Thứ Ba, 20 tháng 6, 2006

Cheap Car Insurance - 7 Tips To Reduce Your Car Insurance Costs

By Peter Crump

With the cost of car insurance becoming more and more of an issue for the average American family, there are increasing numbers of people looking for cheap car insurance. But although it is possible to find cheap car insurance, the question remains, is it worth buying?

Everyone knows that car insurance companies are not all equal. Cheap car insurance is wonderful when paying the bill, but make a mistake on the company you select and you could find that the cheap car insurance policy that you found may turn into a nightmare. Cheap car insurance may not turn out to be so attractive when making a claim.

So if you have found a discount car insurance broker don’t just take the cheapest quote that you get. You need to find out a little about the insurance company that is offering the cheap car insurance rates.

And there’s 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.

7 Cheap Car Insurance Tips

1. Look at your deductible amount. This is the amount that you pay first out of any claim. The cost of your policy is directly related to this amount. Many people, particularly those who have had their insurance policy for a long time, have never considered whether they ought to vary their deductible. If you have a good driving record and are prepared to increase the risk of paying a larger amount in the event of a (hopefully unlikely) claim you can save money by increasing your deductible.

2. Have a look at the type of car you drive. Certain types of cars attract higher car insurance rates. Cars such as sports cars and also certain makes and models that are prime theft candidates cost more to insure. If you are buying a car then find out which makes and models these are before you buy.

3. Drive carefully. Although it sounds a little trite to say it, your car insurance cost is a factor of your risk profile. You won’t get cheap car insurance if you have had 3 speeding fines and 2 accidents in the last year. 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.

4. Considering installing safety and anti theft devices in your car. Again these affect your risk profile. If you have a car that is safer and less at risk of theft it should be cheaper to insure. And if you have a car with certain safety devices now check that your insurance company is aware of these, if not tell them.

5. Look at your policy when it comes to renewal time, don’t just pay. There are some things that you can vary in your policy that will affect the cost. Often there are some things there which duplicate other insurance that you may have that can be eliminated. Be critical, look carefully and ask questions about all these before you renew your policy.

6. Have a look at who your other insurers are. 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. Get a quote from them. Find out what discounts they offer.

7. Find a good online discount car insurance broker before renewing. The internet is a fabulous resource. Use it. There are all sorts of discount insurance brokers online where you can get fast quotes from a wide range of companies. Don’t just settle for the same company you always use. Car insurance rates vary all the time. Always get comparable quotes before renewing any policy.

So if you’re in the market for cheap car insurance there’s some ideas for you. Don’t just accept that car insurance is always prohibitively expensive, get out there and do something about it.

For a website totally devoted to Car Insurance visit Peter's Website Car Insurance Answers and find out about Car Insurance as well as Cheap Car Insurance and more, including Online Car Insurance Quotes, UK Car Insurance, Car Insurance Rates and Car Insurance Quotes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Crump

Thứ Hai, 19 tháng 6, 2006

How to Make Reading Your Auto Insurance Quote Easier

By John H Brennan

Let’s face it, there are few people in the world who actually enjoy trawling through a car insurance policy. All the legalese and multitude of terms make it heavy going. But it is important to know exactly what you are signing on for so that you can work out if it is what you want. Once you understand the different aspects of a car insurance policy you may choose to forego some of the options in return for a discount on your car insurance premium.

However, it is unwise to do this if you don’t first know what it is you are giving up. There are a few basic terms that you need to understand like Collision Coverage, Comprehensive Coverage, Bodily Injury Liability and Property Damage Coverage.

Here is a snapshot of what each of the terms mean:

Bodily Injury Coverage – the funds that an insurance company would pay for damages caused to another individual involved in a motor vehicle accident.

Collision Coverage – this covers the cost of repair or replacement of the insured’s car no matter who caused the accident.

Comprehensive Coverage – this is for the cost of repair or replacement of the insured’s car for reasons other than an accident.

Property Injury Liability or Property Damage Coverage – this covers any costs associated with damage to property as a result of a motor vehicle accident. In many cases this is mandatory.

With Collision Coverage you can choose the level that you pay in the event you need repairs or replacements if your vehicle collides with another vehicle or property. This amount is called the deductible and basically the higher the deductible you elect, the lower your premiums will be. How does it work? Just like medical insurance, you pay the deductible amount, sometimes called an excess, first and then the insurance company pays the remaining repair costs.

Comprehensive Coverage encompasses things like damage caused from falling objects, fire, certain natural disasters, theft and vandalism. Deductibles work the same way as with Collision; the more out of pocket costs to you, the lower your car insurance premium will be.

Liability coverage – either bodily or property damage – kicks in if in the course of an accident there is damage to either another person or property. For example, if you drive into the back of another driver or your foot slips off the brake onto the gas pedal and you plow down a mailbox. Your liability coverage will kick in and pay for the damages that you caused with your insured vehicle.

