insurance - Tips To Reduce Rates

2007-04-10T04:04:00.000-07:00

While auto insurance is the thing that almost every car owner has to deal with, not anyone wants to take the trouble of seeking affordable auto insurance quotes. However, no one would refuse if they were offered a good deal. It is just about the time people whish to spend on the quest for a better deal. Time is precious and here are the tips that will allow you to get a cheap auto insurance without wasting your precious time resources.

Before the Internet emerged in our lives, it was a rather difficult task to compare available quotes from different companies. People had to spend long hours on the phone to get a piece of a valuable information. Now, with the Internet, everything is much easier. You can switch on your computer and get quotes from several companies within a few minutes. Lots of insurance companies and agencies have their websites online and with the help of special forms you can request available auto insurance quotes. The vast majority of companies provide this service with no charge.

There are some other legitimate ways to decrease insurance rates. Insurance companies would greatly appreciate if you gave them as much detailed information about yourself as possible. Your marital status as well as vehicle’s safety features may have an impact on the insurance rate you’ll be offered. Uncertainty costs more then transparency. Insurance companies will offer you more affordable rates if they know about you everything they need.

Manipulating deductibles is another way to influence on your insurance premiums. High deductibles will allow you to get lower insurance premiums. For instance, if you raise your deductible for a couple of hundreds of dollars you’ll get a reduction of a hundred dollars. But you should be ready to take the financial burden in case an accident happens.

By installing anti-theft alarm systems on your vehicle not only you reduce the chances of your car being stolen but also lower your insurance premiums. Insurance companies consider such cars less risky, which means they are potentially less expensive for insurers. As a result your insurer may reduce your insurance premiums.

Most of auto insurance policies include coverage for medical costs. This is a reasonable option unless you already have a health insurance policy that covers you in case you are injured. And if this is the case you may consider excluding medical costs coverage from your auto insurance policy.

While you are in chase of lower insurance rates, don’t forget to check the credibility history of the company you’re going to deal with. Established insurers with a long history should be your primary targets. And find out whether the company you’ve chosen has a license to operate in your state, otherwise there is no reason for you in such a company.

How to Buy Auto Insurance Online - Top Tips for Saving Big Bucks

2007-04-10T04:03:00.001-07:00

Looking to buy auto insurance online? Want to get the cheapest insurance rate with the best insurance company? Here's how ...

1. Comparison shop - Insurance rates can vary as much as $1,000 between companies, so the first thing you need to do is get quotes at an insurance comparison site before you buy auto insurance online. (See links below)

2. Increase your deductible - Raising your deductible by a couple of hundred dollars can save you up to 50% on your insurance premium.

3. Drop your collision and comprehensive coverage - If the cost of collision and comprehensive coverage for an older car is more than the cost of repairing that car, consider dropping these coverages.

4. Bundle your insurance - Including your auto insurance with your homeowners insurance can save you 15%.

5. Use one company - If you have two or more cars you can save up to 15% by insuring them with the same company.

6. Drop duplicate coverage - Eliminate your medical coverage if you're already covered under you heath insurance policy, and drop towing coverage if you're covered by AAA.

7. Install a security device - Most insurance companies will give you a discount if you install a car alarm or other anti-theft device.

8. Request discounts - Ask your insurer what discounts are available and take advantage of them. Get all the discounts you're entitled to for such items as automatic seat belts, airbags, and anti-lock brakes.

9. Check ratings - You're not saving a dime if your insurance company won't pay your claim. I recommend going to epinions.com to see what actual customers have to say about various auto insurance companies and how they pay their claims.

The Real Facts Surrounding Auto Insurance Claims

2007-04-06T02:18:00.002-07:00

A car accident can be a scary time in anyone’s life. Even if the damage is minimal there is a police report to file, the other driver to deal with and an auto insurance claim to file. If it is your first accident you may find yourself overwhelmed and unsure what to do first. Fortunately filing a claim is a step by step process that is relatively simple to learn and understand.

The success of your auto insurance claim will be determined by many factors. What you say and do at the scene of the accident, the completeness and accuracy of the police report, the accuracy of information that you receive from the other driver and the speed with which you make the insurance report can all affect your ultimate claim results.

At the Scene Never admit fault. In most jurisdictions “relative fault” comes into play for insurance purposes. Even if you clearly did something wrong, the other driver is obligated to try to avoid hitting you. If he did not do everything possible to avoid the accident then he may be partially at fault. Relative fault is complicated and best left to experts to determine. Simply stick to the facts and be honest but avoid discussions of fault.

Make sure to get the other driver’s full name, vehicle information and complete insurance information, as well as a contact number. Insist on a police report even if there is only minor damage. Write a statement for your own records at the scene if possible or as soon as you get home.

You should report the accident to your insurance company as soon as possible. Your insurer will send you forms which must be accurately completed. Be sure to call the insurance company if you need any help with the forms, as these forms will be the primary documents used to investigate your claim. The insurer may also request the police report and the other driver’s insurance information. The next steps will depend on the insurance company’s determination of fault, their normal procedures, and the type of insurance you have.

If the other driver is determined to be at fault then his insurance company may offer you a quick settlement, especially if you were injured. Take time to review the settlement offer and if possible, have an attorney look it over. You will need to make the determination as to whether the offer is fair and reasonable. Your other option is a lawsuit, which can be costly and time consuming. Only you and your attorney can decide which choice is right for you.

Although a car accident and the accompanying paperwork can be scary and intimidating, the actual process of filing a claim is a step by step and relatively simple process. Follow the above tips and do not hesitate to ask questions. You will be successful in filing your auto insurance claim.

Cheap Car Insurance For Women - How to Get the Best Rates

2007-04-06T02:18:00.001-07:00

Statistically, women have fewer accidents than men and therefore have lower insurance rates. Even so, if you're a woman you still want to get the cheapest insurance you can. Here's how to do just that.

Compare Rates

Because women's insurance rates can vary as much as $1,000 between companies for the same type of policy, the first thing you need to do is to find the company with the best rates.

The quickest and easiest way to that is to go to an online insurance comparison website. There you'll get get quotes from top-ranked companies so you can compare rates. (See link below.)

Maximize Your Discounts

Once you're on the comparison site you'll need to fill out an online questionnaire so you can get a quote that fits your needs. As you fill out the questionnaire you'll be able include discounts for your policy. Here are the ones that will save you the most money:

* Increase you deductible if you can afford to pay it.

* Decline collision and comprehensive coverage if your car is worth less than your premium.

* Decline medical coverage if you already have medical insurance that covers you.

* Decline towing coverage if you have it through AAA or somewhere else.

* If you have two cars, insure them with the same company.

* Decline rental car coverage if you don't want it.

* Include all the discounts you're entitled to for security features like anti-theft devices, airbags, anti-lock brakes, and automatic seat belts.

Last, but not least, you'll want to go to a consumer rating site like Epinions.com to get the inside scoop on the company you choose, to find out how they treat their customers and how quickly they pay their claims.

Car Insurance

2007-04-06T02:17:00.002-07:00

Nearly all of us own a car or vehicle of some sort and one thing you must have if you plan to drive on a public highway is car insurance.

There are thousands of car insurance companies available to insure with and the best deals are normally found on the Internet.

That said, although you will probably pay more doing business with a high street broker you will have the added benefit of being able to probe them with questions and more importantly get them to do all the chasing around if you are unfortunate enough to have to make a claim.

Whilst searching for your car insurance it is worth taking the time to read the policy. Although car insurance policies are one of the most boring things on earth you will certainly be reading through it with a fine-toothed comb if you need to make a claim.

Generally when that time of year comes around when we have to hunt down the best car insurance deal we simply have one thing in mind and that is how much is this going to cost me! This approach can on some occasions backfire if you need to make a claim.

For instance, if you do get a great deal on the premium this can be reflected on the restrictions and terms and conditions applied in the policy. You may find that you will have to pay an enormous excess in the event of making a claim on the policy.

You may also find out after the event that your car insurance is not as comprehensive as you may have first thought it would be. An example of this would be if the car is subject to a theft and your valuable laptop and golf clubs have been stolen. To keep premiums down and attracting new customers car insurance policies will sometimes have a limit of cover afforded to valuables in the vehicle.

These points are worth considering even if most of us subscribe to the illusion that 'an accident is not going to happen to me because I drive carefully'

You need to consider the scope of cover you require. If your car is of a high value then you definitely need your car insurance to be fully comprehensive which will not only cover you for damage to other parties in the event of an accident but will also cover the cost of any damage rendered to your own car.

The alternative is third party fire and theft, which will only cover you for damage and injury to other parties. You will have to bear your own costs for the damage on your own car. This may be a viable solution if your car is not worth a great deal and the difference in the cost for comprehensive car insurance and third party is considerable and you wont mind suffering the loss of your own car if the worst should happen.

Motor Trader Insurance - 4 Reasons How Insurance Brokers Can Help Your Business

2007-04-06T02:17:00.001-07:00

Before we start to look at why using an insurance broker could be the perfect way to buy your Motor Trader Insurance let’s start off with a few supposed truths about the insurance industry.

Number 1 – Let’s be honest from the beginning and just say it – most people don’t like insurance. For most people losses rarely occur and therefore they are paying out insurance premiums year on year and yet they don’t actually see any real benefit of it.

Number 2 – Most people (even those who have suffered a loss and have made a claim) see insurance as too expensive with actual insurance companies seen as money grabbing and having no purpose other than to make money.

Number 3 – People see insurance as either boring and sold by men in suits or sold using annoying advertising on the television promising cheap or the cheapest insurance and delivering call centres who seemingly have replaced customer service with queues and staff who don’t really know what they are talking about.

If you’re a Motor Trader who needs to purchase Motor Trade Insurance and any of the 3 points above ring a bell with you then you really need to read on and discover just 4 reasons why using an insurance broker could be just what you need when you next buy your business insurance.

The first reason for using an insurance broker is that they can save you time. Yes you could spend time trawling the internet, thumbing through the yellow pages or ringing around a selection of insurance companies but you could also contact just 1 insurance broker and let them do the work for you. As a motor trader I’m sure you’re time could be put to better use elsewhere anyway.

The second reason why you might want to use an insurance broker when purchasing motor trader insurance is that providing they are independent (that is they have access to more than one policy) they can search to find you the very best cover. Cover that in some cases isn’t available anywhere else.

Another reason for choosing an insurance broker is that they can very often provide you with a level of service that you won’t find elsewhere. Go direct with an insurance company and there’s every chance you’ll be faced with queues, call centres and people without a real understanding of your needs. However choose the right insurance broker who understands the motor trade and you can benefit from advice and guidance aimed at reducing your exposure to risk. And in the event of a loss occurring they will even act on your behalf to make sure your claim is settled quickly and favourably.

The fourth and final reason why using an insurance broker could be just what you need when buying motor trade insurance is that they could save you money and we’d all no doubt like to be paying less for our insurance. A good broker will therefore be able to take advantage of the facilities they have with the leading insurance companies so you benefit from the cover, the service, the time savings and the premium savings all from the same source.

Motor Trade Insurance doesn’t have to complicated or expensive so find the right broker and make sure the price is right for your Business Insurance.

Motor Trade Insurance - Is The Price Right?

2007-04-06T02:16:00.001-07:00

If you’re a Motor Trader you’ll know more than anyone just how price sensitive the automotive industry can be. And as Motor Trade Insurance is likely to be one of your companies biggest outgoings paying the right price for your Motor Trader Insurance is going to be vital.

Whilst the UK has benefited from a pretty stable financial environment in recent years with rising house prices, low interest rates and many companies making money there now maybe signs of a change. During 2006 interest rates rose steadily and with 1 rate rise in 2007 already (and with more forecast as the year progresses) there is every chance that there will be less disposable income in the UK economy.

So what will this mean for consumers and Motor Traders?

Well for consumers it could mean they have less money to spend on new cars, second cars or indeed on the servicing and repair of existing vehicles. There is also every chance that as value for money becomes more of an issue they will shop around to secure the best price and service.

And when Motor Traders Insurance policies come due for renewal there is every chance they too will start looking around to secure the best deal on their Motor Trade Insurance. And if indeed money is an issue it is very easy for companies in the motor industry to opt for the cheapest is best option. After all, isn’t one type of Business Insurance pretty much the same as all the others?

