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Car Insurance Best Rates

Posted by admin on 20 Sep 2008 | Tagged as: Automotive

The Internet Car Guy asked:


Saving money on car insurance requires a combination of techniques that improve your insurability, decrease the rate of insurance for your vehicles, and provide you with a unique advantage when it comes to purchasing car insurance.

This article will outline seven techniques that will ensure that you receive the lowest possible car insurance rates.

1 – Choosing the Best Insurer

Cost is certainly one factor when considering car insurance, but your insurer selection should be weighted more heavily on reliability. You could easily call a number of insurance companies, ask for quotes, and simply select the lowest bidder. However, even if the lowest cost insurer saves you hundreds of dollars a year in premium payments, that savings does you no good if you find yourself in an accident, needing car repairs or medical attention, with an unreliable and unresponsive insurance company. A good company is crucial. It’s not just about car insurance best rates.

#2 – Customize Your Policy

Before you begin calling around, it’s important that you determine the level of insurance coverage you need. Not everyone’s insurance needs are the same. Some families own two or three very expensive vehicles, while other families own only older used cars. Some people are members of AAA, while others are not. The specific terms of a policy should be determined by your life situation and the value of the items being insured.

#3 – How to Become Highly Insurable

Whether you’ve already purchased car insurance, or you are getting ready to start looking, one of the best things you can do to obtain the lowest possible rates is to improve those things that car insurance companies look at when they calculate your insurance premium. There are several things you can do in the short term to improve your insurability standing, and there are also things you can do over the long term to improve it as well. This section will describe four major elements of this technique to save money on your car insurance.

#4 – Reduce Your Car’s Insurance Rate

Another extremely effective technique to obtain the lowest possible insurance rate is to improve those things about your car which car insurance companies value the most when they calculate your insurance premium. There are several things that you can do before buying a car that will dramatically decrease your insurance premium. If you’ve already bought a car, however, and are looking for ways to decrease your existing insurance costs, there are still methods you can use that will substantially cut your premium costs.

#5 – Gaming the System

In addition to all of the techniques already listed in this article, there are also additional ways that you can use the insurance industries rating rules and premium calculation system in ways that will reduce your costs. Again, use the industry’s rules to get car insurance best rates.

#6 – Constantly Update Your Policy

One of the most important things that you can do to keep your insurance premium at a minimum is to always remember to update your insurance provider of any changes in your life that can reduce your insurance costs. Forgetting to do this can be very costly.

#7 – Deciding on Liability Only

There comes a point in the life of a car when the decision needs to be made whether or not it is worthwhile to maintain collision and comprehensive insurance coverage.

Getting Rock Bottom Insurance Rates

If you carefully follow each of the sections outlined in this guide, you are guaranteed to receive the lowest possible insurance rates for anyone within your calculated risk bracket. No one should ever overpay for car insurance – especially given the fact that there are so many insurers in the industry competing for your business.

Most people overpay for car insurance out of sheer laziness. However the consumer that understands how car insurance works, and is clever enough to take advantage of all of its loopholes, will save significantly on their premium in the long run.

Before you step foot into another insurance office, or visit another insurance website, make sure to print this guide and follow it carefully in order to ensure that you get the best insurance deal possible. Remember, car insurance best rates are achievable.



Car Insurance Quote Myths Dispelled

Posted by admin on 09 Aug 2008 | Tagged as: Automotive

Kim Chambers asked:


Insurance companies ask for an awful lot of information when it comes to getting car insurance quotes. The level of detail required by the companies is all used to judge the risk you and your vehicle pose, and how likely it is you will make a claim. There are a lot of myths and rumours surrounding car insurance quotes however, most of which are utter rubbish. Here we dispel the fiction and reveal the truth behind your car insurance quote.

Car Colour Makes a Difference

A common myth but utterly untrue; many people are led to believe that the colour of their car will have an effect on their car insurance quote. There are two schools of thought on colour affecting car insurance premiums. The first idea is that the popular car colours: silver, black and red are easier to sell on and hence hold their value much better. Higher value cars tend to have more expensive insurance quotes, and so the myth goes that if you want to get a cheap car insurance quote, buy a car in a lurid pink.