Every car insurance policy is different and that’s why it pays to read through several car insurance quotes from different companies so that you can make a fair assessment of which policy is right for you. Now that you know about the basics of what you are paying for and why it is necessary, that job should be a lot easier. Not reading the Sunday paper easy, but hopefully much easier than you would have found it before reading this article.

You can save money on your car insurance premium. Get the information on car insurance that you need so that you can be confident you are choosing the right policy and saving as much money as you can. Visit the Car Insurance Information site.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_H_Brennan

Chủ Nhật, 18 tháng 6, 2006

Lower Auto Insurance Quotes? Here's How!

By Jill Quinn

There isn’t a driver out there who wants to pay more than necessary for auto insurance premiums. It’s an important part of auto ownership, but far less enjoyable than the vehicle itself. Combined with a car payment, a car insurance premium can really put a dent into your monthly finances. Although we can’t help you with the car note itself, here are a few tips to get a lower auto insurance quote, and therefore, a lower monthly insurance bill to ease up on those debts.

First point; check your credit reports for errors-one from each of the three main credit bureaus- Experian, Equifax and Trans Union (available at each bureau’s website, one free report annually from each bureau -by law). Your credit history and current score have a drastic impact on your insurance premiums, so by clearing up and misinformation or inaccuracies on them, you’ll receive lower auto insurance quotes from potential insurers. Keeping up on your credit and paying your bills on time will help to ensure low rates on loans and insurance in the future.

Second, slow down! Speeding tickets and other traffic violations, including any sort of vehicle related ticket (parking included) issued by law enforcement, PLUS accidents, are another key factor in calculating your insurance premiums.

Next point of interest: Students with good grades will have better insurance rates than those with less than high scholastic ambitions. This is good news for parents and children alike, for it provides a wonderful bartering tool for moms and dads.

Another key point: Group discounts are often a money saving tool within the insurance industry. If you have homeowners, life, or any other type of insurance policy, having them all written by the same insurer will yield you a sometimes hefty discount.

Be sure to get a quote on an insurance policy before driving off in your new car. Each vehicle on the market will vary greatly from each other as well as individual insurance providers as to their insurance premiums. Don’t assume that just because something is a four door sedan that the insurance rates will be less than a two door coupe, or visa versa. Insurance costs vary for many different reasons, sometimes for the car’s speed, while other times a car might be a high theft risk in your area.

Finally, shop around. Don’t assume that just because one particular insurance company considers you a risk that another will feel the same. Obtaining quotes from multiple insurers will create competition between then, granting you a “win-win” situation.

If after trying all of these ideas you’re still not completely happy with your insurance quote, you may want to consider raising your deductible for collision and comprehensive coverage. If your policy’s coverage now contains a $250 deductible, raising it to $500 will save you some money on your auto insurance premiums.

Jill Quinn recommends that you visit http://www.cheap-autoinsurance.com/ for more information on auto insurance quotes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jill_Quinn

Thứ Bảy, 17 tháng 6, 2006

Why Should You Purchase Your Auto Insurance Online?

By Tim Gorman

If you’re interested in slashing your auto insurance bill in half then there’s no reason why you shouldn’t consider purchasing auto insurance online. Buying your auto insurance online is extremely easy and very convenient. The process is fast and only requires filling out a simple form. The best part is you can receive multiple quotes from several different auto insurance providers from the privacy of your own home. You can even search for a new money saving car insurance policy in your pajamas if desire to do so.

Many experts agree that most consumers overpay on their insurance policies due to a lack of shopping around. This includes vehicular insurance. Additionally they overwhelmingly endorse purchasing auto insurance online due to the ability to start your insurance application, save it, and finish later if you get pressed for time. If you’re concerned about the cost associated with receiving multiple insurance quotes don’t be. By applying online you can get multiple free car insurance quotes from one application. You’re also never under any obligation to accept any insurance quote provided – even if it saves you money.

As far as the drawbacks to purchasing auto insurance online there aren’t many. Obviously you’ll have to have access to a computer with an Internet connection and around 30 minutes of free time depending on the number of free insurance quotes you wish to receive. Keep in mind before accepting any quote that you could qualify for a bigger discount from your current auto insurance provider if you carry multiple insurance policies with them. For instance a combination of car, home and life insurance may cost less as a group when compared to purchasing individually.

It’s only natural to have concerns with the privacy of the information the insurance company requires you to fill out on their quick quote provider form. However rest assured that any information you provide is kept secure with encryption technology and will not be released to anyone else to include other insurance providers unless you agree to allow it. You can also feel comfortable in knowing that your credit score won’t be affected by applying for free auto insurance quotes online.