Well for Motor Traders in the UK I would urge you to proceed with caution as whilst low cost motor trade insurance is available from many different insurance providers you don’t want to leave yourself in a position without the right level of cover or the right insurance excess (or deductable).

For many motor traders the best option to take when buying motor trade insurance for the first time or when their current motor trader insurance comes due for renewal would be to consult the services of an insurance broker. An insurance broker who specializes in motor trade insurance can search the market to find you the right cover at the right price so you not only save time – but you also save money.

In the event of you needing to make a claim they can also help you get the claim settled quicker and more favourably. A good insurance broker should give you advice and make sure you only pay for the insurance cover you need and want.

MGF Is A Fun Sports Car!

2007-04-06T02:15:00.003-07:00

The MGF, designed and produced by Rover, is a small mid-engined sports car, with a soft top roof and plenty of boot space. Despite this, it is not renowned for its practicality, but if that is what you are looking for then you are missing the point of the MGF - it is intended to be fun to drive and something of a head turner. The driving position is quite low to the ground, which means when the top is down you get a unique driving experience, it is ideal for the summer months. It grips the road well and has good balance when driving, which is just as well with a 0-60 time of just 8.5 seconds. It responds immediately to the slightest touch on either the accelerator or the break, roaring into life with a great burst of energy, yet slowing quickly without much effort.

However, the slightly cramped cabin (especially when the roof is up) and hard body styling makes for an uncomfortable time when taking in long journeys or negotiating bumpy roads and sharp corners. The plastic rear windscreen means is liable to cloud up, and can become creased and folded where the roof has been put up/down many times. Frequent problems have also been reported with head gaskets on the older models, and this is a common cause of breakdowns.

Second hand values have stayed quite strong, due to Rover restricting the supply, and cars can be picked up from around £3,500 for a 1995 model and upwards, and it proves relatively cheap to run. Fuel consumption is good, at around 38.4 mpg, and with an insurance group of 9/10 cover is cheap as well.

Production is due to begin once more in 2008, courtesy of Nanjing Automobile, at the old Longbridge plant in West Midlands, as well as in their yet to be completed Chinese factory. The MGF is expected to go back on sale in 2009.

All in all the MGF is a fun sports car, with great style and personality, suitably cosy and enjoyable during the winter, and a fast, thrilling ride in the summer sun.

Is Car Insurance Compulsory?

2007-04-06T02:15:00.001-07:00

It is compulsory to purchase car insurance before driving on public roads.

Penalties for not purchasing car insurance vary by country, often involve a substantial fine, license and/or registration suspension or revocation, as well as possible jail time. Usually the minimum required by law is third party car insurance to protect third parties against the financial consequences of loss, damage or injury. Typically, coverage against loss of or damage to the driver's own car is optional.

Insurance coverage levels should cover some or all of the following items:

The insured party
The insured vehicle
Third parties
Liability to bodily injuries
Liability to property damages
Collision Insurance
Comprehensive Insurance
Medical Expenses Insurance
Coverage for uninsured motorists

Different car insurance policies specify the circumstances under which each item is covered. A vehicle can also be insured to includes against theft, fire damage, or accident damage separately.

Depending on the country's law, the car insurance premium can be either mandated by the county or determined by the insurance company in accordance to a framework of regulations set. In most countries, the insurer will have more freedom to set the price on physical damage coverages than on mandatory liability coverages.

When the car insurance premium is not mandated by law, it is usually derived from the calculations of an actuary based on statistical data. The car insurance premium can vary depending on many factors that are believed to have an impact on the expected cost of future claims. Those factors can include the car characteristics, the coverage selected (deductible, limit, covered perils), the profile of the driver (age, gender, driving history) and the usage of the car (commute for work or not, predicted annual distance driven).

Car Insurance - What You Should Know

2007-04-06T02:14:00.001-07:00

Most of us haven't got a clue about what our car insurance really covers. Here's what car insurance covers and how you can save money on your premium.

Collision Coverage

Collision insurance pays for repairs to your car from a collision regardless of who was at fault.

Raising the deductible - the amount you pay before your insurance company pays a claim - will save you hundreds of dollars a year on your premium. If you have an older car that's not worth a lot, dropping your coverage, especially if your car is worth less than your insurance premium, can save you $450 or more.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive insurance pays for non-collision damage to your car from such things as vandalism, break-ins, fire, natural disasters, and other causes.

Raising your deductible will lower your premium considerably. Dropping this coverage if you drive an older car will also save you money.

Liability Coverage

Liability coverage pays for claims made against you for property damage and physical injury. It's really the most important coverage because it protects you from losing your assets.

Don't skimp on this one. If you don't own much, you can stick with the minimum coverage. But if you do have assets you want to protect, get as much coverage as you can to protect those assets. Increasing your liability coverage won't cost you that much more.

Medical Coverage

Medical coverage pays medical expenses when you or your passengers have an accident. It also pays expenses if you or your family are injured in someone else's car.

Consider dropping this coverage if you already have health insurance. And if you don't have health insurance consider getting it instead of carrying medical coverage on your car insurance policy.

How Will You Know The Right Company When You See It?

2007-04-06T02:13:00.002-07:00

You *MUST* choose the right insurance company for your car. Why? Because they are the ones who will -supposedly- be helping you in every problem you might have with your car.

But the insurance industry, as in every profitable market, has grown over-populated and there are millions of insurance firms out there to "Help You Out". Some of them are good, some of them are bad and some of them are pure EVIL. I will try to help you find the good ones.

All the car-insurance companies provide the same basic benefits to their policy holders. The only difference between the companies is the premiums they ask. Some companies offer inexplicably high insurance premiums while others offer more affordable, low-rate premiums. So... How will you know what's best for you?

Before starting to check on companies, you must know what you need. Every state has different sets of insurance laws and rules, and they require different things. Moreover, these rules are different for every type of car and almost every "person". So the first thing to do is, ask your state's insurance department (or better, check out their web site - as every single one of them has one nowadays) to find out the requirements. Voila! You have the first criteria to rule some insurance companies out --the ones which do not provide the requirements of your state.

Now, on to company selection.

First things first: "What do others think about this company?"

A good insurance company will settle your claims in very short time and pay you just the right amount. To make sure your company is one that keeps its promises and works well, just go to your state's insurance department's web site and check on that company's records. Yes, your state has one of those too and on this web site you will find "consumer complaint ratios" about every insurance company that operates in your region. These ratios will show you the number of complaints per 1000 claims.

This is one of the good systems to check on your insurance company. You can use the same list to find the company that offers the minimum quotes. What you need to do is to find a balance between the least complaint ratios and lowest quotes. Mind you, it's not very easy to do!

Next, find out the recommended car shops of your insurance company. If you'll need to cross the country for every little need, they won't be much help to you. Even if they have a recommended shop near you, be sure to check the shop to see if they have every part and equipment you might need for your car.

After you check on them and ask them what they think about the insurance company you're about to agree with, they will give you positive or negative information about the company. This is important: Nobody knows insurance companies better than the mechanics!

Just to be sure, check the company on google, J.D. Power & Associates (an organization collecting data from policy holders and measures their satisfaction with their insurance companies.) and user forums around the internet.

After you complete all these steps, you hopefully will have found an insurance company worth your dime and cheerfully crash your car into a wall!

What To Consider When Getting Car Insurance While Traveling Overseas?

2007-04-06T02:13:00.001-07:00

Planning to go on a vacation? Making a long business trip overseas?

While traveling abroad on business or on holiday it is always a good practice to be covered with Travel insurance. However, travel insurance is usually confined to health insurance coverage only. If you plan to drive a car on your travel abroad, you will need to consider car insurance.

In some countries it is not necessary to have car insurance. Nevertheless, it is still recommended. You will need an international driver's license before you can rent a car or get insurance on it.

Check your existing car insurance policy for the coverage if you are a frequent flyer to other countries. Ask your insurance company if they can include exactly what you want in your existing policy. This is one of the best ways to get insured.

It is good to contact your credit card companies to See if you qualify for insurance for driving abroad. Some credit cards company like American Express and MasterCard cover you for car insurance when you are traveling abroad and driving a rented vehicle you charged on your credit card. Check if there is a fee involved and shop for rates with all your credit cards you have.

Adding car insurance for driving in a foreign country while buying your travel insurance. Check the difference in the premium and compare it with the fees you would pay if you got all your insurance needs through your credit card.

If renting a car from a rental car agency, check if the rental of the car includes car insurance if not buy a temporary car insurance from the rental car agency. Choose the option of getting insurance from the car rental company if you do not have the requisite coverage in your existing car insurance policy. With a well-known company, you will most likely be assured of better services and better car insurance coverage. This may be the most economical method, depending on the number of days you plan to rent the vehicle, and usually the easiest and most cost-effective method.

If you plan to use car of your friends, colleagues or company; ask if have car insurance coverage. It is likely that their insurance policy may cover protections for anyone driving their car. It is better to be safe than sorry later.

How to Find the Best Auto Insurance Companies With the Best Rates

2007-04-06T02:12:00.002-07:00

Best Auto Insurance Companies

There are a lot of auto insurance companies who claim to be the biggest, the best, the cheapest, the friendliest , and on and on. But what you really want to know is how a particular company will treat you when it comes to paying a claim? Will you be paid the full amount of the claim? Will you be paid on time? Will you be paid at all?

Here's how to find out:

1. Every state has a department of insurance, and most departments maintain websites that include a consumer complaint department. Here you can find out how many claims have been filed against a company and compare them to other companies.

If your state's insurance department doesn't have a website, you can go to California's website - www.insurance.ca.gov - click on "Consumers," then "Studies and Reports," and "Consumer Complaint Study" to see the numbers of justified complaints consumers have filed against a particular company.

2. Go to Epinions.com to find out what a company's customers have to say about them. Here you'll find ratings and reviews from real customers who've had dealings with insurance companies and you can get the inside scoop on how they handle their claims.

Best Auto Insurance Rates

The difference in insurance rates between insurance companies is amazing. Company "A" may charge you $2,000 for a policy, while company "B" will charge you $1,100 for the same policy. That's a $900 difference!

The best way to find the best rates is to go to an online insurance comparison website. Here you'll be able to get rates from a number of companies by filling out a simple questionnaire (see links below).

It only takes a few minutes and you get quotes from well-known, A-rated companies, not poorly rated companies you've never heard of.

During the questioning process you can tailor your car insurance policy to fit your needs, and get all the discounts you're entitled to. For tips on how to get the maximum amount of discounts on auto insurance click on the link below then go to the "Articles" section.

Why Don't Car Drivers Pick Up The Money That's Waiting For Them?

2007-04-06T02:12:00.001-07:00

It never ceases to amaze me how people will shop around for savings of a few pounds or dollars on the latest high street gadgets, clothes, or groceries, but leave much greater savings on the table when it comes to insurance.

The motor insurance industry is extremely competitive and all of the companies want your business. Being competitive however, does not mean that they all charge the same or similar premiums for the various types of cover. There are huge differences in premium rates and therefore great scope for a bargain if you are prepared to shop around.

There are many reasons why insurance rates vary between companies. Each assesses the risks involved in every area of cover and will have different views of the level of risk associated with each activity. These risk assessments will be based on the experience of those companies in the past and the plans they have for the future but they will change over time to reflect changes in internal and external factors.

Some insurers for example regard younger drivers as too high risk and the premiums they charge will reflect this while others are prepared to accept a certain proportion of higher risk customers in the hope that they will stay with the company as they get older and become less of an accident risk.

Others will be actively targeting certain types of policy or drivers and will therefore discount the price for new customers but may not carry this on for later years. Yet others may continue these discounts but vary the amount from year to year depending on what proportion of their business they want to have in that particular sector.

No claim discounts will vary in amount and the length of time they take to be earned and motor insurance companies will have different loadings for age. Some companies even specialise in insuring older drivers allowing them to pass on the benefit of the lower claims record of this group, to all policy holders.

Limited time offers may be made by other insurance companies which were not available when you last renewed your car insurance or you may have become a better risk by not making a claim in the previous year or by falling into a higher age bracket.

Remember the insurance world is always changing because it has to reflect changes in how we live and behave and the cars we drive and because of the complexity of calculating risks and costs there will always be different views about the appropriate premium rates for any car insurance policy.

