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Thursday, November 11, 2010

How to Buy a Used Car Under Book Value

How to Buy a Used Car Under Book Value
Provided By: CarInsurance.com Auto Insurance Articles
Last updated 6:56 PM Sep-30-2008

Cars are not a great investment. That is what my financier friend tells me all the time. Though it may just be an excuse for him having an old, grungy car there is some truth to it. New cars depreciate the moment you drive them off the lot. Nothing you can do to stop or change that. But if you are looking for a new vehicle there are ways to save money and buy a used car for under book value and at least make you feel like you have received a good investment for your money.
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Auction, the word can scare some. In America we are not used to the type of bartering that is common place all over the world. One place where we can take part in a bartering system is at an auction. Instead of staying away from an auction you should learn to enjoy it and learn how to benefit from it. Vehicle auctions specifically are what I am talking about here.

Vehicle auctions take place nearly every week someplace. There are different rules associated with different auctions so before just showing up make sure you do not need certain credentials. Some auctions require you to have a dealer’s license and if you do not you might not even get in the door to look at what cars are even available.

Repossessed vehicles are a second kind of auction that you may find. There are government auctions, local city police and sheriff auctions that allow you to bid on repossessed vehicles.These are for the general public in most occasions.You may be able to find a car that is in good shape with few miles but that the owner was unable to pay their fines on so was taken. Others are taken for driving without a license and unable to come get their car. These cars are most likely in good running order. But always be sure to take a look at the vehicle you plan to bid on and not bid blindly.

Other kind of auctions includes cities, counties and schools that sell off vehicles they no longer need. These types of vehicles might have high mileage but because of being a fleet vehicle have been well maintained. These cars have had their scheduled tune ups and have been washed and kept looking good. The interior as well is usually in good condition since it was used for work purposes and not family or rough conditions.

So if you want a way to get a good investment for way under book value remember to try out auctions. Of course do not go into it blindly. Learn the auction lingo, know what book value is on the car you are interested in and stand firm on how much you want to bid up to. It is best to go to an auction or two to just watch and take in the action before bidding. Remember you are getting such a good deal because there is not a warranty or guarantee for the car in most instances. If you do your research before you go though you can come out of the auction with a nice used vehicle for an amazing deal.

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Simple Steps to Filing Your Car Insurance Claim

Simple Steps to Filing Your Car Insurance Claim
Provided By: CarInsurance.com Auto Insurance Articles
Last updated 4:14 PM Sep-29-2008

Having even a teeny-tiny car accident can be one of life's least enjoyable moments. However, accidents happen, and sooner or later, we all have the experience of meeting one of our fellow road travelers up close and personal. Using the following seven steps to filing your claim will help you get over this speed bump as smoothly as possible.
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They aren’t really accidents. They are more of an incident. Usually they are an incident that you would like to forget.

* Understand your policy before a loss, sit down and carefully read your insurance policy. Call your agent or company if you have any questions about what is or is not covered.

* Make sure everyone is okay and check to see if anyone needs medical attention. Even if your injuries are minor, you may still want to have them checked out at a hospital or with your family doctor. Minor injuries can become major, long-lasting injuries.

* Exchange information when you are involved in an accident, get the other driver's name, address, phone number, insurance carrier, and insurer's phone number. Be prepared to give the same information about yourself to the other driver. You can find insurers’ telephone numbers on the proof-of-insurance cards that should be carried on your person when operating a motor vehicle.

* Identify witnesses and ask witnesses to the accident for their names and phone numbers in case their account of the accident is needed.
* File an accident report and contact local law enforcement officers to have an accident report prepared. If law enforcement is not reachable, accident reports and detailed instructions are available at all police departments, sheriff's offices, your local Department of Motor Vehicles office, and on your local Department of Motor Vehicles' web site

* Notify your insurer by contacting your insurance company about the accident as soon as possible. An insurance adjuster will review the accident report to determine who caused the accident. If the accident was not your fault, you can have either your insurance company or the at-fault driver's insurance company handle the repair or replacement of your vehicle. If you use the other driver's company, you will not have a claim on your automobile policy and you will not have to pay a deductible.

* Do not release insurers too early. Do not relieve your insurance company of its responsibility until the damages are settled to your satisfaction. For example, have your insurance company handle the claim if the other party's insurance company questions its policyholder’s negligence or offers an unacceptable settlement.