On the other hand, rumours would have you believe that unusual car colours by their rarity are much more expensive to repair if there is any body work damage, and hence insurance companies require a premium for buying a car in fluorescent yellow. Both explanations are completely false; car colour has no bearing whatsoever on your car insurance quote.

My Credit History Will Be Reviewed

Whilst this was certainly prevalent a few years ago, in most cases now car insurance companies will not check your credit rating. The advent of the internet has made car insurance a highly competitive market, and with so many companies out there, insurers are much less likely to take your credit history into account than they were in the past. Whilst it is true that you can receive a discount to your car insurance quote for paying upfront rather than in instalments, this is true for all customers and has nothing to do with credit rating.

Living in a Sunny Area Will Get Me a Cheaper Quote

The reasoning behind this perpetuated legend comes from the true fact that drivers are less likely to have an accident in clear and dry weather conditions. As the myth goes, if you live in an area which has historically better weather, you will on average have more days on the road with clear and dry driving conditions which means you should have fewer accidents as a result of your geographic location.  This myth arises from confusion about one of the criteria asked for from insurance companies. When getting a car insurance quote, companies require you to provide an address because they monitor the average crime levels in your neighbourhood. The weather is of no consequence to your car insurance quote.



Car Insurance Deductibles in a Down Economy

Posted by admin on 19 Jan 2008 | Tagged as: Automotive

Charles Barnes asked:


Many consumers are looking to cut household expenses any way they can in these uncertain economic times.  The first place most households often look is car insurance premiums.  To clarify, a car insurance premium is the amount you pay to the car insurance company on a regular basis (ie monthly) so the car insurance company will fix your car in the event of a car accident.  Car insurance can be considered a necessary evil.  No one likes paying for car insurance.  You have to pay for car insurance when you don’t use it and when you finally need it; car insurance companies make it a major hassle to obtain your money from them to fix your broken car. 

One of the most common ways to reduce your monthly car insurance premium is to increase your insurance deductible.  What is a deductible you ask?  A deductible is the amount of money you pay out of your own pocket in the event of a car insurance claim (i.e. a car accident that is your fault).

As tempting as it may seem to raise your car insurance deductible to reduce your monthly insurance payment, you need to evaluate your financial situation first.  For example, ask yourself, “If I raise my deductible from $1,000 to $2,000 do I have the $2,000 deductible set aside in the event I get into a car accident?”  If the answer is no, you may want to postpone raising your car insurance deductible until you save $2,000 and can comfortably put it aside.  If the answer is yes, you still need to consider your car driving habits and your risk of a car accident.

Your car driving habits can alter your car insurance expenses significantly.  If you are a safe driver and can go a long period of time without getting into a car accident, raising your deductible may be a smart move.  If you are not a safe driver and you frequently get into car accidents, raising your insurance deductible may not be worth it.  The longer you go without getting into a car accident, the more money you save on car insurance expenses.  If you get into a car accident shortly after raising your deductible, you may end up losing money.  Let’s look at an example.

If increasing your deductible from $1,000 to $2,000 decreases your monthly car insurance premium by $25, then it would take 40 months (starting from the date you raise your car insurance deductible) for your monthly savings to cover the $1,000 increase in deductible (40 x $25 = $1,000).  So that means if you have an accident during those 40 months, you are better off keeping your deductible at $1,000.  With your driving record, can you go 3 years and 4 months without a car accident?  If not, you may want to reconsider or change your driving habits.

So, you are a great driver and fully confident in your ability to go 3 years and 4 months without a car accident.  Too bad it’s not that easy and too bad we don’t drive on roads without other vehicles.  You also have to consider other drivers on the road.  We all know there are plenty of dumb drivers on the road.  Due to congestion and higher population, there are a larger number of morons on the road in the city than in the country.  Your chance of getting into an accident in an urban environment is a lot higher than in a rural environment.  So carefully take into consideration where you live, work and play before you raise your car insurance deductible.