It is now really easy to check out the market using Internet insurance sites that a few minutes spent online can result in major savings in costs plus if you sign up online you will usually get an additional discount of 10% or more. Those few minutes online could turn out to be the most profitable few minutes of the year!

So go ahead and shop around for a bargain.

Car Insurance for Teenagers - How to Get the Lowest Rate

2007-04-06T02:11:00.001-07:00

Amazingly, car insurance quotes can vary as much as 100% between companies. One company may charge you $1,200 for a policy, while another will charge you $2,400 for the exact same policy. So the first step in getting the lowest rate for your teenager is to shop for rates.

When it comes to rate shopping you have two choices: 1.Spend half your life calling agents on the phone, or, 2. Go online to get quotes from car insurance websites.

Here again you have two choices: Spend days on end going from website to website, or go to an online comparison site where you can get quotes from a number of different companies. (See links below.)

Shopping Online

The advantages of shopping for car insurance for your teenager online are:

* It's quick - It only takes a few minutes of your time.

* It's easy - You only have to fill out one simple questionnaire in order to get multiple quotes.

* It's flexible - You can see all the deductions you're entitled to on the questionnaire so you can include them and get the cheapest rate.

* It's free!

Checking the Company

After you find the cheapest car insurance for your teenager, you''ll want to make sure the company you deal with is reliable. Here again, the easiest way to do that is to go online.

I recommend going to the following sites:

1. Your state's department of insurance website - Most insurance departments maintain websites that list consumer complaints where you can find the number of claims filed against various companies.

If your state's insurance department doesn't have a website with this information, you can go to California's website (www.insurance.ca.gov) to get it.

2. Epinions.com. - Epinions is a site where consumers review and rate companies based on their experience with that company. Here you can get the inside dope on how insurance companies treat their customers and how they handle their claims.

Auto Insurance For Cheap

2007-04-06T02:10:00.000-07:00

After reviewing AutoInsuranceQuotes4free, my rating of this site is nothing less than excellent. The site was very informative, well organized, and best of all easy to use. Whether you’re searching for lower car insurance rates or just looking to learn the tricks of the trade, this site is your one-stop solution.

One topic I was particularly impressed with was their discount section. They have taken the time to list just about every single auto insurance discount that exists. Allowing you to print this auto discount list in PDF format, it’s a very useful tool to have handy when speaking with your insurance agent over the phone. You can go down the list and check off every discount that you are qualified for.

Even further, AutoInsuranceQuotes4free.com offers you a non-contractual online auto insurance quote that only takes about six minutes to complete. And if that’s not enough, keep in mind that it’s also free. In other words, within six minutes you can walk away with multiple car insurance quotes at you fingertips from different companies using only one website to do all of this.

Because auto insurance rates have so many variables, this website has found the way to use every variable to your advantage. Most drivers are paying high insurance rates simply because they don’t know what discounts they are qualified for! There’s extensive information you can read within this website that prepares you with knowledge of the tricks that insurance companies use against you and how you can overcome them to keep your rates cheap and low.

If you haven’t heard of AutoInsuranceQuotes4free.com or you haven’t used it yet, get on your browser now and check it out. Its well worth the time and you could end up saving hundreds per year. Most drivers can save money using www.AutoInsuranceQuotes4free.com Judging from my experience and use of the site, I’m giving a five-star review!

The Latest Way to Pay Your Auto Insurance - Through Payroll Deduction!

2007-04-06T02:09:00.000-07:00

Most workers in the United States have many different bills automatically deducted from their paychecks. Health, dental and life insurance are the most common payroll deductions. Depending on your personal circumstances a number of other items may also be deducted, from child support to certain loan repayments. Many Americans are unaware, however, that in some cases auto insurance may also be paid through payroll deduction.

Payroll deduction of automobile insurance premiums is relatively new and is not offered by all insurers. Payroll deduction is most commonly available to employees who purchase employer-sponsored insurance. This method is becoming a trend however, making it now possible to find private auto insurance that may be paid via payroll deduction.

Payroll deduction offers a number of advantages over traditional billing methods. Busy families often have trouble keeping up with their bills whether due to a lack of funds or simply a lack of time. Utilizing payroll deduction for your auto insurance ensures that the monthly payment will never be forgotten. Many people also like that the money is deducted before it is ever in their bank account, making it easier to part with the funds.

Payroll deduction is not for everyone. This method works best for those who have stable and consistent paychecks. The premium will be the same each month and is usually deducted all in one payment. If your paychecks are unsteady from week to week, you may find that it is difficult to make ends meet during the week that your premium is deducted.

It is important to gather information prior to enrolling in payroll deduction. What happens if your paycheck is not enough one week to cover the payment? Most insurers will resubmit the deduction the next week then send a bill to your home if it does not go through the second time. This is not mandated however, and the company could theoretically decide to cancel your policy for nonpayment. Make sure you understand the company’s policy. Also find out the process of canceling payroll deduction in the event that you change jobs.

Payroll deduction works well for customers whose paychecks are stable from week to week. The process is simple and easy as well as safe. It may be difficult to find an insurer who offers this option but if you can, payroll deduction could be your best choice. Use caution if your paychecks vary widely however, as it may be difficult to meet the payments by this method.

New Car Insurance - How to Get The Cheapest Rates

2007-04-02T06:20:00.002-07:00

So you just purchased the car of your dreams, or you're about to, and you want to get the best new car insurance at the best rate. Here's how to do it.

New Car Insurance

When you buy a new car your loan company will require a certain amount of new car insurance to protect itself in case your car is damaged or stolen.

If you don't get your own insurance, your loan company or dealer will get it for you and, believe me, it won't be cheap. The last time I purchased a car the difference between my loan company's insurance rate and the rate I got myself was more than $1,000.

So the first thing you need to do is go shopping for your own insurance and compare rates.

Comparing Rates

The easiest and fastest way to get cheap rates is to go to a car insurance comparison site (see links below). Here you can get multiple rate quotes from a number of car insurance companies so you can compare them and choose the best rate.

Once you're on the site you'll be asked to fill out a questionnaire so you can tailor your insurance to fit your specific needs. As you fill it out you'll be able to view a list of discounts and include them in your auto insurance policy.

Here are some new car insurance discounts worth considering:

* Raising your deductible by a couple of hundred dollars can save you hundreds of dollars a year on your premium.

* Installing an auto alarm and ant-theft device can get you a good-sized discount.

* Dropping unnecessary coverage like medical and towing coverage if you already have them will save you money.

Comparing Companies

After you choose a car insurance company you want to make sure that company will give you good service, especially when it comes to paying your claims.

A good way to see how well a company treats its customers is to go to Epinions.com. Here you'll find reviews of all the major insurance companies written by actual customers, plus testimonials on how they were treated and what their claims experiences were.

You can also go to your state's insurance department website to see what claims have been filed against a particular company. If your state doesn't provide this information, you can get it from the California Department of Insurance website - www.insurance.ca.gov.

Car Insurance Information

2007-04-02T06:20:00.001-07:00

The search for cheap auto insurance is at its close. I’ve been privileged to write a full review on a website called AutoInsuranceQuotes4free.com. Before visiting this site, I had no conception of what to do or where to look to find cheaper auto insurance rates. After reading through the site a bit, it became very apparent that it’s not as hard as it seems.

A site is only as good as it can portray information clearly to its visitors. It must be easy to use in this sense as visitors will try to get around the site to find the information they’re looking for. It is set up in a user-friendly format. It was very easy to navigate through different pages to find what I was looking for. Each section is clearly marked and structured so that it’s easy to read. It’s very easy to find information once you get to this site.

Explanations are vital to understanding the car insurance market and business. Most insurance websites don’t take the time to lay out the basics. But this site does! Clearly marked within the site are basic explanations of terms and programs that are common within the insurance industry. Once you master this knowledge, you can shop and compare auto insurance rates as if you know just as much as the agent who is selling it to you. The more you know, the better off you are when you’re shopping for those rates.

Aside from being very easy to use, and having more than enough useful information at your mercy, Auto insurance quotes for free has listed company reviews of major insurance companies. Choose the company that’s best for you and proceed to their online auto insurance quote. You can be in and out within minutes without having to pay for a thing! This site is not only helpful, but it is useful to saving money that you can otherwise spend on more important things.

I give AutoInsuranceQuotes4free.com a rating of excellent and hope to see them prosper in their future business ventures. It is a site that truly serves the public. Check it out at AutoInsuranceQuotes4free.com

Tomtom Satellite Navigation

2007-04-02T06:19:00.002-07:00

The Tomtom satellite navigation system is ideal for those people who are always on the move into the unknown, providing nigh on pin point accuracy towards the destination. Its database holds routes and directions for over 16 countries, and comes in three different options suitable for all road users. Firstly, the navigation software can be linked up to PDA’s and Pocket PCs, which means people can make the best use of their existing hardware. Or there is an all in one portable device which can be mounted from car to car. Finally, Tomtom also offers mobile phone services, for those who wish to turn their mobiles into their very own navigational system.

Tomtom users can download a vast array of updates for their devices, which can be added as and when they are needed, and come as optional extras. These include traffic information, new maps, safety camera positioning, weather updates, scenic route finders, buddies (lets you know if your friends are in the vicinity), voices packages (want bugs bunny to tell you where to turn? Or simply a friendly voice with local dialect), and audio books readily available to listen to for long journeys. All of these options provide real value for money.

The Tomtom devices use GPS technology to pinpoint exactly where you are in the world, and by linking this to the appropriate section of road map from its huge on board database from maps around the world it shows you exactly where you are, in perfect 3D motion. Therefore not only does the Tomtom safely guide you to your destination, the fact that so many updates and ‘subs’ are available means you reach your target in the most fun and relaxed way possible. Tomtom id also one of the first satellite navigation systems to incorporate full postcodes, meaning it will take you right to the exact address, rather than simply the area you are looking for.

Tomtom provides a great advantage over other similar devices due to its touch screen properties, and the fact that it is a standalone piece of equipment, needing no wiring or permanent fixations to do its job. All in all, its relatively cheap price makes this product great value for money, and a great addition to any car

Do You Have The Right Auto Insurance Coverage?

2007-04-02T06:19:00.001-07:00

Auto insurance is something we do not think much about until we need it. Usually the only thing we consider is how much it is costing us. You should ask yourself one question though. Do I have the right auto insurance coverage? Keep reading this article and find out if you need to increase your coverage.

The first thing you need to consider is how much liability coverage to carry. This is an important factor and the minimum can vary from state to state. Most people only carry the minimum required by the state but this may be a bad idea. Additional coverage does not cost much more and could save you in the long run. With more and more vehicles on the road costing $50,000 or even $100,000 or more you should carry more liability coverage. If you hit one of these vehicles, they will come after you once your insurance is depleted. Protect yourself.

The next thing to consider is whether or not to carry underinsured or uninsured motorist protection. This will protect you in case you are in an accident with someone who does not carry insurance. The cost is minimum but you will be glad you have it if the worst happens.

Another insurance coverage you should consider is towing. This usually costs practically nothing but it will reimburse you for the costs of towing your vehicle. Check out how much they will reimburse you for towing though before you commit.

These are just a few factors to consider when you are getting coverage or checking your auto insurance coverage. You also have such things as personal injury protection, property damage coverage and many others. For this reason, you should call a qualified insurance agent in your area to discuss what coverage is best for you and your situation.

Car Insurance Tips - The Three Biggest Money Savers

2007-04-02T06:18:00.002-07:00

With the rising number of car accidents and the rising cost of car insurance these days you want to be sure you're getting the best insurance at the best rate. Here are three car insurance tips that will show you how to save the most amount of money.

Car Insurance Tips

Tip #1 - Shop for quotes. Shopping for quotes is by far the best way to save the most money on your insurance premium. There are a number of websites that will give you quotes from top insurance companies so you can compare them and get the cheapest rate. (See links below.)

I've known people who've saved $500 to $1,000 on their car insurance simply by switching companies.

Tip # 2 - Increase your deductibles. A deductible is the amount you pay on a claim before your insurance kicks in. Most of us never file claims for small amounts of damage because insurance companies can hike up your rates if you file too many claims, so it only makes sense to increase your deductible to an amount you feel comfortable with.

Increasing your collision deductible from $200 to $500 will cut your yearly premium by 15% to 30%. Increasing it to $1,000 can cut your premium in half.