* Consider these settlement factors.
1: Bodily injuries: You may be entitled to a monetary settlement for injuries caused by another at fault (liable) party. It can take several days for some injuries to become apparent.
2: Damages: The insurance company is responsible to pay for the reasonable cost of repairs to your vehicle. An insurance adjuster will assess the damage. Usually, insurance companies and auto body shops negotiate disagreements about what should be repaired. If you disagree with their conclusions, you have the right to obtain another appraisal at any auto body shop.
3: Appraisal clause: Most auto insurance policies include an appraisal clause, which can be used to help settle disputes about physical damage claims between you and your insurance company. (The appraisal clause does not apply for claims you file with the other party's insurance company.) If you cannot reach an agreement with your company, you or your insurer can initiate the appraisal clause. Your appraiser and your insurer's appraiser then select an independent umpire to try to resolve the dispute. Check your policy or ask your agent or insurance company for more information about the appraisal clause.

And that is it. While filing a claim is certainly no fun, following these seven steps will make the process almost as easy as getting free quotes and purchasing your car insurance at CarInsurance.com.

You can read more about insurance claims in our extensive claims question and answers section.

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Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes. It should not be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any insurance product, or to provide financial or legal advice. This information is provided for information purposes only.

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Monday, November 8, 2010

Tips for First Time Insurance Buyers

Tips for First Time Insurance Buyers
Provided By: CarInsurance.com Auto Insurance Articles
Last updated 10:12 PM Dec-09-2008

There are many scary things in this world. Buying insurance for your first time should not be one of them. In the next few paragraphs, I will offer some tips, which will remove the fear of first time auto insurance buying.

First, you should research the definitions of the types of coverage out there. An educated decision is usually a good decision. Sometimes people experience problems comprehending definitions from a manual. If you are this type of person, you might want to find out if any of your family members or friends is in the insurance industry. They may be able to do an adequate job familiarizing you with the insurance terms or definitions.

After familiarizing yourself with the types of coverage, plan to give yourself enough time to shop for the right types of coverage with the right company at the right price. When you wait to the last moment, you run the risk of not being able to purchase the types of coverage you desire.

Without planning enough time to call around and compare the rates for the types of coverage, which you desire, you also run the risk of purchasing your coveted insurance at a higher rate. In addition, companies vary in their service in which they offer their customers. Some companies offer some flexibility when you look to change your insurance coverage in the future as your needs change. You may end up compromising these when you do not give yourself enough time researching the various insurance companies that are out there.

Now that you have researched the types of insurance coverage that are out there to prepare you for an educated decision and you have allocated enough time to execute this to your advantage, you need to determine your insurance needs. A licensed insurance agent can be a good aide in helping you assess your insurance needs; however, determining your insurance needs will be up to you.

Following are some of the questions you will need to answer. Do want extra medical coverage for the party in the other vehicle? Are you looking for only what the state requires to cover your tag? Is your vehicle so old that you need towing coverage? Alternatively, does a lien holder own your vehicle, and as a result, you need extra coverage for your vehicle? Is there more than one driver who needs to be insured on your policy?

Since you have assessed the types of coverage you need, you now need to determine how much insurance to purchase. Always purchase as much insurance as you can afford.

Does it make sense to purchase the most insurance possible, and as a result, your policy cancels in 90 days because you cannot afford the monthly payments? On the other hand, does it make sense to purchase the least amount of insurance types of coverage possible when you can afford more? If you currently cannot afford the types of coverage you desire, some companies allow you to 'upgrade' your policy (increase the types of coverage) in the future.

There is another thing to consider when you are determining how much insurance types of coverage you can afford. If you are currently financing the cost of a vehicle, or you are going to purchase a vehicle and you are going to finance its cost, there is a good chance your lien holder will require you to carry comprehensive and collision types of coverage. These types of coverage help protect the lien holder financially if something happens to the vehicle; however, the cost of these types of coverage may keep you from affording other types of coverage, which you covet.

Again, purchasing insurance for the first time should not be intimidating. To keep it from being intimidating, remember the previous tips. Educate yourself with the types of coverage. Allocate enough time to give you the best possible results. Determine your needs. Finally, purchase as much insurance as you can afford.

The best place for new drivers to shop for insurance is online at CarInsurance.com. If you use their simple quote form to get a quote, the coverage page will give you simple packages to make sure you are covered and protected. You can modify or extend coverage, limits, and deductibles. Getting a car insurance quote is a great place to learn.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes. It should not be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any insurance product, or to provide financial or legal advice. This information is provided for information purposes only.

Articles written by CarInsurance.com have a copyright and cannot be reproduced or republished in any way or form without the written consent from CarInsurance.com. You may use our RSS feed with an active link to our site.

source: http://www.carinsurance.com/Articles/content38.aspx

How Much Car Insurance Should You Buy?

How Much Car Insurance Should You Buy?
Provided By: CarInsurance.com Auto Insurance Articles
Last updated 4:16 AM Mar-14-2009

Car insurance is not very exciting. Depending on which state you live in, it could be a smaller or larger piece of your budget than your neighbors across state lines.