After you’ve found a quote that you like purchasing auto insurance online allows you to either accept the quote right then and there or you can opt to receive the rate provided in the mail. Either way you’re guaranteed to save money. A word of caution, make sure the information you provide on the insurance application is correct. Even the smallest errors can adversely affect the money saving rate that is provided.

Probably the most difficult choice will be which online auto insurance provider to choose from in order to receive your free quotes. Look for a company that has excellent customer service reviews and offers a simple application process that provides multiple money saving quotes. Finally don’t forget to check and make sure that they can actually provide an insurance quote for the state you currently reside in

Timothy Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Best-Free-Insurance-Quotes.com. He provides free insurance information and offers discount home, life and auto insurance that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

Other websites operated by Tim

Cellular-Phone-Solutions.com - Free information and resources regarding cell phones and cell phone plans.

Military-Loans-Online.com – Which provides free money saving loan quotes on all of your loan needs to include home equity loan information.Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Gorman

Thứ Sáu, 16 tháng 6, 2006

What Are The Auto Liability Insurance State Minimums For My State?

By Tim Gorman

As you shop online for the best auto insurance deals you may begin to ask yourself what exactly is required by law when it comes to auto insurance. Fortunately this article outlines the auto liability insurance state minimums that you are required to have in order to legally drive in the United States. No matter what state you drive in all of them have financial responsibility laws and require motorists to purchase minimum amounts of auto liability insurance except for Tennessee, Wisconsin and New Hampshire.

Many websites and advocates of insurance (to include myself) recommend having a minimum of $100,000 for bodily injury protection per person and at least $300,000 for property damage costs and physical injury costs. The main reason for this is due to the increased amount of money needed to rectify an accident is usually more then what the states declare as the minimum amount of insurance coverage needed.

I have compiled the following information from the American Insurance Association, the Property Casualty Insurers Association, and the Insurance Information Institute. It shows the auto liability insurance state minimums as required by each state. In order to understand the numbers you must know what the mean. The first two numbers are for bodily injury liability and the third number represents the minimum amount of property damage liability.

As an example my home state of Missouri shows the following - Missouri 25/50/10. This means Missouri requires as a minimum coverage up to $50,000 for all persons injured in an accident, subject to a limit of $25,000 for one individual, and $10,000 coverage for property damage.

Alabama 20/40/10 Alaska 50/100/25 Arizona 15/30/10 Arkansas 25/50/25
California 15/30/5 Colorado 25/50/15 Connecticut 20/40/10 Delaware 15/30/5
D.C. 25/50/10 Florida 10/20/10 Georgia 25/50/25 Hawaii 20/40/10
Idaho 25/50/15 Illinois 20/40/15 Indiana 25/50/10 Iowa 20/40/15
Kansas 25/50/10 Kentucky 25/50/10 Louisiana 10/20/10 Maine 50/100/25
Maryland 20/40/15 Massachusetts 20/40/5 Michigan 20/40/10 Minnesota 30/60/10
Mississippi 10/20/05 Missouri 25/50/10 Montana 25/50/10 Nebraska 25/50/25
Nevada 15/30/10 New Hampshire 25/50/25 New Jersey 15/30/5 New Mexico 25/50/10 New York 25/50/10 North Carolina 30/60/25 North Dakota 25/50/25 Ohio 12.5/25/7.5
Oklahoma 10/20/10 Oregon 25/50/10 Pennsylvania 15/30/5 Rhode Island 25/50/25
South Carolina 15/30/10 South Dakota 25/50/25 Tennessee 25/50/10 Texas 20/40/15
Utah 25/50/15 Vermont 25/50/10 Virginia 25/50/20 Washington 25/50/10
West Virginia 20/40/10 Wisconsin 25/50/10 Wyoming 25/50/20

Remember these figures only represent auto insurance liability state minimums. Many experts agree that more insurance is needed in order to fully protect yourself in the event you’re involved in an automobile accident.

Timothy Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Best-Free-Insurance-Quotes.com. He provides more insurance information and offers discount home, life and auto insurance that you can research in your pajamas on his websiteOther websites operated by TimCellular-Phone-Solutions.com - Free information and resources regarding cell phones and cell phone plans. Military-Loans-Online.com – Which provides free money saving loan quotes on all of your loan needs to include home equity loan information.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_Gorman

Thứ Năm, 15 tháng 6, 2006

Great Tips on Lowering Auto Insurance Costs

By David Maillie

With car sales prices continuously increasing, recent hikes in gas prices, and ever present sales and state taxes on our cars it has become vitally important to find ways to save money and keep costs down. One way to save money is to monitor your auto insurance and make sure you are getting the best deal possible. This may sound trivial, but can easily add up to savings of hundreds and possibly even thousands of dollars over the next few years.