Tip #3 - Drop collision coverage. Collision covers the cost of repairing damage to your car regardless of who was at fault. If you drive an older car, consider dropping collision coverage if your premium is equal to 10% or more of your car's value.

Dropping your collision coverage can save you $300 to $500 a year depending on the age and make of your car.

Low Cost Houston Auto Insurance

2007-04-02T06:18:00.001-07:00

Houston auto insurance is more expensive than insurance in most cities. That is because of heavy traffic and a high theft rate. Here are some things you can do to keep your rate as low as possible:

* Keep your driving record clean. If you get a ticket you may be able to get it dismissed by taking defensive driving or hiring an attorney.
* You will usually have a lower rate if you get your auto policy from the same company as your homeowners or renters policy.
* Select a vehicle that is rated low for insurance. Car dealers can provide a guide for insurance ratings. Moderately priced 4 door sedans typically have good rates.
* A defensive driving course will lower your rate.
* Maintain continuous insurance. Most companies give a big discount for this.
* Make sure you are rated with every other possible discount. Ask your agent to run through the list of discounts so you don’t miss any. This could include a vehicle alarm, multiple cars on a policy, EFT payment option, safe driver, and more.
* If you have an older car consider only getting liability coverage.
* Consider a higher deductible on your collision coverage if you could afford the loss in the event of a claim.
* Shop several companies at renewal time to be sure your rate is good.

Get Cheap Home and Auto Insurance Quotes The Easy Way

2007-04-02T06:17:00.002-07:00

Cheap Home and Auto Insurance Quotes

In the good ol' days before the Internet made comparing prices for products as easy as clicking a mouse, getting cheap home and auto insurance quotes was a matter of calling insurance agents on the phone and answering a ton of questions. And many agents wouldn't give quotes over the phone.

With the advent of the Internet you could go to an insurance company's website to get home and auto insurance quotes. But the problem was you could only get one quote and you were never sure if you were getting the cheapest rate.

Enter insurance comparison websites where you can now get rate quotes from well-known companies, compare rates, and purchase cheap home and auto insurance all on one site.

It only takes a few minutes at one of these sites to get quotes and, believe me, the savings can be amazing. I know people who saved $500 to $1,000 on their insurance by simply switching companies.

To get your quotes you'll need to fill out a questionnaire so companies can tailor your insurance to your needs. As you complete the questionnaire you'll be able to see the all discounts you're entitled to and select the discounts you want.

Some of the better sites even have a live online chat feature where you can ask insurance experts questions about what kind of insurance you need and what discounts are available. (See links below.)

Bottom Line

If you're serious about purchasing cheap home and auto insurance, spending a few minutes at an insurance comparison site will be time well spent. It's quick, it's easy, and it's free!

Understanding The Minefield of Car Insurance

2007-04-02T06:17:00.001-07:00

Looking for a car, be it a brand new model or a pre-loved car with one or more previous owners, you do compare the many features of the vehicle. Yet when insuring your car, many times this is the last thing you would think of doing. Yes, you make sure you ask what is the cost of insuring the particular car you are about to buy. The savings on premiums offered for low-cost policies could also influence you.

Yet, you could be paying more in the long term.

When You Are Liable

How these low cost insurance policies work is, that they have low liability limits, some could be as low as $25,000, this could mean if you are involved in an accident and are liable then you could be responsible for paying for the other person, the hospital and medical expenses, loss of income and other damages. $25.000 doesn't go far these days so the amount over and above you would be personally responsible for.

Always make sure you have enough cover with your car insurance policy. Read your policy carefully and when you are not understanding something or are not sure, get advice from someone who does know.

Choosing Your Insurance Agent or Insurance Sales Representatives.

Choosing an insurance agent has its advantages. Assessing your needs is part of what the insurance agent will do and will also look into your risk profile so they have a good understanding of your insurance requirements and your car insurance coverage.

Don't get an insurance agent and an insurance sales representative confused. An insurance representative works for a particular insurance company, so they will be recommending that insurance company's policies. Whereas an insurance agent works independently and will source out the best car insurance policy from all the insurance companies, the one that will best fit your needs.

There are a some things you will want to discuss with your insurance agent for your car insurance and these are:

* What you feel about asset protection and insurance
* What you expect if you need to make a claim
* Your assets and your net worth

Your Car Needs Replacing After An Accident

This is an important area of car insurance. Many car insurance policies pay for total losses on the cash value of your car and not the replacement cost. Depending on the age of your car, you could be at a loss of quite some dollars, as you will have to come up with the difference if you wish to have the same car.

The age of your vehicle will determine the outcome of this clause in your car insurance policy. Many car insurance companies will cover full replacement if you car is bought brand new. They will do this for a specified time and then you should make sure you have a full understanding of what happens after that time. Often companies will do the full replacement for a year, there will also be special offers for special car promos.

If you see that teensy, weensy print at the bottom of an advert "Conditions Apply", make sure you determine exactly what the 'conditions' are.

The insurance policies that pay, after total loss during the first twelve months, the total purchase price plus all costs, will each year after, lock in the car valuation as set by the industry's standard 'retail' Blue Book.

Look After The Little things

You can find what is covered or not covered with your low-cost car insurance policy by reading the fine print. When you first sign your policy, these items may not seem so important. Many things with any insurance policy seem fine until you need to make a claim. This is where the so called savings will be eaten away. The savings of the low premiums you have been enjoying when you need to claim because of an accident, the costs start to come in.

If you are saving on your car insurance policy premiums, you may find you are required to use a certain repairer as nominated by your car insurance company, you will need to comply or pay for them yourself. Other policies may cost you more in premiums but could have a clause that enables you to have your own repairer without any penalty as far as the cost to you goes.

There is an area often overlooked with car insurance policies and that is your personal items that are in your car at the time of an accident. These items will also need to be replaced if your car is a total write-off.

How To Choose Your Car Insurance Coverage?

Take a look at the declaration page of your policy to find out your coverage. If you are unsure what it all means, then ask advice from an independent insurance agent, this is the one that doesn't work for any car insurance company and will have your needs as his client, as the first priority. It is the legal responsibility of the independent insurance agent to provide the proper coverage for their clients.

For you to understand an insurance policy be it a car insurance policy or a house contents insurance policy is very important, so make sure you get everything explained to you.

Michigan Car Insurance Quotes And The Minimum Requirements

2007-04-02T06:16:00.002-07:00

If you need a Michigan car insurance quote but you're not sure what to quote on, here are a few tips to get the right quotes and save money. This includes the minimum state requirements for auto insurance.

By law, Michigan requires that you purchase no-fault car insurance if you own a vehicle. According to Michigan's official state Web site, they have the most comprehensive no-fault auto insurance system in the country.

With this system, vehicle owners and their families are provided with unlimited medical and rehabilitation benefits, wage loss benefits and $20 per day for replacement services for up to three years if injured in an auto accident -- no matter who was at fault.

The minimum parts of a no-fault policy that must be carried on your vehicle are:

Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, which pays necessary medical costs if you are injured in an accident.

Property Protection, or PPI, which pays up to $1 million for damages your car does in Michigan to other property.

Residual Bodily Injury and Property Damage Liability Insurance, also known as BI/PD. This pays for defense costs and damages if you are found liable in an accident. The minimum limits you must purchase are:

Bodily Injury -- $20,000 per person who is hurt or killed in an accident, and $40,000 per accident if several people are hurt or killed.

Property Damage -- $10,000 for property damage in another state.

You can also increase your limits to provide more financial protection, and add optional coverages such as Uninsured Motorist and Comprehensive.

Since car insurance companies in Michigan charge different rates from company to company, one of the best ways to save money is to get several quotes. Provide the same information and request the same coverages for each quote in order to get the most accurate comparison.

How Much Auto Insurance Coverage Do You Really Need?

2007-04-02T06:16:00.001-07:00

Auto insurance can be confusing. Most policies look like they were written in a foreign language. Here are simple explanations for the five basic types of auto insurance coverage so you can decide for yourself what you need and what you don't.

Collision Coverage - This pays for repairs made to your car no matter who was at fault. If you purchase or lease a car your dealer will require you to carry this coverage.

I recommend getting the highest deductible you can afford. Increasing your deductible from $100 to $500 will save you 10% to 20% on your insurance.

Comprehensive Coverage - This coverage pays for damages to your car from fire, theft, and vandalism. It also pays for damage from natural disasters like hailstorms and hurricanes.

You should carry comprehensive coverage, but again, get the highest deductible you can afford.

Liability Coverage - This coverage pays for your legal fees and any claims made against you if your car kills or injures someone, or damages someone else's property.

If you don't have a lot of assets you can go with the minimum your state requires. However, if you do have a lot of assets you should get the highest amount you feel will protect you from lawsuits.

Uninsured Motorist Coverage - This coverage pays for damages done to you, your passengers, and your car that are caused by uninsured or underinsured drivers and hit-and-run drivers.

With more than 15% of the population driving without insurance, and hit-and-run accidents on the rise, this is good coverage to have, especially if you live in states that have a high number of uninsured drivers like Mississippi (26%), Alabama (25%), California (25%), New Mexico (24%), and Arizona (22%).

Medical Coverage - This coverage, also known as personal injury protection, pays your medical expenses and your passenger's medical expenses if you're involved in an automobile accident.

Consider eliminating this coverage if you already have medical insurance that covers you.

Minimum Auto Insurance Coverage - Get the Cheapest Rate

2007-03-28T04:16:00.000-07:00

Looking to purchase the minimum auto insurance coverage for your car? Want to know where to get the cheapest rate? Read on ...

What's the minimum auto insurance coverage I need to drive?

It varies from state to state. In most states you need to have liability insurance to legally drive your car. A few states also require you to have personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage.

Here's what those coverages mean:

Liability coverage pays claims made against you, your family, or someone driving with your permission, for property damage, physical injury, and death.

Liability coverage is expressed by three numbers. The first two numbers refer to bodily injury coverage while the third number refers to property damage coverage. So 15/30/10 means $15,000 coverage for one person injured in an accident, $30,000 coverage for all persons injured, and $10,000 coverage for property damage.

Personal injury protection coverage pays your medical expenses and your passenger's medical expenses when you have an accident. It also pays you and your family's medical expenses if you're involved in an accident in someone else's car.

Uninsured motorist coverage pays for injuries or property damage to you, or your family and passengers, caused by an uninsured driver, an underinsured driver, or a hit-and-run driver.

You can visit the Insurance Information Institute’s web site - III.org - to find the minimum auto insurance coverage required by your state.

Where can I get the cheapest rate?

The quickest and easiest way to get minimum auto insurance coverage at the cheapest rate is to go to an auto insurance comparison website. In just a couple of minutes you can get the cheapest quotes from top-rated companies. It's fast, it's easy, and it's free.

Car Insurance Rates - 4 Ways to Help Your Teen Get Lower Rates

2007-03-28T04:15:00.002-07:00

Statistics show that teenage drivers are far more likely to be involved in vehicle crashes, and these statistics tend to raise car insurance rates for teenage drivers. Parents that have teenagers that are learning to drive can expect to pay rates that are a bit higher for their teen. However, there are a variety of ways that you can work together with your teenager to get lower rates on your car insurance.

Tip#1 - Teach Your Teen the Laws
One of the best ways that your teen can get low rate car insurance is by keeping their driving record totally clean. In order for teens to keep a clean driving record, they need to know and understand the traffic laws. As a parent, you need to make sure that your teen studies the laws and understands what they mean and how they apply to driving. Remember that some states have laws that only pertain to new drivers, so be sure that your teen is aware of those laws as well. Not only should you have them read and learn the laws for driving, but you also need to help teach the laws by your example. Follow the traffic laws yourself when you are driving and communicate to your teen how important the laws are for everyone's safety.

Tip#2 - Add Your Teenager to Your Policy
While some parents tend to set up separate insurance policies for their teenager, you can save a great deal of money if you add them to your current policy. It's possible that the discounts you're already getting on your policy could carry over to them as well and if you buy them a separate vehicle to drive, you can get an even better discount for adding another car to your policy.