How much insurance should you buy? Any insurance agent worthy of their salt will tell you that you should buy as much as you can afford. While this is a good rule of thumb, it is about as useful as a stockbroker’s tip to buy low and sell high. It might be sound logic but it does not get you any closer to an educated decision. A few filters need consideration in order to make that educated decision. First, what is the state required minimum coverage where you live? Second, what does the minimum cover? Third, what other coverage is available and can you afford it? Fourthly, what are you protecting?

You can use our easy Insurance Coverage Calculator or get an auto insurance quote to see the recommended coverage levels.

What is the minimum for your state?

You can get up to date state minimum requirements by following this link and selecting your state.

The first two figures refer to Bodily Injury Liability Limits. For example, 20/40 means coverage up to $20,000 for each person injured in an accident, up to a maximum of $40,000 forth entire accident, and then you could have 20/40/10 with $10,000 worth of coverage for property damage.

What do the minimums cover?

Now that you know what your state requires, what are you actually covered for once you purchase the minimum? Using the coverage definitions that follow, find the types of coverage required and see what your state says is the accepted minimum.

Coverage Definitions

Bodily Injury Liability covers other people's bodily injuries or death for which you are responsible. It also provides for a legal defense if another party in the accident files a lawsuit against you. Claims for bodily injury may be for such things as medical bills, loss of income or pain and suffering. In the event of a serious accident, you want enough insurance to cover a judgment against you in a lawsuit, without jeopardizing your personal assets. Bodily injury liability covers injury to people, not your vehicle. Therefore, it's good idea to have the same level of coverage for all of your cars. Bodily Injury Liability does NOT cover you or other people on your policy. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.

Comprehensive covers your vehicle, and sometimes other vehicles you maybe driving for losses resulting from incidents other than collision. For example, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car if it is stolen; or damaged by flood, fire, or animals. Pays to fix your vehicle less the deductible you choose. To keep your premiums low, select as high a deductible as you feel comfortable paying out of pocket. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.

Collision covers damage to your car when your car hits, or is hit by, another vehicle, or other object. Pays to fix your vehicle less the deductible you choose. To keep your premiums low, select as large a deductible as you feel comfortable paying out of pocket. For older cars, consider dropping this coverage, since coverage is normally limited to the cash value of your car. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.

Medical Payments covers medical expenses to you and your passengers injured in an accident. There may also be coverage if as a pedestrian a vehicle injures you. Does NOT matter who is at fault. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.

Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury covers bodily injuries to you and your passengers when the other person has no insurance or not enough insurance in a crash that is not your fault. In some states, there is also uninsured motorist coverage for damage to your vehicle. Given the large number of uninsured motorists, this is very important coverage to have, even in states with no-fault insurance. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy

Personal Injury Protection covers within the specified limits, the medical, hospital and funeral expenses of the insured, others in his vehicles and pedestrians struck by him. The basic coverage for the insured's own injuries on first-party basis, without regard to fault. It is only available in certain states.

Property Damage Liability covers you if your car damages someone else's property. Usually it is their car, but it could be a fence, a house or any other property damaged in an accident. It also provides you with legal defense if another party files a lawsuit against you. It is a good idea to purchase enough of this insurance to cover the amount of damage your car might do to another vehicle or object. Coverage is limited to the terms and conditions contained in the policy.

Rental Car Reimbursement covers renting a car if your car isn't drivable or while your car is being repaired because of a covered accident.

What else is available and can you afford it?

Did you come across a coverage and think, "I need that but it isn't required by state law" when you were reviewing the coverage definitions? Chances are you did. Can your budget afford the additional expense of these protections? Alternatively, maybe more to the point can you afford NOT to have these additional protections? At CarInsurance.com it is easy to get multiple quotes all with a click of your mouse. Moreover, during the quoting process, it is simple to add or remove coverage to see how additional coverage will affect your budget.

You can learn more about Insurance Coverages by following this link.

What are you protecting?

What assets need to be protected from being plucked away if you cause injury or damage? A) Your car itself. If this is a significant asset, or at least the bank you owe money to thinks so, then you will need comprehensive and collision. B) Your net worth. Do you have an enormous net worth to protect. If so, either take it out of your name and put it into a trust or buy all the insurance you can. If you have little or nothing to protect, then you can get by with less and still be financially responsible.

However, after you determine how much protection to get, always ask how much more it is for the next level higher. Very often, you can get significantly more coverage for very little cost.