Is raising your car insurance deductible right for you?

Car Insurance 



Cheap Student Car Insurance Options

Posted by admin on 02 Sep 2007 | Tagged as: Automotive

Adam Boulton asked:


Students do have many reasons to spend a lot of money and it is unfair to burden them with a high cost of insurance premiums but nevertheless, the insurance companies justify their stand by saying that students tend to travel more and hence are liable to incur high car insurance costs. But the fact remains that the student car insurance cost is quite high and there are many ways to minimize this cost.

Primarily, a student can opt for a small car instead of a sports car to reduce the premium amount to be paid. There are many online insurers, who trade online and the biggest savings on student car insurance can be made by comparing the various quotes on different sites offered by different companies. There are brokers too, who help in this regard but charge a fee for it.

There are certain sites that work especially for students and young drivers and offer discounts and incentives to buy from them. The type of car insurance that the student has to take, has to be decided first and it is a good choice to take third party insurance. Comprehensive coverage is not recommended for students as the insurance prices would be too high.

If security devices are installed in the car, like wheel and steering locks and windows having registration, anti braking systems, air bags, reinforced safety belts and so on, then, the cost of student car insurance can be reduced. In fact, the place where the car is kept also influences the cost of student car insurance and it is better to mention in the application if the car is to be kept in the campus with security.

Students who have passed an extended and advanced driving course are eligible for a reduced premium than those who have passed only their driving test. This would fetch them an added discount of five percent till they reach the age of twenty five. There are online driver education courses that would cost only half the amount of offline classes.

Though it is a  subject of argument , the fact remains that the student who does his or her academics well in school is less prone to get into a car accident and hence is offered a student discount -as much as twenty percent of the premium-depending upon the grades in school.

The insurance premium of car is priced according to what is known as risk profile of the geographic area, where the car will be driven. If the student possesses a good driving record, the chances are high that he gets a cheap car insurance.  Also, having a high deductible would save on the premium and the deductible that suits the budget can be chosen.



Car Insurance: Different Premium Rates for Men and Women

Posted by admin on 03 Mar 2007 | Tagged as: Automotive

Adam Boulton asked:


To err is human and nobody can boast of not making a single mistake in life, including while driving in a car. Even if the person driving the car makes no mistake, chances are high that the person on the opposite side drives carelessly and accidents do happen. So, it is mandatory for every car owner to have a car insurance which would be beneficial for both the owner of the car and the car.

Car insurance is a type of insurance coverage for damage to the car including damage resulting from another vehicle. Car insurance covers a variety of things that depend upon the kind of car insurance that has been purchased. Car insurance carries a premium which is the amount a customer has to pay to obtain car insurance. The amount of premium depends on various factors and differs from one company to another.

In fact, there are different premium rates for males and females because it is a general fact that men are more likely to be involved in an accident than women. Likewise, the premium rates for teenagers are higher and have to pay more, since teenagers fall under the category of high risk. If the teenager takes a defensive driving course then, there is a chance of reducing the premium.

There is a deductible in car insurance for which the customer is responsible before the insurance provider offers insurance coverage for expenses and the deductibles also influence the coverage available. Car insurance also comes as collision auto insurance which covers the cost of repairs to a vehicle involved in an accident or the cash value of the vehicle, if it is beyond repair.

In the event of an accident happening, there may be a great deal of damage to the person as well as the car. Along with it, comes the financial liability. At least the later part can be reimbursed if the car is insured properly. If the car is uninsured, the person has to bear the mental agony, damage to the vehicle and the financial burden. So, it becomes utterly necessary and wise to take up car insurance.

Realizing the importance of car insurance, most of the countries around the globe have made car insurance mandatory. If a person drives without car insurance, he or she may have to face legal charges including suspension of driving privileges and also hefty fines and in some cases, jailing.

When car insurance is taken, it offers a peace of mind to the owner of the car and this fact would make him drive peacefully and safely and this factor itself would avoid many accidents. Every one owning a car has to possess a car insurance which is a way of protection, not only for the self but also for others on the road.



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