Tip#3 - Encourage Good Grades
Most car insurance companies will offer discounts for teenagers that have better than a "B" average in school. You can save up to 10% if your student keeps up the good grades, so encourage your teen by offering incentives to keep their grades up. Offering an incentive for good grades can also help to keep them working hard and applying themselves at school. You may even want to figure out how much money you're saving on insurance when they get good grades and then pay them the amount that you save. This is an excellent motivation for teens to keep their grades up and to teach them how they can save on their car insurance.

Tip#4 - Driver Education
Having your teenager take a driver education class can be a great way to help teach them important laws and lessons about driving. If they take a certified course, you may also be eligible for discounts on your car insurance rates as well. If you are not sure which classes will qualify for a discount from your insurance company, then give them a call and find out before you pay for your teen to take the class.

Following these tips can help you get your teenager through those first years of being a driver without having to pay extreme amounts on car insurance. Remember, while car insurance rates for your teen driver will probably be a bit higher, you can help them achieve lower insurance rates with a little work.

Don't be Fooled - Know Your Auto Insurance Facts

2007-03-28T04:15:00.001-07:00

With so many choices currently available in the auto insurance market, it can be quite difficult to know which products to choose. Understanding some basic facts about the insurance market can help you to make informed decisions. Following are five facts that you need to know about the auto insurance market.

1) Premium Plan - Is it worthwhile? Many auto insurance companies now advertise deluxe packages that include such add-ons as “accident forgiveness” and “new car replacement.” These plans do indeed offer top notch services above and beyond standard insurance policies, but at a much higher price. Make sure you understand exactly what you are paying for and whether the benefit is worth the cost in your unique situation.

2) Shared Market versus Nonstandard Market - If your driving record is below average you will have to search for alternatives to standard auto insurance. Every jurisdiction offers what is known as a shared market, in which poor drivers are able to get car insurance from regular insurance companies. Naturally prices are much higher in this market than in the standard auto insurance market, as there is much more risk to the insurance companies. However, there is now a third option. The nonstandard market consists of a number of specialty companies whose only business is insuring nonstandard drivers. Look for a nonstandard as opposed to a shared or assigned risk company and you may save hundreds of dollars.

3) Most and Least Expensive Cities in America for Auto Insurance in 2006 - The most expensive city was Detroit, with an average annual premium of over $5,800. The least expensive was Roanoke, VA. There annual premiums averaged only $912. You may not be able to plan a move based solely around insurance rates but if you are trying to decide between two cities, auto insurance rates along with other cost of living concerns may help you choose.

4) Downtown is the most expensive - Many Americans are well aware that car insurance rates rise dramatically in large cities as compared to suburbs and small towns. It is not as well known, however, that even within the city limits zip code makes a great difference. Deciding to live in a more residential part of the city rather than downtown could net a significant savings on auto insurance rates.

5) Purchasing auto insurance is a numbers game - It is impossible to predict everything that could possibly happen to your vehicle. It is possible that you may pay for insurance for many years and never use your policy. It is equally possible that you will need to make a claim almost as soon as you drive off the lot. Therefore, it is crucial that you weigh the costs versus benefits of varying levels of coverage and deductibles. Consider what will happen if you have an accident and how much money you can afford to pay out of pocket. Also consider how much money you have available each month to pay your premium. Shop around in order to get the best possible insurance for the money you can afford to pay and be sure to consider various deductible amounts as well.

With so many options on the auto insurance market today, it would be difficult if not impossible to find the “perfect” insurance. Taking the time to learn the basics of the insurance market and the factors that affect your rate will assist you in making a good choice. Consider all of your options and you will find auto insurance that works for you.

Do You Really Need Auto Insurance?

2007-03-28T04:14:00.000-07:00

The answer to this question might seem obvious and well..it is! YES you absolutely need auto insurance and here are all the reasons why you do.

1. You need it for legal reasons

Almost every state does requires you to have insurance.
In some states, you will be asked to have proof of insurance when you register or if you have an accident. And you might even have to carry it at all times in your car.

Again, depending on your state, the consequences of not having your car insured can be very large. Those include among other things:

-A fine as high as $1000
-Licence and registration suspension
-Up to 1 year in jail

2. Even basic coverage makes a very big difference

Depending on the company you choose to insure your car, the basic coverage plan might vary. It will however in most cases include these:

* Bodily Injury Liability
This is crucial. This covers injuries that you may cause to someone else in an accident. This involves very large amounts of money (medical bills), especially if the accident is followed by legal actions against you.(lawsuits)

* Property Damage Liability
This is the same, only applied to material damage, be it someone else's car or public property. This can get quite costly too

What usually isn't included in your basic, required by state, coverage is any coverage of your own vehicle's damage that might be caused by an accident.

The advantages to this type of coverage are obvious though; not everyone can afford to just replace a car after a serious accident.

So if you don’t have insurance, or dropped your insurance after getting the proof of insurance you needed, you should really really reconsider this. An accident can happen a lot faster than you think and you’ll be left in a difficult situation.

Car Insurance Can Be Such A Racket!

2007-03-28T04:13:00.002-07:00

My dad used to say: “Car insurance is such a racket!”

He was talking about how good drivers pay into it for years and never get anything out of it except for this supposed peace of mind in knowing that its there for us just in case...

So when the opportunity comes up to save money on my auto insurance…without compromising my coverage...then I'm all over it!

Here are a few ways to slash your car insurance bill today…

* Teenagers that live at home: restrict their usage of your car so they are considered to be an "occasional driver" by your car insurance company.

* Raise your deductible: Raising your deductible from $100.00 to $500.00 could save you hundreds of dollars per year.

* If you have a business and a teenage driver: Have your teenager drive the company car because many car insurance companies don't charge extra for teenage drivers.

* Dump your collision coverage: If your car is worth $3000 or less, some auto insurance companies will still cover it for its full amount if totaled, which means you have no reason to pay extra for collision coverage.

* If you're under 25: Unless you are a maniac behind the wheel, get your parents to put you on their auto insurance policy.

* If you rent a car: Check to see if you are already covered by your auto insurance company before you waste $20.00 to $30.00 per day for the extra car insurance provided by the rental company.

* Get multiple auto insurance quotes: Like any business, car insurance compete against each other and rates can vary greatly from one company to the next. You don’t need to wait until renewal time to change over because they will prorate and refund what is left over on your existing car insurance policy too.

Understanding Automobile Insurance Coverage

2007-03-28T04:13:00.001-07:00

Auto insurance or car insurance protects you and your vehicle from any damage occurred due to an accident and acts as safety device from sustaining any loss. Not only accidents, your vehicle can also be covered from damages due to vandalism, adverse weather, theft, fire and other scenarios.

Auto insurance is a "necessary evil" which is necessary for all automobile owners. But it is not enough to have an insured vehicle; the main thing is to have an insured vehicle with best auto insurance. And you must know the "in and outs" of auto insurance policy.

Here we are giving some basics of coverage, which will help you greatly while selecting the best auto insurance policy for your vehicle.

Collision Coverage: This part of auto insurance policy provides you safe side when your car hits another car and you pay for the repairs, without making any difference who is at fault. Policy providing wider collision coverage can be considered as the best auto insurance policy.

Comprehensive Coverage: It covers each and every damages to your vehicle, whether it is accident or falling of a tree branch or what so ever on your car.

Deductible: This is the amount of money you pay at the time of filing a claim. Higher deductibles = lower premiums.

Effective date: This is the time period for which your auto insurance policy is valid. Don't let your policy lapsed.

Endorsements: The term endorsement includes all possible discounts and additional coverages, which can be offered to you on your car insurance. Discounts like multipolicy discount, student discount, and multifamily discount can change any normal auto insurance into best auto insurance.

Exclusions: This section includes things that are not covered by your policy. Small list of exclusions indicates toward best auto insurance policy.

Glass Coverage: You can go for free glass replacement after any accident, if your auto insurance policy includes glass coverage.

Some auto insurance policies provide other specific coverages like No-fault Coverage, Personal Injury Protection and property damage.

We hope that the provided information in this article will help you choosing best auto insurance policy.

Beware 9 Lies Auto Insurance Adjusters Might Tell You

2007-03-28T04:12:00.002-07:00

How can you tell if an insurance adjuster is lying? Answer: Look and see if his/her lips are moving!

Yes, I know that was a corny joke that may overstate the frequency of the problem to some degree. But, this fact can’t be disputed or denied: Insurance adjusters often lie to consumers, hoping their antics will cause them to become discouraged and accept a smaller settlement than they are rightfully owed. While it is true, mistakes occasionally happen and some adjusters pass untruths out of ignorance, many others are handsomely rewarded for routinely telling blatant and deliberate lies to claimants.

In this article you will learn nine of the most frequent lies auto insurance adjusters tell. Beneath each lie, you will learn the truth.

Lie #1 You must get your car repaired

Truth: It’s your car and no one can make you do something with it that you don’t want to do. If you choose not to repair damage that is covered by insurance, as a general rule, the insurer still owes you for the full value of necessary repairs that would be required to put your vehicle into its preloss condition. But, be forewarned. If you choose not to repair accident damage on your car, your insurance company would not be required to continue insuring the car for its full retail value. In fact, if you play hardball, your insurance company may decline to insure your car altogether forcing you to shop for other insurance coverage at a time when your driving record may be marked by an accident.

Lie #2 You must go to the insurer’s preferred shop

Truth: If you choose to have your car repaired, most state’s laws allow you to authorize work at the shop of your choice. However, if you encounter problems with a shop you selected, the insurance company will be quoting the old lyric, “I told you so,” and will be little help in procuring your satisfaction. If, on the other hand, you go to a shop selected by an insurer and get deceived, or don’t receive the level of repair you are entitled to, you will be in a much better position to negotiate with the insurer, especially if there is threat of a bad faith lawsuit against them.

Lie #3 You must turn the claim in to your own company if we disagree

Truth: If you are the victim of someone else’s negligence and their insurer is trying to get you to settle for less than you are entitled, you might consider sending a demand for payment to the person that caused the damage. The fact that the negligent party bought lousy insurance coverage does not relieve them of the responsibility and obligation they have to indemnify you of damage they caused. Therefore, if the third-party insurance company doesn’t want to make full restitution to you on their policyholders’ behalf, you are under no obligation to deal with them. Simply insist on payment directly from the negligent party or pay your deductible and file a claim under your own insurance policy.

Lie #4 Repairs will restore your vehicle to its preloss condition

Truth: There are many factors that prevent a car or truck from being restored to its preloss condition. The same would be true for anything that is damaged and reconstructed. Think for a moment about a valuable vase that gets broken. Although the vase could be glued back together, even to the point that the damage is unrecognizable, it could never be as sound or as valuable as it previously was because there is a potential for failure after the accident and repair that didn’t previously exist. Likewise, during auto repairs it is economically impractical to test every component and part on a car to guarantee that it’s performance and durability are unaltered. In addition, many of the tests that would be required in making this determination are destructive by nature making them unfeasible to perform. What if the crash affected sealed electronics in your car’s dash or clutches in your car’s transmission causing premature failure of these expensive parts? What if your car’s metal becomes fatigued from being beaten, stretched, hammered, and welded on causing it to fold easier in a subsequent accident and causing late deployment of airbags? What if…

Lie #5 You Don’t need a lawyer

Truth: Insurers, oftentimes, do not take consumers, without legal representation, seriously. Let’s face it; where there is no threat of danger, there is little motive for action. As an example, you could enthusiastically warn me by shouting, “beware of the dog” until you lose your voice. But until you take the chain off or open the gate to the pen I probably wouldn’t run. In fact, I might not run even then if you have a terrier or a poodle. If however, you are saying “sic-um” to a ferocious pit bull, I’ll have a much different attitude. Insurers are no different. They pick and choose their fights. If they think you can mount a good defense against them, they will usually pay you everything you are owed. If they think you can’t afford a lawyer or a proper defense, they will most often bully you and stall your claim, sometimes forever. As in the analogy of the dog, when you unleash a lawyer that commands insurer’s respect, you will get action. But even then, don’t expect results quickly. Often, deals are made on the courthouse steps just prior to a trial. The months and sometimes years leading up to that point can be very frustrating for claimants.