Car insurance is not flashy. There is no "wow" factor and the opposite gender is not going to be impressed by the size of your policy. Nevertheless, not having enough can be the difference between financial stability and financial ruin. For what its worth, CarInsurance.com finds financial stability incredibly appealing.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes. It should not be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any insurance product, or to provide financial or legal advice. This information is provided for information purposes only.

Articles written by CarInsurance.com have a copyright and cannot be reproduced or republished in any way or form without the written consent from CarInsurance.com. You may use our RSS feed with an active link to our site.

Source: http://www.carinsurance.com/Articles/content1.aspx

Which Cars Keep Your Insurance Rates Affordable

Which Cars Keep Your Insurance Rates Affordable
Provided By: CarInsurance.com Auto Insurance Articles
Last updated 1:56 AM Feb-18-2009

Do you consider the cost of insurance before you buy your dream car? You should. The Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) analyzes the cost to insurance companies from theft, collision, and injury claims as they relate to cars. They look at the color of the cars, how many doors they have, and even break them down type.

The Highway Loss Data Institute is a nonprofit public service organization. It is closely associated with and funded through the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which is wholly supported by auto insurers. HLDI gathers, processes, and publishes data on the ways losses vary among different kinds of vehicles.

Four door cars have a 93% less chance of having a claim related to theft than their sibling 2-Door cars. Buy a Buick LeSabre and have relatively no chance of a theft loss. Compare that to the convertible Chevrolet Corvette that has over 5 times the average theft rate. You may have known that. However, did you know that the Toyota Celica has a 67% higher chance of theft than the Toyota Camry?

One of the factors that come into play with insurance claims is the cost of repairing a vehicle and the safety features a vehicle has that can keep down the bodily injury claims. To find out which cars are considered “Top Safety Picks” you can check with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The IIHS top safety picks category recognizes vehicles that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, and rear crashes based on good ratings in Institute tests. Winners also have to have electronic stability control (ESC), which research shows significantly reduces crash risk. Crash tests like the ones conducted by the IIHS have driven major improvements in the designs of all kinds and sizes of passenger vehicles and thus making cars safer for motorists.

The IIHS’s list of top picks for safety performance is something to check out when going to buy a car so that you can see not only if your car is rated in crash tests but what kind of damages are done to give you an idea of insurance. Each year the IIHS releases their information which is available to the public. As a motorist searching for the right car to keep insurance costs down, keep in mind that the more damage that is done is a crash, low impact to high, the likelihood insurance rates will be higher since the insurer knows it will cost more to repair that vehicle.

You may be surprised at some of the results. For example, the Porsche 911 has a 67% less chance for injury claims than the norm. Go figure. The Mitsubishi Lancer has almost double the injury claim rate over the norm.

Where does your car fit for injury theft and collision? What about your dream car? You need to check out the latest statistics on theft for a vehicle before choosing a car to buy. There are various sources you can search to find the most common vehicles stolen. One source is the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) which has studies showing the top 10 stolen vehicles in each state. While the list of top vehicles stolen may change each year there are some vehicles we continue to see on the list and are continual favorites of thieves. These cars include the:

* Honda Accord
* Toyota Camry
* Ford F-150
* Acura Integra
* Nissan Sentra
* Toyota Corolla
* Toyota Pickups

Then the list of ones that have the most expensive theft claims include such vehicles as the:

* Cadillac Escalade
* Chevrolet Corvette Convertible
* Lincoln Navigator

Vehicles with the least expensive theft claims include some of the following and as you may notice some are older vehicles:

* Buick LeSabre
* Volvo V70 Station Wagon
* Mercury Grand Marquis 4-four

The NICB encourages everyone to follow what it calls a "layered approach" to auto theft protection by employing simple, low-cost suggestions to make vehicles less attractive to thieves. The four layers include common sense, a warning device, an immobilizing device, and a tracking device.

The Highway Loss Data Institute gives information on what vehicles have the most and least expensive claims for injury and collision claims. According to HLDI, the lowest injury claims are from large vehicles - cars, pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles (SUVs). Small two and four door cars have the highest injury claims. Small cars also are among the highest in collision costs, along with sports cars.

Models in recent years that have had some of the most expensive claims for injuries include:

* Suzuki Esteem 4-door
* Kia Rio 4-door
* Mitsubishi Mirage 2-door
* Kia Spectra 4-doors
* Vehicle Models with some of the least expensive injury claims include:
* GMC Sierra 2500 2-wheel and 4 wheel drives
* Chevrolet Silverado
* GMC Yukon XL 1500 4-wheel
* Chevy Tahoe 2-wheel

Models that are among the least expensive for collision claims include:

* Ford Excursion 2-wheel drive
* GMC 2500
* GMC Safari 4-wheel drive
* GMC Yukon XL 1500 4-wheel drive
* Vehicles that are most expensive for collision claims include:
* Subaru Impreza WRX 4-wheel drive 4-door
* Lexus IS 300 4-door
* Porsche 911 coupe
* Acura RSX

As you can see the cars on the list for having expensive collision claims include many sporty or high performance vehicles. Insuring a high-performance car can easily cost two or three times the insurance amount for an ordinary model due to the high cost of repairs if they are damaged.