First make sure you are taking advantage of all discounts available to you through your insurance provider. Many insurance companies have good driver history discounts. If you haven’t been in an accident or made a claim in several years make sure your agent adds this deduction – typical savings are 5-15% (easily $100-$400+ in savings per year).

For an additional discount some insurance companies like Progressive and Geico offer discounts for sponsored driving classes. Make sure you check with your insurance company to see which ones it accepts. Many of these classes are free or offered at minimal cost by your local DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) or DOT (Department of Transportation). For a listing, contact your insurance company and then your state departments (DMV and DOT). These classes also work great for reducing points on your license from minor infractions (speeding, running a red light, etc…). Definitely get as many points taken off as possible. These points can increase your insurance rates 50-100% or more in some cases.
Some insurance companies like Geico, Allstate, and Progressive have recently come out with good student discounts. The requirements can vary so be sure to check with your insurance company. This could amount to an additional savings of 5-10% on your annual premium. Keep in mind traffic offenses can and will nullify this and most other discounts, so drive safely.

Shop around for the best rate. I can’t stress this enough. Every few years just check and see what other insurers are offering. You could see huge savings here and it may have nothing to do with your driving record. Some insurers just have lower claims for a particular model car and therefore will have a lower rate for that car. Just to see the difference call several insurance companies for quotes. You will see a huge range. When I had a 2000 Ford Mustang GT convertible I was paying over $4000 per year in insurance with Allstate then I checked and found Progressive offered the same coverage for only $1400 (a 75% difference in my premium). Now, that’s not to say that Allstate is a bad insurer, they just have higher claim costs associated with that vehicle and a driver of my age. So, make sure you shop around and definitely check the online insurers like Progressive and Geico as they tend to have lower premiums. Also see what impact raising your deductible will have on lowering your premium.

These items might also seem trivial, but will save you money. Pick a car with lower theft rates and lower premiums. A 4 door 4 cylinder car (Toyota Corolla) will almost always have a much lower premium than the latest 8 cylinder 2 seater sports car (Mustang GT (2+ 2 seating)). It will also get you better gas mileage which in a year could amount to a savings of hundreds of dollars in it self. Stay away from convertibles as they always have higher insurance premiums. Drop unnecessary coverage like collision on an older car. Also stay away from cars with high theft rates (Honda Civics and Accords tend to have some of the highest theft rates and unfortunately you will pay for that with higher premiums and don’t think you won’t.) One more thing, don’t speed, don’t drive drunk (I don’t need to tell you what that will cost you (it could even cost you your life), stop for all school buses, wear your seat belt and obey the rules of the road. You will be glad you did.

David Maillie is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in automotive safety products and information. He holds numerous patents and awards for his patented headlight cleaner and restorer. For more information please visit: http://www.mdwholesale.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Maillie

Thứ Tư, 14 tháng 6, 2006

Cheap Auto Insurance Quotes - Tips For Getting The Lowest Rate

By Carrie Reeder

Finding auto insurance quotes online is easy, but finding the cheapest auto insurance rates can be more of a challenge. To get the lowest quotes, follow these tips to help you find ways to trim possibly hundreds off your auto insurance quotes.

1. Give them details – If you don’t provide information about your zip code, marital status, car’s safety features, and annual commuting miles, by default insurance companies will quote you a higher auto insurance rate. Provide as much detail as possible to make sure you get each discount that you qualify for.

2. Shop around – Auto insurance rates can vary as much as 300% between companies for the same coverage. You can save hundreds of dollars a year by comparing prices between companies. Don’t forget to check out your current insurance company, they may have lower rates for new customers that you may be able to negotiate for yourself.

3. Raise your deductible – Higher deductibles equal lower insurance premiums. For example, increasing your deductible from $250 to $500, can save you a hundred dollars or more on your annual premium. However, plan on having additional financial resources to cover the deductible in case of an accident.

4. Cut the miles you drive – For drivers who travel on average 40 miles or less a day, they qualify for a low mileage discount with most insurance companies. Consider carpooling or taking public transit a couple of days a week to reduce your car’s mileage to qualify for the discount. By flying or taking a train for vacations instead of driving, you can further reduce the miles on your car.

5. Switch drivers – For married couples, compare insurance quotes between the male as the main driver and the female as the main driver. You may get a lower quote if the female is insured on a truck and the male is insured on the minivan. Teens should also be insured on safer cars such as the family sedan, rather than a sports car.

6. Add an anti-theft device – By installing car alarms or a tracking system in your car, you will get a discount from auto insurance companies. Since anti-theft devices reduce the risk of your car being stolen, insurance companies pass on the savings to you. A certified defensive-driving class can also reduce your premium for three years with most insurance companies.

To view our list of recommended companies for auto insurance online, who can
give you multiple insurance quotes from different companies, visit this page:
Recommended Auto
Insurance Companies Online
.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carrie_Reeder