Lie #6 Your car will be just as valuable after the accident and repairs as before

Truth: Most people are alike in that given the choice between two cars identical in every way with the exception being that one has been involved in an accident and the other has not, most would prefer the car with no damage history. This is true even if repairs to the car not chosen are of such good quality that you can’t tell it apart from the undamaged one. With the number of used car certification programs growing and damage disclosure to potential buyers a legal requirement in many states, the only way wrecked cars sell is if the price is cut low enough to offset the risk car shoppers take when purchasing damaged goods. The loss in market value a car suffers after being wrecked and repaired is known as diminished value (DV).

Lie #7 We don’t pay Diminished Value (DV)

Truth: In third-party claims, insurance companies are obligated to pay diminished value to claimants who prove the amount of their losses. Proving a loss is not difficult. It will, however, require that you have a post-repair inspection performed on your repaired vehicle - unless, of course, you want to take the insurer’s word for the amount you are owed. Since one of the biggest factors lessening the value of repaired cars and trucks is poor quality workmanship, it is easy to understand why it is impossible to determine the amount of diminished value without a detailed and thorough examination of the property following completion of the repairs by a body shop.

It is usually more difficult to collect diminished value under your own policy than it is in third-party cases where another person’s insurance is paying. The reason for this is that many consumers, unbeknownst to them, purchase insurance policies that have diminished value exclusions written in them. By virtue of being bound to this contract that they purchased, these consumers will be forced to forgo this portion of their claim. But, even in these cases, consumers that have purchased a post-repair inspection will often have proof that repairs failed to restore a vehicle to its preloss condition. Faced with this proof and the obligation to indemnify the policyholder, insurers are often forced to make a monetary concession - though rarely will they call it a diminished value payment.

Lie #8 You must go back to the same dishonest and/or slothful shop for rerepairs

Truth: If you didn’t have to get your car repaired in the first place, why would you feel obligated to return a second, third or forth time to get the job done right? You don’t have to and you shouldn’t. You are under no more obligation to go back to an auto collision repair shop that butchered your car than you are to go back to a barber shop or beauty shop that butchered your haircut. Some courts have even taken the position that if you go back after knowing the limited capabilities of the shop or knowing that they might be less than honest, then you deserve whatever treatment you get the second time. You know the old saying, “Get me once, shame on you; Get me the second time, shame on ME!”

Lie #9 Insurance direct repair shops are the best places to get your car repaired

Truth: Direct repair shops (DRP) are not chosen for their ability to perform high quality work. Rather, insurers choose these shops to work with based on the amount of concessions and discounts they are willing to give them in exchange for referrals. In effect, DRP shops see insurers as their customers instead of vehicle owners. Given the choice, most will favor an insurer to keep work coming in the door, even if it means lying and cheating long-time customers. There are many ways DRP shops favor insurers. As an example, many DRP agreements and contacts mandate that repair shop estimators overlook certain damages that would not be blatantly obvious to a consumer's untrained eye. In addition, it would not be uncommon for them to try to talk you into accepting an appearance allowance that represents an amount less than the actual cost of repairs to forgo repair of some damaged panels or parts. This would often be presented to you in such a way as to convince you they are doing you a favor.

Reality is, whether or not you get your car repaired, you are entitled to full value for the cost of repairs necessary to restore your property to its preloss condition. You shouldn’t settle for less!

This information is general in nature and should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal or insurance advice. Readers are encouraged to consult specialists in these fields who have an understanding of legal and insurance issues on a local, state, and national level.

Womens Car Insurance - Aspects of a complex new market

2007-03-28T04:12:00.001-07:00

Whilst many studies have shown that women deserve a lower car insurance premium, it is not because they are necessarily "better" drivers.

In fact, studies from around the world have shown that women crash more often! But, and this is the important point, because they tend to drive slower than the more aggressive male of the species, they do less damage to the cars and as a result cost the insurance companies less money as a result.

It has also been found that some women would not tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth when speaking to their insurance company. Whether this is the same with men or not it is difficult to say, but certainly there appears to be a bit of 'gamesmanship' or 'gameswomenship' going on when claims are made.

Insurer Liverpool Victoria in the UK has found that a good number of women do worry about other people they let drive their car - like their mum or their best friend!

The extra care that women take of their car can be seen by the number of cars that have names. Calling your car 'Henry' or 'Gerald' may seem a little silly to some but the extra care that this tendency reveals is a good indication of why insurance companies will offer lower prices to women who are seeking a competitive premium.

So much so, that there are specific companies (or separately branded divisions of much larger companies) that are set up to market to women exclusively, such as Sheilas' Wheels, Diva Car Insurance and Diamond Car Insurance that offer such specials as handbag insurance.

These companies then compete with each other as well as the mainstream insurance companies to give the best deal for women seeking car insurance. Of course, as with everything, the devil is in the detail and the policy differences may explain why you will be being charged a little more or a little less for this policy or that.

But they are not directed at the average man in the street, certainly!

None of the above implies support for or promotion of any company or product, and does not construe financial advice and should not be interpreted as such.

Arizona Auto Insurance Quote - How to Get the Best Rate

2007-03-28T04:11:00.000-07:00

Arizona auto insurance rates can be absolutely astronomical. I should know. I live there. But there are ways to get a cheap Arizona auto insurance quote. Here's how ...

Arizona Auto Insurance Requirements

In order to license your car in the state of Arizona you're only required to have liability insurance.

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance pays for property damage and physical injury claims made against you from an accident that's your fault.

The minimum bodily injury liability coverage you must carry in Arizona is $15,000 per person with a $30,000 maximum per accident. The minimum property damage coverage is $10,000.

If you don't have a lot of assets to lose from a lawsuit, this minimum coverage, expressed as 15/30/10, may be all you need. But if you do have a lot of assets, you should get enough coverage to protect yourself from personal injury lawsuits.

Personal Injury Protection

Personal injury protection (PIP) pays for reasonable and necessary medical expenses for you and your passengers when you're involved in an accident. Though the sate of Arizona does not require that you carry this coverage, it's a good idea to carry at least the minimum coverage, especially if you don't have medical insurance.

Uninsured Motorist Protection

This pays you and your passenger's medical expenses and property damage expenses caused by an uninsured driver, an underinsured driver, or a hit-and-run driver. I highly recommend you purchase this protection because one-quarter of the residents in Arizona are driving without auto insurance.

Comprehensive and Collision Insurance

Comprehensive insurance pays for damages to you car from theft, fire, vandalism, hail, etc. Collision insurance pays for damages to your car when you're involved an accident no matter who was at fault.

To save money on comprehensive and collision insurance get the highest deductible (what you pay before your insurance kicks in) you can afford to pay.

How to Get the Best Rate

Getting the best auto insurance rate in Arizona is simply a matter of comparison shopping at a insurance comparison website. In a matter of minutes you can get quotes from a number of companies and choose the cheapest rate. Some Arizonans have saved as much as $1,000 on their insurance by comparison shopping.

Full Coverage Auto Insurance Quotes - Where to Get the Cheapest

2007-03-28T04:10:00.000-07:00

Looking for full coverage auto insurance quotes? Want to get the most coverage for the least amount of money? Here's how ...

Full Coverage Auto Insurance

Full coverage auto insurance pays for medical expenses, repair costs, and liability law suit expenses when you're involved in an automobile accident. It also pays for expenses if you're hit by an uninsured or underinsured driver. Here are the various coverages you should have and how you can save money on them.

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance pays for claims made against you, plus your legal fees, if you injure or kill someone. It also pays for claims made against you when you damage someone else's property.

Imagine what would happen if someone won, say, a $500,000 lawsuit against you? Would you be able to pay it? Probably not. That's why liability insurance is so important.

If you don't own a lot of personal property you may want to carry the minimum liability insurance your state requires. If you do own a lot, then you'll want to increase it to cover your assets.

Personal Injury Protection Insurance

PIP pays medical expenses for you and your passengers when you have an accident. It also pays for you and your family's medical expenses if you're in another car.

If you have medical insurance you may want to skip this coverage. But if you don't, or if you live in a high-accident area, then you should purchase it.

Collision and Comprehensive Insurance

Collision coverage pays for damage to your car from an accident no matter who was at fault. Comprehensive coverage pays for damage to you car from fire, theft, vandalism, storms, etc.

To save money on collision and comprehensive coverage you'll want to get the highest deductible you can afford to pay. If you drive an older car that's worth less than your annual premium plus your deductible, consider dropping these coverages.

Uninsured Motorist Insurance

Uninsured motorist insurance pays for medical expenses and property repairs caused by an uninsured, inderinsured, or hit-and-run driver. This is good coverage to carry, especially if you live in states that have a large number of uninsured drivers like Alabama, Arizona, California, Mississippi, and New Mexico.

How Get The Cheapest Full Coverage Auto Insurance

The best way to get the cheapest full coverage auto insurance is to get quotes from an auto insurance comparison site. Here you can compare quotes from different companies and choose the best policy with the lowest rate.

Tips On How To You Can Get Better Auto Insurance Rates

2007-03-28T04:06:00.001-07:00

Getting better rates on your auto insurance is something that many people would like to do. So many are paying a lot of money, too much money - and doing it unnecessarily. By following a few simple steps, you could reduce your annual auto insurance costs, and save some money for those other projects you would like to do. Here are five steps that will enable you to reduce your costs.

1. Compare Car Insurance Quotes

This is one of the easiest things to do, because you can do it at any time of day, just by going online. You will want to find an insurance Web site that will allow you to get several quotes from different companies with just one application. When you do this, go to at least two different Web sites and get several quotes from both.

Before you get that new car insurance policy, however, you may want to do a little research to discover some things about the company – if you are not familiar with that name. You might check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there are many complaints about them not paying for accidents, etc.

2. Read About Car Insurance

In order to really understand what you may be able to do without, in the way of options, you should have a good understanding of what the options cover. Greater savings will come from a greater understanding of what your needs really are. For instance, if you have a brand new car, you may not need the towing option for at least a year or two. You may also be able to do without car rental, too.

3. Increase Your Deductible

This is one thing that can give you a noticeable reduction. By increasing the amount of money that you pay in each accident, you put the insurance company at less of a risk. They like this, and will lower your rates to reflect the amount that you increase your part. Be sure, though, that if you have an accident tomorrow that you can afford to pay the deductible. You will be required to pay it before the auto insurance company will pay their part.

4. Get Less Coverage

Instead of buying the most coverage you can, it is a good idea to get the recommended amount. Also, if your car is more than 10 years old, you should probably drop the comprehensive part of your auto insurance. After 10 years, you may be paying more for your comprehensive than the car is worth. Save this money instead, and apply it to getting another, newer car.

5. Add Security Features To Your Car

If you live in a more urban area, or in an area where there is car theft, you can lower your car insurance rates by adding some security features to your car. These usually result in a discount with each new feature you have. This includes steering wheel locks, auto alarms, and satellite tracking systems.

Besides these things, you may want to talk to your car insurance agent to see if driving classes will also lower your rates. Having multiple cars insured by the same company, and staying away from cars that are the most likely to be stolen, or sporty, will reduce your rates, too.

How to Compare Cheap Car Insurance Quotes

2007-03-28T04:05:00.002-07:00

The best advice for getting a cheap car insurance quote is to shop around, and the best advice for shopping around is to compare the car insurance quotes of each company.

There are several ways to compare cheap car insurance quotes from several car insurance companies:

Make a list. Ask your family members, friends, and even co-workers with whom you’re close about the car insurance companies they use. Chances are they’re not all doing business with the same car insurance company, so you’ll be able to get truthful reviews of several different car insurance companies. Take note of those that interest you, and forget about those that don’t.

Ask about discounts. Once you have your list of possible car insurance companies, call each one and ask about discounts. Many car insurance companies offer discounts for classes taken, good driving records, vehicle safety features, and multi-car policies. Some insurance companies sell more than just car insurance, and will offer discounts if you buy or already have other insurance policies from them. Compare the discounts offered by each as those discounts will help determine your cheap car insurance quote. Take note of the car insurance companies that offer discounts relevant to you.

Pay attention. Ideally, you’re looking for a car insurance company with which you can do business for a long time. So, the customer service must be stellar, right? As you talk to an agent from each car insurance company you call, really listen to the rapport. Are they friendly? Do they have immediate answers to your questions? Do they sound as if they’re in a hurry to end the conversation?

Price vs. Options. When you compare cheap car insurance quotes, you shouldn’t only be interested in the price – you want to get a car insurance policy that offers options you need. What’s the point in paying a cheap car insurance payment if you’re sacrificing crucial car insurance coverage and protection?