If you have the time and energy to do research on theft rates, cost of collision claims and bodily injury claims on a vehicle you can determine what the most affordable car is to insure for your needs. If you do not have this time than you can research the lists that come out each year or so from sources such as the IIHS, HLDI and NHTSA on the most and least expensive vehicles to insure where they take into account many factors such as the ones we mentioned. The lists can vary since the statistics and reporting tools they use in their research vary.

Typically when one is going to buy a car they have an idea of what type of vehicle they want - sedan, SUV, truck, sports car, etc - and one easy and efficient way to decide on the vehicle that will be affordable to you is to figure out what class of vehicle you want and then narrow done your choice to few models. You then can check the research to make sure they are not on the “worst” list for theft, claims, etc. In addition, maybe with luck they will be on the “best” lists. If not they may fall in between which is fine if the car is going to suit your needs the best.

Once your choice is narrowed down to a few vehicles to find out which is the most affordable of these vehicle to insure, just simply get online and search for auto insurance quotes on the various vehicles. Insurance companies or Insurance Marketplaces, such as CarInsurance.com, will allow you to get as many quotes as you need to determine which vehicle you thinking of purchasing is the most affordable. Once you decide on a car to buy it is easy to then just to go ahead and purchase your insurance policy online.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes. It should not be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any insurance product, or to provide financial or legal advice. This information is provided for information purposes only.

Articles written by CarInsurance.com have a copyright and cannot be reproduced or republished in any way or form without the written consent from CarInsurance.com. You may use our RSS feed with an active link to our site.

Source: http://www.carinsurance.com/Articles/content3.aspx

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Factors That Affect Your Car Insurance Premium

Factors That Affect Your Car Insurance Premium

Provided By: CarInsurance.com Auto Insurance Articles
Last updated 12:49 AM Sep-30-2008

Many factors affect the premium you will pay for auto insurance. Each is a statistically based risk for a specific population. The higher the risk associated with a person, the more he or she is likely to pay for coverage. We have elaborated on some of the risk factors below, but there are numerous others, including driver's gender, miles driven per year, purpose for using the vehicle (commuting to work, using for work, leisure only), etc.

* Age
Statistically, drivers under the age of 25 are at greater risk of being in an accident than those over age 25. Drivers between the ages of 50 and 65 generally have the safest records.

* Gender
Women are statistically safer drivers, but that trend is changing as more female drivers get on the road.

* Marital Status
A married person will pay less than a single person with an identical driving record.

You can think about these factors and determine what you can do to change them in your situation. You may be able to save on insurance based upon these decisions:

* Geography
Where you live makes a difference. Folks living in areas with little or no traffic are likely to spend less on insurance than those living in congested cities or suburbs because areas with a lot of traffic tend to see more accidents. Some neighborhoods also have a higher rate of vehicle thefts, which can result in a higher premium.

* Driving Violations
Having an accident or moving violations on your record (speeding tickets, DWI, reckless driving, etc.) put you at a higher risk for accidents and will likely mean a higher premium. Some insurance companies will penalize you for your record for as many as five years from when the incident occurred. However, keep in mind, as your record improves, your premium will get lower.

* Vehicle Type
A cheap car will cost less to insure than that status symbol SUV sitting on 24" rims.

* Accident Claims
A driving record that is clean and free of accidents will hold far better for you than lots of tickets and/or accidents.

* Credit Rating
Many insurance companies view having a poor, or even no credit history as suggestive of higher risk and thus, charge you a higher premium. Monitor your credit rating free to see if you can get a better score. A better credit score will save on insurance premiums.

* Occupation
Insurers have statistically found a correlation between your occupation and risk. For instance, a newspaper delivery person is most likely a higher risk than the personal banker sitting at their desk all day.

* Education
A higher education can save on your premiums.

* Driving distance to work

* Miles driven each year

* Years of driving experience

* Business use of the vehicle

* Whether or not you currently have auto insurance and how high are your limits

* Theft protection devices (often results in discounts)

* Multiple cars and drivers (another opportunity for discounts)

What can I do right now to make sure I have the lowest premium?

Shop around and compare quotes from different insurers. CarInsurance.com puts many insurance companies on one site so you can compare them in one place. Carriers base their premiums on their claims experiences, which naturally differ. One company may see your area as a higher risk than others may. Another may charge more because of your occupation. Shopping at http://www.carinsurance.com makes it easier because you can quickly see multiple companies and their rates for your particular situation. Where do I go for quotes?