Ditch the Cell Phone and Lower Automotive Insurance Rates - It Will Save You Money

2007-03-28T04:05:00.001-07:00

In today’s world, you can look just about anywhere and see at least one person talking on a cell phone; sadly, the road is no exception. More and more drivers are taking to the roads with cell phones to their ears; as a result these drivers are causing a greater risk for automobile accidents. Of course, we all know the consequence of increased automobile accidents – increased automotive insurance.

Despite the statistics conveying the relationship between drivers using cell phones and a percentage of automobile accidents, many drivers continue to chat while driving, and many of those drivers will be involved with another driver who is using a cell phone will driving. When you’re involved in an automotive accident, regardless of the cause, your automotive insurance rates usually increase. If you are at fault and it’s determined you were using a cell phone at the time of the accident? Let’s just say your automotive insurance company won’t be happy.

If you are one of the drivers who likes to gossip using your cell phone while driving, stop. Nothing is so important that you must risk your life, and the lives of others, in order to tell your best friend, your significant other, or your sister or brother. Even if you’re a parent and, while on your way home from work, remember you must tell your spouse to pick up the kids from school – pull over.

If you are a parent with teens who are driving, or almost ready to drive, instill the responsible habit of not using a cell phone while driving. They are even less experienced drivers than their elders, and don’t need the extra distraction.

Remember, practicing the safe driving habit of not using a cell phone will driving will not only help you lower, or keep low, your automotive insurance rates, but it will also help you keep yourself, and others, from being seriously injured and even killed.

How and Where to Find Cheap Car Insurance in New York

2007-03-28T04:04:00.002-07:00

There are many factors that help determine what your car insurance rates will be all over the country. By taking advantage of, or eventually altering, these factors, you can find cheap car insurance in New York.

Take a look at where you live. Car insurance companies determine the cost of a car insurance policy based on underlying costs. In other words, the car insurance company will look at the number of claims filed in a particular area, as well as how harsh the losses of each claim were. If you happen to live in an area with a high rate of claims and losses, you may pay more for your car insurance in New York.

Use every discount you can. It may sound desperate now, but since New York car insurance companies offer so many discounts it would be pointless not to take advantage of them. Just a few of the discounts offered by car insurance companies in New York include classes and programs such as accident prevention, driver training, and the Combat Auto Theft Program; vehicle components such as anti-lock brakes, air bags, automatic safety belts, and anti-theft systems; special company discounts for drivers who are accident free or considered “careful drivers;” and regular car insurance discounts such as those gained by purchasing more than one policy from the same New York insurance company or having more than one car on your car insurance policy.

Raise your deductible. This means you will pay more out-of-pocket in the event you have an accident, but if you’re considered “accident free” or a “careful driver” you aren’t at a high risk for accidents anyway.

Of course, you can always find cheap car insurance in New York by working on your driving record and waiting until you get a bit older and are considered less of a risk. These options for cheap car insurance in New York apply to the here and now.

What are Florida Car Insurance Requirements?

2007-03-28T04:04:00.001-07:00

In Florida, the car insurance requirements are as follows: $10,000 for personal injury protection, also known as PIP, and $10,000 for property damage liability, also known as PDL.

Floridians are not alone when it comes to having state-imposed car insurance requirements. All states in America require minimum car insurance requirement. While some people choose to satisfy these car insurance requirements by purchasing their policy through an insurance company, other people choose to be “self-insured,” or to put down a bond that will cover the amount of the car insurance requirements. How you choose to show proof that you have met your state’s car insurance requirements is up to the state.

In Florida, these car insurance requirements must be met by every driver or vehicle owner who wishes to register and purchase tags for his vehicle. No one can opt not to purchase the car insurance requirements by rationalizing he just will not register and tag his vehicle. Vehicles must be registered and tagged in order for the car to operate legally on the roads. The minimum car insurance requirements also apply even if you are not driving your car in Florida, or if your car is not operative. If your car is registered and tagged in Florida, you must have the Florida’s minimum car insurance requirements.

Sometimes drivers are required to purchase bodily injury protection, too; these cases usually fall into the hands of drivers who have been in an accident or drivers who have been convicted of an offense such as driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI).

Before you begin your search for a policy that meets Florida’s car insurance requirements, make sure you are eligible to have that minimum coverage – not all drivers are. If you have borrowed money to purchase your new car, your lender will undoubtedly require you to purchase more than Florida’s minimum car insurance requirements until the debt is paid.

How to Get a Free Car Insurance Quote That is Cheap

2007-03-28T04:03:00.002-07:00

The easiest way to get a free, cheap car insurance quote is to get it online. There are seemingly thousands of Web sites today that offer free, cheap car insurance quotes. Not only does the abundance of Web sites make it easy to get a car insurance quote, but it makes it easy to get multiple car insurance quotes. In the time it would take you to visit a number of different car insurance agencies, you could get twice the number of car insurance quotes without leaving the comfort of your home!

Before you begin searching for your free, cheap car insurance quote, you should have some information prepared. Each car insurance Web site will ask you a variety of questions, and you do not want to have to leave the computer to search for long lost paperwork.

Be prepared to provide the following information to get your free, cheap car insurance quote online:

• Basic information about yourself (name, contact, address, whether all of your vehicles are located at this address)
• Personal information about yourself (birth date, gender, marital status, the date you obtained your first driver’s license, employment status, etc.)
• Your current insurance status
• Basic information about your car (year, make, model, safety elements, where the car is driven, how often the car is driven, etc.)
• The number of drivers who regularly drive your car, as well as basic information about them (age, gender, how long they have been driving, etc.)

Most of this information will be easy for you to provide; however, some car insurance Web sites that provide free, cheap car insurance quotes dig a bit deeper and ask more detailed questions about your car such as the exact mileage, while some as for the specific information about your current car insurance policy. Aside from collecting the above information, you may want to keep your current car insurance policy handy for reference.

Get a Low Rate Car Insurance Quote for Free!

2007-03-28T04:03:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for a cheap car insurance quote for free, you are in luck! Most insurance companies that offer car insurance usually always offer car insurance quotes for free. So, the trick is not getting the cheap car insurance quote for free – the trick is getting the cheap car insurance quote!

Many times your car insurance quote is based on your answers to a series of questions the car insurance company will ask you. Most car insurance companies will want to know information about yourself, your vehicle, your driving history, and information about anyone else who will be driving the car and will thus be included on your car insurance policy.

Yourself

These questions usually pertain to your age, how long you’ve been driving, and any health conditions you may have that affect your driving.

Your Vehicle

The answers to questions regarding your vehicle will give the car insurance company an idea of how at risk your vehicle is for being vandalized or stolen, as well as how safe you and your passengers will be in the car.

Your Driving Record

Traffic violations and accidents do not impress car insurance companies, so keep them to a minimum, or nonexistent. If you have a few, talk with the car insurance company about ways to redeem yourself, such as defensive driving courses.

Other Drivers

These questions usually pertain to new drivers who will be driving your vehicle, though they may cover all other drivers; they most always pertain to the driving experience of the drivers.

The answers to some of these questions are unavoidable, such as your age and health, while others can be changed such as the type of vehicle you drive. Remember, you do not have to check out just one car insurance company – there are many out there, and you may find the same quality car insurance policy at another car insurance company for a cheaper price.

Diminished Value - Your Insurance Company's Best Kept Secret

2007-03-28T04:02:00.002-07:00

Diminished Value is the best-kept secret that your auto insurance company hopes you never learn. While the term, diminished value, may be a relatively new one to consumers, insurers are well aware of its existence, having paid claims to both insureds and claimants for more than eighty years.

What is Diminished Value?

Diminished Value is the term given to the loss in market value a vehicle suffers as a result of an accident and repair. It is a loss based on the beliefs of most people, that once goods become damaged, they are never as valuable as they would be had they never suffered injury.

Let’s say you are in the market to purchase a used car and run across two beautiful cars sitting side by side, both identical down to the last detail, offered for sale for $20,000 each. They are equipped the same, have equal mileage, and equivalent wear. The only exception, you are told, is that the car on the right has been involved in an accident at some point in its history. Considering that both cars are equally priced, would you rather purchase the damaged and repaired car or the one that has never been damaged?

If you are like most people who have answered that question on surveys, you will have chosen the car on the left - the undamaged one - unless, of course, you could negotiate a significant reduction off the selling price of the repaired car. How much of a reduction would it take to make you want the repaired car over the undamaged one? Figure that out and you will have determined the amount of diminished value that particular car suffered because of its damage history.

Causes of diminished value

There are many factors that cause repaired cars to become less desirable to buyers and lose market value, the most obvious being poor quality workmanship and use of inferior parts made by sources other than a vehicle’s original manufacturer. But there are a host of other, less obvious, factors that contribute to diminished value as well. Some of these are the loss of factory transferable warranty coverage on damaged and repaired parts, increased title and disclosure obligations, and the loss of eligibility for inclusion in manufacturer’s preowned certification programs.

Categories of diminished value

While an exhaustive list of causes would be too lengthy to include in this article, most fall into one of three categories.

Inherent Diminished Value:

The first is inherent diminished value, which considers factors beyond the power of shops and insurers to rectify. A perfect example of this is the perception that people carry in their minds that makes them distrustful of repaired cars. While these perceptions are the fault of no particular party, still they exist in people’s minds and are believed to be real, causing thousands of dollars in losses for consumers who wish to market their repaired automobiles. It should also be noted that inherent diminished value could occur even when cars are expertly repaired because in many cases it is simply not possible to talk some people into the purchase of a repaired car at any price when they are not open to taking a risk.

Insurers, too, understand diminished value and reluctantly admit to its existence when their backs are to the wall. During State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Mabry, 274 Ga. 498, 501; 556 SE2d 114 (11/28/2001), a lawsuit that caused insurers to begin paying diminished value claims as a normal course of business in the state of Georgia, State Farm provided testimony under oath confirming that the potential for diminished value exists in every claim, even when cars appear properly repaired. Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham wrote the following November 28, 2001, recounting the testimony of State Farm's witnesses and documents it presented during discovery:

“... The first question, whether diminution in value occurs even when physical damage is properly repaired, is one of fact. The trial court found that there is a potential for a diminution in value loss in every event of loss, and that diminution in value can occur even when a vehicle is repaired properly. In support of those findings, the trial court relied primarily upon documents produced by State Farm during discovery and upon the testimony of State Farm’s witnesses. The documents from State Farm acknowledged that there is a common perception that a wrecked vehicle is worth less simply because it has been wrecked. Witnesses for State Farm testified that a potential for diminution in value exists in every automobile accident, and that the public perceives a loss of value in any wrecked vehicle and would choose an unwrecked vehicle over a wrecked one, assuming the vehicles are otherwise the same ...”

What was proven true in 2001 is still true today. Diminished value is a reality, even in cases where repairs eliminate all visual evidence of damage.

Shop Related Diminished Value:

Shop related diminished value is usually the result of poor quality workmanship on the part of repair shops. Mismatched paint, ill-fitting parts, rattles and wind leaks are example of shop related diminished value. If shops accept money from customers for performing particular labor functions, they have an obligation to perform the work correctly. When they don’t, evidence of their shoddy job is often visible for all to see, helping decrease the price a potential buyer would willingly pay for a repaired automobile.

Insurance Related Diminished Value:

Insurance related diminished value results when insurance company claims adjusters, either intentionally or unintentionally, omit needed repairs from an accident victim’s settlement. It may also occur when sufficient payment isn’t made to allow shops to perform repairs as a carmaker intended. As an example, poor-fitting aftermarket parts may cause insurance related diminished value when insurers specify their use instead of original equipment manufacturer’s (OEM) parts.

Getting paid for diminished value

When it comes to getting paid for diminished value, three misconceptions abound.

First, many believe that a claim for diminished value is a claim separate and distinct from the one paying for actual physical damages like bent fenders and doors. This is not true. Rather, diminished value is an element of recoverable damage in the same claim that occurred at the same time, during the same event. An insurer that accepts liability and pays for any damage, must, where proof exists, pay for all the loss, except in cases where an exclusion in the policy exempts insurers from doing so.