One stop can take care of it all. Go to www.carinsurance.com where you can receive multiple quotes, pick the best price, and then purchase. Get covered immediately on-line or over the phone. It REALLY is the easiest way to purchase car insurance. Enter your zip code above.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes. It should not be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any insurance product, or to provide financial or legal advice. This information is provided for information purposes only.

Articles written by CarInsurance.com have a copyright and cannot be reproduced or republished in any way or form without the written consent from CarInsurance.com. You may use our RSS feed with an active link to our site.

Source: http://www.carinsurance.com/Articles/content6.aspx

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Car Insurance - How Can You Lower Your Premiums?

Car Insurance - How Can You Lower Your Premiums?
by: Michael Challiner

Many factors influence the premium for your Motor insurance policy. Your insurer will have asked you many questions whilst producing your quote - some of which will affect your premium and some will not. Below we discuss the key variables that are within the policyholder's control.

Consolidating policies

By insuring a number of vehicles with the same insurer, or by trying to take out home and life insurance through your car insurer, you may be able to secure a ‘bulk buy’ discount.

Location

A big influence on the cost of your car insurance is where you live. The chance of your car being broken into or stolen is a key concern for the insurer. More urban areas traditionally facing greater risk of theft and therefore tend to be more expensive than countryside locations.

Excess

By agreeing to pay a greater excess on each claim you can reduce your car insurance premiums. This is because you are reducing the liability of the insurer and therefore in return they are able to offer you a lower premium.

Your Vehicle

The cheaper and slower your vehicle the lower your premiums are likely to be. If you are looking to buy a new vehicle make sure you fully consider the cost of insurance – you may be able to buy the car but can you afford to run it?

Mileage

You can control your insurance premiums by restricting your annual mileage. However, be aware that if you exceed the restricted number of miles you'll then become uninsured!

Parking

Where you park your vehicle overnight is also very important to the insurers. If it is kept in a locked garage, you should be offered a lower premium than if you leave it unattended in the street.

Security

Security devices that prevent or hinder theft may also reduce your premium. Common examples include alarms and immobilisers, however, be aware that as we improve the quality of our security devices the thieves just become better at bypassing them.

No Claims Discount

Save up your no claims discount by avoiding making small claims upon your policy. After a set number of years, 4 or 5 typically, you'll often be offered the option to pay an additional small premium to protect your no claims bonus. This can prove very helpful if you subsequently end up having an accident.

Advanced driving skills

By taking an advanced driving course you may also be able to reduce your premiums. The Institute for Advanced Motorists and the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents each offer membership which provides you with discounts for both the cost of driving courses and your car insurance premiums. Two key variables NOT within the policyholder's control.

Your Sex.

Women are statistically less likely to have an accident and, if they do, it's less likely to be serious. Because of these statistics women benefit from lower premiums. It is also worth noting that if you represent one half of a couple you should consider having the female as the primary driver with the male as the second driver.

Your Age

The older you are, the less likely you are to make a claim. As a result insurance companies charge lower premiums for more mature drivers.

One final piece of advice.

A large percentage of car insurance is now sold on the Internet. That's because it's convenient and cheap. Many insurers now give a further 10%-15% discount if you buy online.

Tips for Saving Money on Car Insurance

Tips for Saving Money on Car Insurance
by: Ray Shelton

Car insurance is required by all licensed drivers but many of them don’t know how to find the best rates available. Being complacent and purchasing car insurance without carefully investigating your options or maintaining the same car insurance for the remainder of your life could mean that you are paying too much for your car insurance. Comparison shopping, ensuring that you are receiving all the discounts you qualify for and maintaining a clean driving record are just a few of the money saving tips that can save you a fortune on car insurance.

Comparison shopping for car insurance, even after you are already insured, cannot be underestimated. It is critical that you investigate all of your options before choosing an insurance provider to ensure that you are getting the best possible rate on your car insurance. There are so many factors considered in car insurance policies such as where you live, your driving record, your age and the type of car you drive just to name a few. With all of these factors to consider, it is very possible that you will find that there is a car insurance provider who will offer you a considerably lower rate than other providers.

Even after you have secured insurance for your car, it is wise to periodically check the rates that other providers will offer you. Car insurance as well as your circumstances are perpetually changing and you may find that the provider who is willing to offer you the best car insurance rate varies periodically. Many car insurance providers offer a host of discounts to their clients who qualify for these discounts. These discounts can relate to your driving record, safety features of your car, your age or other factors.