Second, many believe one must sell his/her car to collect a diminished value claim from an insurer. This is another untruth. Insurers simply keep this myth alive to stall claims payouts for as long as possible, knowing the statute of limitations will eventually run out preventing a consumer from ever pursuing a recovery. Diminished value, like other elements of loss, is owed as of the date it actually occurred, not at some far-off unidentifiable point in the future.

Third, many believe that courts across the land have banned diminished value claims, labeling them as bogus. Again, this phony spin only benefits insurers who hope not to have to pay these claims. While it is true that some diminished value class action cases about a decade ago got tossed from courts by judges, it was because the lawyers could not show sufficient commonality to sustain a class of members, NOT because diminished value claims have no merit. Other cases have failed because claimants were unsuccessful at proving to the courts that their repaired cars were in some manner compromised despite best efforts to repair them correctly.

Conclusion

If you want to collect on a claim for diminished value, the burden of proof is on you to authenticate your loss. Sadly, the factor that most often prompts settlement of any claim, including that of diminished value, is the threat of litigation. Insurers pick and choose their fights. If they think you have the means to hire a lawyer and pursue a recovery, an insurer may consider you a threat and pay your claim for diminished value without too much resistance. However, if an insurer considers you to be a weak opponent, the claims adjuster will likely try confusing you with slick word tracks, ultimately stalling you for as long as possible.

For a quicker resolution, you can always forgo the diminished value claim with an insurer and take the loss against income taxes you owe. Still, you will have to substantiate your loss and will need the services of an expert to do that for you. Despite insurer’s obstinacy to the contrary, diminished value is owed where a loss can be proven, and those who are persistent stand the best chance of being paid.

This information is general in nature and should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal or insurance advice. Readers are encouraged to consult specialists in these fields who have an understanding of legal and insurance issues on a local, state, and national level.

How To Comparison Shop For Car Insurance

2007-03-28T04:02:00.001-07:00

Car insurance is something we all need but it is probably not the kind of thing that we think of to shop around, like a stereo or new TV. But this is something that we all should do every now and then, like every couple of years, instead of just assuming that we are getting our best rate with the carrier we have now. We need to simply make sure that we are still getting the best car insurance value for the money. It goes without saying that there is always a new guy on the block offering even more competitive car insurance.

When you shop around for car insurance, be very cautious if you think you have discovered a better quote. You do not need to be an expert in insurance terminology to find out that you are not comparing apples to apples. For example, if everything looks the same on two policies, look again. Oh yes, one has a $300 deductible and the other one has a $1200 deductible. That is a major difference.

Should you shop for car insurance online? Absolutely, beyond a shadow of a doubt. But again, be careful. There are no guarantees that just because you found it online means that it is a competitive quote. You need to examine the fine print very carefully, because many times your local insurance agent can do better than what you see there. Although there are many considerations, one of the primary considerations is your driving record, and if you have had good luck with no tickets and no accidents in many years, then you should be a very good shape for getting an aggressive quote, either online or from your local insurance agent.

But if your driving history lacks a little luster, maybe you have an accident or two, maybe combined with a ticket or two, it is going to be tougher to find a good quote for car insurance. It will not be impossible, but you are going to end up paying much more than you would like to.

One of the hard facts of life is that you need to have car insurance if you are going to drive a car on public roads and highways, and almost all states have a requirement to that effect. So given that, do not forget to add the cost of the car insurance that you must carry to the cost of your car payment. Maybe you can afford the car payment, but after you add in the insurance, it’s just out of your league.

There are many factors that go into pricing car insurance, and one of the main ones is the type of car you want to insure. It does not require a rocket science degree to figure that the cost of insuring a late model Lincoln Town Car is going to be much more than a late model Kia. The overall value of the car is taken into consideration as well as the cost of repairing the car if it gets into an accident. In the same way, a car’s crash safety test records indicate how safe the driver is in an accident, and the cost of the car plus the cost of medical bills play into computing insurance costs also.

So shop around and get your best quote for car insurance. Check online pricing but do not assume that that is as good as it gets. The time you put into your shopping will be directly reflected as savings in your wallet.

Car Insurance Shopping on the Web Can be Tricky

2007-03-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

It can pay to do some comparative shopping when you are seeking to buy car insurance, as price quotes can vary quite a bit from company to company. This certainly applies if you are seeking estimates on the Web, as studies have shown that the quotes offered by different companies on the Web can vary by up to 80%. Nobody wants to pay more than necessary for auto coverage, so it is worthwhile to devote some time to attempt to find the best deal for your vehicle.

Here are a number of tips that may make it easier for you to search for auto coverage on the Web:

Be skeptical of price quotes that are way out of line with the others, especially if they are overly low. The low quote might be due to a mistake on the part of the Website or a mistake on your part. You need to follow up any online estimate that interests you with a phone call. The majority of estimates should come within a reasonable range; if one quote is only one third of the others, you're almost certainly looking at an error.

Be sure that you are comparing identical things - Estimates could vary from site to site because the parameters of your search could be different. Be sure when you complete the online forms that you are seeking estimates for exactly the same coverage. Estimates that vary significantly do not always mean that one company is more affordable; it might mean that you were not careful to compare the same two things. If one Website provides a quote for comprehensive coverage while another is offering an estimate for just liability, the results will vary quite a bit.

Don't assume that the quotes are always accurate. For some reasons, many online price quotes are simply not accurate. You may find that the estimates offered vary from the price you will have to pay if you call an insurance agent. You should verify the estimate with a telephone call.

Check out at least ten different sites. You can review the two or three companies that offered the most reasonable prices for additional comparisons. Estimates can vary so dramatically from one company to another that it really is worthwhile to check with many different companies. The more information you have, the more educated your decision will be.

Take care to do it right, as a little diligence when looking for insurance might save you a lot of cash. Shopping for auto coverage is like shopping for anything else; it takes time to locate the best price.

Car Insurance

2007-03-28T03:59:00.002-07:00

Are you fed up with your current car insurance company? Or are you just purchasing your first car and need to purchase car insurance? In either case, it's time for you to learn how to pick the best car insurance provider for your situation.

It Isn't as simple as just picking a Company.

It would be nice if getting car insurance were as easy as simply picking a company and sticking with them. While this approach may work for some who are OK with potentially paying more money than they should, it definitely does not work well for the average car owner. That's because the average car owner wants to get the best bang for their buck.

The internet has made the process of picking a car insurer very easy. By going to sites like Progressive.com, Statefarm.com, Esurance.com, and Geico.com, you can easily search through quotes for car insurance. Since car insurance can vary widely from company to company, it's important for you to get as many quotes as possible.

You may also want to go into your local car insurance business and ask for quotes from them. In some cases, local auto insurer quotes will be cheaper than those found on the internet.

Unfortunately, even if you get a ton of quotes, you may still find that the insurance is a lot more than what you're willing to pay. The good thing is, there's something you can do to get the cheapest quote possible: you can use the tips in the next section for getting cheaper quotes.

Tips for Lower Auto Insurance

Believe it or not, but there are things you can do on your part (besides having a good driving record) to increase the likelihood of getting lower car insurance quotes.

Tip #1: Accuracy

You've probably noticed how utterly daunting auto insurance quote forms are. They're full of several questions, and by the time you've gotten halfway through filling it out, you're ready to quit. Did you know that how accurately you fill out the form can have a great effect on how much you pay for insurance? Well, it can and it does have an effect. That's because there are certain discounts you may be eligible for (such as residency and marriage) and if you don't properly fill out the form, you'll miss out on these. So pay attention to every single question and fill it out to the best of your ability.

Tip #2: Shop Around

One auto insurer may charge you $1000 for auto insurance, while another one may charge you $650 for auto insurance with the same conditions. Insurance quotes greatly vary, which is why you should shop around before settling on any insurance plan.

Tip #3: Don't Get Too Much Coverage

It's definitely a good idea to get comprehensive coverage for a brand new car. It's not such a good idea, however, to get the same coverage for an older model. The amount of coverage you get obviously influences the overall cost of the insurance, so the less coverage you get, the lower the price. When the collision premium equals 10% or more of the car's value, it's time to consider dropping the collision premium which can save you hundreds of dollars.

Tip #4: Raise the Deductible

The deductible is what you'll pay should something happen to your car. If you set the deductible to $200, you may end up paying hundreds more in premiums each year. But if you raise the deductible to $500, you can save hundreds of dollars.

Tip #5: No Extra Coverage

Some aspects of auto insurance coverage aren't really worth the extra $100-$400 a year. One such coverage that is worth getting rid of is the Rental Reimbursement coverage. This coverage pays for rental costs on the outside chance that your car has to go to the shop for a day or two. It's really not worth the extra money you'll pay for the coverage, so it's something you should get rid of to save money.

Average Car Insurance Rates - How A DUI Can Affect Your Car Insurance

2007-03-28T03:59:00.001-07:00

Driving drunk is a very dangerous thing to do, and can result in a variety of different consequences. If you are convicted of a DUI you will have to deal with points on your license, drivers license suspension, high fines, attorney/court costs, and more. While these items just mentioned tend to be short-term consequences, you may not have considered the long-term consequences that can arise if you're convicted of a DUI. If you're convicted of a DUI your car insurance rates and even your ability to have insurance coverage will be affected.

Higher Rates
More than likely your insurance company will be notified if you're convicted of a DUI. If the company does not suspend your insurance coverage, more often than not, you can wave goodbye to low rate car insurance for a long period of time. If you don't like the higher rates your current company wants to charge you, you can try changing insurance companies, but even changing typically won't save you money because you'll be labeled as a high risk driver, which will result in you paying higher car insurance rates wherever you may go. More than likely your insurance company will have to send an SR-22 Proof of Insurance Certificate to the state showing that they are covering you, in order for your drivers license to have your license suspension removed.

Cancellation
In some cases, if you have been convicted of a DUI, some car insurance companies will actually cancel your insurance policy. Not all companies can issue an SR-22, so this can result in your car insurance policy either being canceled or the company not renewing your policy at your current renewal date. Although some states may not allow your insurance company to cut off your coverage in the middle of your plan, they can stop covering you when your renewal dates come around. If you have questions about cancellation policies, you may want to review the laws in your state or sit down with your agent.

Available Insurance
If you end up having your current insurance policy canceled or not renewed, there are a variety of companies that will be able to offer you car insurance coverage. While you'll be able to find coverage, your new car insurance rates will still reflect the fact that you have a DUI on your record. In some states the DUI is only on your record for five years; however, other states may keep it on your record for life.

Being convicted of a DUI can have a variety of different consequences, both short-term and long-term, and there is a good chance that it could affect your car insurance rates for the rest of your life. If you are interested in keeping your car insurance rates low, plain and simple, don't ever drive drunk. Driving while intoxicated is just a very bad decision. It not only comes with financial consequences, it puts you and others at great risk safety-wise as well. Before you decide to get behind the wheel of a car after drinking, make sure you take a moment to think about the consequences that can last a lifetime.

Car Insurance With Rental Car Reimbursement - Is It Worth It?

2007-03-28T03:58:00.000-07:00

Whether you have car insurance or are shopping for a quote, you may not think about rental car reimbursement. Is it worth it? If you're trying to save on your auto insurance, you may not want to pay for this coverage but here's something to keep in mind.

Rental car reimbursement coverage is usually an optional add-on to your car insurance policy that will help pay for a rental car -- for a limited number of days -- while your vehicle is being repaired due to a loss. For example, the coverage may pay $20 per day for 30 days toward the cost of a rental car. The coverage typically costs a couple of dollars a month.

Depending on the time of year, the type of rental car, the rental car agency, where you live and other factors, you could end up paying anywhere from $25 to $75 per day for a rental car. Now consider how long it could take to repair your car. The body shop tells you three to five days. Four days later they call and tell you they had to backorder a special part. It will be another four to five days. You call five days later and they tell you the part won't be in for another week.

Before you know it, you've been renting a car for almost three weeks. That could add up to several hundred dollars depending on how many days you rented the car during that period. With the rental reimbursement coverage, you would be able to pay substantially less.

I went through a similar experience as above, and ended up using the rental reimbursement coverage. For me it was worth it because I really needed to get around town and didn't have a lot of extra cash.

You have to assess your needs and finances to decide if you should add this coverage or not to your auto policy. When you comparison shop for car insurance quotes, find out what the difference is with and without rental reimbursement coverage. You may just consider it worth it for the peace of mind.