These discounts can result in a tremendous cost savings on your car insurance policy but while many insurance providers offer these discounts, they don’t always advertise them. This means that you may have to do research to determine what type of discounts you may qualify to receive. Carefully, review your car insurance policy to determine which discounts you are already receiving and then contact your car insurance provider to inquire about other discounts that may be available. For example if your driving record is devoid of accidents or tickets, you may qualify for a good driver discount.

Also, if your car has certain safety features such as daytime running lights, you may also qualify for car insurance discounts. Your age can also qualify you for certain car insurance discounts. Some insurance providers also offer discounts to those who insure their house with the same company as they insure their car. Taking advantage of this type of discount can save you money on both your car and home insurance. Being aware of the discounts that are available and ensuring that you are receiving these discounts, can save you a great deal of money on your car insurance.

Finally, maintaining a clean driving record is very important to receiving the best available car insurance rate. While it is true that each car insurance provider is unique in the factors that contribute to lower rates, the one factor that is consistent among all providers of car insurance is that a clean driving record is critical to your rate. Although accidents are sometimes unavoidable, it is imperative that you adhere to all traffic regulations and that you drive safely at all times. This will reduce the number of traffic violations that you incur as well as the number of accidents that you cause. Following these tips will help you to maintain a clean driving record that will keep the cost of your car insurance low.

Many drivers lament paying their monthly car insurance bill because they feel as though the insurance isn’t necessary. Although car insurance is a financial burden that seems superfluous, it does pay off if you are ever in a serious car accident that has significant financial ramifications. For this reason, you should never consider allowing your car insurance to lapse and it is recommended that you search diligently to find the best available rate on your car insurance.


About the author:
Get all the information you need about car insurance at:
http://www.1-in-insurance.com


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Auto Insurance Rates

Auto Insurance Rates
by: Sher Matsen

will vary depending on the insurance agency, your driving record, and the type of insurance you are looking to purchase. I you are looking for affordable car insurance or truck insurance then read on.

There are ways to reduce your premiums without giving up coverage. One of the easiest things to do is get auto insurance rate quotes online. This will allow you to comparative shop stress free.

Raising your deductibles is the easiest way to reduce your rates. The higher the deductible, the lower the premium will be. The deductible is the portion you will have to pay in the event of accident, before your insurance coverage steps in. It’s important not to carry a deductible that’s more than what you are able to pay. Your insurance company will not honor its portion of the claim until you’ve paid your deductible. However, the higher your deductible the lower your premium cost will be, so you need to find a

Always remember to ask your insurance broker for any available discounts. Quite often we forget to ask and they don’t seem to volunteer the information. A clean record on the current policy for a certain period of time, having your homeowner's coverage with the same insurer, taking a defensive driving course, having an accident free driving record, and having an approved anti-theft device will reduce your auto insurance rates.

The type of car you drive can also reduce your rates. Stay away from cars that have a high class rating. Rates vary among the different makes and models of vehicles. The different rates are based on the risk of accident, cost to repair, higher theft rates for a particular model and replacement costs such as with a new vehicle. So be sure your vehicle isn’t going to be in a category that increases your rates too much.

A safe driving record consisting of no accidents and no traffic violations will get you the most substantial discount. Most insurance companies are very good at recognizing good driving habits. These are the drivers they want to insure because their risk is much lower.

If the car is old and not very valuable, comprehensive insurance is probably not worth buying as it can quickly add up to more than you’d ever receive in the event of an accident. You can save up to 20% by eliminating collision insurance. You may want to opt not to carry collision insurance as well which can save you and additional 20%.

Check around to make sure you are getting the best auto rates you can. Online auto insurance shopping has taken the guess work out of buying insurance and you can very quickly see if you are being hosed. So if your insurance is coming due now is the time to start shopping!.


About the author:
Sher from The Auto Insurance Center has been serving customers for over 20 years. Please visit us at http://www.all-auto-insurance.com/


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Car Insurance Estimate

Car Insurance Estimate
by: Timothy F


Shopping around for a car insurance estimate is not something most people look forward to. It is one of the least exciting chores that is required in order to have a car on the road, but it is worth seeking out the most competitive car insurance estimate available. Although getting a car insurance estimate from a number of companies isn’t a desirable task; many people spend far more than they absolutely have to each year on their auto insurance because they simply haven’t taken the time to compare rates and policies with other auto insurance companies. It would be hard to find someone who would walk into an appliance store and decide to spend $200.00 more on a washer that offers the same exact quality and features as the one next to it that costs far less. It doesn’t make too much sense to do the same thing with car insurance.

Most of the time, a car insurance estimate will include collision, liability and comprehensive coverage on a vehicle. Most households have two or more vehicles and every car should be included when seeking out a car insurance estimate. There are a few things that can be done to make getting a car insurance estimate easier and more accurate especially when dealing with more than one car insurance company.

One of the best things to do before looking for a car insurance estimate is to see exactly what the state requirements are as far as what the necessary minimum coverage is in order to have adequate coverage. This is something that might be better to do without the assistance of an insurance agency if possible because their job is to sell insurance and they make more money with the more coverage they are able to sell.

In order to spend less time on the phone when looking for a car insurance estimate, it is a good idea to have a number of items handy including a driver’s license, vehicle identification numbers, make, model and year of each car and even the name and contact information for the company that is financing all vehicles if applicable. There are also a number of factors that can be taken into consideration when seeking a car insurance estimate that may mean additional savings per year. Features on each auto including airbags, auto alarms, anti-lock brakes and other things may mean discounts on auto insurance. Some insurance companies will even offer discounts for having more than one policy with their company as well as insuring multiple cars through with their coverage. Additional discounts may be found through other things like accident-free driving record, defensive driving course incentives and other discounts.

Other circumstances may cost a driver more with certain companies when looking for a car insurance estimate. Men under the age of 25, single drivers, younger drivers under the age of 21, the number of miles driven per day and even the kind of car that is driven can cost a person more money on car insurance when shopping around. The best part about this is that not one car insurance will probably charge the same amount of money for the same coverage so shopping around will prove that there are better choices available.


About The Author
Timothy is the webmaster and owner of " Discounted-Car-Insurance.com " and has been researching and reporting on Car Insurance Estimate solutions for years. Click Here ==> http://www.discounted-car-insurance.com/


About the author:
About The Author
Timothy is the webmaster and owner of " Discounted-Car-Insurance.com " and has been researching and reporting on Car Insurance Estimate solutions for years. Click Here ==> http://www.discounted-car-insurance.com/


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Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Auto Insurance Quotes – Compare A-Rated Companies for Peace of Mind

Auto Insurance Quotes – Compare A-Rated Companies for Peace of Mind

Car insurance quotes are readily available online, with many insurance companies and other companies to provide quick access to prices from different insurance companies. You may be considering switching to a different supplier of car insurance than today, or perhaps you're buying auto insurance for the first time. Either way, it's good to compare car insurance quotes from various companies to find the best price and coverage for your needs.

A smart way to compare auto insurance quotes is to find a date resource that offers information about insurance scoring only one. If not, you may be taking a risk by signing with a company that is not yet established in the financial world. Companies that are economically unstable are at risk of going under when the economy hits a slump. This could mean that uninsured car for you, and you'll have to go through the matching process again.

How do insurers face?

Comparing auto insurance quotes from A-rated companies simply means finding companies that have received high marks from AM Best Company or another company qualifying. AM Best is one of the highest rating organizations for motor insurance, with scores ranging from A + + and A + (Superior) to A and A-(excellent) go to D (poor). Companies with up to A-still in the category of "excellent", so these must be considered. Any rating is good news for insurance. When comparing car insurance quotes on websites that offer information only on the A-rated providers, then you do not have to waste time searching through low-rated companies. Let's start with the best and end the issue better not what your final choice.

Why is assessment important?

Perhaps you want to save money on car insurance and do not feel that the rating is so important. No matter how you cut it, a company with a poor average rating, or is at risk of folding under financial pressure. What if you have a claim and the company has insufficient funds to cover your claim? What if you need help (after paying the premium), with an important issue, and customer service is not so great? What if not manifested in the thinking of some items are covered by your policy, when in fact they are not? Consider these situations before making a decision to avoid further complications.

AM Best ratings are based on two important factors for car insurance providers:

1. Financial strength rating – the ability of insurers to comply with current policy and contract obligations.
2. Issuer credit rating – the ability of the insurer to meet its senior financial obligations current.

Consider other sources

AM Best ratings are only one factor to consider when comparing car insurance
quotes. Use other resources like the Better Business Bureau and search online to learn about business integrity with customers. A company that has frequent complaints that are never resolved immediately should be deleted from the list. Not worth it!

Search for suppliers who score, and receive a grade "A" in customer service. To name a few that are often at the top of the list …. Progressive, Infinity, GMAC, Explorer, Western United, Bristol West, 21st Century, and others. Once you have established that the companies are the top 10 to 15 suppliers, compare their rates, types of coverage, deductibles, any discounts, and availability in your state.
Make a list of what you would want in a car insurance in the price that fits your budget. If you can find a reasonable budget auto insurance with a provider that meets all the criteria, then you have found a winning combination!

Source: http://www.autoinsurancemaster.com/auto-insurance-quotes-compare-a-rated-companies-for-peace-of-mind